2019 Rankings: Updates On A Class That Has Endless Depth
The updated 2019 rankings are out now and boy is it a class with talent from top to bottom. With a loaded top 10 this class also has a number of kids who will likely climb the rankings heading into their respective senior year campaigns as well, thus, making it one of the exciting classes in recent seasons to follow.
Below is a break down and a look at who moved where in terms of this latest update. As always, PHID will continue to track and follow the state’s top talent and stay up to date on players who deserve and earn a boost up the rankings as they continue to take shape. Stay tuned!
Impressive at the top
Beginning with our top ranked player Genesis Prep’s Jonny Hillman, this top of the table group is incredible strong with prospects. Hillman is coming off an impressive state tournament showing where he averaged 22.3 points and 4.3 rebounds ultimately leading his team to a championship. Hillman was featured heavily in this montage from the state tournament (courtesy of IdahoSports.com):
Hillman will once again be the leading man for this group which will look to take home yet another title as he embraces his final season as a Jag.
Borah’s Ellis Magnuson is another game changing guard who will challenge for the top spot in this class no doubt, already he has accomplished plenty in his prep career. His junior season efforts landed him First Team All 5A SIC honors and the powerful, lane charging, ball handler will look to keep up his top level play this Spring/Summer and certainly next Winter.
A few names jumped into the mix and will likely remain near the top after excellent late season stretches and for some into the postseason. Beginning first with Ririe’s Michael Ure who averaged 19.4 points, 3.2 blocks, 10.1 rebounds, and 1.3 steals and per game. Ure also helped lead Ririe to a runner up finish at the state tournament and was a huge part in their run. As our third ranked overall player in the 2019 class, look for Ure to make further strides this upcoming year.
Right behind Ure on the rankings is Vallivue’s Amoro Lado who was another riser throughout the season and looks to be a very interesting prospect heading into his senior season. Recently, PHID caught with Lado to discuss his Spring plans. An exciting prospect with a lot of upside, keep an eye on this one.
Another player who entered our top 10 this past season was Zane Mussman, the voted on Snake River Conference Player of the Year, Mussman helped lead Valley all the way to the title game at the state tournament and did everything he could against Lapwai going for 22 points and 14 rebounds. It will be interesting to see how Mussman returns for this senior season.
Firmly on our radar
Genesis Prep’s Kon Ajang is a literal big time player for the Jags and could blossom into a player with real potential and promise in terms of thinking about the next level. Right now we have Ajang listed at 6 foot 9, but he could even add to that, certainly in the strength department, but he already is a force to be dealt with at the prep level in Idaho. A key cog for the Jags in terms of the paint, Ajang really could make strides if he continues to develop more elements of his game and gets more of an attacking attitude when he is out on the court.
North Fremont’s Garrett Hawkes was seemingly always in the mix when it came to top scorers on a weekly basis in Idaho during the season. Hawkes exploded for 40 points in their overtime loss to Ririe late in the season last year and look for more impressive scoring games from this guard next season.
Fruitland’s Jake O’Neil is another riser from this past season and finished off his tremendous junior season with 3A SIC Player of the Year honors. O’Neil helped Fruitland take home the state title this past season and will look to help them repeat that this upcoming senior year.
Moscow’s Gabe Quinett was another player who hit our radar often later in the season and seems to be rounding out into one of the better guards in the state. Keep notes on him moving forward as he could thrive next season as well.
Mitchell Brizee for Twin Falls earned First Team honors in the Great Basin and was a big that caught our eye in the latter half of the season. Brizee has the potential to dominate a game and paired with another riser in our rankings Faust Ystueta, this team could make some real noise as both will enter their senior years.
Emmett’s Brett Kern is another big who can turn heads with his play. Kern was recently featured in our Prospect Spotlight series and looks to be on the right track for a big senior season for the Huskies.
Rounding out our newbies to the radar is St Maries’ Jackson Pritchard who earned All League 4A Inland conference honors and had a nice showing at the state tournament specifically against Nampa Christian where he went for 19 points. Another name to put on your list and who is firmly on our’s.