2024 Rankings: Top Five Breakdown
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The Prep Hoops SoCal team was able to get a more in-depth look at the class of 2024 over the spring and summer. From spring club events to Section 7 in June and closing out the summer in July with…
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Continue ReadingThe Prep Hoops SoCal team was able to get a more in-depth look at the class of 2024 over the spring and summer. From spring club events to Section 7 in June and closing out the summer in July with a number of high profile tournaments, we now have a clearer picture on how the rising junior class stacks up, and thus, the first drop of rankings for the class of 2024. In this piece we break down the top five players and why they ended up in these positions.
No. 1: Carter Bryant Carter Bryant 6'8" | SF Corona Centennial (CA) | 2024 State #12 Nation CA-S , Sage Hill
The 6-foot-8 swingman has an uncanny combination of skill, fluid athleticism, and basketball IQ for a prospect his age and class. Offensively Bryant is as versatile as they come. The junior can knock down perimeter jumpers off the catch and off the bounce, has the ball skills and passing IQ to initiate offense as a point-forward and possesses a mid-post game that’s well beyond his years. One thing that separates Bryant from most in this class is his defensive IQ, willingness to communicate on that end of the floor and is timing on weak-side shot blocks.
No. 2: Isaiah Elohim Isaiah Elohim 6'4" | SF Sierra Canyon | 2024 State #47 Nation CA-S , Sierra Canyon
There are few prospects who rival Elohim’s scoring ability in this class. The 6-foot-5 wing is an aggressive and efficient scoring threat from multiple levels of the floor and has a high level understanding of how to get to his spots and create space to get a clean shot off. Elohim is especially effective in the mid-range area of the floor. He uses a quick first step to get by a defender and has great footwork when stopping for a quick pull-up or stepping back to create space.
No. 3: Mercy Miller Mercy Miller 6'4" | SG Notre Dame | 2024 State #45 Nation CA-S , Sherman Oaks Notre Dame
Miller made his way back to SoCal after spending a season at Oak Hill Academy and quickly became one of the best perimeter scorers in the region. The 6-foot-4 shooting guard has a smooth three-point shot that he can hit off the catch, off the bounce or when coming off of screens. Miller’s combination of smooth athleticism, ball skills, size and strength make him a tough cover for opposing defenders as those qualities, combined with his feel on dribble-drives, makes him a multi-level scoring threat.
No. 4: Trent Perry Trent Perry 6'4" | PG Harvard-Westlake | 2024 State #70 Nation CA-S , Harvard-Westlake
Perry’s growth from a sort of shooting specialist to a guy who will likely be the primary ball handler on a team likely to be an Open Division playoff favorite is what catapulted him into this spot. The 6-foot-3 combo guard still possesses that lethal shooting stroke from deep – which is one of the best in the state – but he’s also developed into quite the point guard. Perry showed at Section 7 that he has improved his ball-handling and decision making under pressure all while delivering on time and on target passes.
No. 5: Robert Hinton Robert Hinton 6'4" | CG Harvard-Westlake | 2024 State #147 Nation CA-S , Harvard-Westlake
Highlights
Hinton is another Wolverine junior whose play this spring and summer helped him burst onto the scene out west. At 6-feet-4 with a strong pop of athleticism and an aggressive attacking mentality, Hinton is a downhill scoring threat in transition who slashes his way to the rim and can finish through or over contact. The thing that stands out most about Hinton is his motor. The combo guard plays with elite energy on both ends of the floor and that results in him being and offensive and defensive playmaker.