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Atlanta vs. New England: Comparing the top hoops talent

Super Bowl Sunday is tomorrow and if recruiting rankings and careers of basketball players from Atlanta and New England are any indication of how things will go in Houston, then Falcons fans should get excited.

We look at the top five basketball prospects of the Rivals.com era from both the Atlanta and New England areas to see how they stack up.

RELATED: Rivals150 seniors who could excel on football field

MATCHUP NO. 1: DWIGHT HOWARD VS. ANDRE DRUMOND

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Notable: No. 1 overall selection in the 2004 NBA Draft; 8-time All-Star, 3-time Defensive Player of the Year

Breakdown: While heavy expectations come with being named the top-ranked prospect in your class, Howard may have outplayed his No. 1 ranking. The top draft pick in 2004, Howard is still a premier rebounder of the ball and picked up three Defensive Player of the Year awards before he turned 30-years-old.

Notable: No. 9 overall selection in the 2012 NBA Draft; 2016 All-Star

Breakdown: It is freakish that Drummond is just 23 as the Connecticut native attended college a year before originally planned. Now with the Detroit Pistons, the former UConn star has been a better Ben Wallace of sorts during his short time in the Motor City. He nearly averaged 15 rebounds per game last season and was named an NBA All-Star for the first time as a result.

Decision: People like to clown Howard, but if you look at his numbers he has probably had a Hall of Fame career. He’s an eight-time All-Star and three time Defensive Player of the Year. Drummond has the tools to end up having a similar career, but we have to give the edge to Atlanta and Howard here. Atlanta 1-0.

MATCHUP NO. 2: JOSH SMITH VS. NERLENS NOEL

Notable: No. 17 overall selection in the 2004 NBA Draft

Breakdown: The past few years haven’t been the very best for Smith as he has tried to salvage his playing career in China. Regardless, many forget just how effective and productive the Peach State native was back in the ATL. Capable of pretty much doing whatever was asked of him, Smith stands firm with impressive averages of over 14 points, seven rebounds and three assists per game throughout his 12-year NBA career.

Notable: No. 6 overall selection in the 2013 NBA Draft

Breakdown: Things didn’t go as planned for Noel after leaving Tilton Academy as the one-time No. 2 prospect in the 2012 class tore up his knee at Kentucky and slid to the sixth pick in the NBA Draft. However, he was able to enjoy first team All-SEC and All-Rookie awards in recent years and is now hitting stride with the Philadelphia 76ers. A major weapon on the defensive end of the floor, stardom might not be in the cards but versatility and value remains in tow.

Decision: Smith had himself a long and steady career in the NBA while Noel is trying to find his footing in Philadelphia. Smith gets the edge for now because of the level he did and for how long, but perhaps Noel could flourish and gain some ground in a new location. Atlanta 2-0.

MATCHUP NO. 3: DERRICK FAVORS VS. RICARDO LEDO

Notable: 2009 Mr. Basketball USA, No. 3 overall selection in the 2010 NBA Draft

Breakdown: Favors was a standout at Georgia Tech where he earned ACC Rookie of the Year honors. He was picked third overall in the NBA Draft, but Favors’ professional career didn’t start off on a strong note. However, he has flourished in recent years averaging over 13 points and eight rebounds since the beginning of the 2013 season.

Notable: No. 43 overall selection in the 2013 NBA Draft, 2016 NBA D-League All-Star

Breakdown: Ledo was supposed to transform the Providence basketball program alongside Kris Dunn but instead he spent one messy year in college and has not much else since. Ledo was selected 43rd overall in the 2013 NBA Draft and never made a single start in his 28 games of his NBA career. It just wasn’t in the cards for Ledo, as he is currently suiting up in the Turkish Basketball Super League this year.

Decision: Even if he’s not developed into an all-star level player, Favors is a very steady and solid pro. Ledo on the other hand has never been able to stick in the NBA and has never quite had production that matched his natural gifts. Atlanta 3-0.

MATCHUP NO. 4: JAYLEN BROWN VS. NOAH VONLEH

Notable: No. 3 overall selection in the 2016 NBA Draft

Breakdown: Brown surprised many by picking California over a host of elite, blue-blood programs. He earned Pac-12 Freshman of the Year honors before being selected third overall in last year’s NBA Draft. A tip-top competitor that has relied on his physical tangibles over everything else, Brown’s first year with the Boston Celtics has gone through its peaks and valleys, though he just eclipsed the 20-point mark for the first time within his professional career last week.

Notable: No. 9 overall selection in the 2014 NBA Draft

Breakdown: A tantalizing prospect that is still just that, Vonleh is in his third NBA season. The former Indiana standout was selected ninth overall by the Charlotte Bobcats in the 2014 NBA Draft and then traded a year later to the Portland Trail Blazers. While he has started nearly half of the games that he has played in the league, Vonleh has yet to average over four points and four rebounds per game for an entire season.

Decision: This one is still up for debate given that Brown and Vonleh are so young and still adjusting to life in the NBA. Brown has been slightly more productive as a rookie and was better in his one season at Cal so he wins by the slightest of edges for now. Atlanta 4-0.

MATCHUP NO. 5: WENDELL CARTER VS. WAYNE SELDEN

Notable: 2017 McDonald's All-American

Breakdown: The story is just now beginning for Carter, the fifth-ranked prospect in this year’s graduating high school class. Sporting a college-ready body and a skillset that is more than refined, the Peach State native will head off to Duke next year in hopes of solidifying the interior within the Blue Devils program. A solid inside and out threat, the 6-foot-10 big man is already super polished and is currently slotted to be picked fifth overall in the 2018 NBA Draft by Draft Express.

Notable: Undrafted in 2016 NBA Draft

Breakdown: Some thought that Selden would head to Kansas, thrive early on and finish his time in Lawrence within one-year’s time. While he did end things on a solid note, the process took a bit longer than expected. Selden, who left KU as a junior, has not been able to find footing in the NBA, though he has been a top standout in the NBDL this winter averaging over 19 points, five rebounds and two assists per contest.

Decision: Given that Carter is still in high school, much is left to play out. But, we’ll do some projecting here and simply because Carter is tracking as a first-round draft pick in 2018 we’ll give him the edge. Atlanta 5-0.

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