Class of 2008 rankings updated and extended
With the high school basketball season wrapping up and the busy spring AAU season fast approaching, Rivals.com took a deeper look into the class of 2008. We've extended the Class of 2008 rankings list from the nation's top 100 players to 150.
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A few changes in the five-stars
Making his way toward the top of the rankings is Georgia forward Al-Farouq Aminu, who climbed from the eighth spot to third overall. The big man is one of the most versatile power forwards in the class of 2008, and has shown an ability to play big on the big stage.
He shined against Oak Hill Academy on national television and was outstanding at the Prime Time Shootout in Atlanta. Aminu is a key member of a Norcross team that is nationally ranked and has advanced to the semifinals of the Georgia state playoffs. Aminu has quickly emerged as one of the most highly recruited players in the country.
Texas guards Willie Warren and J'Covan Brown also made big splashes. Warren, a 6-foot-3 guard from North Crowley High School, jumped nine spots to 13 overall.
Brown, also a 6-foot-3 scorer, makes his debut as a five-star prospect. The Port Arthur Memorial product makes the move from No. 26 to 14.
Three other players, Mississippi forward Romero Osby, North Carolina center Ty Walker and California center Jeff Withey make their debut in the top 25. Osby is a multi-dimensional forward whose development as a player is on the upswing. Walker is one of the most unique center prospects in the class and showed great improvement this season. Withey continues to impress, and has a good skill set for a 7-footer.
New four-star prospects emerge, few changes to existing group
Three key changes occurred in the four-star classification (No. 26 to No. 100). New York guard Sylven Landesberg checks in at No. 27 from 58. Memphis combo guard Elliot Williams made a jump to No. 28 from 63rd.
Georgia forward Chris Singleton made a big jump from No. 86 up to No. 41. He played very well this season after struggling a bit this summer. New York guard Jordan Theodore climbed to No. 56, up from No. 85 previously. Theodore has improved his stock, and is one of the best point guards in New York City.
The new four-star prospects include: Bud Mackey of Kentucky, Catalin Baciu of North Carolina, Phillip McDonald of Texas, Darnell Wilkes of Tennessee, Jared Swopshire of Florida, Dashan Harris of Florida, Angelo Johnson of California, Patrick McCollum of Washington, Rashanti Harris of Mississippi, Kevin Jones of New York and Tony Mitchell of Georgia.
Spring provides opportunity for changes
This initial expansion of the rankings is the first of many changes. With the always-busy AAU season soon approaching, Rivals.com will continue to blanket the country for evaluations of the 2008 class.
The real test now for prospects is to continue to improve and take advantage of opportunities to show their skills against players of similar capabilities.