Published Nov 2, 2017
Rival Views: Best potential big-time matchups
Eric Bossi and Corey Evans
Rivals.com

The high school season is just around the corner and Rivals.com will be hitting the road to cover all the action. There are already some potentially big-time matchups that are scheduled or could happen if things go right at major events. As usual, National Analysts Eric Bossi and Corey Evans have Rival Views when it comes to which matchup they would most like to see.

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BOSSI'S VIEW: Memphis (Tenn.) East vs. Ft. Lauderdale (Fla.) University School

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Were it not for 2019 five-star prospect LaMelo Ball leaving Chino Hills (Calif.) High, the easy choice for this would have been their scheduled matchup with 2018's No. 2 player Zion Williamson and Spartanburg (S.C.) Country Day in the 2018 HoopHall Classic. It would have been a rematch of the summer of 2017's wildest atmosphere.

With that off the table, I'll cross my fingers and hope that Memphis (Tenn.) East and Ft. Lauderdale (Fla.) University School somehow meet up in December at the City of Palms. They are on separate sides of the bracket, but a meeting would mean that we get 2019's top two players - No. 1 Vernon Carey of University and No. 2 James Wiseman of East - going head to head.

In addition to the rankings storylines, you've got the potential recruiting war headlines given that Duke (Carey) and Kentucky (Wiseman) are currently considered the front-runners. It wouldn't be just about those guys, though. East also features Rivals150 senior point guard Alex Lomax, top 30 2019 prospect Chandler Lawson and the setting could serve as the coming out party for Lawson's brother Jonathan Lawson who is expected to be a top player in 2021. Meanwhile, the University School also features Scottie Barnes, who ranks in 2020's top 10, so there will be talent all over the floor if the game comes to fruition.

EVANS' VIEW:  Montverde (Fla.) Academy v. Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei

While Bossi is busy crossing his fingers and hoping for a matchup, I'll take one that is already on the schedule. Montverde (Fla.) Academy and Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei are scheduled to play the HoopHall Classic in January and for me that's can't-miss basketball.

Not only do you have two of the country's best programs matching up in an East v. West matchup, you have 2018's No. 1 player R.J. Barrett of Montverde hitting the floor against the No. 3 player Bol Bol of Mater Dei. Because Barrett - who will decide between Duke, Kentucky and Oregon next week - is a wing and Bol (down to Kentucky and Oregon) is a big man, they aren't likely to go head to head much, but they bring the star power and there's the possibility that they could be future teammates.

Plus Montverde is going to have at least three four-star big men to throw at Bol. Senior Fillip Petrusev is committed to Gonzaga while juniors Makhi Mitchell and Makhell Mitchell are committed to Maryland. There's also a great point guard matchup as Montverde's five-star Andrew Nembhard (Florida) and Mater Dei's Rivals150 floor general Spencer Freedman (Harvard) will sqaure off. Throw in Mater Dei's junior four-star wing P.J. Fuller and it's hard for me to imagine many games that set up better than this one.