Top 10: 2011 travel circuit surprises
MORE: 2012 Rivals150 | 2013 top 100
The beginning of the July open evaluation period is just a week and a half away. College coaches will soon be packing the sidelines to watch players that we've evaluated all spring. Today, we take a look at ten of the biggest surprise players of the travel basketball season.
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1. Mitch McGary
School: Wolfeboro (N.H.) Brewster Prep
The Buzz: Based on what we saw from him during his 2010-11 campaign at Brewster, we knew that McGary would be on the rise. However, nobody could have predicted the 6-foot-10 Indiana native's ascension into the national top five or his development into a potential star.
School: Henderson (Nev.) Findlay Prep
The Buzz: Much like McGary, we entered the spring knowing that Bennett -- who had just cracked the top 100 prior to his junior season -- was going to merit a bump in the rankings. Already a five-star, the Canadian import is still on the rise and has been one of the most consistently dominant performers of the summer.
3. Danuel House
School: Missouri City (Texas) Hightower
The Buzz: Headed into the spring, only Texas Pro coach Marland Lowe and House saw this explosion coming. One of the most explosive wing players in the country, House is a transition finisher who even after jumping into the top 50 is probably still under-ranked at No. 49.
4. Sam Dekker
School: Sheboygan (Wis.) Area Lutheran
The Buzz: Sometimes guys who commit early can get lost in the shuffle, but not Dekker. The 6-foot-7 wing who gave an early pledge to Wisconsin has been outstanding at every step along the way. Currently ranked No. 82 nationally after a healthy spring rankings bump, he'll be on the rise again.
5. Alex Caruso
School: College Station (Texas) A&M Consolidated
The Buzz: Few knew anything about Caruso when he stepped onto the floor at the Pangos All-American camp. That changed quickly as the 6-foot-5 shooting guard impressed with his shooting, athleticism and ball skills. He was again good at NBPA Camp and will not be unranked much longer.
School: Sioux City (Iowa) East
The Buzz: Honestly, who would have predicted that Woodbury would develop into one of the best one-on-one low-post scorers in the country? The seven-footer from Iowa has been improving each step of the way and capped his early travel season by being named MVP of NBPA Camp.
School: Concord (N.C.) First Assembly
The Buzz: We didn't have a lot of knowledge about Miller-McIntyre going into the NBPA Top 100 Camp other than he was a Wake Forest commitment. Well, Wake Forest has a gem of a point guard who is a dangerous scorer.
School: Richmond (Calif.) Salesian
The Buzz: Artis is another point guard prospect who is poised to move up the rankings. Quick and confident with the ball, Artis is a playmaker who is a catalyst for a talented Oakland Soldiers team.
School: Houston (Texas) HYCA
The Buzz: It won't be long before Knowles finds himself in the Rivals150 with a fourth star. A running mate with House on Texas PRO, Knowles opened up eyes at the NBPA Top 100 Camp with his long, bouncy and skilled play.
10. T.J. Warren
School: Raleigh (N.C.) Word of God
The Buzz: It was not a secret that Warren was a talented wing prospect with size. What caught our attention at the NBPA Top 100 Camp, however, was what a confident long-range shooter Warren is.
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