HS BB Review

Who Do You Think Are Best Basketball Players in the Class of 2013?

There are several thousands of basketball players in the 2013 class, but only about 75 of them are getting recruited by major Division 1 colleges.  These players are the elite of the elite in the world for their age group.  But these players did not just become phenoms, they put in several hundreds of hours of hard work to compete in the level they are playing in, hoping to get a free education in college.  Some may improve to the point where they can play professional basketball.  Three players stand out in the 2013 class:  Isaac Hamilton, Aaron Gordon, and Jabari Parker.

Isaac Hamilton is a 6’4”, 170 pound shooting guard, whom I believe is the top guard of his class.  He handles the ball very well and can shoot the mid-range and outer jump shots with ease.  Opposing teams have trouble winning against this guard because when they try to stop him, Hamilton passes the ball to wide open teammates instead, resulting in easy baskets.  He plays his summer ball with the Oakland Soldiers, which is arguably the best 17u AAU program in the country.  Even though he is ranked #21 in the ESPNU Super 60, I believe he should be ranked ranked #3 because of his court vision and jumpshot.

Aaron Gordon is with no doubt the best dunker in the class of 2013.  This 6’7”, 210 pound power forward seems to dunk everything, whether it’s a missed shot or an alley oop.  He was relatively unknown until his freshman season, where he made a huge impact with his dunking ability.  He has only honed this god-given gift throughout the years, especially playing for the Oakland Soldiers.  When he was playing with Oakland teammates Dominic Artis and Brandon Ashley, Gordon significantly improved his jump shot and passing ability.  I ranked him above Julius Randle, ESPNU’s #2 2013 prospect, because Gordon is faster than Randle and has more of a post game.  Due to his explosive and rounded arsenal, I would rank him #2 in his class.

I regard this next player as the best player in the nation regardless of class.  Jabari Parker is a 6’8”, 220 pound small forward that has been blessed by the inventor of basketball, Dr. Naismith, himself.  Parker has the most exceptional game I have seen out of any player at only 17 years of age.  He can play point guard due to his spectacular court vision and handle, but can also play power forward because of his size and post moves.  His jump shot is spectacular, especially in his stepback move.  Parker can shoot from behind the arc as well, making him one of the most dangerous pre-adult players in the world.  Some ESPN analysts have even said that he will make a huge impact in the NBA, which is at least a whole three years away.  Jabari Parker is a phenom and is arguably the most viable player of the decade.

These young men are the top players of their class.  Each one is getting pursued heavily by at least 5 major Division 1 programs, such as UCLA, Duke, and Kentucky.  If they put in the extra time in every workout, they will not only make it to the NBA, but star for their teams.  All of them have yet to enter their senior season, which is highly anticipated by thousands across the nation.  Isaac Hamilton, Aaron Gordon, and Jabari Parker are a group of men among boys.

IC