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The 2006-07 basketball season is right around the corner. Starting today and running through next week, High School Confidential will break down the top players, position by position.
We'll divide each position into three categories: The Elite, The Up and Coming and The Sleepers, then give you two players to keep an eye on.
THE ELITE
Derrick Rose, 6-3, Sr, Simeon: What else can be said? He's the best player in the state and the best point guard in the country.
Demetri McCamey, 6-3, Sr, St. Joseph: Over the spring and summer, McCamey has become a true point guard. He's one of the strongest guards in the country. Commited to Illinois.
Michael Thompson, 5-11, Sr, Lincoln Park: He's the most natural point guard in his class. Thompson is an instinctive floor general with a deadly three-pointer. Commited to Northwestern
Jacob Pullen, 6-1, Sr, Proviso East: The best defender of the bunch. Pullen is a prime-time player — he's at his best in the biggest games. Commited to Kansas State
Aaron Johnson, 5-8, Sr, Hubbbard: He proved a lot this summer. Johnson is well known on the national club basketball circuit and an afterthought in Chicago. Commited to UAB.
UP AND COMING
Jeff Jordan, 6-2, Sr, Loyola: Showed what a talented distributer he his at Nike Camp.
Sam Maniscalco, 6-1, Sr, St. Patrick: The best shooting point guard in the state. Commited to Bradley.
Kevin Dillard, 5-11, Jr, H-F: One of the most valuable sophs in the state last year, even with an orthodox shot.
Josh Parker, 6-1, Sr, Thornton: Looking for a breakout year.
Bruce Durham, 5-11, Sr, Lockport: Streaky, but an exceptional scorer.
THE SLEEPERS
Darreon Ingram, 5-11, Sr, Curie: Drew rave reviews this summer
AJ Rompza, 5-9, Jr, Young: Needs to become consistent this season.
Isiah Williams, 6-0, Jr, Farragut: Williams didn't take the large step forward last season that many expected. Still, his potential is unlimited.
Jamal Daniel, 5-10, Jr, Bloom: No one knows who he is. That will change this season.
Michael Horton, 5-10, Sr, Von Steuben: Horton, Mike Dinuno and Deonte Lundeen give the Panthers a three-headed point guard.
TWO TO WATCH
Armani Williams, 6-1, Jr, Elgin: Very impressive this spring. He has the talent to be among the elite guards in the state next season.
Ardarius Simmons, 5-7, Jr, Marshall: Marshall coach Lamont Bryant is raving about his young point guard.
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Comments
The one to watch is David Campbell @ St. Patrick High School. This combo guard is the best in his class of 2008.
Posted by: Jerome Campbelll | October 19, 2006 11:58 AM
In head to head Michael Horton outplayed many of them this summer. His game has changed and improved dramatically. He is by far the best defensive point, ask Liggens, Pullen, Dillard, Maniscalco,Thompson and Rose.
Posted by: Michael Horton | October 19, 2006 3:43 PM
Armani Williams??? Don't you have to pass to be a point guard? The kid shoots it or turns it over every time he touches it.
Posted by: Baller | October 19, 2006 6:33 PM
What about Tyler Sugiyama who plays for New Trier HS and also plays for yhe Illinois Warriors in the AAU circut, he's also in scouthoops.com ranked in the nation for class 2009 point guards.HE IS SO UNDERRATED!
Posted by: Anonymous | October 21, 2006 10:14 AM
James Devine 6 Foot 4 Guard Theodore Roosevelt Highschool averaged 28.6 points/8 assits/6 rebounds/ last season as a sophmore he's a Junior this year he's the younger cousin of Kansas guard Sherron Collins he 's also listed on rivials.com he is being heavily recruited by
COLLEGE CHOICES INTEREST OFFER VISIT RECRUITED BY
Boston College
Georgia
Kansas
Maryland
Memphis
Michigan State
NC State
Penn State
Syracuse
Villanova
Wake Forest
Wyoming
Northern Iowa
Also this summer James was invited to the Blue-Star Nike All-American game were he averaged 15 points against some of the nations best.He was named to the all-star game were he scored 13 points 9 assits and for steals.James holds Roosevelt single game scoring record with 41 points also assits record with 13 he should be listed in the Chicago Sun-times article.
Posted by: Scout | October 22, 2006 1:22 PM
GREAT list. I agree that Horton is an Elite gaurd. Sugiyama is a good distributing point gaurd, but at 5'6 and not too fast be basically does not have any potential
Posted by: DAniel Poneman | October 28, 2006 1:08 PM
TYLER SUGIYAMA IS THE SINGLE MOST OVERRATED PLAYER IN THE COUNTRY! THE ONLY REASON HE EVEN MAKES THE BASKETBALL TEAMS AT NEW TRIER IS BECAUSE OF HIS REP. (WHICH ISNT THAT GOOD!)
Posted by: ananymous | November 4, 2006 4:45 PM
I don't think he is underrated or overrated I think he is where he is because he is what every coach wants. He is someone who can control the tempo of the game and he makes the others around him better because he is a pass before shoot guard.
Posted by: Anonymous | November 14, 2006 8:03 AM
ACE Tech has a PG Darius Lowery who team should look out for. Last year he put up 47 on st.mel
Posted by: Anonymous | November 14, 2006 8:11 AM
didnt Tyler Sugiyama get invited to Camp Next and also if you want to see a picture of him then go to scouthoops.com and go to yr. 2009 point guards. He has to be good tell me about him becaus i never seen play and he cant be overrated
Posted by: Baller 2 | November 22, 2006 9:57 AM
Tyler Sugiyama is a very overrated player. Being 5'6 and not have the quickness of a undersized point guard he has no potential.He has a nice shot, but because of his height when he gets to the varsity level he wont beable to shoot over anyboday.
Posted by: chris harris | November 22, 2006 1:28 PM
2 combo guards that should be watched this season is Jr. DiVinci Smith, and Jr. Harryl Avery @ Romeoville. These 2 guards work great together and will be something to look for this season.
Posted by: DiVinci Smith | November 25, 2006 11:02 PM
St. Pats will have a solid team this year.
Posted by: TTime | December 7, 2006 11:56 AM
tyler sugiyama sucks. he might be the most overrated player ive ever seen.
Posted by: lebron | January 16, 2007 7:28 PM
I disagree Tyler Sugiyama is a quick player that can play de. But has wat u want out of a pg which is handles. no one can take it from him.
Posted by: Anonymous 2 | January 18, 2007 5:13 PM
Tyler Sugiyama is not overrated!! He is quick and can always be counted on to make a great play...and no one can take it from him
Posted by: anonymous | January 18, 2007 5:24 PM
Tyler Sugiyama is the worst basketball player i have ever seen.
Posted by: NUMBER ONE BALLA | January 23, 2007 7:45 PM
I have played on Tyler Sugiyama's basketball team and let me just clear up this argument by saying he is nothing special. He has no business being ranked in any of these sights or anything. He is an average sophomore gaurd at best.
Posted by: anonymous4 | February 15, 2007 6:42 PM
I wanna know what team you were on with Tyler Sugiyama because my view of his game would be that everyone who can score or shoot well would love to be on his team. He gets the job done and finds the open man. So if you can shoot he will get you your points even if he dosn't always get his. His problem is that he sometimes can get to unselfish. He is so highly rated becuasse he listines to what the coaches say and does the little extra things that scouts love.
Posted by: TheTruth | February 24, 2007 10:04 PM
THIS IS TO EVERYONE WHO THINK THEY KNOW PLAYER'S,NO ONE EVEN LOOK AT DAVON SMITH THIS YEAR AND LOOK WHAT HE HAS DONE,LED HIS TEAM DOWN STATE.I'M TALKING ABOUT THE JR POINT G AT DYETT HS.IF U ARE FAN OF BASKETBALL YOU NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT THIS KID.
Posted by: the watcher | February 27, 2007 9:40 AM
Tyler sugiyama is the most overrated player, he is also the one who keeps defending him in these posts!
Posted by: SUGI BLOWS D | May 30, 2007 9:28 PM
Tyler Sugiyama is a terrible basketall player. He played on my AAU team and he is a BIG ball hog.
Posted by: Jawana Man | March 6, 2008 1:07 PM
haha I love the New Trier Haters. Ty has been holding his own lately and has been surprising many this summer (including me). He is seeing the floor better than anyone in the state and is the toughest and quickest rat out there.
Posted by: Anonymous | August 24, 2008 9:20 PM