MALIK MONK: Arkansas Freshman Unleashes his Shaolin Style!!!

MALIK MONK: Class of 2016

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Written by: Prospect-Central

"The game of basketball, is like a sword fight. You must think first, before you move. Monk's style is immensely strong, and immune to nearly any weapon. When properly used, it's almost invincible!" -  Wu-Tang Clan

Monk is part of the USA Basketball pipeline

Malik Monk doesn't practice the art of Kung-Fu, but he certainly attacks the rim with fists of fury. If high school basketball was the equivalent to the Chinese fighting style, Monk would be a Grand Master.

If you don't know who Malik Monk is yet, you will soon enough. Back in July, Monk was selected to Prospect-Central's inaugural Freshmen Watch List, but it was the following month when he really burst onto the scene. He was invited to the USA Basketball U16 tryouts, and parlayed that experience into an outstanding freshman season.

Monk recently led East Poinsett County to the Arkansas AA State Championship Finals. Despite averaging 29 ppg throughout the tournament, Monk and the Warriors came up just short. They lost a nail bitter to Cedar Ridge High School, 58-56, and will no doubt use that as motivation moving forward.

When trying to describe the game of Malik Monk, two words come to mind, "Elite Athlete." I know this phrase is used far too often in high school scouting reports, but there's no other way around it. He's not only one of the most athletic freshmen in the country, he's probably one of the most athletic players period.

With an explosive first step and a 40-inch vertical leap, Monk's high flying semantics are truly breathtaking. Like a ninja waiting to strike, Monk attacks the basket with no remorse. He excels in transition, finishes well above the rim, and is nearly impossible to keep out of the lane. He might not be a Crouching Tiger, but he's definitely a Hidden Dragon.

Monk is definitely a high flyer to say the least

Besides his incredible hops, Monk's all around game is quite polished as well. He makes plays off the bounce, has a nice mid-range jumper, can stroke the 3-ball, rebounds well for his position, and is an excellent defender. He needs to work on his shot selection, but he's definitely a player. The one area of concern however, he's only 6-foot-3. That's not horrible size for a shooting guard, but if he can grow a couple more inches, we might be talking about a Top 10 player in the country.

Monk certainly has the genes of an elite athlete. His older brother Marcus played basketball & football at the University of Arkansas, and was actually drafted by the Chicago Bears in 2008. Like Marcus, Malik also played football this past season, but it's basketball where his future lies. Marcus might be 3-inches taller than his younger brother, but I'm sure he'll even tell you that Malik's the better player.

Even though Monk was selected as a Pre-Season Freshman All-American back in October, he actually might be underrated. While he's currently in the Top 30 for the Class of 2016, it's clear he's taken his game to another level. Arkansas & Florida have already offered, and he'll more than likely move up in Prospect-Central's new rankings next month. For the time being however, high school basketball better get used to the Shaolin Style of Malik Monk!

Class of 2013-16: NBA Comparisons of #1 Recruits!!! (Andrew Wiggins)

SCOTTIE PIPPEN   -   ANDREW WIGGINS (2013)   -   TRACY McGRADY

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Written by: Prospect-Central

Making player comparisons is the nature of the business. The majority of the time these comparisons are way off base, but it's fun none the less. There are many things to take into consideration when comparing high school standouts to NBA stars, but even if they share similarities in their game, that doesn't necessarily mean they'll have the same type of success.

While a players size, handles, jumper, vision, athleticism, strength, work ethic, and even facial features are all used in making comparisons, there's really no concrete way to determine if they'll end up with the same type of NBA career or not. How far these four high school hoopers go in the game of basketball will ultimately be up to their desire and passion, and there's no measuring stick for that.

Since only one of these players is eighteen years old, they obviously have a lot of time to mature physically as well as mentally. With that being said, you should take these comparisons with a grain of salt.

Whether they live up to the hype, or crumble under the pressure, they will certainly have the opportunity to showcase their skills at the highest level. You already know what they say about opinions, but here's Prospect-Central's NBA comparisons for the #1 recruits in the Class of 2013-16. * Below is the NBA comparison for Andrew Wiggins; #1 recruit Class of 2013.

Wiggins gives new meaning to the term facial

Andrew Wiggins sf / 6'7'' 205 / Toronto Ont., CAN
What can be said about Andrew Wiggins that hasn't already been said before. The kid is going to be a flat out star. If you think Dickie V goes crazy over diaper dandies now, get ready to hit the mute button next season, because he's about to lose his $#@!

The fact that Wiggins has superstar potential was one of the reasons making a player comparison for him was somewhat difficult. A lot of times these high school standouts have no realistic chance of living up to the comparison, but with Wiggins, he actually might surpass it.

Lets look at Wiggins measurables first. At 6-foot-7 (possibly 6'8''), 205 pounds, Wiggins has nice size for an NBA small forward, but it's his 7-foot wingspan that really sets him apart from his peers. His frame seems more than capable of putting on weight, as he clearly has all the physical tools to be an elite NBA wing for years to come.

When it comes to athleticism, Wiggins is untouchable. Besides LeBron James, you'll be hard pressed to find another athlete in the NBA as dynamic as the Canadian superstar. With an explosive first step and insane leaping ability, Wiggins will be able to get his shot off anywhere on the floor.

As far as all around skill level is concerned, Wiggins has all the tools necessary to dominate at the highest level and beyond. He has solid handles to go along with an explosive first step, a very effective pull up jumper, 3-point accuracy, a crafty mid-range game, and the body control to finish through contact. Put it this way, if Andrew Wiggins wants to score, he's gonna get a bucket, it's just that simple.

As good as Wiggins is on offense, it's on the defensive side of the ball where he might really be a game changer. Once again, he doesn't have the size of LeBron, so he won't be able to check a center, but due to his length and speed, he'll be able to legitimately shut down wings and guards. He plays the passing lanes extremely well, shows excellent timing when blocking shots, and for the most part gives solid effort on that side of the ball.

Pippen with the 'Leaning Tower of Pisa' dunk

As we all know, a players mental makeup is just as important as their physical attributes. For Andrew Wiggins, it's not so much his basketball IQ people question, but rather his competitive spirit and work ethic. Because the game comes so easy to him, he might not practice as much as he should, but to question his competitive spirit, that has no merit in my opinion.

A recent Sports Illustrated article questioned his competitive spirit. Wiggins responded by dropping 57 points that same day. The truly great players have the burning desire to be the best. If Andrew Wiggins doesn't rest on his laurels and reaches his full potential, you might as well make a place for him in Springfield now.

So, who is a favorable comparison for an elite 6-foot-7 wing, with unrivaled athleticism, a high offensive skill set, shutdown defensive capabilities, and superstar potential?

Three names come to mind; Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James. I definitely see similarities with Wiggins in all three players, but his physical attributes don't quite match up. Both Jordan and Kobe are 6-foot-6 guards, so that takes them out of the equation, and LeBron James is just way too strong. Wiggins doesn't have the vision of LeBron either.

Which brings us to two players that not only match up to Wiggins from a physical standpoint, but form skill level, athleticism, and overall star potential; Scottie Pippen and Tracy McGrady. At 6-foot-7, 230 pounds, Pippen and Wiggins have very similar frames. Wiggins obviously needs to bulk up, but he's only eighteen years old. Like Wiggins, Scottie Pippen had a ridiculous wingspan for his position at 7'3''.

Some other similarities between the two, Pippen's shut down defense, excellent ball handling skills, 3-point range, terrific athleticism, and the ability to finish through contact. Since Pippen was second banana to Jordan, he wasn't as much of an offensive threat that he could have been, and that's where the two players differ. Wiggins will light up the scoreboards, while Pippen was more of a play maker. Be that as it may, if Wiggins can have the same type of career Scottie Pippen had, I would consider that a success.

People seem to forget how dominant Tracy McGrady was a decade ago. If it wasn't for injuries, McGrady's career would have ended on a much higher note. At 6-foot-8, 225 pounds, with a 7'1'' wingspan, McGrady is another player who's physical attributes match that of Wiggins. Once again, Wiggins needs to add strength to truly make it a favorable comparison, but McGrady was even skinnier than Wiggins coming out of high school.

McGrady on the verge of a monster throw down

Where Wiggins compared to Pippen on the defensive side of the ball, his offensive game resembles Tracy McGrady more. McGrady could score anywhere on the floor, while literally taking over a game on that side of the ball. Something Wiggins should be able to emulate quite well. McGrady had elite athleticism also, boasting a 42-inch vertical leap back in the day. Wiggins trumps that however, with a 44-inch vertical leap. Lets not forget, McGrady was the #1 recruit coming out of high school in 1997, something Wiggins can obviously relate to. I will go out on a limb now though, and say Andrew Wiggins will not be ending his career in China :)

Two other NBA players that compare to Andrew Wiggins from a physical standpoint and skill level; Rudy Gay and Paul George. All three are exceptional athletes, have nice offensive repertoires, and are relatively the same size. In Paul George's case, Wiggins is very similar defensively. I would never want to disrespect any of the previously mentioned NBA players, but Andrew Wiggins might actually become better than all four of them. He's certainly a better player now than they were at the same stage of their careers.

Andrew Wiggins recently finished up his senior year at Huntington Prep (WV), and definitely lived up to the hype. He averaged 23.4 ppg, 11.2 rpg, 2.6 bpg, 2.4 spg, and took home Naismith National Player of the Year honors in the process. He's also been selected to compete in the Jordan Brand Classic, as well as the McDonald's All-American game. FSU, Kansas, Kentucky, and UNC are his four schools of choice, and if he isn't Freshman of the Year in college basketball next season, I'll be shocked. In essence, Andrew Wiggins is so good, he shouldn't be compared to NBA players, NBA players should be compared to him.


NBA Comparisons of #1 Recruits
2014 / 2015 / 2016

Class of 2013-16: NBA Comparisons of #1 Recruits!!! (Jahlil Okafor)

DERRICK COLEMAN   -   JAHLIL OKAFOR (2014)   -   AL JEFFERSON

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Written by: Prospect-Central

Making player comparisons is the nature of the business. The majority of the time these comparisons are way off base, but it's fun none the less. There are many things to take into consideration when comparing high school standouts to NBA stars, but even if they share similarities in their game, that doesn't necessarily mean they'll have the same type of success.

While a players size, handles, jumper, vision, athleticism, strength, work ethic, and even facial features are all used in making comparisons, there's really no concrete way to determine if they'll end up with the same type of NBA career or not. How far these four high school hoopers go in the game of basketball will ultimately be up to their desire and passion, and there's no measuring stick for that.

Since only one of these players is eighteen years old, they obviously have a lot of time to mature physically as well as mentally. With that being said, you should take these comparisons with a grain of salt.

Whether they live up to the hype, or crumble under the pressure, they will certainly have the opportunity to showcase their skills at the highest level. You already know what they say about opinions, but here's Prospect-Central's NBA comparisons for the #1 recruits in the Class of 2013-16. * Below is the NBA comparison for Jahlil Okafor; #1 recruit Class of 2014.

Okafor on verge of tearing down the rim

Jahlil Okafor c / 6'10'' 270 / Chicago, IL
The toughest #1 recruit to find an adequate NBA comparison for was probably Andrew Wiggins. Since Wiggins is all but a lock for super stardom, it was obviously difficult to find someone with the same characteristics to fit the bill. With that being said, it was nearly just as hard to find a comparison for Jahlil Okafor as well.

While Okafor's not as dynamic as Wiggins, he's still gonna be a problem at the next level. With his size, skill level, and overall feel for the game, there really aren't too many players in the NBA that compare to Jahlil.

Even though he's definitely a large young man, at roughly 6-foot-10, he's still slightly undersized for an NBA center. And therein lies the problem. How many undersized centers can you name that are stars in the league?

Let's analyze his measurables for a second. Okafor's listed anywhere from 6'9'' to 6'11'', but he's most likely 6'10''. As I stated before, not the greatest height for an NBA center, but he'll more than make up for it with his 7'3'' wingspan and massive 270 pound frame.

With his massive size, Okafor's a good athlete, but not a great one. He definitely has more than enough lift to bang it on NBA big men, but he lacks elite explosiveness. As with a lot of large people, conditioning could be an issue in the future, but for the time being he runs the floor very well for his size.

What sets Okafor apart from other players his size however, are his soft hands and nimble feet. That may not sound like much, but those are some of the most important traits a big man can have. With his gigantic hands, he's able to catch nearly any pass thrown in his direction, and his feathery touch around the basket is truly a sight for sore eyes.

The big man has an excellent back to the basket game, extremely smooth footwork, great body control, an array of spin moves, a proficient mid-range game, and an overall high basketball IQ. Bottom line, Jahlil Okafor's nickname should be "Wax", because his offensive game is quite polished to say the least.

As of right now, there's no question Okafor's more advanced on the offensive side of the ball than he is on defense. That's not to say he can't play D, but since he rarely faces an opponent as large as himself, that area of his game will need to tighten up as the years go by. He's still a very good rebounder however, in particularly on the offensive glass.

As far as Okafor's mental makeup is concerned, the young man is mature beyond his years. He conducts himself very well on and off the court, and is definitely not a knucklehead. A lot of things can be contributed to Okafor's humbleness, but it might be what happened to him as a child that's shaping him into the man he's becoming today.

When he was nine years old, Jahlil's mother contracted bronchitis causing her lungs to collapse. Two weeks later, she died. Experiencing a tragedy like this at such a young age can cause a person to grow up pretty quickly. Jahlil Okafor became a man that day.

Coleman trying to embarrass Corliss Williamson

The 17-year old is far from a finished product, but there's no question his future playing days are in the NBA. So, who are some players that compare favorably to Okafor you ask? Good question.

The two most common comparisons you'll hear are Jared Sullinger and Carlos Boozer. I actually like both of these comparisons due to their combination of power and finesse, but I wanted to find two players who were legitimately 6-foot-10. Okafor has a chance to be a better defensive player than Boozer also, and in Sullinger's case, I wanted to set the bar a little higher.

I can't pinpoint the exact time when the NBA center position downgraded from a height perspective, but it's sometime within the last ten to fifteen years. Nowadays, the position is mostly about strength & mass, as opposed to how tall a player is. Point being, 6-foot-10, 250 pound Derrick Coleman could have held down the position in today's game.

The former #1 pick of the 1990 NBA Draft and Rookie of the Year, Derrick Coleman had a pretty solid NBA career despite never quite living up to the hype. He was definitely a power forward during his era, but he was strong enough and physical enough to play center in today's NBA landscape.

Some similarities between the two players; a crafty post game, average athleticism, ball handling capabilities, shot blocking instincts, a strong physical presence, and an overall high offensive skill set to size ratio. As similar as they appear to be, there's obviously some differences between the two players as well.

For starters, Derrick Coleman's most productive playing weight was right around 250 pounds. He reached 270 pounds later in his career, but that was clearly too heavy for him. Jahlil's already 270 pounds, and quite frankly, he carries it very well. Coleman also had 3-point range, something Jahlil has yet to add to his arsenal.

The most notable difference though, has to be Coleman's questionable attitude throughout his career and off the court issues. Jahlil has no signs of that being a problem in the future. Regardless of all the extracurricular activities, Derrick Coleman was still a pretty good basketball player. And who knows. If Jahlil pans out, maybe he can charge people $1,500 to have dinner with him, just like Derrick Coleman does now :)

I don't know about you, but it seems like Al Jefferson has been part of NBA trade rumors even before he entered the league. Is Al Jefferson an all-star? No. Is Al Jefferson an exciting player? Not particularly. Is Al Jefferson good looking?  You got to be kidding me (lol). But is Al Jefferson a legitimate starting center in the NBA? You darn right he is!

With a career average of 16.4 ppg, 9.0 rpg, and 1.4 bpg, Al Jefferson has more than held his own throughout his nine years in the league. Ironically, Derrick Coleman's stats are virtually identical. At 6-foot-10, 280 pounds, with a 7'3'' wingspan, Jefferson and Okafor have very similar frames. They also both have an array of post moves, strong hands, average athleticism, nice footwork, decent shot blocking capabilities, and a solid mid-range game. Lets not forget, they both are extremely humble as well.

Jefferson jamming as Tayshaun Prince spectates

Even though I think Jahlil will rebound the ball better than Jefferson, I wouldn't be shocked if the two players have similar careers. Considering Al Jefferson's already made nearly $75 million dollars, I'm sure Jahlil wouldn't be too disappointed with that.

Jahlil Okafor played very well this past season for Whitney Young (Chicago, IL). He averaged 20.7 ppg, 9.3 rpg, and 3.0 bpg. To tell you the truth though, he'll probably play even better next year as a senior. Despite finishing the season with a disappointing loss to Jabari Parker and Simeon Career Academy, in Chicago's Class 4A Argo Sectional finals, he still took home a number of individual accolades, including the Chicago Sun-Times Player of the Year honors.

There's significant rumors Okafor will join the #3 recruit in the Class of 2014 Tyus Jones, when both players decide on which college to attend a year and a half from now. Duke, Ohio State, Michigan State, and Kentucky seem to be the favorites, but anything can happen when it comes to recruiting.

As it stands right now however, Jahlil Okafor already has his eyes set on the NBA. There are a number of people who believe he could play in the league right now, and last summer he actually got the better of Al Jefferson's backup Enes Kanter in a scrimmage. Yet another similarity he shares with the Utah big man. All in all, Jahlil Okafor appears to be another future NBA lottery pick hailing from the city of Chicago. After that, it's up to him how far he takes his game.


NBA Comparisons of #1 Recruits
2013 / 2015 / 2016

Class of 2013-16: NBA Comparisons of #1 Recruits!!! (Ivan Rabb)

SHAWN KEMP   -    IVAN RABB (2015)    -    DERRICK FAVORS

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Written by: Prospect-Central

Making player comparisons is the nature of the business. The majority of the time these comparisons are way off base, but it's fun none the less. There are many things to take into consideration when comparing high school standouts to NBA stars, but even if they share similarities in their game, that doesn't necessarily mean they'll have the same type of success.

While a players size, handles, jumper, vision, athleticism, strength, work ethic, and even facial features are all used in making comparisons, there's really no concrete way to determine if they'll end up with the same type of NBA career or not. How far these four high school hoopers go in the game of basketball will ultimately be up to their desire and passion, and there's no measuring stick for that.

Since only one of these players is eighteen years old, they obviously have a lot of time to mature physically as well as mentally. With that being said, you should take these comparisons with a grain of salt.

Whether they live up to the hype, or crumble under the pressure, they will certainly have the opportunity to showcase their skills at the highest level. You already know what they say about opinions, but here's Prospect-Central's NBA comparisons for the #1 recruits in the Class of 2013-16. * Below is the NBA comparison for Ivan Rabb; #1 recruit Class of 2015.

Rabb with a vicious throw down for Bishop O'Dowd 

Ivan Rabb pf / 6'9'' 210 / Oakland, CA
Let me start out by saying this. The top spot in the Class of 2015 is wide open. You can make a legitimate case for about ten players who deserve the #1 ranking, and since they're only sophomores in high school, don't be surprised if it changes a number of times over the next two years.

For the time being however, it's hard to disagree with California native Ivan Rabb as the #1 recruit in the Class of 2015. Back in September, Prospect-Central said Rabb was on the verge of a breakout sophomore year, and he obviously lived up to the hype. As I stated before, it's definitely debatable if he's the top overall player in the class or not, but don't get it twisted, Ivan Rabb's future is in the NBA.

Born February 4th, 1997, the newly turned 16-year old is the definition of potential. He's long, athletic, skilled, and motivated, and if he continues developing his game at his current pace, he's probably a top 10 player in the country regardless of class. There's obviously no guarantees in life, but Ivan Rabb has a chance to be a very special basketball player.

Before we compare Rabb's game to some NBA players, lets look at his physical attributes first. Standing 6-foot-9, with a 7'0'' wingspan and wiry 210 pound frame, Ivan Rabb's clearly still growing into his body. He obviously needs to get stronger, but that should come with time. In all honesty though, I won't be surprised if he's pushing 7-feet by the time he graduates high school, and that's a scary thought.

When it comes to athleticism, you can place Ivan Rabb into the elite category. He's an explosive leaper that gets off the ground in a hurry, and shows no remorse when attacking the rim. Add this to his impressive length, and it's easy to see why he's such a force inside the paint. Despite the fact he's still growing, he's extremely coordinated for his size, and gets up and down the court in a blur.

While Rabb gets most of his buckets inside the paint, his jumper is far from broken. You won't get him confused for a stretch 4, but he has a nice looking stroke, with range out to about 15-feet. With his size and length, Rabb's step-back jump shot is slowly becoming a deadly weapon, and that could be a serious problem for the rest of the country. Hopefully he becomes a more consistent shooter over time, because that'll probably be the final piece to his puzzle. The most underrated aspect of his game though, might just be his passing. He has excellent vision for a big man, and shows the willingness to find the open teammate.

Of all the attributes that make Ivan Rabb such a great basketball player, it has to be his non-stop motor that's the most impressive. He's extremely active on both sides of the ball, and is an absolute beast on the boards. He rebounds well in traffic, gives multiple efforts on the glass, and shows excellent timing when blocking shots. Once he adds some muscle to his frame, Rabb should be a lock down defender at the power forward position.

As we all know, there've been a number of high school stars over the years that simply never pan out. One of the main reasons for this is due to complacency. Since everyone is constantly telling these kids how good they are, they begin to feel a false sense of entitlement, when in reality they haven't proven anything.

Kemp was a highlight reel waiting to happen

Ivan Rabb is definitely not one of these players. He's a very humble young man and knows that in order to reach his full potential, there's no substitute for hard work. If he continues this way of thinking, it's more than likely he'll go very far in the game of basketball.

Because Ivan's so young, and he's still growing into his body as well as developing his game, it was somewhat difficult trying to find an adequate NBA comparison for him. A quick rundown of some players considered for the selection; LaMarcus Aldridge, Larry Nance, Tristan Thompson, Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Kenyon Martin, Drew Gooden, Juwan Howard, Tim Thomas, Darius Miles, Eddie Griffin, and Brandan Wright.

These comparisons were based mainly on size and body type, but there are a few similarities as far as athleticism and skill level is concerned. Outside of LaMarcus Aldridge, Larry Nance, & Tristan Thompson however, I can easily see Ivan Rabb surpassing everyone of these players.

Which brings us to the two players who were actually chosen; Shawn Kemp & Derrick Favors. I'm not totally in love with this comparison, but I guess you could do worse. At 6-foot-10, 230 pounds, with a 7'1'' wingspan and 44-inch vertical leap, it's safe to say Shawn Kemp was a freak of nature. Even though he was a 6 time all-star and had a pretty solid NBA career, I can't help but think how much better he could have been if it wasn't for drugs and alcohol.

Regardless of his substance abuse problems, Shawn Kemp was a beast throughout much of the 90's, and in my opinion one of the top 10 players of all-time to make the jump directly to the NBA from high school. He might've had a better transition game than Ivan, but the comparison is not too off base. Some similarities between Rabb & Kemp; size, athleticism, rebounding, shot blocking, and overall star potential. Lets not forget, Kemp also had the ability to put people on posters (Alton Lister), something Ivan Rabb is quite accustomed to.

Now obviously there's some differences as well. For starters, Kemp's work ethic was horrible, as was evident by his rapid weight gain later in his career. There's no signs of that from Ivan Rabb at the moment. Kemp was also a turnover machine, constantly trying to force the issue. On the contrary, Rabb appears to have an excellent basketball IQ. And last but not least, Kemp had numerous off the court issues. Don't quote me on this, but I'm pretty sure Ivan Rabb has yet to father 7 children by 6 different women, something the Reignman is quite famous for.

While Rabb is somewhat similar to Shawn Kemp on the offensive side of the ball, it might be Derrick Favors who he resembles more from a defensive and physicality standpoint. Even though Favors is 6-foot-10, 250 pounds, with a huge 7'4'' wingspan, he was basically the same size as Rabb in high school. Like Rabb, Derrick Favors was a top 3 recruit coming out of the Class of 2009 and considered by many a future NBA star. In his first 3 years in the league, Favors is putting up some modest numbers for the Utah Jazz, but he's yet to truly have a breakout season. He's only 21-years old though, and there's no question the potential is still there.

Some similarities between Rabb & Favors; running the floor, quick leaping ability, rebounding in traffic, good help side defense, attacking the rim, and overall physical presence. They also both need to work on developing a more consistent stroke. As good as Derrick Favors was in high school however, Ivan Rabb could end up being even better. His game is certainly more developed than Favors was at the same stage of his career. All in all, the comparison between the two players seems pretty "Favorable" to me :)

Favors is an absolute physical specimen

Ivan Rabb recently finished up his sophomore season with Bishop O'Dowd (Oakland, CA), and despite having an excellent year, the Dragons were bounced out of the first round of the CIF State Championships. Rabb had a decent game with 12 points and 7 rebounds, but Modesto Christian was clearly the better team that day. Regardless of the loss, Rabb almost averaged a triple-double this season, including a ridiculous 40 point, 18 rebound, 10 block performance back in February.

Since Ivan plays his high school ball for Bishop O'Dowd, he's beginning to receive comparisons to former alumni Brandon Ashley. While there's definitely some similarities as far as body type & athleticism is concerned, Rabb's ceiling is probably higher than the Arizona Wildcat freshman. Last summer he also played for the same AAU team as Ashley, the Oakland Soldiers, but he's rumored to be joining a new squad this spring. He'll have his choice of colleges to attend two years from now, but I don't see him leaving the West Coast.

In May, the 12-member USA 16U National Team will be selected, and the following month they'll compete at the FIBA Americas 16U Championships from Maldonado, Uruguay. There's no guarantees, but Ivan Rabb is basically a lock to make the team. As we all know, once he enters the USA Basketball pipeline, his name is on the shortlist of future stars.


NBA Comparisons of #1 Recruits
2013 / 2014 / 2016

Class of 2013-16: NBA Comparisons of #1 Recruits!!! (Thon Maker)

KEVIN GARNETT   -   THON MAKER (2016)   -   KEVIN DURANT

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Written by: Prospect-Central

Making player comparisons is the nature of the business. The majority of the time these comparisons are way off base, but it's fun none the less. There are many things to take into consideration when comparing high school standouts to NBA stars, but even if they share similarities in their game, that doesn't necessarily mean they'll have the same type of success.

While a players size, handles, jumper, vision, athleticism, strength, work ethic, and even facial features are all used in making comparisons, there's really no concrete way to determine if they'll end up with the same type of NBA career or not. How far these four high school hoopers go in the game of basketball will ultimately be up to their desire and passion, and there's no measuring stick for that.

Since only one of these players is eighteen years old, they obviously have a lot of time to mature physically as well as mentally. With that being said, you should take these comparisons with a grain of salt.

Whether they live up to the hype, or crumble under the pressure, they will certainly have the opportunity to showcase their skills at the highest level. You already know what they say about opinions, but here's Prospect-Central's NBA comparisons for the #1 recruits in the Class of 2013-16. * Below is the NBA comparison for Thon Maker; #1 recruit Class of 2016.

Maker dominated as a freshman for Carlisle School

Thon Maker pf/c / 7'0'' 210 / Martinsville, VA
The one thing about sports, the future can always be bright. As unhealthy as it may sound, there's valid reasons people can't help but to obsess over high school recruits. From a psychological perspective, the anticipation of how good something can become is very intriguing, and there's no limits to our imagination with this unknown. As with many things however, the anticipation of these recruits is sometimes better than the actual final product.

Ultimately no one knows how good the Class of 2016 can become, but it might be the most talented in all of high school. It's certainly shaping out to be a class for the ages, but lets not count our chickens before they hatch. A handful of players could be labeled the #1 freshman in the country, but for the time being there's two hoopers head and shoulders above the rest; Harry Giles, III & Thon Maker.

Harry Giles, III had an exceptional freshman campaign for Wesleyan Christian Academy (NC), helping the Trojans win a state championship while putting up some impressive numbers in the process. Thon Maker on the other hand, has been nothing short of spectacular during his first year of high school basketball. Since Maker was the #1 recruit going into the season, there's no reason not to think he's still deserving of the honor.

When it comes to the combination of size and skill, there might not be another player in all of high school quite like the Sudanese native. Born February 25th, 1997, the newly turned 16-year old was first featured by Prospect-Central back in July of 2011, when he was still living in Australia. Since then, Maker's skills have absolutely flourished, as he's more than lived up to the hype. He currently resides in Martinsville, Virginia, and last month led Carlisle High School to a Division II State Championship.

Before we compare Maker's game to some NBA players, let's take a closer look at his physical attributes first. At 7-feet, 210 pounds, size is clearly not a problem for Thon. Even though he needs to get stronger, his frame seems more than capable of putting on muscle as the years go by. Because his perimeter game is so advanced however, it's not like he needs to turn into a body builder.

Whatever Thon Maker lacks in strength, he definitely makes up for in length. With a ridiculous 7'9'' wingspan, what more needs to be said after that. To put that type of size into perspective, there's only been two players in the history of the NBA who's wingspans have been longer; Manute Bol (8'6'') & Gheorghe Muresan (7'10''). The difference between Maker and these giants though, athleticism and skills.

Despite his size, he's an extremely fluid athlete and runs the floor with ease. With his enormous reach and excellent leaping ability, Maker has a chance to be virtually unstoppable down low. As impressive as that may sound, his perimeter skills are what make him such an intriguing prospect. He can handle the ball like a guard, and his jumper is money from beyond the arc. His back to the basket game might be a work in progress, but there's no ceiling to his potential. In all honesty, I personally have never seen another freshman with the size and skill of Thon Maker.

Because his offensive repertoire is so advanced compared to his size, a person could lose focus on the most important part of his game, defense! As you can well imagine, Maker's an absolute menace when it comes to blocking shots. Not only does he have the athleticism and length to be a rim protector, his timing is quite impressive as well. He doesn't bite on pump fakes, shows a quick 2nd jump, and has the mobility to stay in front of his man. Once he gets stronger, Thon Maker could be a game changer on the defensive side of the ball.

Garnett is easily a first ballot Hall-of-Famer

It's clear Maker has all the physical tools to be an excellent basketball player, but as we all know the mental side of the game is just as important. Because he's only been playing the game for a couple of years, there's definitely some nuances he needs to work on, but as far as his overall demeanor is concerned, you really can't ask for anything more.

He's humble, hard working, motivated, and shows no signs of veering off the path to success. He was also an honor roll student this past semester, which is something that can never be overstated enough. If he continues this blue collar mentality, there's no reason not to think Thon Maker can't reach his ultimate goal, the NBA.

If Thon Maker's future is indeed in the NBA, who are some players he might compare to? We need to find a 7-footer, that has nice handles, solid athleticism, shot blocking capabilities, and can stroke the 3 ball. In other words, good luck with that! I guess Dirk Nowitzki or Pau Gasol might come to mind, but Thon's probably more athletic than these big men.

Please note, by no means am I saying Thon Maker is as good as the players he's being compared to. Since he's only a freshman in high school, it would be ridiculous to think otherwise. These are just some players he shares similarities with as far as size, and what he MIGHT project to down the line.

Of all the #1 recruits in high school, Thon Maker's NBA comparison was probably the easiest to make. Not only that, they were the best NBA players used between the four of them. If these comparisons are any indication of the type of player he can become, then Thon Maker could be destined for greatness. As I stated before, he's obviously not in the same class as these NBA all-stars, but that doesn't mean they don't share similarities. With that being said, there was really only two players considered for the selection; Kevin Garnett & Kevin Durant.

At 6-foot-11, 250 pounds, with a 7'4'' wingspan and 36-inch vertical leap, Kevin Garnett was born to play basketball. He's clearly heavier than Thon, but was roughly 220 pounds when he entered the league in 1995. Even though he's more polished than the freshman, from a size perspective they're very similar. It's hard to compare a future Hall-of-Famer to a 16-year old, but Maker's game mimics Garnett's to some degree.

Some similarities between the two players; a lethal mid-range jump shot, solid athleticism, excellent rebounding, shot blocking prowess, and overall high energy level. Thon's not as physical as Garnett was in high school, but then again not many players are. No one can touch Garnett's competitive spirit either, so I won't even try to compare that attribute. Be that as it may, if there wasn't a one-and-done rule in today's NBA, Maker could have a chance to enter the league straight out of high school, just like Garnett.

As great as Kevin Garnett has been throughout his 18 years in the NBA, Kevin Durant is on pace to having an even better career. At 6-foot-9, 230 pounds, and a 33-inch vertical leap, Durant might not be the most physically intimidating player, but there's no one outside of LeBron James with the same size and skill level.

In Durant's case, I'm not referring to strength when talking about size, but rather length. Like Thon Maker, Durant has an enormous 7'5'' wingspan and definitely knows how to use it. For those of you really caught up in the fact Maker needs to gain some weight, you should note that Kevin Durant was roughly 205 pounds coming out of high school.

Now obviously it would be blasphemous to consider Thon Maker in the same class as one of the best players in the NBA, but when trying to find a comparison for the talented freshman, Kevin Durant has to be a name that comes to mind.

Durant's game is still evolving, and that's scary

Besides their incredible length, both players have a high offensive skill set, 3 point range, excellent ball handling abilities, terrific body control, good lateral quickness, and a laid-back demeanor. Durant's better in the post than Maker, and he's more effective off the bounce, but Thon's 3-inches taller, and he's probably a better defender than Durant was in high school. So, what are the chances Thon Maker becomes the next Kevin Durant? Slim to none, but then again, anything's possible.

Back in October, Thon Maker was selected as Prospect-Central's Pre-Season Freshman of the Year, and it's safe to say he delivered with the goods. In his first varsity game, Maker went for 49 and 18 (lol), and it was all smooth sailing after that. Besides leading Carlisle School to a Virginia Division II State Championship, Maker was in the top 5 of three major statistical categories for freshmen. He was 4th in scoring (23.4 ppg), 4th in rebounds (12.9 rpg), and 2nd in blocks (4.9 bpg). He might not have played against the greatest competition, but those are still some pretty impressive numbers.

Maker should be in high demand this spring and summer, as he'll more than likely be invited to a number of national events. Watching Thon play against better competition should help in the evaluation process, because there're certainly some heavy hitters in the Class of 2016. As with all class rankings, it might be debatable if he's the #1 recruit or not, but you can't deny that he's in the discussion. And if you still think he's just a big faker, be careful, because you might just meet your Maker!


NBA Comparisons of #1 Recruits
2013 / 2014 / 2015

Prospect-Central's 2012-13 NCAA Basketball All-Americans!!!

2012-13 All-Americans NCAA Basketball

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Coach of the Year

Jim Larranaga / Bronx, NY / Miami (FL)




Player of the Year

Trey Burke pg / 6'0'' 190 / Columbus, OH / Michigan / So.




Co-Freshmen of the Year

Marcus Smart pg / 6'4'' 225 / Flower Mound, TX / Oklahoma State / Fr.

Ben McLemore sg / 6'5'' 185 / St. Louis, MO / Kansas / Fr.




First Team All-Americans (6)

Trey Burke pg / 6'0'' 190 / Columbus, OH / Michigan / So.

Victor Oladipo sg / 6'5'' 215 / Upper Marlboro, MD / Indiana / Jr.

Otto Porter, Jr sf / 6'8'' 205 / Morley, MO / Georgetown / So.

Doug McDermott sf / 6'8'' 225 / Ames, IA / Creighton / Jr.

Cody Zeller pf/c / 7'0'' 240 / Washington, IN / Indiana / So.

Kelly Olynyk pf/c / 7'0'' 240 / Kamloops, BC / Gonzaga / Jr.




Second Team All-Americans

Erick Green pg/sg / 6'4'' 185 / Winchester, VA / Virginia Tech / Sr.

Marcus Smart pg / 6'4'' 225 / Flower Mound, TX / Oklahoma State / Fr.

Ben McLemore sg / 6'5'' 185 / St. Louis, MO / Kansas / Fr.

Deshaun Thomas sf / 6'7'' 225 / Fort Wayne, IN / Ohio State / Jr.

Mason Plumlee pf/c / 6'10'' 235 / Warsaw, IN / Duke / Sr.




Third Team All-Americans

Shane Larkin pg / 5'11'' 175 / Orlando, FL / Miami (FL) / So.

Russ Smith pg / 6'1'' 170 / Brooklyn, NY / Louisville / Jr.

Nate Wolters pg / 6'4'' 190 / St. Cloud, MN / South Dakota State / Sr.

Mike Muscala pf/c / 6'11'' 240 / Roseville, MN / Bucknell / Sr.

Jeff Withey c / 7'0'' 235 / San Diego, CA / Kansas / Sr.




First Team Freshmen All-Americans

Jahii Carson pg / 5'10'' 175 / Mesa, AZ / Arizona State / Fr.

Marcus Smart pg / 6'4'' 225 / Flower Mound, TX / Oklahoma State / Fr.

Ben McLemore sg / 6'5'' 185 / St. Louis, MO / Kansas / Fr.

Shabazz Muhammad sg/sf / 6'6'' 225 / Las Vegas, NV / UCLA / Fr.

Anthony Bennett pf / 6'8'' 240 / Brampton, Ont., CAN / UNLV / Fr.




Second Team Freshmen All-Americans

Semaj Christon pg / 6'3'' 185 / Cincinnati, OH / Xavier / Fr.

Gary Harris sg / 6'4'' 205 / Fishers, IN / Michigan State / Fr.

Jordan Adams sg / 6'5'' 220 / Atlanta, GA / UCLA / Fr.

Nerlens Noel c / 6'10'' 230 / Everett, MA / Kentucky / Fr.

Isaiah Austin pf/c / 7'1'' 220 / Arlington, TX / Baylor / Fr.




Third Team Freshmen All-Americans

Rasheed Sulaimon sg / 6'4'' 185 / Houston, TX / Duke / Fr.

Archie Goodwin sg / 6'5'' 200 / Little Rock, AR / Kentucky / Fr.

Glenn Robinson, III sf / 6'6'' 210 / St. John, IN / Michigan / Fr.

Jakarr Sampson sf / 6'8'' 205 / Akron, OH / St. John's / Fr.

Kyle Anderson pg/sf / 6'9'' 235 / Fairview, NJ / UCLA / Fr.




2012-13 NCAA Basketball All-Conference Selections
Pre-Season All-Americans / ACC / Big East / Big Ten
Big 12 / Pac 12 / SEC / Mid Major / Mid Major / Mid Major