2008 Slam High School All-Americans
These kids play basketball good.
So we’re a little small on the wing. We don’t pick our annual high school All-American teams by position, so you can, we hope, forgive us for not having a true swingman on this year’s first team. Otherwise, we’d feel pretty good putting this five up against any NCAA quintet you might choose to field next fall.
For those of you who haven’t yet copped SLAM 119; or who live in far-flung places like Saudi Arabia, Ireland, or Centre County, PA…) and are still waiting for, say, SLAM 109; or who just don’t bother following this whole high school basketball scene, these names might not mean much. For the rest (hopefully most) of you, the names and games are at least a little bit familiar. They are, by our estimation, the five best players in the HS class of 2008. We should mention that “best” is kind of a dicey idea, because we’re basing our opinion both on what they accomplished in the high school ranks, and on what we expect them to accomplish on the next level(s). This is neither exact, nor is it science, but we do the best we can.
Click here for your exclusive 2008 SLAM High School All-Americans wallpaper.
Here then, a quick little breakdown type-thing of who they are and why they’re here:
Tyreke Evans, American Christian Academy, Aston, PA: A 6-5 combo guard from outside Philly who’s probably the best-known name on this list, not least because he followed guys like Starbury, LeBron, and Kevin Love as a SLAM Basketball Diary keeper. Reke’s the sort of player who makes scoring look preposterously easily. He is strong and fast and fluid and gets to the basket whenever he feels like it, and sometimes even when he probably doesn’t. That’s how good he is. He’ll play at Memphis next season. He won’t “replace” Derrick Rose, because they’re not strictly speaking the same sort of player. But in the sense that they’re both really good and will have a massive and immediate impact on the program, it’s actually not a bad comparison.
Jrue Holiday, Campbell Hall, North Hollywood, CA: Approximately 83 percent of the really good players in the ‘08 class hail from California (this is an estimate, but I think it’s close). Of those, this SoCal combo guard is the best. Because of his L.A. area roots, his ability to score and distribute with equal levels of excellence, and his college choice, Jrue (pronounced “Drew”) is sometimes compared to Baron Davis. We don’t know if he can grow a dope beard or will one day break into the movie business, but we do know he’s going to UCLA; if the Bruins make it back to the Final Four for the 19th consecutive season next year (again, an estimate, but a good one), Jrue will most likely have a lot to do with it.
Brandon Jennings, Oak Hill Academy, Mouth of Wilson, VA: When a player best known for his entertaining passing breaks the season scoring record at a place like Oak Hill Academy, you sort of have to put him on a list like this. Not that we ever doubted Brandon, but dude was next level this year, as his haul of National POY honors made clear. Kenny Anderson comparisons were the norm for this 6-2 point guard and L.A. native, but that get-buckets mentality increasingly has people thinking of a young AI. He’s not the first or last smallish scoring guard to wear that label in the past decade or so, but he might have the best chance of justifying the hype. If nothing else, he figures to make Lute Olsen’s return to the Arizona bench a lot more enjoyable.
Greg Monroe, Helen Cox HS, Harvey, LA: To those who are only sort of paying attention, the mild-mannered cat from just outside N’awlins is a Ewing or Mourning clone — because he’s a “big man” and he’ll be playing for JTIII at Georgetown next year. But think “big” more in the Al Harrington mode — a 6-10 shooter and slasher and general matchup nightmare. He can defend a little, too, and don’t think Coach Thompson won’t have him causing all sorts of trouble in the paint next year. But this is a new kind of Hoya big man, and the only real similarity he hopes to have with the likes of Pat and Zo is lots and lots of wins.
Samardo Samuels, St. Benedict’s Prep, Newark, NJ: We feel really, really badly for anyone who has to try and check ‘Mardo in college next season, because this kid’s a beast. After dominating the Jersey prep ranks for a minute, the burly, 6-9 Samuels will be down in Louisville next fall, where he figures to give Rick Pitino the sort of no-joke post presence he’s been lacking in recent years. He’s a bad man.
And once again, team MVP honors go to our man Nando at Athletes Basketball, who blessed us with the lovely uniforms pictured here. Thanks, Nando!
54 Responses to “2008 Slam High School All-Americans”
May.15 at 4:06 pm
Khalid Salaam says:
Btw Ryan, congrats on the latest addition to the Jones clan.
May.15 at 4:10 pm
Ryan Jones says:
Thanks man.
May.15 at 4:15 pm
K Holls says:
Those are some really hot jerseys.
May.15 at 4:17 pm
nastruthomas says:
do you say it “JAY ROO” or like youre saying “jew” and “drew” simultaneously…just wondering.
May.15 at 4:18 pm
nastruthomas says:
nvm, first i skimmed then i read the post, easy mistake.
May.15 at 4:18 pm
Ryan Jones says:
“Pronounced ‘Drew.’” I really don’t know how much more clear I can be.
May.15 at 4:19 pm
Ryan Jones says:
You are forgiven. Kind of makes your commenter tag ironic, though.
May.15 at 4:19 pm
TADOne says:
I’ll be watching Brandon Jenning’s and his hightop fade at ‘Zona next year. The boy is really fun to watch.
May.15 at 4:23 pm
H to the izzo says:
Well,they play basketball well.I like how the site keeps publishing stuff from issues I haven’t got yet.I think I’m constantly two issues behind.Yay wherever I live!
May.15 at 4:27 pm
Ryan Jones says:
No, izzo, they play good. Trust me. I’ve seen them.
May.15 at 4:35 pm
Ben Osborne says:
Nice work, RJ.
May.15 at 4:39 pm
glen lewis says:
Are they wearing the Jordan CP3’s ?
May.15 at 4:42 pm
K Holls says:
Why am I in moderation?
May.15 at 4:44 pm
MBE18 says:
Where is Lance Stephenson?
May.15 at 4:49 pm
Ryan Jones says:
You’ll have to check the issue, MBE. I can tell you he’s not far off from this group. He’s also not a graduating senior — not that first team is limited to seniors, but worth noting.
May.15 at 4:51 pm
underdog says:
Yeah Izzo, it’s sucks to be an international subscriber…
May.15 at 4:55 pm
TADOne says:
As long as ya’ll have been covering Stephenson, it feels as though he should be a college freshman.
May.15 at 5:00 pm
Lang Whitaker says:
I voted for Elena Delledonne
May.15 at 5:19 pm
RV says:
i think its probably more “Jrew” than “Drew”, parents these days are creative
May.15 at 5:42 pm
poohbiz says:
still havnt gotten 119…
May.15 at 6:00 pm
B. Long says:
Congrats to these dudes. Heres to hoping this freshman class is as dope as the last one.
May.15 at 6:21 pm
TADOne says:
Delledonne is the truth. Having lived in Delaware, I have seen her play live, and she is the female Kobe Bryant, no lie. She will be tearing it up at UConn next year.
May.15 at 6:54 pm
Simmy Sosa says:
Its “these kids play basketball WELL”. Come on guys, don’t let those years of Grammar go by the wayside…
May.15 at 7:43 pm
. .iiLAiiSE. . says:
. good on them for playing the game well .
May.15 at 8:47 pm
Ben Osborne says:
Lance and a host of other good high schoolers who weren’t quite good enough to make the first team get love in this issue, which should be arriving in subscribers mailboxes anyday (promise! since I know plenty who have already gotten it). And yes, Glen Lewis, they are wearing the CP3s, since we shot the kids while they were in New York for the Jordan Brand All-American game.
May.15 at 10:02 pm
T.J says:
I like the choices this year but why not make it six players and add Derozan?
May.15 at 10:31 pm
omar says:
demar derozen BJ mullens???????????
greg monroe is overrated en samardo is not better dan bj mullens
May.16 at 12:07 am
Phila says:
No white boys, good $hit. We gon get a Puerto Rican in there some day. That cat Angel shouldve made it, he ill
May.16 at 1:36 am
call me li says:
yo i live in tanzania and i ain’t get my SLAM 119 yet..plus it seems for some reason yall seem to have decided to just not send me that Chris Paul cover (like 115 or 116?) I feel Jennings could do AI justice though, straight up (like his hair)
May.16 at 9:20 am
ER says:
I love the jordan cp’s they are rockings. the jerseys are pretty nice too.
May.16 at 9:24 am
wangqi says:
oh.no!!
May.16 at 10:35 am
L says:
brandon is the most impressive guy from all of them..real scary lefty with crazy hops and a great feel for the game..damn can’t wait to see zona play next year..L
May.16 at 10:59 am
Ben Osborne says:
Thanks for nothing, poster “Brandon”. You will be removed shortly.
May.16 at 1:49 pm
Tony Williams says:
RyJones! Good work, man! I liken B.Jennings to a young Arenas..both in game and in his personality. He’s prolly my fave prepster — along with Samardo. Hey, I didn’t know about the newest addition, though. Congrats! Get at me sometime. Peace! -TW-
May.16 at 2:01 pm
Ryan Jones says:
Thanks T.
May.16 at 2:23 pm
Reading is Great! Friday’s NBA Rumors, Breaking News, and Blog Links - EmptyTheBench.com says:
[…] - 20 Second Timeout - “Stayin’ alive, stayin’ alive, ah ha ha ha, stayin’ alliiiiiiiiiiiiiive.” - Seattle PI - Joe Pace’s 30-year spiral took him from a basketball title to a homeless shelter. - Clips Nation - The Clippers would do well to clear cap space for the 2010 free-agent derby. - Bullets Forever - Is Georgetown’s 7-2, lumbering center a legit big man or just a big bust? - Bright Side of the Sun - Pistons assistant coach Terry Porter could wind up in Phoenix. - Detroit Free Press - Rip Hamilton is already a more prolific postseason scorer than Zeke. - SLAM - The future of the NBA: The 2008 Slam High School All-Americans. - TrueHoop - Does Chris Paul’s suspect defense render him merely a “very good” player? - Hornets 24/7 - Autopsy of a blown opportunity for the Hornets in San Antonio. - Dime - How sick would it be if San Antonio was introduced to The Undertaker’s theme? - The On Deck Circle - How each Knick will work in Mike D’Antoni’s run-and-gun offense. - Can’t Stop the Bleeding - This makes me embarassed for Channing Frye, on many levels. - DC Sports Bog - The craziest game of hoops you never heard of is coming to DC in June. - HOOPSWORLD - Dikembe Mutombo pulls a Brett Favre and decides not to retire. - Red’s Army - Boston will be playing Sunday and they’re hoping it’s against Detroit. - Odenized - A sequence of flops and questionable calls turned the tide last night: […]
May.16 at 3:05 pm
arthur says:
No Lil’ Romeo?
May.16 at 4:46 pm
TADOne says:
The Proffesor is going for a starting five.
May.16 at 6:57 pm
B. Long says:
This may be the dumbest question I’ve ever asked but is Lil’ Romeo really playing ball on scholarship at USC?
May.16 at 7:42 pm
May 17 垃圾精選 « hoopjunkie’s junkyard diary says:
[…] SLAM ONLINE | » 2008 Slam High School All-Americans 05/17 07:14, 2008 引述 :『Tyreke Evans, American Christian Academy, Aston, PA: A 6-5 combo guard from outside Philly who’s probably the best-known name on this list』 […]
May.16 at 8:56 pm
Hursty says:
who?
May.17 at 10:04 am
Ryan Jones says:
You’ve definitely asked stupider questions, B. That said, yes, he’s got a scholarship. And no, he won’t play. If he does, SC is in trouble.
May.17 at 2:13 pm
B. Long says:
Hey Ryan, When you said Ray Allen was a future HOFer did you mean the SUCKING IN THE PLAYOFFS HOF? Just curious…
May.17 at 3:30 pm
Ryan Jones says:
I’ve already acknowledged Ray’s current postseason suckiness. However, 12 years of very much not sucking will probably count more, particularly if, as stated, he plays at a decent level a few more years and if, as they still might, the C’s get a ring this year or next.
Also, let’s be honest: You’re bi-curious.
May.17 at 3:30 pm
Ryan Jones says:
At least.
May.17 at 4:40 pm
B. Long says:
No Homo, sorry, Im sure your disappointed. By the way did you name the new addition to the clan LeRyan or James Jones?
May.17 at 9:00 pm
Ryan Jones says:
LeBronnie.
May.18 at 12:01 am
Joe says:
“No white boys, good $hit” Mods delete this racist
May.18 at 1:09 am
B. Long says:
Nice, and all b.s. aside, Congrats.
May.18 at 9:21 pm
Ryan Jones says:
Thank you sir.
May.19 at 3:41 pm
SLAM ONLINE | » Guacamole, Childbirth and LeBron. says:
[…] May 15, 2008: “These kids play basketball good.” […]
Jun.4 at 2:42 pm
josh kays says:
where can i get those shorts they are some clean shorts do they sell thanks
Jun.23 at 1:45 pm
SLAM ONLINE | » Brandon Jennings Decides to Look Out for No. 1 says:
[…] As he should. By Ryan Jones About a month ago, I spoke to Brandon Jennings for the “Big Punk” that ran in SLAM 120 (on newstands now, if I’m not mistaken). The Oak Hill Academy star and everybody’s All-American (ours included) was the last kid from the class of ‘08 to hold the lead feature spot in our monthly high school section, which had nothing to do with us forgetting about him (hardly — he originally appeared in SLAM as a freshman) and everything to do with us saving (arguably) the best and (undeniably) most colorful kid in the class for last. His combination of sick, entertaining game and strictly entertaining personality made him one of our favorite prep players to watch the last four years, and we were happy to have him close out our coverage of the ‘08 class in style. […]
Jun.26 at 10:23 pm
FightingColt30 says:
sweet jerseys. sweeter players.