California Hoopers Headline ESPN’s latest Top 100 Rankings

Nine players from California make their way into ESPN’s latest rankings of the top 100 High School players America.

You don’t have to look very far to find the West Coast represented in ESPN’s top 100 rankings for the 2020 class. Ranked at number one and two are Jalen Green from Prolific Prep in Napa, CA, and Evan Mobley from Rancho Christian in Temecula. 

Six out of the nine players are in the top 25.

The unveiling that took place last tuesday showed a recruiting class that included the most California based players in the top 25 since 2008. That recruiting class was lead by Brandon Jennings who played at Compton Dominguez before transferring to Oak Hill Academy his senior year. Other standouts in that class include Jrue Holiday at number three and Demar Derozen at number eight. 

It is evident that the names listed are accomplished professional players. But what does that mean for the nine Californians in 2020? ESPN’s National Recruiting Director Paul Biancardi tweeted “just because a player is top ranked by @espn in high school, doesn’t guarantee direct success in college & the NBA.” 

Biancardi could not be more accurate with this tweet. In that same 2008 recruiting class, Klay Thompson was ranked 53. He’s had a better career than Jennings, who was ranked number 1. 

What is also apparent, is that California has some special talent in this class. Green has become well known for his emphatic dunks and leaping ability to go along with a skill set that may be top of his class. The USC signee Mobley is a seven-foot center that will not only hurt you in the post but on the perimeter and in transition. 

They are followed up by Chatsworth Sierra Canyon teammates B.J. Boston and Ziaire Williams at six and seven. Mayfair’s Josh Christopher and Mater Dei’s Devin Askew come in at 10 and 25. 

Predicting a high school’s player’s professional success is a crapshoot. However, their success will heavily depend on their college, or post graduate decision. Mobley will be teaming up with his older brother Isaiah at USC where his father is also on staff. There he will be heavily showcased on a team that will be graduating a starting forward and most likely losing it’s starting center and former AAU teammate of Mobley, Onyeka Okongwu, to the NBA draft. 

Boston and Askew will be future teammates at the University of Kentucky in a class that includes six ESPN top 100 commits. I expect Boston to have the more immediate impact due to his size and length at the guard position. However, Askew is not to be slept on. 

Askew was previously in the 2021 class but skipped a grade to attend UK early. His skill and intelligence at the PG position makes him a dark horse in this class. Don’t be surprised if Askew is a top pick in a couple years after being under coach John Calipari, who specializes in getting his players drafted.

Each of these players have already made a name for themselves to be recognized as a top prospect in their class. But that’s just what they are; prospects. Only time will tell how these players will do in the future.