Who was valedictorian for the HS Class of 2009?
by Aggrey Sam
For my final rankings of the Class of 2009, I expanded from 50 prospects to 75.
| Rank | Name | Ht. | Pos. | School | College | Why? |
| 1 | John Wall | 6-4 | PG | Word of God (NC) | Kentucky | Expect the super-explosive point guard to have Derrick Rose/Tyreke Evans-like freshman year under Cal. |
| 2 | Lance Stephenson | 6-6 | SG/SF | Lincoln (NY) | Undecided | Regardless of where he ends, look for “Born Ready” to be perhaps the top freshman scorer in the nation. |
| 3 | Avery Bradley | 6-3 | SG | Findlay (NV) | Texas | With his potent scoring ability and lockdown D, Bradley is more than ready to make a major impact in the Big 12. |
| 4 | Derrick Favors | 6-9 | PF/C | South Atlanta (GA) | Georgia Tech | Don’t know if he’ll put up gaudy offensive numbers, but Favors should be an inside force right away in his hometown. |
| 5 | Xavier Henry | 6-6 | SG/SF | Putnam City (OK) | Kansas | With his big-time scoring tools, Henry’s addition could have Kansas back in the National Championship picture. |
| 6 | DeMarcus Cousins | 6-10 | C/PF | LeFlore (AL) | Kentucky | Interesting to see how the super-skilled big man fits into to Kentucky’s Dribble-Drive Motion offense. |
| 7 | John Henson | 6-10 | PF | Sickles (FL) | North Carolina | He may not blow people away with his numbers, but as he adds strength, Henson will be a significant contributor for the Tar Heels. |
| 8 | Keith Gallon | 6-9 | C/PF | Oak Hill (VA) | Oklahoma | “Tiny” isn’t Blake Griffin, but Jeff Capel could have done a whole lot worse in replacing the National Player of the Year. |
| 9 | Kenny Boynton | 6-3 | SG | American Heritage (FL) | Florida | Now that Nick Calathes is gone, Boynton will not only have to impact the Gators as a scorer, but a playmaker, as well. |
| 10 | Renardo Sidney | 6-10 | PF/SF | Fairfax (CA) | Mississippi State | Going back to his home state may have been the best move for Sidney, as he gets to team up with shot-blocker Jarvis Varnado is a deadly frontcourt. |
| 11 | Mouphtaou Yarou | 6-10 | PF/C | Montrose Christian (MD) | Villanova | “Mouph” is the man in the middle ‘Nova has been missing seemingly forever under Jay Wright. |
| 12 | Michael Snaer | 6-5 | SG | Rancho Verde (CA) | Florida State | While losing Toney Douglas hurts, Snaer is a more than capable replacement for the ‘Noles. |
| 13 | Jordan Hamilton | 6-7 | SF | Dominguez (CA) | Texas | After not playing high school ball as a senior, it will be interesting to watch Hamilton’s progress as a freshman. |
| 14 | Maalik Wayns | 6-2 | PG | Roman Catholic (PA) | Villanova | Wayns may have to wait his turn to run the show, but even with all of the guards in the rotation, he should be heard from often as a freshman. |
| 15 | Dante Taylor | 6-8 | PF | National Christian (MD) | Pittsburgh | A talented and rugged performer in the Pitt mold, Taylor makes up for the early departure of DeJuan Blair. |
| 16 | Abdul Gaddy | 6-3 | PG | Bellarmine (WA) | Washington | Teaming up Gaddy with talented scorer Isaiah Thomas will make the Huskies’ backcourt extremely potent. |
| 17 | Wally Judge | 6-9 | PF | Arlington Country Day (FL) | Kansas State | Judge, another prospect in the DC to K-State pipeline, should be a significant force in the Big 12. |
| 18 | Aaric Murray | 6-10 | C/PF | Glen Mills (PA) | La Salle | An under-the-radar recruit going to an under-the-radar program, but Murray shouldn’t be anonymous for long. |
| 19 | Alex Oriakhi | 6-9 | C/PF | Tilton (NH) | Connecticut | With Hasheem Thabeet going pro, Oriakhi brings a smililar defensive-minded mentality to UConn’s hole in the middle. |
| 20 | Dominic Cheek | 6-6 | SF/SG | St. Anthony (NJ) | Villanova | After playing on a deep and talented high school national championship team as a junior, Cheek will know how to make the most of his opportunities. |
| 21 | Thomas Robinson | 6-8 | PF | Brewster (NH) | Kansas | Maybe he won’t be a featured player right away, but Robinson will find a niche for Kansas with his penchant for cleaning the glass. |
| 22 | Mason Plumlee | 6-10 | PF | Christ (NC) | Duke | Plumlee will have the opportunity to produce early, as Duke as a need for help on the interior. |
| 23 | Peyton Siva | 5-11 | PG/SG | Franklin (WA) | Louisville | Siva’s flair and athleticism should make him an early favorite down in Louisville. |
| 24 | Royce White | 6-8 | PF/SF | Hopkins (MN) | Minnesota | A heralded in-state product, White is perhaps the most important recruit so far in the Tubby Smith era. |
| 25 | DJ Richardson | 6-4 | SG | Findlay (NV) | Illinois | After a one-year detour in prep school, Richardson returns to his home state and brings his winning ways with him. |
| 26 | Richard Howell | 6-8 | PF | Wheeler (GA) | North Carolina State | Not the most athletic kid you’ll find, Howell should be solid for the Wolfpack with his strength, skill and savvy. |
| 27 | Durand Scott | 6-4 | SG | Rice (NY) | Miami | Scott should slide right into Jack McClinton’s old spot from Day 1 with the ‘Canes. |
| 28 | Milton Jennings | 6-9 | PF/SF | Pinewood (SC) | Clemson | While he still needs to get stronger, Jennings’ talent should enable him to make an early impact in the ACC. |
| 29 | Junior Cadougan | 6-0 | PG | Christian Life (TX) | Marquette | An assertive floor general, Cadougan’s toughness makes him a great fit for the Big East. |
| 30 | Ari Stewart | 6-8 | SF | Wheeler (GA) | Wake Forest | With the way Wake gets up and down the court, a high-flying and skilled athlete like Stewart will flourish in their system. |
| 31 | Ryan Kelly | 6-10 | PF | Ravenscroft (NC) | Duke | Kelly fits the mold of past Duke big men who could exploit opposing defenses with their shooting range. |
| 32 | John Jenkins | 6-5 | SG | Station Camp (TN) | Vanderbilt | Arguably the best shooter in the prep ranks last season, expect Jenkins to light up the SEC. |
| 33 | Tommy Mason-Griffin | 5-11 | PG | Madison (TX) | Oklahoma | This stocky floor general’s job will be made a lot easier with the return of future backcourt mate Willie Warren. |
| 34 | Roger Franklin | 6-5 | PF/SF | Duncanville (TX) | Oklahoma State | A tough, hard-nosed player who can do damage inside and outside, Franklin is a classic overachiever who should continue that trend on the next level, too. |
| 35 | Leslie McDonald | 6-5 | SG | Briarcrest Christian (TN) | North Carolina | A fundamentally-sound scorer with range, McDonald is a perfect fit for UNC’s balanced attack. |
| 36 | Daniel Orton | 6-10 | C | Bishop McGuiness (OK) | Kentucky | Adding another highly-regarded freshman big man to go with Patrick Patterson is a luxury most programs never experience. |
| 37 | Dexter Strickland | 6-3 | SG | St. Patrick (NJ) | North Carolina | Another classic Carolina program player, Strickland’s defense and athleticism should earn him quality minutes. |
| 38 | Jamal Coombs-McDaniel | 6-7 | SF | Tilton (NH) | Connecticut | A versatile wing player, expect this Boston native to provide UConn with another ballhandler, tough and heady play, as well as matchup issues for their opponents. |
| 39 | Marshawn Powell | 6-8 | PF/SF | Miller (VA) | Arkansas | Powell might not be the prettiest player, but with his rugged game and diverse inside-outside skillset, he should be immediately effective for the rebuilding Hogs in the SEC. |
| 40 | Joe Burton | 6-8 | C/PF | West Valley (CA) | Oregon State | Burton is a major recruit for the President’s brother-in-law, and as long as he keeps his weight in check, he should be a featured player and have a big impact in the Pac-10. |
| 41 | Rodney Williams | 6-6 | SF | Robbinsdale-Cooper (MN) | Minnesota | Another in-state product who will play for the Gophers, Williams still needs to add polish, but will be an exciting contributor in time. |
| 42 | Erik Murphy | 6-10 | PF | St. Mark’s (MA) | Florida | With all of Florida’s returning bigs, Murphy may not produce big numbers immediately, but his skilled game should warrant some early minutes and eventually lead to a more featured role later in his career. |
| 43 | Jamil Wilson | 6-8 | PF/SF | Horlick (WI) | Oregon | Wilson was a big get for the Pac-10 school, and while his frame might not be ready to dominate college ball, he does have a very high ceiling. |
| 44 | Shawn Williams | 6-7 | SF | Duncanville (TX) | Texas | Williams may have to be patient before he makes a big impact, but expect him to play an important role as a shooter for the ‘Horns early on. |
| 45 | Dalton Pepper | 6-6 | SG/SF | Pennsbury (PA) | West Virginia | Pepper, a tough, rugged and versatile scorer, is an excellent fit for Bob Huggins’ team, and should be a player opposing Big East fans love to hate. |
| 46 | Noel Johnson | 6-7 | SF | Fayette County (GA) | Undecided | Johnson, who de-committed from USC late, will make some program very happy with his smooth scoring ability. |
| 47 | Christian Watford | 6-8 | PF/SF | Shades Valley (AL) | Indiana | A long athlete with an inside-outside game, Watford has a chance to be a special player in the Big 10 as time goes on. |
| 48 | Nolan Dennis | 6-5 | SG | Richland (TX) | Baylor | A late signee, Dennis should fit right into Baylor’s stable of explosive perimeter scorers. |
| 49 | Solomon Hill | 6-7 | SF | Fairfax (CA) | Arizona | Hill, a jack-of-all-trades type, will be a tough, versatile and effective performer from Day 1 in Tucson. |
| 50 | Darius Smith | 6-2 | PG | Marshall (IL) | Connecticut | A hard-nosed and defensive-minded Chicago product, Smith shouldearn PT right away for an old-school coach like Jim Calhoun. |
| 51 | Terrell Vinson | 6-7 | SF/PF | St. Frances (MD) | Massachusetts | Vinson, considered a steal for UMass, won’t wow observers with any one aspect of his game, but should be a solid all-around player right away in the Atlantic-10. |
| 52 | Brandon Paul | 6-4 | SG | Warren (IL) | Illinois | Paul, a dynamic and athletic guard, is another in-state recruit in Illinois’ incoming freshman class and is expected to make an immediate impact. |
| 53 | Lorenzo Brown | 6-4 | SG/PG | Centennial (GA) | North Carolina State | Brown is a big part of NC State’s ATL pipeline, and with his potential, he has a chance to make his mark early in the ACC. |
| 54 | Victor Rudd | 6-8 | SF/PF | Findlay (NV) | Arizona State | Rudd’s size, versatility and athleticism should make him a good fit for the Sun Devils’ style of play and the Pac-10 overall. |
| 55 | Johnnie Lacy | 5-10 | PG | Notre Dame (MA) | Providence | A jet-quick point guard with some flair and athleticism, Lacy is the jewel of Providence’s recruiting class and should be a factor in the Big East for years to come. |
| 56 | Mike Moser | 6-8 | SF/PF | Grant (OR) | UCLA | Moser needs to add strength to his frame, but his outisde shooting, length and athleticism should eventually add a nice dimension to UCLA’s attack. |
| 57 | Omari Lawrence | 6-5 | SG/SF | South Kent (CT) | St. John’s | Lawrence, a native New Yorker, is an important recruit for his hometown school, and is a prototypical tough and skilled Big East wing. |
| 58 | Rodney McGruder | 6-5 | SG/SF | Arlington Country Day (FL) | Kansas State | McGruder, yet another piece of the DC-to-Kansas State pipeline, is an all-around wing, who can simply put the ball in the basket and should be a Big 12 mainstay. |
| 59 | Mfon Udofia | 6-2 | PG | Miller Grove (GA) | Georgia Tech | Udofia, a bulldog of a point guard, is a true floor general who will be a valuable contributor because of his defensive mentality and ability to run the show. |
| 60 | Maurice Creek | 6-5 | SG | Hargrave Military (VA) | Indiana | Creek, a DC area native who should be a Big 10 mainstay, as he’s a big-time shooter with athleticism and can put the ball on the floor. |
| 61 | Kevin Parrom | 6-6 | SF | South Kent (CT) | Arizona | Parrom, a late signee and NYC native, followed ex-Xavier coach Sean Miller to ‘Zona, and should get a chance at early playing time because of his versatility and toughness. |
| 62 | Karron Johnson | 6-7 | PF | Laurinburg (NC) | Oklahoma State | Johnson, a talented physcial specimen, will wreak havoc in the Big 12 when he puts all of the pieces of his game together. |
| 63 | Eric Bledsoe | 6-0 | PG | Parker (AL) | Kentucky | While John Wall will get most of the attention, Bledsoe’s quickness and intangibles will make him a valuable player for Kentucky down the road. |
| 64 | Shaunessy Smith | 6-6 | SG/SF | Noxubee County (MS) | Mississippi State | An in-state product, mith’s athletic ability and scoring tools are typical of past quality wings in the SEC. |
| 65 | Kyryl Natyazkho | 6-11 | C/PF | IMG (FL) | Arizona | A late signee, the European import’s skilled post game should translate very well to the Pac-10. |
| 66 | Tristan Spurlock | 6-8 | SF/PF | Word of Life (VA) | Virginia | Spurlock’s skills and athleticism should lead to a productive freshman season under new coach Tony Bennett. |
| 67 | Rahlir Jefferson | 6-7 | SF/PF | Chester (PA) | Temple | Jefferson’s athleticism and tenacity on the defensive end are the hallmarks of his game, but his upside indicates he could become much more than a role player for the Owls. |
| 68 | Lamont Jones | 6-0 | PG/SG | Oak Hill (VA) | USC | A scoring point with a lot of heart, “Momo” will have the chance to play early and often for the depleted Trojans. |
| 69 | Isaiah Armwood | 6-9 | PF | Montrose Christian (MD) | Villanova | Armwood’s size, athleticism and versatility allow him to keep up the pace with Nova’s quick guards and still have an effect in the paint. |
| 70 | Lamar Patterson | 6-5 | SF | St. Benedict’s (NJ) | Pittsburgh | Patterson’s toughness and frame makes him an ideal fit for Pitt, but his shooting and skill give him the chance to see extended minutes early. |
| 71 | Scott Wood | 6-6 | SF | Marion (IN) | North Carolina State | Wood, a Hoosier State native, brings his home state’s typical shooting and savvy to ACC country. |
| 72 | Keith Clanton | 6-8 | PF/SF | Orlando Christian (FL) | Central Florida | Clanton has high-major ability, so going to a smaller program should allow him to be in the spotlight immediately. |
| 73 | Mike Marra | 6-5 | SG | Northfield-Mount Hermon | Louisville | While Marra has to work to develop other parts of his game, his shooting will guarantee him a role in Rick Pitino’s system. |
| 74 | Terrance Shannon | 6-7 | PF | Persons (GA) | Florida State | A workhorse on the inside, Shannon’s physical nature is already suited for the college game. |
| 75 | Ramon Galloway | 6-4 | PG/SG | Dwyer (FL) | South Carolina | “Mony” should develop into a significant player over time in the SEC. |
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