School’s back in session and the seniors are ready to go out with a bang.
by Aggrey Sam
The Class of 2010, generally panned as an underwhelming class by so-called experts (such as myself), sent out a message this summer: We may not have the superstars of the past, but we’re deep. Indeed, while the summer sneaker camps and AAU circuit didn’t yield a simply unbelievable talent or a dominant force, they did provide evidence that while the current senior class isn’t mind-blowing, it’s very balanced and should therefore make for some great college basketball over the next five years or so. That said, some players did separate themselves from the rest of the pack as being considered the cream of the crop. Here’s one man’s opinion:
| Rank | Name | Height | Position | School | College | Why? |
| 1 | Harrison Barnes | 6-7 | SF | Ames (IA) | Undecided | Polished wing is as skilled, athletic and consistent as they come. |
| 2 | Josh Selby | 6-3 | PG/SG | Lake Clifton (MD) | Undecided | Ultra-athletic scorer is a highlight reel waiting to happen. |
| 3 | Jared Sullinger | 6-8 | PF | Northland (OH) | Ohio State | Others may have more upside, but nobody gets it done around the basket and on the boards like the big fella. |
| 4 | Brandon Knight | 6-3 | PG | Pine Crest (FL) | Undecided | Scoring point guard has added strength to package of quickness, shooting, playmaking and D. |
| 5 | Will Barton | 6-6 | SG/SF | Brewster (NH) | Memphis | Slender Baltimore swingman has a handle, scoring ability, athleticism and intensity on both ends. |
| 6 | DeShaun Thomas | 6-7 | PF/SF | Luers (IN) | Ohio State | Understands how to maximize his strengths of posting up smaller defenders and taking big men off the dribble. |
| 7 | Jereme Richmond | 6-7 | SF | Waukegan (IL) | Illinois | Extremely long and athletic, with the ability to score from anywhere on the floor. |
| 8 | Joe Jackson | 5-10 | PG/SG | White Station (TN) | Memphis | Always a prolific scorer, Memphis native has become a better playmaker. |
| 9 | Tobias Harris | 6-8 | SF/PF | Half Hollows Hills West (NY) | Undecided | Losing weight improved already-skilled forward’s quickness and athleticism. |
| 10 | Kyrie Irving | 6-2 | PG | St. Patrick (NJ) | Undecided | Rod Strick’s godson can light up scoreboards or drop dimes equally well. |
| 11 | Tristan Thompson | 6-8 | PF | Findlay (NV) | Texas | Skilled Canadian has recently added strength, taken more of a post-oriented approach. |
| 12 | Josh Smith | 6-9 | C | Kentwood (WA) | Undecided | Immovable object in the paint, but has good footwork and athleticism for his size. |
| 13 | Terrence Jones | 6-8 | SF/PF | Jefferson (OR) | Undecided | Versatile forward can get the job done on the inside or outside. |
| 14 | Jelan Kendrick | 6-6 | SG/SF | Wheeler (GA) | Undecided | Capable of playing all three perimeter spots, getting to the bucket, dropping dimes or hitting treys. |
| 15 | Patric Young | 6-9 | PF/C | Providence (FL) | Florida | Manchild in the paint on both ends, continues to add moves to his offensive repertoire. |
| 16 | Doron Lamb | 6-4 | SG | Oak Hill (VA) | Undecided | NYC native beats opponents with his basketball IQ and polished mid-range game. |
| 17 | Dion Waiters | 6-3 | SG | Life Center (NJ) | Syracuse | Philly product still bullies smaller guards, but has added more of a playmaking mentality. |
| 18 | Reggie Bullock | 6-7 | SF | Kinston (NC) | North Carolina | Smooth swingman with a sweet stroke and great understanding of the game. |
| 19 | Perry Jones | 6-11 | PF | Duncanville (TX) | Baylor | Potential has finally started to turn into more consistent production for talented big man. |
| 20 | Fab Melo | 7-0 | C | Sagemont (FL) | Syracuse | Big Brazilian is still a project, but has great tools and skills for his size. |
| 21 | Cory Joseph | 6-3 | PG/SG | Findlay (NV) | Undecided | Quick Canadian lead guard is a knockdown shooter, good athlete, gets to the rim and can run an offense. |
| 22 | Gary Franklin | 6-2 | PG/SG | Mater Dei (CA) | Undecided | Floor general has a winning mentality and automatic J. |
| 23 | Tarik Black | 6-9 | PF | Ridgeway | Undecided | Beast in the paint because of his power and athleticism. |
| 24 | Adreian Payne | 6-9 | PF | Jefferson (OH) | Undecided | Freak athlete still needs to polish his skills, but makes things happen around the rim. |
| 25 | Lenzelle Smith | 6-3 | PG/SG | Zion-Benton (IL) | Ohio State | Power guard has improved his quickness, point-guard skills and consistency on his J. |
| 26 | Tyler Lamb | 6-5 | SG | Mater Dei (CA) | UCLA | Skilled scorer is automatic from deep and knows how to use his savvy on drives. |
| 27 | Dominique Ferguson | 6-9 | PF/SF | Hargrave Military (VA) | Florida International | Indiana native is a long, skilled face-up forward with athleticism. |
| 28 | Roscoe Smith | 6-8 | SF | Oak Hill (VA) | Undecided | Baltimore product is a leaper who excels in transition, but can also hit the open J. |
| 29 | Meyers Leonard | 7-0 | C | Robinson (IL) | Illinois | Post prospect uses his tremendous quickness and athleticism to give opposing big men fits. |
| 30 | Gerard Coleman | 6-4 | SG | Tilton (NH) | Providence | Boston native is a quick slasher with versatility and a much-improved J. |
| 31 | Kendall Marshall | 6-4 | PG | O’Connell (VA) | North Carolina | Big floor general is arguably the best passer in the nation. |
| 32 | Terrence Ross | 6-5 | SG/SF | Montrose Christian (MD) | Maryland | Smooth wing from Oregon combines a nice outside stroke and good athleticism. |
| 33 | Josh Hairston | 6-8 | PF | Montrose Christian (MD) | Duke | Finesse forward can operate in the post or step out on the perimeter. |
| 34 | Trevor Releford | 5-11 | PG | Miege (KS) | Undecided | Quick playmaker who loves to get others involved, but can score if necessary. |
| 35 | Markel Starks | 6-1 | PG | Georgetown Prep (MD) | Georgetown | Savvy lead guard who can run the show or create his own offense. |
| 36 | Melvin Tabb | 6-8 | PF | Enloe (NC) | Wake Forest | Versatile big man who will do the dirty work down low, but can also score multiple ways. |
| 37 | Casey Prather | 6-5 | SF | Northside (TN) | Undecided | Strong and athletic wing who can keep the D honest from the outside. |
| 38 | James Johnson | 6-9 | PF | Morse (CA) | Virginia | Athletic Canadian uses his motor to wreak havoc in the paint, but can also shoot from the perimeter. |
| 39 | Ryan Harrow | 5-10 | PG/SG | Walton (GA) | North Carolina State | Despite his size, explosive ATLien is a big-time athlete, playmaker and shooter from deep. |
| 40 | JT Terrell | 6-4 | SG | Cummings (NC) | Wake Forest | Streaky shooter is a high flyer and deadly scorer when he gets on a roll. |
| 41 | TJ Taylor | 6-3 | SG/PG | Denison (TX) | Oklahoma | Big-bodied guard can shoot it or use his size to finish in the lane. |
| 42 | Travis McKie | 6-7 | PF/SF | Marshall (VA) | Wake Forest | n athletic energy guy who is a factor on the boards, in the lane or on the break. |
| 43 | Taran Buie | 6-2 | SG | State College (PA) | Penn State | Buffalo-area transfer will give his future college supporters a preview of his explosive all-around game. |
| 44 | Phil Pressey | 5-9 | PG | Dallas Episcopal (TX) | Missouri | Diminutive playmaker is slippery quick, has terrific bounce and court vision. |
| 45 | Jayvaughn Pinkston | 6-6 | PF/SF | Loughlin (NY) | Undecided | Physical and skilled with the ball in the mold of hometown hero Ron Artest. |
| 46 | Cameron Clark | 6-7 | SF | Sherman (TX) | Undecided | Intriguing blend of length, athleticism and mid-range game. |
| 47 | Keith Appling | 6-2 | SG/PG | Pershing (MI) | Michigan State | Quick combo guard is effective at creating for himself and others. |
| 48 | Stacey Poole | 6-5 | SF | Jackson (FL) | Undecided | Slasher is a high-level athlete with improving perimeter skills. |
| 49 | Jeremy Lamb | 6-4 | SG/PG | Norcross (GA) | Connecticut | Slender scorer has range, quickness and creativity off the bounce. |
| 50 | Nate Lubick | 6-8 | PF | St. Mark’s (MA) | Georgetown | Deceptively athletic and highly skilled, yet physical forward. |
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