Got bigs?
by Rodger Bohn / @rodgerbohn
While the Class of 2011 is loaded with swingmen, the Class of 2012 could be characterized as “the year of the big man.” Very rarely have we seen a class so dominated with legit posts. Eleven of the top 16 in the Fresh 50 do the bulk of their damage in the paint. The class rocks a couple of really nice wings who can get buckets in a hurry, but severely lacks in terms of elite point guards. That said, here’s a look at our post AAU circuit Fresh 50 in a class loaded with trees.
| Rank | Name | Height | Position | School | Why? |
| 1 | Andre Drummond | 6-11 | C | St. Thomas More (CT) | Possesses incredibly rare combination of size, skill, and power. |
| 2 | Isaiah Austin | 7-0 | PF/C | Grace Prep (TX) | Baylor’s next big recruit has downright scary perimeter skills for a 7-footer. |
| 3 | Shabazz Muhammed | 6-5 | SG | Bishop Gorman (NV) | Lefty wing may be the best scorer in the entire class. |
| 4 | DaJuan Coleman | 6-9 | PF/C | Jamesville-Dewitt (NY) | Massive big man offers combination of agility, strength, and productivity. |
| 5 | Brandon Ashley | 6-9 | PF | Bishop O’Dowd (CA) | Skilled power forward who can kill you facing the basket. |
| 6 | Khem Birch | 6-9 | PF | Notre Dame Prep (MA) | Athletic dynamo is the best shot blocker in the class. |
| 7 | Alex Murphy | 6-8 | SG/SF | St. Mark’s (MA) | Florida soph Erik’s little bro is an incredibly versatile perimeter player. |
| 8 | Grant Jerrett | 6-8 | PF | La Verne Lutheran (CA) | Lanky four who can play inside and out. |
| 9 | Ricardo Ledo | 6-5 | SG | South Kent (CT) | Explosive scorer with great physical tools. |
| 10 | Cameron Ridley | 6-10 | C | Bush (TX) | Mobile, big body with amazing hands. |
| 11 | JP Tokoto | 6-6 | SG/SF | Menomonee Falls (WI) | Struggled a bit this summer, but has as much potential as just about anyone in the class. |
| 12 | Daniel Ochefu | 6-10 | C | Westtown (PA) | Shot-blocker who is also an adept shooter out to 18 feet. |
| 13 | Alex Poythress | 6-7 | SF | Northeast (TN) | Tall wing who can really get to the cup and finish. |
| 14 | Amile Jefferson | 6-7 | PF/SF | Friends Central (PA) | Face-up 4 who is routinely compared to Hakim Warrick. |
| 15 | Kaleb Tarczewski | 7-0 | C | St. Mark’s (MA) | Mobile center who can put points on the board while holding his own defensively. |
| 16 | Shaquille Goodwin | 6-8 | PF | Southwest Dekalb (GA) | Explosive four man who runs the floor well and finishes above the rim. |
| 17 | Perry Ellis | 6-8 | PF/SF | Wichita Heights (KS) | Versatile four man with a very high skill level. |
| 18 | LJ Rose | 6-2 | PG | Second Baptist (TX) | Great size and basketball IQ for a young playmaker. |
| 19 | Justin Anderson | 6-5 | SG/SF | Montrose Christian (MD) | Freak athlete who can shut you down defensively. |
| 20 | Archie Goodwin | 6-5 | SG | Sylvan Hills (AR) | Versatile swingman with a very complete offensive repertoire. |
| 21 | Jarnell Stokes | 6-8 | PF/C | Memphis Central (TN) |
Space eater who seems to find a way to get buckets on just about anyone he faces. |
| 22 | Winston Shepherd | 6-8 | SF | Findlay Prep (NV) | Big time athlete who is already comfortable playing the wing full time. |
| 23 | Ricardo Gathers | 6-7 | PF | Riverside Academy (LA) | Defines the term POWER forward and also has surprisingly nice handle. |
| 24 | Hanner Perea | 6-8 | PF | La Lumiere School (IN) | Bouncy power forward may be the quickest leaper in the class. |
| 25 | Kyle Anderson | 6-8 | SF/SG/PG | St. Anthony’s (NJ) | “Slo-mo” is the most versatile player in the class, capable of playing 4 spots on the court. |
| 26 | Gary Harris | 6-4 | SG | Hamilton Southeastern (IN) | Power guard who defends his butt off and can score the rock. |
| 27 | Wanaah Bail | 6-8 | SF/PF | Fort Bend Travis (TX) | Lefty swingman has nice athleticism and a surprising arsenal for a player his size. |
| 28 | Jordan Tebbutt | 6-5 | SG/SF | Horizon Christian School (OR) | Powerful slasher with an NBA body. |
| 29 | Tony Parker | 6-9 | PF/C | Milton (GA) | Burly big man makes his living in the 3 second area. |
| 30 | Shaquille Cleare | 6-9 | C/PF | The Village (TX) | 280 pounder is a a load to stop when he plays hard. |
| 31 | Rasheed Suliamon | 6-4 | SG | Strake Jesuit (TX) | Pure scorer who can kill you from beyond the arc or at the tin. |
| 32 | Peter Jurkin | 7-0 | C | United Faith Christian (NC) | Indiana recruit is imposing defensive presence with improving hands and footwork. |
| 33 | Kevin Ferrell | 5-11 | PG | Park Tudor (IN) | Explosive scorer who has really improved point guard skills over the last year. |
| 34 | Rosco Allen | 6-7 | SF | Bishop Gorman (NV) | Long, athletic wing who can really shoot it. |
| 35 | Omar Calhoun | 6-3 | SG/PG | Christ the King (NY) | Scoring machine can put points on the board in so many different ways. |
| 36 | Torian Graham | 6-4 | SG | Durham (NC) | Explosive wing with some bigtime bounce. |
| 37 | Marcus Smart | 6-4 | SG/SF | Flowrer Mound (TX) | Doesn’t exactly fit a particular mold, but always gets it done. |
| 38 | Marcus Paige | 6-2 | PG | Linn-Mar (IA) | Old school playmaker with the savvy of a player far beyond his age. |
| 39 | Ryan Arcidiacono | 6-3 | PG | Neshaminy (PA) | Gritty, smart lead guard with a high skill level. |
| 40 | AJ Hammons | 6-11 | C | Oak Hill Academy (VA) | Big body with soft hands, nice rebounding skills, and the ability to draw a double team. |
| 41 | Jeremy Hollowell | 6-7 | SF | Lawrence Central (IN) | Jack of all trades who can do a little bit of virtually every facet of the game. |
| 42 | Jordan Adams | 6-5 | SG/SF | Oak Hill Academy (VA) | Scoring wing with a polished mid-range game. |
| 43 | Zach Peters | 6-9 | PF | Prestonwood Academy (TX) | Kansas recruit has the strength of a grown man at 16 years old. |
| 44 | Cameron Biedschied | 6-6 | SF | Cardinal Ritter (MO) | Swingman who can do a little bit of everything on the offensive end. |
| 45 | Nino Jackson | 6’0 | PG/SG | Ardmore (OK) | Lighting quick guard who can score with the best of them. |
| 46 | Savon Goodman | 6’5 | SF | Academy of the New Church (PA) | Explosive wing who plays well above the rim and will lock you down on D. |
| 47 | J-Mychal Reese | 6-2 | PG | Bryan (TX) | Heralded since he was in elementary school, the lead guard has continued to advance his game. |
| 48 | Elijah Macon | 6-8 | PF | Marion Franklin (OH) | Bouncy forward with great hands and scoring touch around the basket. |
| 49 | Robert Carter | 6-7 | PF | Thomasville (GA) | Monster in the paint with the body and toughness of a grown man. |
| 50 | Montrezl Harrell | 6-7 | PF | Edgecombe (NC) | High energy power forward who is a maniac on the glass. |
Rodger is the former Director of Prep Scouting at DraftExpress.com. He can be reached via Twitter @rodgerbohn.
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