Recruiting: FRONTCOURT

Sporting News, The, July 19, 1999 by Stephen Wacaser

Whether blocking a shot, cleaning the glass or throwing down a rim-rattling dunk, the big fellas up front are integral parts of a basketball team's success.

Here's a list from Stephen Wacaser, publisher of Assists, Turnovers and Loose Balls, a scouting service for more than 275 colleges, that ranks the top 20 high school senior forwards and centers and breaks down their measurables, their games and their possible destinations.

Rk.   Name              High school      Skinny/
      (Hgt./Wgt.)                        Top choices

1.    Darius Miles      East St.         Reminds many of Kevin
      (6-9, 200)        Louis (Ill.)      Garnett. Terrific passer
                                          on break.
                                         NBA, DePaul, Kentucky,
                                          Connecticut, St. Louis,
                                          Illinois
2.    Gerald Wallace    Childersburg     Big effort at Gibbons'
      (6-6, 195)        (Ala.)            Memorial vaulted him to
                                          prominence.
                                         NBA, Alabama, Auburn,
                                          Kentucky, North Carolina
3.    Rolando Howell    Lower Richland   May turn out to be the
      (6-9, 217)        (Hopkins,         best frontcourt player
                        S.C.)             in this class.
                                         South Carolina, Clemson,
                                          NC State, Wake Forest,
                                          Georgia
4.    Jared Jeffries    North            Plays 3 positions. Led
      (6-9, 225)        (Bloomington,     Bloomington Red to
                        Ind.)             Bluegrass title.
                                         Indiana, Purdue, Michigan
                                          St., Kentucky,
                                          Cincinnati, Ohio St.
5.    Alton Ford        Milby            Wide body, dominates. At
      (6-10, 270)       (Houston)         times, he's nation's
                                          best player.
                                         Oral commitment to
                                          University of Houston.
6.    Eddie Griffin     Roman Catholic   Mobile performer
      (6-8, 196)        (Philadelphia)    comfortable inside,
                                          facing up from 15 ft.
                                         North Carolina, Seton
                                          Hall, Massachusetts,
                                          Villanova, UConn
7.    Zach Randolph     Marion (Ind.)    20 ppg/18 rpg at USA
      (6-8, 262)                          Development Festival.
                                         Michigan State, Purdue,
                                          Arizona, Cincinnati,
                                          Indiana
8.    James C. Butler   Maine Central    Reminds many of Quentin
      (6-6, 225         (Pittsfield,      Richardson with an
                        Maine)            attitude.
                                         UNLV, Purdue, Georgetown,
                                          Michigan
9.    Brian Boddicker   Duncanville      Some in Texas think he
      (6-8, 220)        (Texas)           is No. 1 frontcourt man.
                                         Texas, Kansas, Duke,
                                          Texas A&M
10.   Terrance          Bishop           Spring matchup with
      Crawford          McGuinness        Miles was a standoff.
      (6-6, 190)        (Oklahoma         Well-rounded.
                        City)            Oklahoma State, Oklahoma,
                                          Tulsa
11.   Andre Brown       Leo              Terrific hands, excellent
      (6-9, 210)        (Chicago)         rebounder and an
                                          energetic player.
                                         DePaul, Michigan,
                                          Syracuse, Kansas,
                                          Florida State, Illinois
12.   Jason Klotz       Klein            Skilled post player.
      (6-10, 225)       Forest            Makes himself bigger
                        (Houston)         with positioning.
                                         Utah, Texas, Texas A&M,
                                          SMU, Florida State
13.   Chris Wilcox      Whiteville       Surprises with his
      (6-9, 215)        (N.C.)            ability to pass, run
                                          floor and finish.
                                         North Carolina, Wake
                                          Forest, NC State
14.   Nick Anderson     Southern         Big-time athlete who
      (6-6, 205)        Lab (Baton        runs court like a guard.
                        Rouge, La.)       Serious hops.
                                         Tennessee, Arizona,
                                          Louisiana State, Tulane
15.   Garner Meads      Brighton         Kevin McHale would be
      (6-9, 220)        (Salt Lake        proud of Meads'
                        City)             footwork/skills.
                                         Stanford, Utah, BYU, Duke
16.   Darius Rice       Lanier           Looks like Jonathan
      (6-9, 200)        (Jackson,         Bender. Shoots 3s with
                        Miss.)            confidence.
                                         Mississippi State,
                                          Mississippi, LSU,
                                          Tennessee
17.   Abdou Diame       Oak Hill         A force in the paint,
      (6-9, 227)        (Mouth            especially on the
                        of Wilson,        offensive end.
                        Va.)             Maryland, Virginia,
                                          Clemson, Florida
18.   Arthur Johnson    Pershing         Warrior approach to the
      (6-8, 233)        (Detroit)         game. Plays with a
                                          passion.
                                         Michigan, Michigan State,
                                          Ohio State, Detroit,
                                          Xavier
19.   Justin Reed       Provine          Starting to emerge as
      (6-8, 233)        (Jackson,         player many predicted
                        Miss.)            he would be.
                                         Mississippi, Mississippi
                                          State, South Carolina,
                                          NC State
20.   Scott Hazelton    Central          Subpar at USA
      (6-7, 205)        Catholic          Development Festival;
                        (Lawrence,        raised questions.
                        Mass.)           Duke, Maryland, UMass,
                                          Boston College,
                                          Providence