Inside the 2001-02 freshman class

Sporting News, The, July 24, 2000

TOP 20 centers

Want to know where all the NBA scouts and NCAA head coaches have been hanging out this summer? Just find Tyson Chandler, Eddy Curry, DeSagana Diop or any others on the loaded list below.

This is one of the best center classes in years, with three potential 2001 NBA draft picks and tremendous depth. Curry was dominant at the adidas ABCD camp, Diop is dripping with potential and Chandler, although pushed around a bit at the Nike camp, is set to take his 15-foot jumper to the NBA.

Recruiting analyst Stephen Wacaser, whose Assists, turnovers and Loose Balls scouting publication is subscribed to by 288 D-I programs and 24 NBA teams, ranks the upcoming season's high school senior centers.

PLAYER                HT./WT.    HIGH SCHOOL

1. TYSON CHANDLER     7-1/222    Compton, Calif./Dominguez

   20 ppg, 12 rpg, 6 bpg in 1999-2000. Calif. D-1 state champs went
   35-2. USA Today's No. 1 prep team.

2. EDDY CURRY         6-10/268   South Holland, Ill./Thornwood

   Dominated Kwame Brown at ABCD. Terrific mitts. Averaged 24.6
   points, 11.2 rebounds, 4.8 blocks for Thornwood.

3. DESAGANA DIOP      7-0/235    Mouth of Wilson, Va./Oak Hill

   Might become better than Chandler or Curry. Averaged 10.1 ppg,
   9.2 rpg, 6.6 bpg for 30-2 Oak Hill.

4. DAVID HARRISON     6-11/230   Brentwood, Tenn./Academy

   Runs the floor well for his size. Solid shot blocker and
   rebounder.

5. CRAIG FORTH        7-1/225    East Greenbush, N.Y./Columbia

   Has solid footwork inside, better than average shot facing the
   goal and a terrific outlet pass.

6. JAMAL SAMPSON      6-11/220   Santa Ana, Calif./Mater Dei

   Immense physical talent but has been unable to play throughout
   many events without interruptions.

7. ISAIAH FOX         6-8/262    Santa Monica, Calif./Crossroads

   Physical wide body is surprisingly agile with a strong
   determination. Averaged 22 ppg, 15 rpg last season.

8. BRANDON BENDER     6-01235    Louisville/Ballard

   Since emerging as a sophomore at adidas ABCD camp in '98, this
   enigmatic talent has coaches bewildered.

9. CHANNING FRYE      6-10/220   Phoenix/St-Mary's

   Impressed at Nike with willingness to bang inside, deftly
   maneuver in the pivot. Needs upper-body strength.

10. MARK KONECNY      6-10/225   Waterbury, Conn./Holy Cross

    Averaged 23 ppg, 15 ppg at Holy Cross, but hand injury forced
    him out of USA Basketball Youth Festival.

11. MARCUS CAMPBELL   7-0/234    Albany, Ga./Westover

    Unlike so many prospects today, Campbell loves to battle in the
    paint and play with his back to the bucket.

12. CHRIS JACKSON     6-11/237   Los Alamos, N.M./Los Alamos

    Played well at adidas. Impressed with competitive spirit,
    ability to mix it up and low-block scoring ability.

13. TERRANCE DIALS    6-9/225    Youngstown, Ohio/Boardman

    Third quality prospect to commit to OSU in past two weeks with
    Brandon Fuss-Cheatham, Matt Sylvester.

14. CHRIS WRIGHT      6-10/225   Redwater, Texas/Redwator High

    Injuries have slowed him, but UT is getting a competitive player
    capable of hitting mid-range jumpers.

15. CHRIS CHARLES     6-9/202    York, Pa./Crispus Attucks

    Lower leg injury kept him from playing in games at Nike, but
    this former Milwaukee prep is talented.

16. NATHAN LOEHRKE    6-10/228   Garden City, Mich./Garden City

    May play baseball. Several head coaches eyed him at Nike.
    Averaged 11.9 ppg, 6.9 rpg at Garden City.

17. LARRY TURNER      6-10/220   Milledgeville, Ga./Baldwin

    Plays with energy, is skilled, enjoys the game. Averaged 12.6
    ppg, 10.4 rpg, 6.2 apg last year at Baldwin.

18. PATRICK SIMPSON   6-8/235    Denver/George Washington

    Solid on and off the court. Averaged 18.3 ppg, 11.3 rpg for GW.
    Staggering 25 rebounds in one outing.

19. WILL CAUDLE       6-9/205    Indianapolis/Warren Central

    Seems to improve every outing. Has emerged from mid-major
    recruit to apple of several high-major teams.

20. RORY O'NEIL       6-10/215   Ridgecrest, Calif./Burroughs

    The entire package, including fine grades. Averaged 20.7 ppg,
    12.2 rpg, 3.6 blocks per game at Burroughs.

PLAYER                SCHOOLS CONSIDERING

1. TYSON CHANDLER     NBA, Ariz., Kan., Fla., UCLA, Syr., Mich., Ky.
2. EDDY CURRY         NBA, Ill., DePaul, OConn, G'town, Memphis
3. DESAGANA DIOP      Va., N.C., Ga. Tech, Fla., Md., Miami (Fla.)
4. DAVID HARRISON     Vandy, Duke, Tenn., N.C., Ky., Col., others
5. CRAIG FORTH        BC, UConn., St. John's, Syr., Notre Dame.
6. JAMAL SAMPSON      UNC, Arizona, Kan., UCLA, Ky., others
7. ISAIAH FOX         UCLA, USC, Va., Fla., Florida St., others
8. BRANDON BENDER     Louis., Ky., USC, Memphis, DePaul, others
9. CHANNING FRYE      Arizona(**)
10. MARK KONECNY      Duke, UNC, N. Dame, UConn., Syr., S. Hall
11. MARCUS CAMPBELL   NC State, Auburn, Fla., FSU, Ala., V'nova
12. CHRIS JACKSON     Stan., Utah, Purdue, N.M., Vandy, Texas
13. TERRANCE DIALS    Ohio State(**)
14. CHRIS WRIGHT      Texas(**)
15. CHRIS CHARLES     Md., Penn St., Wis., Marq., Soton Hall, Syr.
16. NATHAN LOEHRKE    Mich., MSU, Ohio St., Marq., Notre Dame
17. LARRY TURNER      Ala., Clemson, Ga., Ga. Tech, others
18. PATRICK SIMPSON   Ore. St., Colo., Oregon, Colo. St., Neb.
19. WILL CAUDLE       Iowa, Indiana, Mich., Purdue, Syr., others
20. RORY O'NEIL       Ala., Clemson, Ga., Ga. Tech, others