Which team is the best? USA TODAY HSS staff creates All-Star rosters from 2015-24 classes
With March Madness set to pit the best players on the best college teams against each other in a battle for 2024-25 supremacy, the USA TODAY High School Sports staff got to thinking: What would the best high school boys basketball teams of recent memory look like? What if there was a Final Four with the best players of this generation?
There's only one way to determine this hypothetical — let's do a draft.
High school basketball has wholly evolved with the growth of the prep circuit, the rise of social media, and the allowance of name, likeness, and image income. To add consistency in the modern era, drafters limited selections to the past 10 graduating classes, going from 2015 (led by Ben Simmons) to 2024 (led by Cooper Flagg). Each team had eight selections to assemble a roster, including the starting lineup. With the evolution of the game and the flow of many high school teams, positions didn't need to match one-for-one, but some semblance of a real rotation was required.
This draft does not take into consideration post-high school play. Evaluations were solely based on high school merit, in terms of on-court production, potential, and the assessment of the player during their prep careers. That means someone like James Wiseman, who was widely regarded as the top player in his class but hasn't performed well at the NBA level, is valuable here.
Let's begin the snake-style draft.
Round 1
Team Joe: Anthony Edwards, Shooting Guard, class of 2019
Edwards has been "THAT" guy since his high school days. The No. 1 pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, he averaged 29 points, nine rebounds and two assists leading Holy Spirit Preparatory to a runner-up finish in the GISA Class AAA state tournament. - Joe Spears
Team Logan: Ben Simmons, Wing, 2015
Over two seasons at Montverde Academy, Ben Simmons led the team to a 62-1 record. As a senior, he averaged 27.1 points, 11.6 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game, and was pretty widely considered the top player in the class. Plus, Simmons' versatility as a point-forward allows flexibility with my next picks to not necessarily need a true point guard. - Logan Newman
Team Todd: Zion Williamson, Power Forward, 2018
I wanted to start with someone who could not just score in the post but dominate there. And back in the day, the question wasn't if Zion was dominating -- at 36.8 points, 11.4 rebounds nd 3.5 assists per game he was. The question was more competition, as he played again many small schools on the way to a state title in South Carolina. He soon proved he could play against any one, and that his high school career was truly one of the most dominant in history. - Todd Adams
Team Rick: Cooper Flagg, Forward, 2024
Though not quite as posterizing as Zion, you're not going to find a more dynamic, complete player than Flagg over the past few years. He led Montverde to an undefeated season and National Championship. - Rick Suter
Round 2
Team Rick: Lonzo Ball, Point Guard, 2016
All-Star teams are about putting on a show, and I want a PG who can handle the offense … while also creating a one-man act: Ball averaged a triple-double his senior year in high school, so he's a confident fit for that criteria.
Team Todd: LaMelo Ball, Point Guard, 2019
This is another guy who is difficult to gauge because of how weird his high school career was. As a sophomore he averaged 26.7 points, 11.3 assists and 4.7 rebounds against good competion. That included a 90-point game. He then played professionally overseas as a junior before bouncing around as a senior. Even then, he could handle the ball and shoot and pairing him with Zion gives me a formidable inside-outside threat right off the bat.
Team Logan: RJ Barrett, Guard, 2018
Three years after Ben Simmons led Montverde to the GEICO National Championship, RJ Barrett did the same. Having reclassified as a senior, he led the team to an undefeated season and averaged about 28.7 points, 8.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, two blocks and 1.5 steals a game, according to Gatorade. Between Simmons and Barrett, this starting lineup should have enough ball handling even without a traditional point guard.
Team Joe: Cade Cunningham, Point Guard, 2020
Cunningham was the one of the best players on what many people consider to be one of the best high school teams ever. He played two seasons at Montverde Academy averaging 11.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game as a junior and 13.9 points, 6.4 assists and 4.2 rebounds per game as a senior. His senior year he was named the MaxPreps Player of the Year Naismith Prep Player of the Year.
Round 3
Team Joe: Brandon Miller, Small Forward, 2022
Admittedly this is a bit of a homer pick as Miller is probably the best high school player I've ever covered in person. He broke on the scene as a junior leading Cane Ridge to TSSAA Class 4A championship game. He would go on to average 26.3 points and 7.9 rebounds as a senior earning Tennessee Gatorade Player of the Year and Mr. Basketball honors.
Team Logan: Michael Porter Jr., Small Forward, 2017
The best way to show Michael Porter Jr.'s impact is to look at Nathan Hale's record before and after he came. Before, 3-18. After, 5-17. In between -- the school was named National Championship after a 29-0 season in which Porter averaged a ridiculous 37 points and 14 rebounds per game. He was actually No. 2 overall on my big board, but I felt I'd be forward-heavy without Barrett. Thrilled to get him here.
Team Todd: James Wiseman, Center
The No. 1 recruit in the class of 2019, Wiseman could score (25.8 points per game) and rebound (14.8 rpg). But what I loved about him most at this point was that he also dominated defensively with 5.5 blocks per game.
Team Rick: Deandre Ayton, Power Forward, 2017
Along with Cooper Flagg, I like Ayton as a complete defensive menace (against any of the competition in this draft). The fact he's got above-average moves in the paint on offense is simply a bonus.
Round 4
Team Rick: Bol Bol, Center, 2018
Sorry, you don't really have an All-Star team without Bol Bol. For the scouting crowd, I'll add that his skill set is unique for a big man (7-foot-3) in that he's more comfortable as a shooter on the perimeter. I'll take a talent who can stretch the court any day.
Team Todd: Chet Holmgren, Big, 2021
I really needed to start addressing my backcourt here. But Holmgren was just too good to pass up. He was the No 1 recruit in the class of 2021, often stretched the floor with his incredible ball handling and shooting for a 7-footer, and dominated the paint defensively. He averaged 20.8 points, 12.6 rebounds, 4.7 blocks and 4.4 assists and shot 68.2 percent from the field and is the perfect backup at both PF and C, allowing me to create matchup nightmares there.
Team Logan: Jayson Tatum, Small Forward, 2016
Jayson Tatum was one of only two boys basketball players to be named Gatorade National Player of the Year over the last 10 years. His 29.6-point, 9.1-rebound-per-game season was exemplary, leading to a championship for Chaminade. His high school days were a good preview of what was to come. I assumed one of Porter or Tatum would be available for me in round three, so why not grab them both between rounds three and four?
Team Joe: Paolo Banchero, Forward, 2021
It is a bit of a shame that Banchero decided to forgo his senior season before heading off to Duke. I remember seeing highlights and games of his junior year and being in awe. That season he was named the Washington Gatorade Player of the Year and MaxPreps National Junior of the Year averaging 22.6 points, 11 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.6 blocks per.
Round 5
Team Joe: Dereck Lively, Center, 2022
Massive. That's the best way to describe Lively and his game. Standing at 7-foot-2, he earned Pennsylvania Gatorade Player of the Year honors his senior season averaging 14 points, 14 rebounds and 4.5 blocks per game.
Team Logan: Evan Mobley, Center, 2020
As a junior, Evan Mobley was matching up against — and dunking on — other dominant and older centers like James Wiseman. As a senior, he took a massive leap, proving his versatility on both ends with size, length, ability to be an outside-in ball handler and crash the boards. Mobley was as good a prospect any of the other centers of the era, and he'll fit in well with this versatile rotation.
Team Todd: Jalen Green, Shooting Guard, 2020
Another guy with the versatility to play all three backcourt positions, Green averaged 31.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 5.0 assists as a senior. And he did so with a flair. An explosive dunker and ball handler, he could also make shots from almost anywhere on the court. He will complement LaMelo Ball, but also probably be the guy who plays PG when LaMelo takes a breather.
Team Rick: Emoni Bates, Small Forward, 2021
Bates is one of the best pure scorers, and probably the most effective shooting guard in this draft.
Round 6
Team Rick: Isaiah Collier, Point Guard, 2023
Two point guards?! Yes, yes, I did that and am proud to call Collier my true PG1. While Ball is putting up 3-pointers from 55 feet, I want a talent with floor vision to spread the offense and fine Bol, Ayton, and Flagg.
Team Todd: Jaylen Brown, Wing, 2015
Entering the sixth round I had two needs left -- small forward and a backcourt backup. Hit the first need here with Brown who averaged 27.1 points and 11.0 rebounds per game as a senior. He's also another guy that can flat out play on the defensive end.
Team Logan: Trae Young, Point Guard, 2017
Trae Young averaged 34.2 points and 4.6 rebounds and assists apiece in a season — and then he started his senior year. In that final season of high school, he averaged an absurd 42.6 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.1 assists. His shooting, passing and ball handling will play well alongside these other players in this fictitious eight-man rotation.
Team Joe: De'Aaron Fox, Point Guard, 2016
Anthony Edwards is probably my favorite player in the NBA right now but Fox isn't that far behind. I've been a massive fan of his game dating back to his prep days. He averaged just over 23 points as a junior but ascended to another level his senior season. That year he averaged 32.1 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game.
Round 7
Team Joe: Collin Sexton, Point Guard, 2017
I nearly went Darius Garland here but there's just something about Sexton's game that I've always been a fan of. He transferred to Pebblebrook ahead of his junior season leading the squad to a state title. In doing so, he averaged a cool 23 points per game and seemingly has let up since.
Team Logan: Nassir Little, Small Forward, 2018
Leading his school to back-to-back championships as a junior and senior, Little was named MVP of McDonald’s Game and Jordan Brand Classic in 2018. He averaged 20 points and nine rebounds per game as a senior, and with his defense and 7-foot-1 wingspan, I'd expect him to help defend larger players on opposing teams in this rotation.
Team Todd: Ace Bailey, Wing, 2024
And now I got a small forward backup with Bailey, who might not be quite as good defensively as Brown, but absolutely filled it up offensively with 32.5 points, 15.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.4 blocks per game as a senior. He was the No. 2 recruit in the Class of 2024.
Team Rick: Jalil Bethea, Shooting Guard, 2024
Like Bates, I'm taking Bethea because he's one of the best pure scorers, and probably the other most effective shooting guard in this draft.
Round 8
Team Rick: Thomas Bryant, Big, 2015
Bryant pairs nicely with Flagg, bringing a combo of athletic power forwards who can run the floor and shoot the rock. I really feel bad for these other All-Star teams and hope they at least enjoy the show my team will put on.
Team Todd: Josh Jackson, Shooting Guard, 2016
For my final pick I needed a backcourt fill-in and had my eye on Coby White because of his scoring prowess and his ability to play all three spots. But I just couldn't pass up on Jackson. The No. 1 recruit by both Rivals and 247Sports in the 2016 class, he averaged 27.4 points, 11.0 rebounds and 3.1 assists as a senior after averaging 31.2 points and 5.4 assists as a junior. He later fizzled out in the pros, but his high school career was dominant.
Team Logan: Harry Giles, Big, 2016
Jayson Tatum on Harry Giles: "He was by far the best player in our grade ... you can ask anybody in our class. Even in high school, I thought, 'Yeah, he might be better than me.'" Because of that, despite missing two whole seasons of basketball, Giles deserved a spot in the rotation. He was first team all-USA as a junior, averaging 23.9 points, 12.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 3.0 blocks per game, and was First-Team All-EYBL that summer.
Team Joe: Jaren Jackson Jr., Power Forward, 2017
Again, another homer pick but I covered Jackson when he was at Park Tudor High School in Indianapolis and was amazed by his talent level. He would transfer to to La Lumiere for his senior season earning five-star status and become known as one of the nation's best defensive prospects.
Final Teams
Team Joe
- Anthony Edwards
- Cade Cunningham
- Brandon Miller
- Paolo Banchero
- Dereck Lively
- De'Aaron Fox
- Colin Sexton
- Jaren Jackson
Team Logan
- Ben Simmons
- RJ Barrett
- Michael Porter Jr.
- Jayson Tatum
- Evan Mobley
- Trae Young
- Nassir Little
- Harry Giles
Team Todd
- Zion Williamson
- LaMelo Ball
- James Wiseman
- Chet Holmgren
- Jalen Green
- Jaylen Brown
- Ace Bailey
- Josh Jackson
Team Rick
- Cooper Flagg
- Lonzo Ball
- Deandre Ayton
- Bol Bol
- Emoni Bates
- Isaiah Collier
- Jalil Bethea
- Thomas Bryant
Who had the best team?
Let us know on social media:
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY High School Sports Wire: USA TODAY HSS staff creates All-Star rosters from 2015-24 classes
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