2018-19 MaxPreps Boys Basketball Junior All-American Team

National Player of the Year Sharife Cooper heads talented group from Class of 2020.

Thumbnail image of this articles writer: Jordan Divens
By
Apr 17, 2019, 12:00am
Highlighted by National Junior of the Year Sharife Cooper of McEachern (Powder Springs, Ga.), MaxPreps presents the 2018-19 Boys Basketball Junior All-American Team.

Selections are based on team success, individual production and local, regional and state honors from the recently-completed season. Potential at the college and professional level is not a primary consideration. Players in post-graduate or non-scholastic programs are not eligible for inclusion.

Video: MaxPreps National Junior of the Year
See the amazing season put up by McEachern's Sharife Cooper.

Past Junior of the Year selections
2010 — Austin Rivers, Winter Park (Fla.)
2011 — Tony Parker, Miller Grove (Lithonia, Ga.)
2012 — Jabari Parker, Simeon (Chicago)
2013 — Stanley Johnson, Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.)
2014 — Ben Simmons, Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.)
2015 — Jayson Tatum, Chaminade (St. Louis)
2016 — Kevin Knox, Tampa Catholic (Tampa, Fla.)
2017 — Zion Williamson, Spartanburg Day (Spartanburg, S.C.)
2018 — Vernon Carey Jr., University (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)

First Team

MaxPreps National Junior of the Year
Sharife Cooper, McEachern (Powder Springs, Ga.)
6-1 | Guard | Uncommitted
MaxPreps National Player of the Year averaged 28.6 points, 8.6 assists and 4.1 steals per game to lead No. 2 McEachern (32-0) to its first state title.

Jalen Green, San Joaquin Memorial (Fresno, Calif.)
6-5 | Guard | Uncommitted
Averaged 30.1 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game to end his career at San Joaquin Memorial with 2,291 career points. The No. 2 player in the junior class announced his transfer to Prolific Prep (Napa, Calif.).

6-4 | Guard | Uncommitted
Texas Gatorade Player of the Year averaged 32.4 points, 9.5 rebounds, 6.2 assists and three steals per game. Speculation mounts Hampton may reclassify to join the senior class as the 5-star sits at 2,854 career points.

6-8 | Forward | Uncommitted
Wisconsin Associated Press Player of the Year led No. 9 Knights (27-1) to program's first state title, posting 20 points and 20 rebounds in the state championship game. Johnson averaged 19.7 points, 11.7 rebounds and 5.9 rebounds per contest.

Evan Mobley, Rancho Christian (Temecula, Calif.)
6-11 | Center | Uncommitted
Junior big man with limitless potential averaged 19 points, 12 rebounds and 4.7 blocks per game to lead Rancho Christian (25-6) to a Top 25 ranking for much of the season, before an early postseason exit.
Graphic by Ryan Escobar
Second Team

6-3 | Guard | Uncommitted
Did his best Russell Westbrook impersonation this season, averaging 21.9 points, 10.2 assists, 10.2 rebounds and 3.6 steals per game. Beekman led Hornets (35-2) to third consecutive state title.

6-6 | Guard | Uncommitted
The catalyst for No. 4 Montverde Academy (22-3) filled the stat sheet with 11.4 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game. Cunningham impacted the game and played dominant in big games — highlighted by 26 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds in a 25-point win against top-ranked senior guard Cole Anthony and Oak Hill Academy.

6-11 | Center | Uncommitted
Displayed his elite two-way ability for No. 15 Sunrise Christian Academy (22-6) — averaging 16 points, nine rebounds and three assists per contest to lead the Buffaloes to their first GEICO Nationals appearance.

Isaiah Todd, Trinity Academy (Raleigh, N.C.)
6-10 | Forward | Uncommitted
Versatile Class of 2020 big man introduced himself to the Tar Heel State by averaging 28 points, 15 rebounds, 5.4 blocks and 4.3 assists per game in his first year at Trinity Academy (21-12).

Jaden Springer, IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.)
6-4 | Guard | Uncommitted
Top 15 class of 2020 prospect averaged 15.6 points, four assists and four rebounds per game for the National Champions, leading the team in scoring in two of its three contests at GEICO Nationals.
Cade Cunningham, Montverde Academy
Cade Cunningham, Montverde Academy
Photo by Andrew Bershaw
Third Team

Greg Brown III, Vandegrift (Austin, Texas)
6-9 | Forward | Uncommitted
Three-time Statesman All-Central Texas first team selection averaged 30.1 points, 13.5 rebounds and 5.4 blocks per game despite missing nearly five weeks of action after a dislocated finger in November.

6-0 | Guard | Uncommitted
Averaged 16.2 points, 8.1 assists, 7.8 rebounds and 4.1 steals per game to lead No. 17 Long Island Lutheran to the New York state federation Class AA Tournament of Champions title.

Ethan Morton, Butler (Pa.)
6-4 | Guard | Uncommitted
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Player of the Year averaged 27.5 points, 10.3 rebounds and 8.1 assists per game to lead Butler (21-5) to the second round of the PIAA Class 6A state tournament.

Day'ron Sharpe, South Central (Winterville, N.C.)
6-9 | Center | Committed to North Carolina
North Carolina Associated Press first team All-State selection averaged 15.9 points, 9.8 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game to lead No. 11 South Central (30-1) to its first state championship.

Jalen Suggs, Minnehaha Academy (Minneapolis)
6-5 | Guard | Uncommitted
Talented two-sport star guided Minnehaha Academy (29-2) to its third consecutive state title, averaging 23.3 points, 6.3 assists, 4.7 rebounds and 3.7 steals per game.
Greg Brown III, Vandegrift
Greg Brown III, Vandegrift
Photo by Jim Parker
Honorable Mention

Scottie Barnes, University (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
6-8 | Forward | Uncommitted
Led No. 13 University (27-5) to back-to-back FHSAA Class 5A state titles and GEICO Nationals appearances, averaging 14.4 points, 7.6 rebounds and 5.7 assists per game.

Marjon Beauchamp, Rainier Beach (Seattle)
6-6 | Wing | Uncommitted
Averaged 26 points, 11 rebounds and five assists per game to lead the Vikings (21-6) to an appearance in the WIAA Class 4A state semifinals.

Brandon Boston, Norcross (Ga.)
6-6 | Guard | Uncommitted
Atlanta Journal Constitution GHSA Class AAAAAAA first team All-State selection averaged 18.4 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.9 steals per game to lead Norcross (22-9) to the state semifinals.

6-8 | Forward | Uncommitted
West Virginia Gatorade Player of the Year averaged 17.3 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game to lead Huntington Prep (21-4) to the No. 42 spot in the final Top 100.

Josh Christopher, Mayfair (Lakewood, Calif.)
6-4 | Guard | Uncommitted
Division 2AA MVP averaged 25 points, 7.8 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 3.2 steals per game to lead the Monsoons to a 26-7 record.

6-0 | Guard | Uncommitted
Louisiana Gatorade Player of the Year averaged 29.5 points, 5.1 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game to guide Walker (28-9) to the LHSAA Class 5A state title game.

6-10 | Forward | Uncommitted
Nevada Preps first team All-State selection averaged 15.3 points, 9.3 rebounds and 4.3 blocks per game to guide No. 21 Bishop Gorman (28-5) to its eighth consecutive state championship.
Isaiah Cottrell, Bishop Gorman
Isaiah Cottrell, Bishop Gorman
Photo by Steven Ryan
L.J. Cryer, Morton Ranch (Katy, Texas)
6-1 | Guard | Uncommitted
TABC Class UIL 6A All-State selection averaged 27.5 points, 5.8 assists and 2.9 rebounds per outing to lead Mavericks (28-7) to the regional quarterfinals.

Andre Jackson, Albany Academy (Albany, N.Y.)
6-6 | Guard | Uncommitted
Led Cadets (19-3) to their fourth New York State Federation Tournament of Champions title, averaging 17.4 points, 10 rebounds and five assists per contest.

6-6 | Forward | Uncommitted
Detroit Free Press Dream Team selection averaged 26 points and 13 rebounds per game for the Tigers (22-2), who finished the season ranked No. 91 in the final top 100.

6-5 | Guard | Uncommitted
Averaged 24.6 points, 8.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists and three steals per game to lead the Feet (27-7) to a TSSAA Division II-A state semifinals appearance.

Walker Kessler, Woodward Academy (College Park, Ga.)
6-10 | Center | Uncommitted
Atlanta Journal Constitution GHSA Class AAAA first team All-State selection averaged 21 points, 11.9 rebounds and 6.4 blocks per game to lead Woodward Academy (22-9) to the state semifinals.

Adam Miller, Morgan Park (Chicago)
6-3 | Guard | Uncommitted
Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year averaged 26.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and 5.4 assists per contest for the Mustangs (29-5), who finished the season ranked No. 92 in the final top 100.

6-7 | Forward | Uncommitted
TABC Class UIL 6A All-State selection averaged 16 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game to guide No. 24 Duncanville (32-7) to its fourth state title in program history.

D.J. Steward, Whitney Young (Chicago)
6-3 | Guard | Uncommitted
City/Suburban Hoops Report All-State first team selection averaged 24.3 points and 3.2 assists per game this year to lead the Dolphins (25-8) to the sectional finals.

6-7 | Wing | Uncommitted
Nevada Preps first team All-State selection averaged 27.3 points and 8.8 rebounds per game to lead the Patriots (14-12) to the Desert Region quarterfinals.

Jalen Terry, Beecher (Flint, Mich.)
5-10 | Guard | Committed to Michigan State
Associated Press MHSAA Division 3 Player of the Year averaged 22.5 points, seven rebounds, 5.7 assists and 3.6 steals per game to lead Beecher (24-3) to the state quarterfinals.

Cam Thomas, Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.)
6-3 | Guard | Uncommitted
Averaged 26.2 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game to lead No. 12 Oak Hill Academy (31-5) in scoring, establishing himself as a 5-star prospect this season.

Kyree Walker, Hillcrest Prep (Phoenix)
6-5 | Guard | Uncommitted
Averaged 30.1 points, 11 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 3.1 steals per game for the Bruins (35-6), who finished the season ranked No. 61 in the final top 100.

Terrance Williams, Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.)
6-7 | Forward | Uncommitted
Washington Post All-Met first team selection guided Gonzaga (28-9) to the WCAC tournament championship, averaging 17.8 points and 7.3 rebounds per contest.

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