North Central in top 25

[bluestreak]

North Central has been rated in the top 15 (#12) in USA Todays top 25 preseason high school team rankings.

Here is the short write-up via Highschoolsports.net

12. North Central,

Indianapolis (25-3)

The Panthers return four starters and should only get better as they won the 4A title last season while starting then-sophomore guards D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera (18 ppg, 6.0 rpg), Patrick Ingram and Ronnie Johnson. 6-5 F Dedric Griffin and 6-4 F Darius Latham also return.

[Kyle Feller]

I hate those USA Today ratings.

How many public schools (not the ones that recruit kids from all over the country) are ranked ahead of them?

[huisrealgood]

I can't speak for other states but I know Chicago Simeon is a public school. They are pretty stacked this year. I'd be intrigued to see how they would do against top teams from other states.

[bluestreak]

Nov 18, 2010 8:57:03 GMT -5 Kyle Feller said:

I hate those USA Today ratings.

How many public schools (not the ones that recruit kids from all over the country) are ranked ahead of them?

yeah Im not in love with them either...I personally think teams that don't participate in State tournaments should be left out.

but to answer your question, with ur criteria in mind; I counted four others. Simeon #10, Long Beach Poly #7, Melrose #5, and Milton #1. Winter Park is public but have had some interesting transfers over the past 3-4 years, including this year. I like to call it the Rivers Affect.

[incognitoman]

I know of private schools that don't recruit whatsoever, and know of public schools that recruit across the country, and world. It doesn't matter anymore if a school is public or private. If a school wants to acquire certain players, they will find a means to an end.

[huisrealgood]

Nov 20, 2010 0:21:42 GMT -5 bluestreak said:

#1 Winter Park is public but have had some interesting transfers over the past 3-4 years, including this year. I like to call it the Rivers Affect.

Kinda like Bloomington South a couple years ago? ;D

[huisrealgood]

In a tournament in Gary over the weekend Chicago Simeon dismantled talented Bowman Academy (IN) 61-46 while Chicago Whitney Young trounced Michigan State 5* recruit Brandon Dawson and Gary (IN) Lew-Wallace 53-38. Nice showing for the Chicago Public League teams over the top teams from Northwest Indiana.

www.post-trib.com/sports/highschools/2927444,bkb-lakeshore-1128.article

[bluestreak]

Thanks for the read HIRG, sounds like Bowman played pretty well for as long as they could against Simeon; being down 1 at half and 8 at the end of the 3rd. Also, I would assume, you don't hear the Wallace coach saying his players were "straight up intimidated" by many other programs, I guess facing a name such as Whitney Young can do that to kids sometimes. But Dawson did have a nice game (17 points)

[huisrealgood]

Whitney Young is a basketball powerhouse and probably pumps out more Division 1 basketball players than any other public school in the nation right now (might not be #1 but at least close). They have tons of talent at several different positions so it doesn't surprise me that they intimidate schools they face. It also doesn't surprise me that they have little problem beating 1 man-teams like Wallace. It's the more diverse teams like Simeon that they struggle with.

[bluestreak]

Nice, Nice. I know they are always real tough. Get a chance to see them on Fox Sports Net during some holiday tournaments.

Anyword on how the Marrero and Jabari Parker "match-up" went during the other game? Read that Marrero started really hot in the first half

[huisrealgood]

I know Marrero looked impressive but Parker took over the game in the 3rd quarter. Personally I hope they're teammates some day with the Illini! I know Marrero is planning on attending tomorrow nights UNC-Illinois game in Champaign.

[Kyle Feller]

Purdue and Indian are full on scholarships.....so he will def be going out of state.