Basketball’s best
The 2016-17 boys preseason team includes multiple players from schools in Pennsylvania and Virginia,
The 2016-17 American Family Insurance All-USA boys basketball preseason team was selected by USA TODAY Sports’ Jim Halley in consultation with USA TODAY Sports’ Jason Jordan and various recruiting analysts and high school coaches.
Statistics are from last season, except where otherwise noted.
Players are listed in alphabetical order. All players are seniors unless noted with asterisks (*for juniors; **for sophomores). DeAndre Ayton, C, 7-0, 235, Hillcrest Academy, Phoenix
The Arizona commit averaged 30 points, 19 rebounds and 5.7 blocked shots per game for Hillcrest last season.
Mohamed Bamba, C, 6-11, 205, Westtown Academy, West Chester, Pa.
The New York native averaged 18 points, 14 rebounds and six blocks to lead his school to its first state independent school title. Led Team USA in rebounding as it won a gold medal this summer in the FIBA Americas Under-18 championships.
*Marvin Bagley III, F, 6-10, 190, Sierra Canyon, Chatsworth, Calif.
Sat out his sophomore year last season because of his transfer. Averaged 20.9 points and 10.6 rebounds during the Nike EYBL summer circuit.
**R.J. Barrett, F, 6-6, 185, Montverde Academy, Montverde, Fla.
The Canadian led the Eagles in scoring last season as a freshman. Was the MVP of the Jordan Brand International Game. **Charles Bassey, F, 6-10, 220, St. Anthony, San Antonio
Was a TAPPS 5A all-state player, averaging 20.2 points, 17.1 rebounds and 5.9 blocks for the state runner-up. Brian Bowen, F, 6-8, 210, La Lumiere, La Porte, Ind. Averaged 19.8 points for the Lakers. Wendell Carter, C, 6-10,
254, Pace Academy, Atlanta
Led the team to the state title, averaging 21.6 points, 13.6 rebounds and 5.5 blocked shots.
Matt Coleman, G, 6-2, 174, Oak Hill Academy, Mouth of Wilson, Va.
Helped lead Oak Hill to the title in the Dick’s Nationals last season, averaging 10.6 points, 4.0 rebounds, 8.8 assists and 2.0 steals. Won a gold medal this summer while playing for Team USA in the FIBA Americas Under-18 championships.
Trevon Duval, G, 6-2, 189, IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla.
Averaged 17 points and seven assists for Advance Prep (Dallas) last season. Helped lead his team to the title in the Under Armour Association and was the co-MVP of the Elite 24 and the MVP of the Pangos All-American Camp.
Jaren Jackson, F, 6-10, 220, La Lumiere, La Porte, Ind.
The Michigan State commit averaged 16.1 points, 7.8 rebounds and 4.4 blocks last season for Park Tudor (Indianapolis). Kevin Knox II, F, 6-8, 205, Tampa Catholic
Averaged 30.1 points and 11.2 rebounds for the Crusaders. Averaged 19.6 points and 7.9 rebounds during the EYBL season. *Romeo Langford, G, 6-5, 191, New Albany, Ind.
Scored 40 points in the Adidas Summer Championships. Led the team to the state title, averaging 29.3 points, 9.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists last season as a sophomore. Michael Porter Jr., F, 6-9, 212, Nathan Hale, Seattle
The Washington commit averaged 28.5 points, 11.8 rebounds and 3.4 assists while leading Father Tolton Catholic (Columbia, Mo.) to the Class 3 state championship. Led Team USA team in scoring in the FIBA Americas Under-18 championship. Billy Preston, F, 6-9, 230,
Oak Hill Academy, Mouth of Wilson, Va.
Averaged 17.1 points and 8.2 rebounds last season at Advanced Prep International (Dallas). Averaged 13.7 points and 7.7 rebounds during the EYBL circuit.
*Cameron Reddish, F, 6-7, 195, Westtown, West Chester, Pa
Averaged 11 points as a sophomore for the state championship team. Averaged 15.2 points and 4.8 rebounds on the EYBL circuit. Mitchell Robinson, C, 7-0, 220, Chalmette, La. The Western Kentucky com-
mit averaged 30.1 points and 11.2 rebounds last season. Collin Sexton, G, 6-2, 175, Pebblebrook, Mableton, Ga.
Led the EBYL with 31.7 points per game. At Pebblebrook, averaged 28.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 2.1 steals. Led Team USA in scoring in the Under-17 FIBA World Championship, averaging 17 points. Gary Trent Jr., G, 6-5, 213, Prolific Prep, Napa, Calif.
Averaged 25.9 points last season for Apple Valley, Minn., and helped Team USA win the title in the Under-17 FIBA World Championship, averaging 12.7 points
and 3.9 rebounds.
P.J. Washington, F, 6-8, 229, Findlay Prep, Henderson, Nev.
Averaged 15.9 points, 8.7 rebounds and 1.6 blocked shots for the Pilots. Led Team Penny in the EYBL season with 17.4 points and 10.9 rebounds per game.
*Zion Williamson, F, 6-7, 230, Spartanburg Day, Spar-. tanburg, S.C.
Led the school to the state independent schools title, averaging 28.3 points, 10.4 rebounds and 3.9 blocks.