Amari Bailey, Bronny James highlight locals in ESPN’s latest basketball recruiting rankings
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The ESPN high school basketball rankings were released Thursday, rating the top college basketball recruits in the country in the classes for 2021, 2022 and 2023.
The rankings weigh the value of a player generally by where he sits among other prospects, and his star rating (5-star being highest).
Sierra Canyon junior Amari Bailey is the highest-rated player locally, regardless of class, and sits at No. 3 overall for 2020 in the country, regardless of position. The latest release has him ranked as the No. 1 recruit in California in his class.
ESPN’s Paul Biancardi, the guru on college basketball recruiting, also released a top 25 list that encompasses all recruits no matter the class or position. Biancardi has Bailey at No. 9.
Bailey, a 6-foot-4 guard, is uncommitted, but holds offers from programs such as Kansas and UCLA.
Sierra Canyon’s Bronny James – son of LeBron James – is also highly-ranked for the 2023 class. James, who holds an offer from Kentucky, is No. 25 overall.
Other locals included in ESPN’s rankings:
2021
SF – Peyton Watson, Long Beach Poly (No. 12); UCLA commit
C – Wilhelm Breidenbach, Mater Dei (No. 64); Wisconsin commit
SF – Reese Dixon-Waters, St. Bernard (No. 74); USC commit
SG – Malik Thomas, Damien (No. 90); USC commit
SG – Jahmai Mashack, Etiwanda (No. 97); Tennessee commit
2022
PG – Dior Johnson, Centennial (No. 15)
PF – Kijani Wright, Windward (No. 16)
SF – Tre White, Ribet Academy (No. 30)
PG – Dylan Andrews, Windward (No. 52)
SG – Ramel Lloyd, Rancho Christian (No. 53)
SG – Chance Westry, Sierra Canyon (No. 55)
PG – DJ Dudley, Fairfax (No. 56)