The 2009 high school class produced many NBA players such as Lance Stephenson, Kawhi Leonard, and Khris Middleton. However, none of these players were ranked in the 2009 top ten. So, who could be ranked better than Kawhi Leonard? Let's Talk Sports went to find out.
10. Mason Plumlee: Mason Plumlee is a 6'11'' center out of the Christ School in Warsaw, IN. Plumlee went to Duke University, where he went to play all four years of college, averaging 9.8 points in his college career. In his senior season, Plumlee averaged 17 points and 10 rebounds, which was enough to get him drafted by the Brooklyn Nets with the 22nd pick in the 2013 NBA draft. Since then, Plumlee has been on the Portland Trail Blazers and is now on the Denver Nuggets. In his career, he has so far averaged 8 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists.
9. Kenny Boynton Jr.: Kenny Boynton Jr is a 6'3'' shooting guard from out of American Heritage High School in Pompano Beach, FA. Boynton went to Florida University, where he played 4 years also. However, unlike Plumlee, Boynton only averaged around 14 points, which was not enough for him to get drafted in 2013. Since then, Boynton has played on many teams oversea, and is now playing on the Shenzen Leopards in the CBA.
8. Jordan Hamilton is a 6'7'' small forward from Dominguez High School in Compton, CA. Hamilton went to Texas, where he teamed up with a top recruit that will be named later. Hamilton played two years at Texas, where he averaged 15 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists. These stats and his raw potential were enough for Hamilton to be selected with the 26th pick in the 2011 NBA draft to the Dallas Mavericks. However, Hamilton's draft rights were traded to the Denver Nuggets that night, and Hamilton played with the Nuggets, and their D-league team, the Idaho Stampede, for three years. Since 2014, when Hamilton was traded from the Nuggets, he has played for the Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Clippers, and the New Orleans Pelicans. Hamilton has also played overseas in Russia, Venezuela, Turkey, the Dominican Republic, Israel, and Italy, where he currently plays today.
7. Renardo Sidney: Renardo Sidney is a 6'9'' power forward from Fairfax High School in Los Angeles, CA. Sidney went to Mississippi St. where he missed out his entire freshmen year due to suspension. But, when Sidney played, he was good. In three years, Sidney averaged 12 points and six rebounds. This was not enough to get Sidney drafted in the 2012 NBA draft. If you said Sidney had a bad pro career, that is right. Sidney played in the NBA D-league for one year, and then played in Venezuela for four years. After that, Sidney joined the Compton Airmen in the California Basketball League, where he reflects on what could have been.
6. John Henson: John Henson is a 6'10'' power forward from Sickles High School in Tampa Bay, FA. Henson went to the University of North Carolina, where he played 3 seasons, and averaged 14 points, 10 rebounds and 3 assists. This led to Henson being drafted 14th overall to the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2012 NBA draft. Despite not being famous, Henson has managed to hold a NBA career, and has played on the Bucks since then, averaging 8 points and 6 rebounds a game.
5. John Wall: John Wall is a 6'3'' point guard out of Word of God Christian Academy in Raleigh, NC. Wall went to the University of Kentucky, along with another top recruit to be named later. Wall played one season, where he averaged 17 points, 4 rebounds and 7 assists. Wall's talent led to him being drafted number one overall in the 2010 NBA draft. Since then, well... everyone knows John Wall, the five time all-star, and all- NBA third team player. John Wall has played for the Wizards since he was drafted, and has averaged 19 points and 9 assists, while being a top point guard in the NBA.
4. DeMarcus Cousins: DeMarcus Cousins is a 6'9'' center out of LeFlore Magnet High School in Mobile, AL. Cousins went to Kentucky with John Wall, where they made the elite eight together. Cousins averaged 15 points, 10 rebounds and 1 assist per game. Cousins was also drafted after one year in college, going to the Sacramento Kings with the 5th pick in the 2010 NBA draft. Everyone knows who DeMarcus Cousins is. Cousins is now a 4 time all-star and a 2 time all-NBA second team. Cousins is a top center in the league, playing for the Kings, Pelicans and Warriors, and has averaged 22 points and 11 rebounds since entering the league.
3. Xavier Henry: Xavier Henry is a 6'6'' shooting guard out of Putnam City High School, in Oklahoma City, OK. Henry went to the University of Kansas for college. He played one season for the Jayhawks, where he averaged 13 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists. The next year, Henry entered the 2010 NBA Draft, where he was drafted with the 12th overall pick to the Memphis Grizzlies. Since then, Henry has bounced around the NBA, where he averaged 6 points a game, and the NBA D-league.
2. Derrick Favors: Derrick Favors is a 6'9'' power forward from South Atlanta High School, in Atlanta, GA. Favors committed to Georgia Tech, where he would play one year, and average 12 points, 8 rebounds and 1 assist. Favors had a lot of hype surrounding him before the draft, and this led to him being drafted with the 3rd pick in the draft to the New Jersey Nets. Favors played one season for the Nets, and then started the next year with the Jazz. Since then, Favors has had a mediocre career, averaging 12 points, and 7 rebounds.
1. Avery Bradley: Avery Bradley is a 6'3'' shooting guard out of Findlay Prep, in Tacoma, WA. Bradley went to the University of Texas, where he averaged 12 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists in his one season there. Bradley was then selected with the 19th pick in the 2010 NBA Draft to the Boston Celtics. Bradley has not played like he was hyped up to be, and has actually been a bit of a disappointment. Bradley has only averaged 12 points in his career, and has played for 3 teams in the past 3 years.