Connecticuts Updated Top Ten in 2011

New England Recruiting Report | Wednesday, January 13th, 2010

Here is a breakdown of the updated 2011 rankings in the state of Connecticut…

#1 – Derrick Wilson, Hotchkiss School: A power guard with a long list of high-major suitors, Wilson retains his position as the state’s top ranked player. The two-sport star utilizes his linebacker build to his advantage on the hardwood, bullying opponents and simply playing with more toughness and tenacity than most. Combine that with a consistently evolving skill set, the ability to create for himself & others, and good productivity at both ends of the floor and he is #1 in our books.

#2 – Trahson Burrell, St. Thomas More School: The reclassified junior from Albany shot up this list faster than we expected, but few have made bigger strides over the last four months. When he arrived at STM he was a talented but raw forward with some playmaking skills. Now that he is shooting the ball with much more consistently and beginning to expand his frame we think it’s only a matter of when, not if, he will end up at the high-major level.

#3 – Freddie Wilson, Hillhouse High School: The CIAC’s top prospect is another guy who continues to steadily improve. Two years ago we questioned his ability to get others involved, last year it was his jump shot. This year we are running out of questions as he sees the floor & passes beautifully, drills pull-up threes, and is able to make plays off the dribble at virtually anytime.

#4 – Eric Katenda, Cheshire Academy: We were surprised he didn’t have a bigger following last summer, after all there aren’t that many six-foot-nine kids out there who can match his mobility and athleticism. Now that he is suddenly making shots to the three-point line and attacking off the dribble from the perimeter and you can see why high-level coaches are intrigued.

#5 – Anthony Jernigan, East Hartford High School: If it seems like he has grown up on the circuit, that’s because he essentially has. The last in a long line of great basketball players to come out of his family, Jernigan is a wizard with the ball in his hands and has become much more dangerous with his perimeter jumper.

#6 – Jerome Harris, East Catholic High School: Jernigan’s running mate on the AAU circuit through the years is one of the main driving forces behind East Catholic’s successful start to the season. He’s a tad undersized, but explosive with both his leaping ability and first step as well as a steady shot making presence.

#7 – Zaid Hearst, Salisbury School: Newly arrived to the Nutmeg state is this six-foot-four swingman who helped his Chevy Chase Springbrook team to a Maryland state championship a year ago and recently led Salisbury to the championship of the Loomis Holiday Tournament.

#8 – Rohan Brown, East Catholic High School: He may be flying a little bit under the radar but this is the kind of kid who helps you win games at the next level. He’s always been long, active, and productive inside the paint but he also seems to have grown a bit and expanded his skills facing the basket in the last year.

#9 – Torin Harris, New London High School – Harris cracks the top ten by virtue of his early season performances thus far this season for New London, but in order to maintain his position he’ll need to continue to produce this summer against high level competition.

#10 – Gerald McClease, Wilbur Cross High School: We loved what we saw from him last spring and summer on the AAU circuit as he showed the potential to blossom into a versatile scorer of the basketball.

Honorable Mention: Nick Pendergast, Kent; Brian Patterson, Hillhouse; Oscar Assie, St. Joseph’s; Tylon Smith, Kingswood-Oxford; Brandyn Benson, Career; Kevin Rivers, Career; Alex Conaway, Wilbur Cross; C.J. Moss, Taft; Andre Makris, Pomperaug.