Dorial Green-Beckham, Shabazz Muhammad got the attention of MaxPreps readers
July 13, 2012 by MaxPreps, AZPreps365
Using hits on their respective MaxPreps player pages as a measuring stick, top football recruit Dorial Green-Beckham and basketball phenom Shabazz Muhammad were the most high-profile athletes in the country during the 2011-12 year.
Here's a look at the 10 MaxPreps player pages that attracted the most attention over the last 12 months along with a look at what made them so compelling;
Photo courtesy of McDonald's
1. Dorial Green-Beckham, football, Hillcrest (Springfield, Mo.)
The 6-foot-6, 225-pound wide receiver was the top-ranked gridiron prospect in the country and his recruitment went right down to the wire before picking in-state Missouri.
2. Shabazz Muhammad, basketball, Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas)
The 6-6 shooting guard topped the Class of 2013 Top 100 until the final update when center Nerlens Noel reclassified and grabbed the No. 1 ranking. He averaged nearly 30 points per game as a senior at Bishop Gorman and – like Green-Beckham – was the center of a closely followed recruitment. Muhammad is headed to UCLA.
3. Gunner Kiel, football, Columbus East (Ind.)
A highly ranked quarterback with a wild recruitment is sure to generate a buzz. Kiel committed to Indiana and LSU before finally signing with Notre Dame in January.
4. Johnathan Gray, football, Aledo (Texas)
Gray could have made a run at the No. 1 spot on this list had he strung out his recruitment a bit. He piled up 10,908 rushing yards and 205 touchdowns in his legendary career, but an early commitment to Texas took the mystery out of his senior season.
5. Barry Sanders, football, Heritage Hall (Oklahoma City)
Another star running back, Sanders will continue his career at Stanford. His famous name and impressive highlight videos kept fans checking in often.
6/9. LaJordan Wilkerson, basketball/football, Winston (San Antonio)
According to statistics submitted to MaxPreps, Wilkerson led the nation in scoring in basketball (40 points per game) and was No. 6 in rushing on the gridiron (3,441 yards). Both his basketball (6) and football (9) profiles cracked the Top 10.
7. Shaq Thompson, football, Grant (Sacramento, Calif.)
A late commitment flip from California to Washington likely propelled Thompson's status. The star safety was also picked by the Boston Red Sox in the MLB Draft and is expected to play rookie league ball before showing up in Seattle this fall.
8. Mamadou Ndiaye, basketball, Brethren Christian (Huntington Beach, Calif.)
Ndiaye proves you don't have to be in the midst of a heated recruitment featuring some of the nation's most prestigious programs to generate fan interest. It helps being 7-foot-4, however. The Senegal native and rising senior burst on the scene last December after debuting at Brethren Christian. He averaged 24 points and nearly 14 rebounds per game during the winter and has blossomed into one of the most intriguing recruits in the country this summer.
10. Jabari Parker, basketball, Simeon (Chicago)
Another hooper with a year to go, Parker appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated in May. The 6-8 small forward has led Simeon to three state titles and the program will likely own the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 preseason No. 1 national ranking in 2012-13.
Here's a look at the 10 MaxPreps player pages that attracted the most attention over the last 12 months along with a look at what made them so compelling;
Photo courtesy of McDonald'sShabazz Muhammad
1. Dorial Green-Beckham, football, Hillcrest (Springfield, Mo.)
The 6-foot-6, 225-pound wide receiver was the top-ranked gridiron prospect in the country and his recruitment went right down to the wire before picking in-state Missouri.
2. Shabazz Muhammad, basketball, Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas)
The 6-6 shooting guard topped the Class of 2013 Top 100 until the final update when center Nerlens Noel reclassified and grabbed the No. 1 ranking. He averaged nearly 30 points per game as a senior at Bishop Gorman and – like Green-Beckham – was the center of a closely followed recruitment. Muhammad is headed to UCLA.
3. Gunner Kiel, football, Columbus East (Ind.)
A highly ranked quarterback with a wild recruitment is sure to generate a buzz. Kiel committed to Indiana and LSU before finally signing with Notre Dame in January.
4. Johnathan Gray, football, Aledo (Texas)
Gray could have made a run at the No. 1 spot on this list had he strung out his recruitment a bit. He piled up 10,908 rushing yards and 205 touchdowns in his legendary career, but an early commitment to Texas took the mystery out of his senior season.
5. Barry Sanders, football, Heritage Hall (Oklahoma City)
Another star running back, Sanders will continue his career at Stanford. His famous name and impressive highlight videos kept fans checking in often.
6/9. LaJordan Wilkerson, basketball/football, Winston (San Antonio)
According to statistics submitted to MaxPreps, Wilkerson led the nation in scoring in basketball (40 points per game) and was No. 6 in rushing on the gridiron (3,441 yards). Both his basketball (6) and football (9) profiles cracked the Top 10.
7. Shaq Thompson, football, Grant (Sacramento, Calif.)
A late commitment flip from California to Washington likely propelled Thompson's status. The star safety was also picked by the Boston Red Sox in the MLB Draft and is expected to play rookie league ball before showing up in Seattle this fall.
8. Mamadou Ndiaye, basketball, Brethren Christian (Huntington Beach, Calif.)
Ndiaye proves you don't have to be in the midst of a heated recruitment featuring some of the nation's most prestigious programs to generate fan interest. It helps being 7-foot-4, however. The Senegal native and rising senior burst on the scene last December after debuting at Brethren Christian. He averaged 24 points and nearly 14 rebounds per game during the winter and has blossomed into one of the most intriguing recruits in the country this summer.
10. Jabari Parker, basketball, Simeon (Chicago)
Another hooper with a year to go, Parker appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated in May. The 6-8 small forward has led Simeon to three state titles and the program will likely own the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 preseason No. 1 national ranking in 2012-13.
