Last year’s SI All-American Boys Basketball Team gave everything from Final Four stars to dominant pro careers in their first year after high school.
This year’s group of All-Americans will keep that standard and could potentially raise the bar.
RELATED: Jon Scheyer wants the talent to win this year one
After a careful evaluation process, we reached 15 of the best high school basketball players in the country divided into three teams.
Montverde (Fla.) Academy shooting guard Dariq Whitehead was named SI All-American Player of the Year after averaging 16.5 points, five rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.5 steals a game.
From nationally televised matches to marquee tournaments, Whitehead, a Duke signeer, consistently dominated other SI All-Americans throughout the season, and despite playing alongside several SI99 stars, he was the best player on the best team in the country.
RELATED: Dariq Whitehead is SI All-American POY
“It’s a blessing,” Whitehead said. “As a kid, you look forward to that kind of thing. It was something I wanted to check off before my senior year started, but I didn’t think so much about it statistically; I just wanted to go out and play to win. It’s clear that it got the job done to win such a prestigious award as Sports Illustrated’s Player of the Year. “
Whitehead had tough competition all season, but managed to pull away from the herd eventually, taking home the MVP trophy at McDonald’s All American Game, leading Team USA to victory at the Nike Hoop Summit and winning GEICO.
RELATED: Second Team | Third team
Here’s a look at the players who pushed him all year and earned on the SI All-American first team in the process.
Player of the Year
SG: Dariq Whitehead, Montverde (Fla.) Academy, 2022
College: Duke
Why he is the player of the year: Whitehead guided the Eagles to their sixth GEICO National title wearing many hats dominant and consistent. From playmaker to goal scorer to defender, Whitehead thrived at control of Montverde, averaging 16.5 points, five rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.5 steals a game.
Scroll to Continue
First team
C: Dereck Lively, Westtown School (West Chester, Penn.) Academy, 2022
College: Duke
Why he is an SI All-American: Lively is the top-ranked player in SI99 and lived up to the hype all season with an average of 14 points, 14 rebounds and 4.5 blocks a match on his way to lead Moose to a state title. In the championship game, Lively posted 11 points and 12 blocks. His dominance last year was a transfer from a summer where he led the Team Final (Penn.) To the prestigious Nike Peach Jam title.
PG: Keyonte George, IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.), 2022
College: Baylor
Why he is an SI All-American: George was number two in the most grueling league in the country, NIBC, with an average of 16.9 points a match on a team filled with SI99 stars. He recorded NIBC’s first 40-point game against La Lumiere and averaged 21.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and three assists at GEICO Nationals. Often, George put Ascenders on his back and wanted them to win, including two over GEICO National champs Montverde Academy.
SF: Gradey Dick, Sunrise Christian (Bel Aire, Kan.), 2022
College: Kansas
Why he is an SI All-American: Dick led the NIBC in scoring, averaging 17.9 points per game with 5.2 rebounds. He shot as much as 47% from the three-point line and dominated the training sessions at McDonald’s All American match, which is widely considered to be the most competitive aspect of the all-star game festivities.
C: Kyle Filipowski, Wilbraham (Mass.) And Monson Academy, 2022
College: Duke
Why he is an SI All-American: Filipowski has been one of the most consistent statistical sheet-fillers throughout the season and has consistently dominated prestigious tournaments. Filipowski averaged 19.1 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, two steals and 1.4 blocks this season for Wilbraham and Monson. At 6’10 “, Filipowski can dominate the game in several facets and play with a competitive advantage that is contagious.
SG: Nick Smith Jr., North Little Rock (Ark.), 2022
College: Arkansas
Why he is an SI All-American: Smith dominated the competition all summer with Brad Beal Elite (Mo.) and then led it on to the high school season with 26 points, seven assists and six rebounds a game for North Little Rock (Ark.). Smith finished his high school final with a state title, posting 25 points, six rebounds and five assists in the win. Smith was the best player during training at McDonald’s All American Games, a telling achievement for what is widely considered to be the most competitive training of the year.
.