NYCHoops.net Top Ten Players (2016)

With the first half of the season behind us, the NYCHoops.net Pre-season rankings are now a thing of the past as we got to see players perform in real time against real competition. Some players rested on their laurels while others rose to the occasion. Here are our updated Top Ten Players in the class of 2016

1) Ty Jerome (Iona Prep HS ’16) – While the Virginia-bound point guard may be sidelined with a hip injury that might affect his ranking during the next update, his body of work during the first half of the month has been nothing less than impressive. As the fearless leader of a Gaels team filled with youngsters, Jerome managed to keep them at the top of the rankings before he got hurt. Whether it was shouldering the majority of the offense or facilitating buckets by teammates, the 6'5" senior proved that he deserved to remain as top dog in our rankings. (Formerly #1)

2) Shamorie Ponds (Thomas Jefferson Campus ‘16) – The St. John’s commit barely holds onto the number two spot even though his Orange Wave team has fallen on some hard times as of late. Playing against some of the top teams in the nation, Ponds for the most part, has been unstoppable on offense no matter what opponents threw at him. (Formerly #2)

3) Kevin Huerter (Shenendehowa HS '16) - The 6'6" combo guard has been a man who does a bit of everything this year for the Plainsmen. Having led his team to a 12-0 start to the season, Huerter, who next year will be heading to Maryland, is averaging 20 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists per game, and along the way he risen to the challenge, putting together some of his best teams when his team needed it most. Named Tournament MVP of the Josh Palmer Elmira Holiday Inn Classic where Shenendehowa were able to win the championship, Huerter looks poised and motivated to lead the Plainsmen back to a second consecutive Class "AA" State Championship, and prove along the way that he is one of New York's best. (Formerly #3)

4) Devonte Green (L.I. Lutheran HS ’16) – Recent Indiana-commit has raised his game to that next level status and exudes the confidence of a player that has become secure in his game. While his one of the elite scorers in the city, the 6'2" combo guard has also displayed his talents at the point with pin-point passes and overall floor –generalship. (Formerly #4)

5) Anthony Lamb (Greece Athena HS '16)- Having lost their entire starting 5 outside of Lamb from last season, you had to know the Trojans would be pretty dependent on their all everything forward, but no one could've guessed he would be this impossible to contain. Facing double, and most of the time triple teams, the 6'6" Lamb, a Vermont commit, has still found a way to get the ball in his hands and finish wherever he can on the floor. He has had 8 games of 30+ points this season, and he has had double digit rebound numbers in each of his team's games as well as he had led Greece Athena to a 10-1 start to the season, and it doesn't seem to matter just how many different defenses are thrown on him, Lamb continues to impress this season in a major way. (Formerly #5)

6) Quinton Rose (Bishop Kearney HS '16)- It has been a bit of an up and down season for the Kings so far as we hit the midway point of the 2015-2016 season, but you cannot deny that Rose has come on to be one of the more productive all around players in New York as he not only is scoring in greater numbers than in any time in the past, but his defensive abilities to block shots and rebound the ball have made him near impossible to contain from making an impact on the game in one form or another. Rose is 6'6", long and athletic, and is putting up 18 points and 7 rebounds a game while also being one of the most feared players in transition in the State. With Rose carrying the Kings the rest of the way, it wouldn't be a shock to see the Temple commit put up even bigger scoring numbers the rest of the way. (Formerly #6)

7) Jordan Nwora (The Park School '16)- He isn't just a shooter anymore as Nwora is opening eyes with his athleticism and his rebounding prowess as well as he has Park off to a 9-0 start. Averaging 23 points and 11 rebounds a game, the uncommitted Nwora has played just as much above the rim attacking the basket this season as he has from behind the arc where he remains one of New York's top perimeter shooting threats. Named MVP of last year's Class "B" NYS Federation Tournament as a junior, Park is now competing in Class "A" and with his ability to dominate with the ball in his hand playing both inside and outside, it wouldn't be a shock to see the 6'8" Nwora be MVP once again this season. (Formerly #7)

8) Tareq Coburn (Benjamin Cardozo HS ’16) – In his senior year, Coburn has gone from being the third option to the go-to-guy for Dozo. The 6'5" lefty’s game has moved up quite a few notches as his confidence has increased from game to game. Now he hits clutch shots from the arc as if they were free-throws. In addition to his perimeter game, Coburn is also an effective slasher and finisher at or over the rim. (Formerly unranked)

9) Isaac Kante (Paul Roberson HS ’16) – The 6’6” forward has been a major factor in the emergence of Robeson as a force to be reckoned with. As the enforcer in the paint, Kante has often times been a game changer with both his defense and offense in the post. He’s also starting to shed the knock on him that he’s inconsistent which helped propels Kante into the number nine position. He must remain consistent to stay in the top ten. (Formerly unranked)

10) Jamel Allen (Brentwood HS ’16) – The 6’7” forward has been a major piece responsible for lifting Brentwood to the number spot in Long Island. While he’s adept at scoring inside, Allen also has a solid midrange game with the ability to play over the rim. Strong and athletic, the big test for the senior comes in the latter half of the season where the competition gets stiffer as the playoffs approach. (Formerly #9)

The Final NYCHoops.net Player Rankings update will take place after the high school season is over