SI unveils candidates for 2021 SI All-American high school basketball team

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NEW YORK, Dec. 2, 2020 -- Their collective athleticism, agility and court smarts are off the charts, but what makes the 99 high school basketball seniors and five underclassmen on SI.com’s watch list for the 2021 SI All-American team truly special is their polish and versatility, says Sports Illustrated’s director of basketball recruiting Jason Jordan.

“The game is evolving in a variety of ways, particularly when it comes to the multi-dimensional skills of players no matter their size, but this class really stands out because there is a refinement and finesse that you’d typically expect to see at the collegiate level,” said Jordan, whose daily, year-round coverage can be found here.

“The seniors this year haven’t had the exposure of other classes due to the pandemic,” he added. “But they’ve zeroed in on intense, individual workouts and have fine-tuned themselves. The theme in 2021 is size and versatility, particularly at the top -- a lot of these prospects have a chance to play a long time in the NBA.”

The No. 1 prospect in the SI99 is Chet Holmgren, a 7-foot-1 forward from Minnehaha Academy in Minneapolis. He dominates in all facets of the game, plays all five positions and is just as dynamic on defense as he is on offense, says Jordan.

VIDEO: JASON JORDAN AND ROBIN LUNDBERG DRILL DOWN HERE ON THE CANDIDATES

“I’ve seen a lot of players refer to themselves as a unicorn on the court, but Chet embodies that label more than any player I’ve seen in recent memory,” Jordan said. “He can legitimately dominate as a point guard, then knock down threes like a marksman, and then dominate the paint on both ends. The best part about him is his mentality and motor. He competes like an underrated prospect looking to make a name. He’s a rare talent.”

The states with the most SI All-American candidates are Florida (15), California (8), Georgia, North Carolina and Texas (6 each) and Arizona, Nevada, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Washington state (4 each).

The candidates will be narrowed to 50 finalists in February and in April SI will unveil its first-, second- and third-team Sports Illustrated All-American choices. Each team will consist of five players.

Coming tomorrow at SI.com: an in-depth feature, and video breakdown, on the No. 1 prospect, Chet Holmgren. And coming Friday is a video analysis of the other nine members of SI’s top 10. Next week, look for breakdowns of the top five players by position.

SI.com’s pre-season ranking of the 99 All-American candidates can be found below the state and college lists that follow.

SI All-American candidates broken out by state:

Alabama

• J.D. Davison – 6-2 / 175 / PG from Letohatchee, AL

Arizona

• Keon Edwards – 6-7 / 185 / SF from Phoenix, Ariz.
• Arthur Kaluma – 6-6 / 210 / SF from Glendale, Ariz.
• Michael Foster – 6-8 / 220 / PF from Phoenix, Ariz.
• TyTy Washington – 6-4 / 180 / PG from Phoenix, Ariz.

California

• Nathan Bittle – 6-11 / 200 / C from Napa, Calif.
• Wilhelm Breidenbach – 6-8 / 205 / C from Santa Ana, Calif.
• Reese Dixon-Waters – 6-5 / 180 / SF from Los Angeles. Calif.
• Jahmai Mashack – 6-4 / 180 / SG from Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.
• Isael Silva – 6-3 / 175 / PG from Carmichael, Calif.
• Malik Thomas – 6-3 / 190 / SG from La Verne, Calif.
• Peyton Watson – 6-6 / 180 / SF from Long Beach. Calif.
• Amari Bailey – 6-4 / 170 / SG from Chatsworth, Calif. (junior)

Connecticut

• Bensley Joseph – 6-1 / 165 / PG from Putnam, Conn.

Delaware

• Nnanna Njoku – 6-9 / 245 / C from Hockessin, Del.

Washington, D.C.

• Quincy Allen – 6-6 / 185 / SF from Washington, D.C.

Florida

• Tamar Bates – 6-4 / 175 / SG from Bradenton, Fla.
• Charles Bediako – 6-10 / 210 / C from Bradenton, Fla.
• Wesley Cardet – 6-5 / 175 / SG from Orlando, Fla.
• Dallan "Deebo" Coleman – 6-5 / 190 / SG from Callahan, Fla.
• Moussa Diabate – 6-10 / 215 / PF from Bradenton, Fla.
• Alex Fudge – 6-7 / 175 / SF from Jacksonville, Fla.
• DaRon Holmes – 6-8 / 195 / PF from Montverde, Fla.
• Caleb Houstan – 6-8 / 195 / SG from Montverde, Fla.
• Langston Love – 6-4 / 190 / SG from Montverde, Fla.
• Ramses Melendez – 6-5 / 190 / SF from Kissimmee, Fla.
• Josh Minott – 6-8 / 175 / SF from Boca Raton, Fla.
• Efton Reid – 7-0 / 225 / C from Bradenton, Fla.
• Ernest Ross – 6-9 / 205 / PF from Alachua, Fla.
• Benny Williams – 6-8 / 185 / PF from Bradenton, Fla.
• Jalen Duren – 6-9 / 220 / F from Montverde, Fla. (junior)

Georgia

• Matt Cleveland – 6-6 / 185 / SG from Alpharetta, Ga.
• Chance Moore – 6-5 / 175 / SG from Powder Springs, Ga.
• Ryan Mutombo – 7-0 / 210 / C from Atlanta, Ga.
• Kowacie Reeves – 6-5 / 170 / SG from Macon, Ga.
• Jabari Smith Jr. – 6-10 / 210 / PF from Tyrone, Ga.
• Kaleb Washington – 6-8 / 195 / SF from Mableton, Ga.

One candidate from Germany

• Jeremy Sochan – 6-7 / 200 / SF from Ulm, Germany

Illinois

• Ahamad Bynum – 6-3 / 175 / PG from Chicago, Ill.
• Max Christie – 6-6 / 170 / SG from Rolling Meadows, Ill.
• Bryce Hopkins – 6-8 / 220 / PF from Oak Park, Ill.

Indiana

• Caleb Furst – 6-8 / 215 / PF from Fort Wayne, Ind.
• Luke Goode – 6-6 / 185 / SG from Fort Wayne, Ind.
• Trey Kaufman – 6-8 / 210 / PF from Sellersburg, Ind.

Kansas

• Kendall Brown – 6-7 / 205 / SF from Wichita, Kan.
• Kennedy Chandler – 6-1 / 160 / PG from Wichita, Kan.
• Zach Clemence – 6-10 / 205 PF from Wichita, Kan.

Kentucky

• Zion Harmon – 5-11 / 175 / PG from Benton, Ky.

Maryland

• Jordan Hawkins – 6-4 / 170 / SG from Hyattsville, Md.
• Julian Reese – 6-9 / 205 / PF from Owings Mills, Md.
• Jakai Robinson – 6-4 / 200/ SG from Upper Marlboro, Md.

Michigan

• Jaden Akins – 6-3 / 160 / PG from Ypsilanti, Mich.
• Pierre Brooks – 6-5 / 180 / SG from Detroit, Mich.