Central Section HS Hoops: Final Class of 2024 Player Rankings

The Class of 2024 is the last class to be impacted by the Covid year, as these players were freshmen during that shortened season. Many of the players on this list only played a handful or more of games their freshman season, while other players may not have played varsity at all that season given the lack of access to gyms and no time for tryouts. Also, since I started doing player rankings with the class of 2020 over four years ago, this graduation class has the least amount of committee 4-year players coming out of high school, which is a direct reflection of the Covid year, but more importantly the impact of the transfer portal and college programs seeking out more experienced and physically developed players from the JUCO ranks all the way up to Division 1. Despite the realities of the current recruiting environment that have led to more players going the JUCO route or simply calling it a career after high school, there were plenty of individual accomplishments earned from this class of players. Logan Kilbert set the all-time scoring record for the Central Section, Connor Amundsen became the all-time scoring leader for Clovis North and led the Broncos to a Section Title, eleven players on this list were league MVPs at one point over the course of their career, and multiple players were either state champs or regional state-champs over the course of their high school career. For a class that was heavily impacted by the Covid year, these accomplishments are truly inspiring, especially the scoring records and the number of career 1,000 point scorers. 

This is my final round of Player Rankings for the Class of 2024, and the list has expanded from 50 to 55 players. This list has been compiled over the past three and a half years, with the criteria for these rankings being based on a combination of potential to play at the collegiate level, as well as performance in the three arenas of prep hoops (high school team, club team, and individual events). Despite this group having already graduated and most have made decisions on where they will play next year in college, next-level projection is still weighted a bit heavier so that college coaches have a better idea of where to track these players in their post-high school careers. I received input from coaches, media, and other members of the high school basketball community in the Central Section on players in these rankings, but the order of the players is my own ranked order.

I am curious to look back on this final list of player rankings for the 2024 class in a few years and see where many of them end up. There are some intriguing long term prospects in this class that are going the JUCO route this coming season, and it will come down to work ethic and improved development of their skill sets to see who can stick it out and make it to the 4-year ranks. Sylarr Redwood, Jeremy Pierro, Deshawn Usochu, and Va’Ron Mitchell are the players I am most intrigued by, as I believe all of them can play at the 4-year level but the endurance and patience to get there will be the deciding factor. Kilbert and Jacobson are of interest as they have taken the preferred walk-on option at the D1 level and whether they can earn a spot or not will have an impact on this being a route future players look to take or avoid. This class will serve as a great barometer for players in the Central Section moving forward and the realities of a pathway that looks different for each player. Having said that, we begin with a look at the #1 overall prospect for the 2024 class, Connor Amundsen.  

Connor Amundsen of Clovis North finishes out the final round of the Class of 2024 Player Rankings holding onto the top spot at #1. Amundsen held the top spot for this graduation class for all but one round of ranking updates, as he dropped to #3 after missing the entirety of his Junior season and the NCAA Live Period events in April of 2023, but came back in June of 2023 for Section 7 and the California Scholastic Live events before finishing off July with a solid showing for the Soldiers 17 EYBL. However, in the Fall preseason portion of the calendar, after a stellar showing in the Scholastic Live events, at the annual Clovis West Fall Nike Shootout, Amundsen took a hard fall attacking the basket that led to a wrist fracture and a feeling of “not again”. But for those that know Connor, this was just another hurdle for the talented and hard working lead guard. Amundsen was cleared to return to play by the time the official high school season started in November and what a senior year it would prove to be for himself and the Clovis North program. Amundsen put up his career-high of 42 points in the Classic at Damien, as well as an all-tournament team selection in the top division. Connor was named tournament MVP at the Mission Prep Christmas Classic, which was won by the Broncos. Amundsen was named TRAC League co-MVP, as Clovis North would share the league title with Clovis West, and was named Player of the Game in the Broncos Central Section Division 1 Championship Game win over the favored Knights of St. Joseph, going for 21 points and 6 assists. Amundsen was named to the CalHi Sports Open Division All-State 2nd Team, and became the all-time leading scorer, assists leader, and 3-pointers made for Clovis North with 1,441 points, 356 assists, and 158 threes. Amundsen had several Division 1 options, as well as countless Division 2 offers, and decided to commit to high-academic Dartmouth of the Ivy League. Amundsen finished his high school career as a 3-star prospect by 247 Sports and the #37 ranked point guard in the nation. 

Holding onto the #2 spot in these final player rankings is Bentley Waller of Bakersfield Christian. Waller had a great start to his high school career and was a key rotation player his freshman year to help the Eagles to a D3 Central Section Title. Waller hit a 4-plus inch growth spurt between his freshman and sophomore season, which, along with some other injury issues, kept him out a majority of his sophomore season. Waller would have a strong start to his junior season but dealt with a nagging leg injury that limited his play significantly throughout SYL-Valley play, as well as the postseason. Yet, similar to Amundsen, Waller entered his senior season with the question of durability on the minds of coaches and programs that were interested in Waller and he delivered big time. Waller led the Eagles to another SYL-Valley League Title and was named League co-MVP, averaged 24.3 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists per game his senior season, as well as top player and all-tournament honors at multiple showcases and tournaments. Waller was named to the CalHi Sports Division 2 1st-Team All-State team and committed to play at Cal State Bakersfield this upcoming season, where his older brother Kadar Waller will be one of his teammates. 

Rippen Gill of Centennial of Bakersfield stays at the #3 spot for the final round of 2024 Player Rankings, but jumped as high as #1 on this list before Amundsen and Waller regained their spots when coming back from injury and performing well. Gill was the key piece for the Golden Hawks, who made a great run to the Division 2 State Title Game before falling short to Oakland Tech, where Gill would score 22 points. Gill won SYL-River MVP three consecutive years and was the focal point for Centennial since his sophomore season. Gill put up impressive individual stats his senior season with 18.6 points, 7.7 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4.1 steals per game, which showcased his ability to impact both ends of the court, and was named to the Division 2 1st-Team All-State team by CalHi Sports. Gill has yet to decide where he will attend college and play ball this coming season, as he played through both the Spring and Summer Live Periods for Oakland Soldiers EYCL 17u team as an unsigned senior. Redlands had expressed serious interest, which is a program that already features former Indepence Falcon Cameron Brown and Stockdale Mustang Jhace Boston. Gill has interest from some Division 1 programs but last I had heard it was only interest and not an offer. Despite where Gill ends up, he put together an impressive 4-year varsity resume and will help a team out at the next level if he goes where he is wanted and needed. 

The Central Section’s all-time leading scorer, Logan Kilbert of Sierra of Tollhouse, holds on to the #4 spot in these final 2024 Player Rankings. Kilbert led the Chieftains to back to back Division 3 Central Section Title Games, coming up short in both. Kilbert goes down as the all-time leading scorer in the history of Central Section basketball with a total of 3,334 points for his career, and won Northwest Sequoia League MVP honors 3 consecutive seasons. Kilbert averaged 29.3 points, 7.1 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2.5 steals per game with numerous games scoring in the 30s in his senior campaign, as well as earning a spot on the CalHi Sports Division 5 1st-Team All-State. Kilbert had options to play at various Division 2 and Division 3 programs but decided to take the preferred walk-on offer from Weber State to see if his game can translate to the Division 1 ranks. Kilbert put on countless scoring clinics over his 4-year high school career and he always showed up big in key moments of games, which is why he is the all-time Section scoring leader. 

Rounding out the Top 5 is Cal State East Bay commit Jordan Espinoza of Clovis North coming in at #5. The Broncos were relatively deficient in height this past season and Espinoza was called upon each game to defend the opposition’s bigs and he did more than hold his own. This was most evident in the Broncos win over the heavy favorites in St. Joseph of Santa Maria in the Central Section Division 1 Championship Game, where Espinoza scored 17 points and pulled down 6 rebounds while playing stellar defense against the big and physical frontline of the Knights. Espinoza was TRAC League co-MVP his junior season, averaged 11 points, 7 rebounds, and nearly 3 steals a game his senior season, scored over 1,000 career points, set the all-time steals record at Clovis North with over 250, and was named to the CalHi Sports Open/Division 1 4th-Team All-State. Espinoza will play for Cal State East Bay this next season and has the physical build and athleticism that translates already but will need to refine his perimeter skills to be more versatile on the offensive end. 

Jackson Young of Clovis West moves up two spots and comes in at #6 for this final round of player rankings. Young has been one of the best 3-point shooters in the Section over the last 4 seasons and a 4-year varsity player. Young earned TRAC League co-MVP his Junior season and 1st Team All-League this past season. Young was named to the CalHi Sports Open/Division 1 4th-Team All-State team, was a career 1,000 point scorer (1,336), helped lead the Golden Eagles to a Central Section Open Division Title his sophomore season, and averaged 12 points and 4 assists, and was nearly a 90/50/40 players falling short by 1% being 89% from the free throw line. Young played with the Oakland Soldiers EYCL 17u squad his 17u season and his name jumped on the radar of more D2 and D3 schools. Young will continue his basketball and academic career at Azusa Pacific this upcoming season and with his shooting efficiency and ability to play off the ball, should earn him minutes in his freshman campaign. 

The first true big to land in these final player rankings is Luke Jacobson of MIssion Prep in San Luis Obispo at the #7 spot. Jacobson displayed the versatility as a big and was effective with the 3-ball to stretch the floor, as he would shoot 37% from beyond the arc on 86 made threes his senior season. Jacobson played a pivotal role in helping the Royals make a Central Section Division 2 playoff run that led to the Title Game against Dinuba, before falling short. Jacobson averaged 14 points and 6 rebounds per game his senior season, earned 1st-Team All-Central Coast Mountain League, and has the size and footwork to operate in the post, as well as enough handles to put the ball on the deck and attack. As mentioned earlier, Jacobson is a solid perimeter shooter with accuracy from the 3-point line to space the floor and pull opposing bigs away from the basket. Jacobson committed to Marquette on a preferred walk-on offer and will join up with former St, Joseph’s big man Caeden Hamilton. 

Deshawn Usochu of Liberty in Bakersfield moves down one spot and lands at #8 in these final player rankings. Usochu has one of the more productive high school careers in recent memory in the South Valley, as he averaged 18 points and 10 rebounds per game for his 4-year varsity career. In Usochu’s senior season, he averaged 5 assists and 3 steals per game to highlight his ability to make plays and lock-up on the defensive end. Usochu was named 1st Team All-SYL-Valley and if the ball were to bounce the Patriots way a few times in his Junior season, it is likely that he would have earned co-league MVP but that was not the case. Usochu had interest from Division 3 and NAIA schools but as of this past week he decided to commit to Barstow Community College to play with Coach Fermin, a coach he is familiar with from his time playing with West Coast Elite. Usochu is a prime example of what the recruiting landscape looks like for players now compared to the pre-Covid/pre-transfer portal days, where he would have likely been a D2 level prospect coming out of high school. Usochu will have the opportunity to put up numbers this coming season and already has the frame and build to compete with college level players. 

Moving back into the top 10, after slipping out of the top 20, is lead guard Jaleel Jackson of Bullard at #9. Jackson is coming off a big time senior season that saw him help lead the Knights to the Division 3 State Final 4. Jackson was pivotal for Bullard, as the Knights would lose standout lead guard Ja’Vance Coleman for the season almost halfway through CMAC play. Jackson stepped up his role as a scorer and was second in points behind Dalen Felder after Coleman went down. Jackson would earn 1st Team All-CMAC League honors while averaging 12.1 points, 5 assists, 1.5 steals, and 4.3 rebounds per game to lead Bullard to an undisputed and undefeated CMAC Title. Jackson is a high level two-way player that can lock-up perimeter players, make plays with the ball in his hands, or create scoring opportunities by attacking the basket. Jackson had interest from Division 3 and NAIA schools but decided to commit to the College of San Mateo. Jackson is definitely a player that 4-year programs should track and if he can improve his perimeter shooting I can see him at the D3 level. 

Rounding out the Top 10 for these final player rankings at #10 is the lengthy wing/slasher Jeremy Pierro of Clovis East. Pierro provided the veteran presence on a relatively young team that featured multiple sophomores and a freshman in the core rotation. Pierro earned First Team All-TRAC League and had season averages of 13 points, 4 rebounds, and a steal per game. Pierro has a long wingspan and controls the boards and defends the 1 through 3 positions at a high level. Pierro has improved his perimeter shooting and his ability to create off the dribble but his bread and butter to this point is slashing off the ball and playing tough defense on opposing perimeter players. Pierro will join Jaleel Jackson at the College of San Mateo and with work on his shooting accuracy, has the frame that could place him as high as Division 2. 

Below is a list of all 55 players in ranked order. Any coaches or scouts that need additional information on any of these players, please contact me and I can provide that information. I will update the classes of 2025 player rankings by the end of the Summer.