City of Basketball Love

Ari Rosenfeld (@realA_rosenfeld)
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As the Class of 2016 prepares to graduate and head off to college campuses, ESPN has extended its 2017 rankings to include 100 names in advance of the all-important July live recruiting periods.

And to no one’s surprise, several of the area’s premier rising seniors find themselves close to the top.

Though not Philly natives, Westtown’s Mohamed Bamba (Harlem, N.Y.) and WeR1 star Trevon Duval (Wilmington, Del.) start off the local flavor, ranked as the third and fifth-best recruits in the nation, respectively.

However, the biggest story is the jump that Pennsylvania’s two top players each made.

Both Lonnie Walker (Reading) and Quade Green (Neumann-Goretti) put themselves squarely in the MVP conversation during their spring play on the Nike EYBL circuit, with Walker leading Philly’s Team Final with 16.7 points per game and Green leading the entire circuit in assists (10.5) and steals (2.9) per game for New York-based PSA Cardinals.

With their strong play has come greater recognition on the national scene, which is reflected in the latest rankings. Walker jumped from 23rd to 14th, while Green is now ranked 22nd, the third highest-rated point guard after being placed eighth in the previous rankings.

Both are now considered five-star prospects and should be in contention for McDonald’s All-American honors throughout their senior seasons.

New to the list is another New York native/Westtown star, Brandon Randolph. One of the spring’s biggest stock risers, the 6-foot-6 sharpshooter debuts in the rankings at No. 43.

Another new name, Appoquinimink/South Jersey Jazz shooting guard Myles Cale debuts at No. 65, after the Seton Hall commit finished third in the Under Armour Association in scoring (20.3 points per game).

Lastly, checking in at the bottom of the list is Philly native David Beatty, whose strong play this spring for Philly Pride earns the St. Benedict’s combo guard the 97th spot.