Junior class ready to shine

Updated: May 9, 2012 9:55AM

When the Class of 2013 entered high school a little more than two years ago, the talk mostly centered around the trio of Simeon’s Jabari Parker, Young’s Tommy Hamilton and De La Salle’s Alex Foster. Now the junior class as a whole is set to make its mark on the high school basketball season this winter and show it’s as good as advertised.

‘‘I do think there are times when Chicago kids get a little too much hype, maybe even over-recruited,” one high-major college coach said. ‘‘But not with this group. Plus, there is some great depth in that class in Illinois that will trickle down to the mid-major level.’’

JOE HENRICKSEN’S TOP FIVE

1. Jabari Parker, 6-8, F, Simeon

• When it’s all said and done, Parker will be one of the top five prospects ever produced out of the state of Illinois. He’s the No. 1 player in the country in his class.

2. Kendrick Nunn, 6-1, SG, Simeon

• He might be an undersized shooting guard, but Nunn is explosive off the floor and can stretch a defense with his shooting ability. Look for Nunn to blossom this winter in comparison to his role-playing ways of last season. With his decommitment from Texas A&M, Nunn has become a highly-coveted prospect nationally.

3. Kendall Stephens, 6-4, SG, St. Charles East

• Long and smooth with a consistent shooting stroke and size on the perimeter that allows him to get his shot off. The Purdue recruit still is developing physically and maturing as a player, which is why his upside remains so high.

4. Malcolm Hill, 6-5, SF, Belleville East

• Has the look of a big-time prospect, with size, length, body and bounce of a high-major wing player. He has blossomed as a player in the last 12 months, but he still has untapped potential and a high ceiling. If the Illinois recruit’s perimeter shot ever gets to the point where it needs to be respected and a still-
developing killer instinct completely evolves, he might be the best prospect in the class not named Jabari Parker.

5. Tommy Hamilton, 6-9, PF, Young

• A big five months lie ahead for the talented but enigmatic Hamilton, who is looking to put together an impressive stretch of basketball. Enormously skilled — he can draw opposing big men out to the three-point line and make no-look passes with the best of them — Hamilton hopes to quiet critics with a big junior season.

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