Top 20 Mississippi senior boys basketball players to watch in 2024
With the start of region play, it's time to recognize the top 20 seniors in Mississippi's class of 2024 for boys basketball. The players on this list are either in the midst of a breakout season or ranked among the top prospects for the class of 2024. (This list is in alphabetical order.)
Mississippi's top prospects for the class of 2024
Trey Alexander, G, Clinton
The former Clinton Christian guard transferred to play his senior season for the Arrows, and it’s worked out so far. Alexander is 6-feet and 170 pounds of dynamite. His transition to the MHSAA after three years averaging better than 13 points a game has been fairly seamless, and the Arrows are off to a 13-2 start.
Aujaylen Barron, G, Harrison Central
The talented point guard is currently averaging 14.4 points a game for the Red Rebels, who are off to a 10-4 start. Barron shows up in big games, too. He put up a career-high 41 points last week in a 67-53 win over Albertville (Ala.).
Taylor Berryhill, G, Cleveland Central
Berryhill is one of the biggest reasons the Wolves are off to a 16-4 start through 20 games. The 5-foot-10 point guard is currently averaging north of 14 points and five assists a game, and holds offers from Delta State and several junior colleges.
Kameron Brown, G, Port Gibson
Brown burst onto the scene as a junior, when he averaged better than 15 points a game, including a 21-point performance in the quarterfinal loss to Morton. The 6-foot-2 guard saw his stock as a college prospect rise in the off-season, made everyone's preseason list, and has drawn interest from several Division 1 programs.
Brewer Carruth, W, Parklane Academy
Parklane's 6-foot-4 swing man is a guy who can create his own shot and then knock it down. Carruth signed with Southern Miss during the early period after winning the MAIS three-point shootout last year as a junior. Fun fact: his holder brother Hastings, an outstanding offensive lineman, signed to play football at USM in December.
D.J. Davis, G, Oxford
Davis is absolutely going off for Oxford in his senior season, averaging nearly 25 points and six rebounds a game for the 12-8 Chargers. The 6-foot-2 guard has drawn offers from some juco programs, but should get the D1 offer he's looking for if he continues to excel.
Kari Hamilton, G, Clinton
His older brother Kimani was the 2022 Gatorade Player of the Year in Mississippi, but Kari played just as big of a role for the state champion Arrows that season. Since then, he's grown an inch or two (to 6-foot-2) and developed into one of the strongest scorers and facilitators in the state.
Tamarion Hoover, W, Yazoo City
Hoover burst onto the scene in 2023 by leading Yazoo City to a state championship under coach Anthony Carlyle, and he's only elevated his game since then. The 6-foot-5 prospect is a swing man who has the size and physicality to bang inside and the handles of a one or two-guard. He's the biggest reason the defending champs are off to a 16-2 start.
Elijah Isom, G, Ocean Springs
At 5-foot-6, Ocean Springs' splendid Isom may be one of the smallest players on our list, but he's also one of the most fun to watch. He's got great handles, and his ability to knock down the big shot has earned him at least one juco offer from Northwest Community College.
Matthew Krass, G, St. Patrick
The MHSAA's current leading scorer is averaging 27.2 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game for the Irish in his senior year. The 6-foot-4 guard has helped St. Patrick to an 11-7 start and picked up a couple of juco offers along the way.
DeAndre Lewis, G/F, Canton
Everyone knew the Canton Tigers were primed for a big season in 23-24, and DeAndre Lewis is one of the biggest reasons. At 6-foot-4, Lewis is a monster on the glass and an elite rim protector. He holds offers from Jackson State, Rider University and a couple of jucos.
Dorian McMillian, G, Pascagoula
Pascagoula may very well be the best team in the state, and the 6-foot-3 McMillian has proven to be the Panthers' most impactful player. He dropped 18 in a two-point win over Canton to clinch the Madison County Holiday Tournament and earned tournament MVP honors two weeks ago.
Eric "EJ" Paymon, F, Raymond
Raymond’s 6-foot-9, 235-pound forward is the highest-rated prospect in the state, and reportedly holds offers from Mississippi State, Ole Miss, TCU and Jackson State, among others. Paymon is vying for his second-straight Mr. Basketball Award, and he's one big reason the Rangers are off to an 18-3 start.
Amir Abdul Rauf, G, Gulfport
It’s hard to live up to expectations when your father played nine seasons in the NBA, but Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf’s boy is a chip off the old block. The ability to create his own shot flows from a lighting-fast pull-up jumper that could be the example in a textbook about shooting technique. He's garnered a couple of Juco offers, including Angelino College in Lufkin, Texas.
Avery Thomas, F, Terry
Mississippi hoops fans in the know have had Thomas on their radar for a while, but things have really picked up the past couple of weeks for the Bulldogs' 6-foot-7 forward. He earned tournament MVP honors after leading Terry to a championship in the Piney Woods Holiday Invitational, then picked up an offer from Mississippi Valley State the day after Christmas.
Jakobi Thompson, W, Provine
Provine's 6-foot-3 swing man is a true wing who garnered a lot of buzz in the AAU circuit in the off-season. He's picked up right where he left off in his senior season, helping the Rams to a 12-4 start.
Elliot Tulip, W, Southeast Lauderdale
If you're looking for a guy who is just as good in the classroom as he is on the court, you could do a lot worse than Southeast Lauderdale's 6-foot-5 wing. He helped the Tigers to a runner-up finish in Class 3A last season, scored a 27 on the ACT and has maintained a 4.0 GPA throughout his high school career. He currently holds offers from a slew of juco programs, as well as the University of West Alabama.
Javian Watkins, G, Provine
There's not much not to like about the Rams' do-it-all point guard. Watkins has proven to be just as efficient scoring as he is distributing, and the speed of his first step with the basketball is nearly unmatched. He's just 5-foot-7, but he makes everyone around him better.
Davion Williams, G, Vicksburg
The Gators' 15-3 start has raised some eyebrows, but should come as no surprise to anyone who has seen their splendid guard Davion Williams. The 5-foot-10 guard picked up his first Division-1 scholarship offer from Alcorn Sate in May, and has at least three juco offers on the table as well.
Damarion Winston, G, Yazoo City
We're not sure if Winston is the Robin to Tamarion Hoover's Batman, or if it's the other way around. Either way, Yazoo City's second player on our Top 20 list is an absolute baller. The 6-foot-2 senior guard already has a state championship ring, is gunning for a second and holds offers from eight different Mississippi juco programs, and counting.
