Vote: Who is the top sophomore high school boys basketball player in the nation in 2023-24?
The high school boys basketball playoffs are heating up across the country.
SBLive recently highlighted some of the nation's top underclassmen who have established themselves as rising stars during the 2023-24 season. We started with the freshman class, and then we moved to the standout sophomores.
Now we want to hear from you. Which sophomore has been the best this season?
Read up on the nominees and cast your vote in the poll below. Voting is open until Sunday, February 25 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern time.
TOP HIGH SCHOOL SOPHOMORE BOYS BASKETBALL PLAYERS IN NATION
Names are in alphabetical order.
Ikenna Alozie, Dream City Christian (Arizona)
Alozie entered the season as one of the highest ranked sophomores in the country, and he’s backed it up with his play. The 6-foot-3 guard averaged 19.5 points, 12 rebounds and 3.5 assists in two recent games against national powers Prolific Prep and IMG Academy.
JJ Andrews, Little Rock Christian (Arkansas)
SBLive’s Arkansas Newcomer of the Year as a freshman, Andrews’ success has impressed again as a sophomore. The 6-foot-6 guard posted 34 points, 16 rebounds, six assists and blocks against North Little Rock on Dec. 16.
Alijah Arenas, Chatsworth (California)
Like his father Gilbert Arenas, Alijah is a dynamic guard with superstar potential. The 6-foot-4 five-star averaged 33.7 points, 7.9 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game for Chatsworth during the regular season.
Tajh Ariza, St. Bernard (California)
St. Bernard sophomore Tajh Ariza takes the court against Beverley Hills on Nov. 28, 2023.
Photo by Tarek Fattal, SBLive Sports
Ariza, whose father Trevor Ariza won an NBA championship with the Lakers in 2009, has established himself as one of the nation’s top high school players in the class of 2026. The 6-foot-7 forward holds college offers from Kansas, UCLA, USC and more.
Brandon Bass Jr., Windermere Prep (Florida)
Another top sophomore with NBA pedigree, Bass surpassed 1,000 career points this year for Windermere Prep. The 6-foot-3 guard recorded 20.8 points and 5.0 rebounds per game during the regular season.
Alex Constanza, Westminster Academy (Florida)
Constanza is a consensus top-15 sophomore among recruiting services. The 6-foot-8 forward recorded 23 points, six rebounds and two assists against national powerhouse Long Island Lutheran (New York) in December.
Jason Crowe Jr., Lynwood (California)
A prolific scorer, Crowe was named SBLive’s National Freshman of the Year for the 2022-23 season. After averaging 36 points per game last year, the 6-foot-3 guard has upped it to 37 points per game this year.
Moustapha Diop, The Walker School (Georgia)
Diop earned Region Player of the Year honors after a dominant regular season for The Walker School. The 6-foot-10 forward, ranked No. 6 overall in the class of 2026 by 247Sports, averaged 18.3 points, 13.2 rebounds and 3.1 blocks per game.
Sam Funches, Germantown (Mississippi)
With a rare mix of size and skill, Funches has set himself apart early as one of the nation’s top bigs in the 2026 class. The 6-foot-11 center is a walking double-double with his ability to score and rebound, and he’s also an elite rim protector.
Kendre Harrison, Reidsville (North Carolina)
One of the top dual-sport athletes in the country, Harrison is a top 10 recruit nationally in football and a top 25 recruit in basketball. The 6-foot-5 forward has averaged 18.3 points, 15.3 rebounds and 3.6 blocks per game for undefeated Reidsville, one of the top squads in North Carolina.
Caleb Holt, Buckhorn (Alabama)
The 6-foot-5 wing averaged 25.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 3.0 steals in two games against Charlotte (Florida) and Lyon County (Kentucky) at the City of Palms Classic in December.
Dothan Ijadimbola, Totino-Grace (Minnesota)
Ijadimbola is a budding star for one of the top squads in Minnesota. The 6-foot-6 forward went for 14 points and 11 rebounds in a win over Maple Grove (MN) last month, and he recently added a college offer from Oklahoma.
Marcus Johnson, Garfield Heights (Ohio)
Johnson followed up a breakout freshman year with a standout sophomore campaign for one of the top teams in Ohio. The 6-foot-1 point guard’s father, Sonny, was Ohio’s Mr. Basketball in 1998, and his cousin Meechie is the leading scorer for the South Carolina Gamecocks.
Brandon McCoy, St. John Bosco (California)
McCoy was recently ranked the No. 1 sophomore in the country by 247Sports. The 6-foot-4 guard averaged 18.5 points during the regular season, leading St. John Bosco to the CIF-Southern Section Open Division playoffs.
Jalen Montonati, Owasso (Oklahoma)
After winning a gold medal last summer with Team USA at the FIBA U16 Americas Championship, Montonati is averaging more than 20 points per game this season. The 6-foot-7 forward leads the charge for Owasso, currently the No. 2 team in Oklahoma.
Trent Perry, Frisco Lone Star (Texas)
Coming off a breakout freshman campaign, Perry has continued to make a name for himself as a sophomore. The 6-foot-4 combo guard received college offers from Texas and Ole Miss in recent months.
Tristan Reed, John Burroughs (Missouri)
Reed, whose older brother Tarris plays for the Michigan Wolverines, has been a breakout player this season for John Burroughs. The 6-foot-8 forward is averaging 18.1 points, 9.8 rebounds and 2.7 blocks through his first 20 games this year.
Jordan Smith, St. Paul VI (Virginia)
An injury ended a breakout freshman season early for Smith, but he’s been healthy and hooping like a five star this year. The 6-foot-3 guard is the only underclassman starter for a St. Paul VI ranked in the top five nationally all season.
Tyran Stokes, Prolific Prep (California)
Prolific Prep's Tyran Stokes drives against Montverde Academy's Cooper Flagg in the MAIT championship on Jan. 27, 2024.
Photo by Bill Kemp, SBLive Sports
Considered by many to be the top sophomore in the country, Stokes burst onto the scene as a freshman All-American. The 6-foot-7 forward plays a large role for national powerhouse Prolific Prep as a versatile two-way player.
Elijah Williams, Brother Rice (Michigan)
Williams transferred over the summer from Scottsdale Christian (Arizona) after his father, former Phoenix Suns head coach Monty Williams, was hired by the Detroit Pistons. The 6-foot-6 forward posted 29 points in Brother Rice’s season opener and has continued to impress all year with the Warriors.
-- Zach Shugan | zshugan@gmail.com | @SBLiveSports
