I was recently looking at my latest class of 2009 rankings, and as is the case every time I make rankings, I realized I made a few decisions I wish I could take back, some players I wish I had put on/left off, and of course there are some decisions that may have been questionable to the public that I should probably explain. Here we go…

1) Colin Nickerson is better than you think.
The 6-3 combo guard from Waukegan being left out of my top 27 players is a travesty. Thinking back on all the games I saw him dominate this spring and summer with NLP, his stellar performance at the Loyola elite camp, and the one game I saw him play this fall in which he tore up the comp, he is certainly a top 27 player and is probably top 20. He is a lock up defender, which is very under rated quality and often tends to get overlooked by many fans and recruiting gurus. He can play either guard spot, he is athletic, assertive, and has a very versatile game. This kid is an absolute steal for Fairfied, and could be all conference as early as his freshman year. Watch for him to have a huge year playing alongside Jereme Richmond and Mike Springs in the CSL.

2) You may think I ranked the North Lawndale kids too high, but I know I got it just right.
Many felt that putting John Taylor at 6, John Mills at 8, Terrance Johnson at 16, and Zee Jones on the uncommitted players to watch may have been over the top, but I stand by my decisions. Yes, I realize all 4 of these kids are undersized for their positions, and I do realize that Mills and Taylor will probably be heading to juco. I don’t care. These kids all bring something unique to the court and all four have heart, plain and simple. Taylor is one of the best pure scorers and playmakers I have seen, and he is a dog on defense. He won playoff MVP of the Full Package fall league last year, and I saw him dominate Whitney Young’s guards on their home court last season. Mills can not be stopped on the glass, period. I saw him go for 22 points and 23 rebounds in sectionals vs. 2 D1 post players on Englewood, and saw him go board for board and point for point against Jack Cooley in an AAU game. He is also a freak athlete. Terrance Johnson is an elite scorer. You can say what you want about his size, or say that he is not a true point, but I just dont care. Every one of the 20+ times I have watched him play he has done what is asked of him, which is score and score a lot. He is very fun to watch. Zee Jones could be the most underrated player in the state. I havent seen a website other than mine give this kid much love at all, but man does he deserve it. He has heart, passion, and a ton of game. These are all true Chi-town ballers… nation sites like rivals and scout dont know what they are sleeping on. If Lawndale doesn’t lose a game this year, it will not surprise me.

3) David Smith should’ve been somewhere on the list
After watching this kid dominate the playoffs of the Full Package fall league, I am again a believer. The Drake commit from Lake Forest Academy is strong, athletic, is great at getting to the rack and finishing, and has a much improved long range stroke. Definitely a top 30 player.

4) Brock VonNordeck and Eric Dortch are uncommitted players to watch
Brock, a 6-9 big man from Decatur Eisenhower is a mid major player AT LEAST!
Dortch, a 6-4 forward from Evanston, is set for a serious breakout year now that the team and the ball are his.

5) Why isn’t Mike Haynes top 20?
I always considered Mike a top 5 player in the state, until this past school season. He never impressed me when he did take the floor with Washington, and was ineligible for part of the season. He played OK when I saw him in AAU, but he will need a strong season at Fenger to rise back up the ranks.