MANILA, Philippines — Just as the Ateneo Blue Eaglets remain on top of the UAAP Juniors basketball standings with an 11-0 record, so do they in the Chooks to Go NBTC 24 top high school players in the country.
Ateneo’s seven-foot center Kai Sotto remained atop of the rankings for the third week in a row while teammate SJ Belangel climbed one notch higher to make it 1-2 for the Blue Eaglets.
The Chooks to Go NBTC 24 will also be used for the basis of the top high school players participating in the annual SM-NBTC High School All-Star Game.
La Salle Greenhills’ scoring ace Joel Cagulangan dropped to third while his NCAA Finals nemesis Will Gozum of the Mapua Red Robins stayed put at #4. Likewise, FEU’s stalwart point guard LJ Gonzales stayed put at fifth.
Here are the top 24 High School basketball players in the country as determined by a panel of sportswriters and coaches.
- Kai Sotto, Ateneo (last week #1)
- SJ Belangel, Ateneo (last week #3)
- Joel Cagulangan, LSGH (last week #2)
- Will Gozum, Mapua (last week #4)
- LJ Gonzales, FEU (last week #5)
- Rhayyan Amsali, NU (last week #7)
- CJ Cansino, UST (last week #8)
- Dave Ildefonso, Ateneo (last week #6)
- RJ Abarrientos, FEU (last week #12)
- Clint Escamis, Mapua (last week #9)
- Terrence Fortea, NU (last week #11)
- Aaron Fermin, Arellano (last week #10)
- Inand Fornilos, LSGH (last week #13)
- Evan Nelle, San Beda (last week #14)
- John Galinato, CKSC (last week #16)
- Warren Bonifacio, Mapua (last week #15)
- Joaqui Manuel, Ateneo (last week #21)
- Raven Cortez, DLSZ (last week 18)
- Mac Guadana, LPU (last week #17)
- Harvey Pagsanjan, HCHS (last week #19)
- Maui Cruz, EAC (last week #20)
- Joem Sabandal, Adamson (last week N/A)
- Beirn Laurente, UV (last week N/A)
- Harold Alarcon, Tay Tung HS (last week #22)
Student-athletes taking part in the UAAP, CESAFI-NBTC, MMBL, FCAAF tournaments as well as the recently concluded NCAA competition are ranked using the following criteria: league stats, impact in team, team record, leadership, defense, offense and level of competition.
The SM-NBTC High School Player rankings have been adopted from its American All-High School Star Game for the seeding of participants in the annual NBTC High School All-Star Game, which will be held this coming March at the Mall of Asia Arena.