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The 10 elite high school hoopers you should make a special trip to see this season

Thon Maker is definitely one of the players you'd want to make a special trip to see this season. / Kelly Kline

Thon Maker is definitely one of the players you’d want to make a special trip to see this season. / Kelly Kline

Montverde’s (Montverde, Fla.) Ben Simmons could absolutely be the No. 1 pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, Trinity Christian School’s (Fayetteville, N.C.) Dennis Smith Jr. has a hesitation dribble that freezes defenders so viciously you’d swear they need medical attention and Roselle Catholic’s (Roselle, N.J.) Isaiah Briscoe breaks ankles in abundance with his wicked crossover.

Be clear; there are certainly others, but here are 10 players, in no particular order, from around the country that we think you should absolutely make a special trip to see this high school hoops season.

“We’re gonna make it a good show for y’all,” Wesleyan Christian Academy’s (High Point, N.C.) Harry Giles III said.

1. Ben Simmons, Montverde (Montverde, Fla.), 2015, F

College: LSU

Class ranking: 1

Why you can’t miss him: Simmons thrives in the point forward role and dominates on the high and low block. He’s quicker than most forwards his size and plays with a motor that won’t be denied. Rumor has it Simmons dunked on LeBron James at his skills camp this summer.

Best place to see him: City of Palms Classic (Fort Myers, Fla.), Dec. 18-23.

MORE: No. 1 overall player Ben Simmons blogs about Montverde being the underdog, LSU and more

2. Jaylen Brown, Wheeler (Marietta, Ga.), 2015, SF

College: Undecided

Class ranking: 2

Why you can’t miss him: Brown was arguably the most dominant player on the AAU circuit this summer, which automatically makes him a must-see attraction. How could you not want to see the high school kid who allegedly dunked on the NBA’s reigning MVP Kevin Durant? Good luck finding that footage by the way.

Best place to see him: City of Palms Classic (Fort Myers, Fla.), Dec. 18-23.

MORE: No. 1 senior wing Jaylen Brown blogs about USA Camp, upcoming visits, AP Psychology and more

3. Malik Newman, Callaway (Callaway, Miss.), 2015, G

College: Undecided

Class ranking: 3

Why you can’t miss him: Few players, regardless of class, can fill it up like Newman; whether he’s breaking ankles and finishing with vicious dunks or draining NBA threes under heavy duress. Newman puts on a show like no other.

Best place to see him: Spalding Hoophall Classic (Springfield, Mass.), Jan. 15-19.

4. Isaiah Briscoe, Roselle Catholic (Roselle, N.J.), 2015, PG

College: Undecided

Class ranking: 13

Why you can’t miss him: Briscoe earned the streetball nickname “Must-See TV,” if that doesn’t sum it up, what can? A true showman, Briscoe was voted “Biggest Trash Talker” and “Best Ball Handler” by his peers; just imagine that combination.

Best place to see him: Spalding Hoophall Classic (Springfield, Mass.), Jan. 15-19.

MORE: Top senior PG Isaiah Briscoe talks UConn and Kentucky visits, getting healthy and more

5. Dennis Smith Jr., Trinity Christian School (Fayetteville, N.C.), 2016, PG

College: Undecided

Class ranking: 5

Why you can’t miss him: Smith has the innate ability to deliver Sportscenter-worthy plays during regulation; basically the types of plays that you won’t believe without video evidence. Ankle-breaking crossovers, no-look passes on the dime, posters galore, etc.

Best place to see him: Chick-fil-A Classic (Columbia, S.C.), Dec. 19-23.

6. Thon Maker, Athlete Institute (Canada), F, 2016

College: Undecided

Class ranking: 2

Why you can’t miss him: He’s 7-feet-tall with guard skills and a motor; do you really need us to sell you further?

Best place to see him: High School OT Holiday Invitational (Raleigh, N.C.), Dec. 26-30.

7. Jayson Tatum, Chaminade College Prep (St. Louis), 2016, F

College: Undecided

Class ranking: 1

Why you can’t miss him: Tatum is one of those players that has three counter moves for his third counter move; then, if you stop one of those three, he’s got six more. His versatility helps him put up big time numbers.

Best place to see him: Spalding Hoophall Classic (Springfield, Mass.), Jan. 15-19.

MORE: Jayson Tatum blogs about winning gold with Team USA, recruiting and more

8. Allonzo Trier, Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.), 2015, SG

College: Arizona

Class ranking: 17

Why you can’t miss him: There are guys that can score, then there’s Trier, who led the uber-prestigious Nike Elite Youth Basketball League in scoring this summer. Simply put: Trier gets buckets!

Best place to see him: Spalding Hoophall Classic (Springfield, Mass.), Jan. 15-19.

9. Harry Giles III, Wesleyan Christian Academy (High Point, N.C.), F, 2016

College: Undecided

Class ranking: 3

Why you can’t miss him: Giles gives you the jaw-dropping poster dunks and amazing “wow” plays all while displaying a skill-set unmatched by most players around the country, regardless of class.

Best place to see him: City of Palms Classic (Fort Myers, Fla.), Dec. 18-23.

MORE: Harry Giles III talks UNC and Duke visits, coaches trying to Snapchat and more

10. Malik Monk, Bentonville (Bentonville, Ark.), SG, 2016

College: Undecided

Class ranking: 4

Why you can’t miss him: Monk can jump… High. No, like, really, really high. Still, hold the “dunker” label, Monk can fill it up from deep and, because he’s a super athlete, he can get to the basket at will. Monk will do something over the course of a game that will make you widen your eyes. Guaranteed.

Best place to see him: City of Palms Classic (Fort Myers, Fla.), Dec. 18-23.

Follow Jason Jordan on Twitter: @JayJayUSATODAY

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