Five-Star History: States that produce the fewest
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This week, Rivals.com is releasing a series looking at every high school five-star in company history dating back to 2002. Fourteen states have never produced a five-star. Today, we start with the bottom two dozen states that did produce at least one five-star.
It’s important to note Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy recruits are categorized by their home state as to not give Florida a falsely-inflated number.
SOUTH CAROLINA
Five-stars: Derion Kendrick, Ricky Sapp, Daquan Bowers, Xavier Thomas, A.J. Green, Marcus Lattimore, Jadeveon Clowney, Zacch Pickens, Carlos Dunlap, Jordan Burch
Overview: The state of South Carolina has produced a surprising amount of outstanding defensive linemen in Sapp, Bowers, Thomas, Clowney, Pickens, Dunlap and Burch. Clemson is beating South Carolina 4-3 for in-state five-star recruits. Burch, who remains uncommitted, could even that score if the Columbia (S.C.) Hammond School star picks the Gamecocks.
Farrell’s take: The Palmetto State produces some talent led by Clowney, the best five-star I have ever scouted. Green is another superstar to come out of the state and Lattimore would have been a great college and NFL player if he didn’t suffer that gruesome injury.
NEW JERSEY
Five-stars: Darius Hamilton, Quenton Nelson, Rashan Gary, Jabrill Peppers, Justin Shorter, Greg Olsen, Brian Toal, Minkah Fitzpatrick, Antonio Alfano, Will Hill
Overview: Alabama and Michigan have done the best with five-star talent in the state of New Jersey, but the state seems wide open for any program to come in and compete. Penn State has only landed one five-star from New Jersey in Rivals history, which is surprising because it’s the closest Big Ten power.
Farrell’s take: Jersey has been hit-or-miss with guys like Nelson, Olsen, Peppers and Fitzpatrick as home runs and others not living up to their potential.
ARIZONA
Five-stars: N’Keal Harry, Christian Kirk, Kyle Allen, Devon Kennard, Kristofer O’Dowd, Everson Griffen, Andrus Peat, Spencer Rattler, Kelee Ringo
Overview: After South Carolina and New Jersey, which had 10 five-stars each, comes Arizona with nine and again it’s a state where players don’t seem to head to one particular school. Arizona and Arizona State have always had trouble keeping elite players home although it paid off for the Sun Devils with Harry. A bunch of top Arizona prospects go to play in the state of Texas with Kirk and Allen and now Ringo, who’s serious about Texas, Georgia, Ohio State and others.
Farrell’s take: Arizona is sneaky when it comes to five-stars with guys like Harry, Kennard, Griffen and Kirk having different levels of success but all showing five-star talent. Peat lived up to the hype as well as a first-rounder so the success level out of Arizona is pretty impressive.
