Howard Pulley Invitational 2016May 4, 2016 by Brett Pickert
The Top 5 Players to Play at Howard Pulley
The Top 5 Players to Play at Howard Pulley
By Jordan DivensIn advance of the Howard Pulley Invitational, which will stream LIVE on FloHoops from May 6-8, we’ve assembled a list of the top five player
By Jordan Divens
In advance of the Howard Pulley Invitational, which will stream LIVE on FloHoops from May 6-8, we’ve assembled a list of the top five players in the history of Howard Pulley basketball.
Gary Trent Jr. is weighing offers from many Division I schools, including Duke, Kansas, Michigan State, Kentucky, Arizona and UCLA. Leading the team in scoring this AAU season and averaging 22.7 points per game (good for second on the EYBL circuit), Trent may be next in line to have a successful career after graduating from Howard Pulley. For now, the list is highlighted by current professionals, including defending NBA champions Harrison Barnes and Brandon Rush.
5. Troy Bell
Bell was drafted with the 16th selection in the 2003 NBA draft, but he only played one season in the league before heading overseas, where he established his career from 2004-2015. Bell was the all-time leading scorer at Boston College with 2,632 career points, and his college accolades include two-time All-American honors and Big East Player of the Year his sophomore and senior seasons.
4. Brandon Rush
Rush was drafted with the 13th selection in the 2008 NBA draft after winning the NCAA title at Kansas the same year. He averaged 13.5 points and 5.9 rebounds per game at Kansas and earned honors as the first freshman to ever be named first-team, all-Big 12. During his senior campaign, he was named the Big 12 tournament MVP and was an instrumental part of the Jayhawks championship team. He currently plays for the Golden State Warriors and is searching for his second consecutive NBA title in his eighth season.
3. Tyus Jones
Jones may have had the most successful high school career of any Howard Pulley player—as an 8th-grader, he started every game for Apple Valley’s varsity team and averaged 16.8 points and 8.1 assists per game. Jones was a three-time Minnesota Player of the Year and earned invites to the McDonald’s All-American game, Jordan Brand Classic, and Nike Hoops Summit his senior year. Jones recently helped Duke secure a NCAA championship, and was included among the four most outstanding players in Duke’s 2015 national championship team. He recently finished his rookie year in the NBA with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
2. Kris Humphries
Humphries was drafted with the 14th selection in the 2004 NBA draft after leading the Big Ten in points and rebounds and averaging 21.7 points and 10.1 rebounds per game as a freshman (the first freshman to ever do this). Humphries enjoyed a lot of early success in his basketball career as he was named Minnesota Mr. Basketball in 2002 and selected for that year's McDonald’s All-American game. During his only year in college, he was the national freshman of the year and was on the honorable mention All-American team. Humphries just finished his 12th year in the NBA with the Washington Wizards.
1. Harrison Barnes
Barnes tops the list as the top Howard Pulley alum. The No. 1 prospect out of high school, Barnes was named Iowa's Mr. Basketball, Gatorade Player of the Year, and captured the Co-MVP honor at the McDonald’s All-American game. Barnes averaged 27.1 points and 10.4 rebounds during his senior season and finished the final two seasons of his high school career with a combined 53-0 record and two state titles. During his rookie campaign at North Carolina, he was honored as the ACC Rookie of the Year for his outstanding play and averaging 15.7 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. After a two-year career at North Carolina, Barnes was selected with the seventh overall pick in the 2012 draft and started on the Golden State Warriors' national championship team. He's averaging 11.7 points and 4.9 rebounds per game in his fourth season as a pro, and is looking for his second consecutive NBA title.
In advance of the Howard Pulley Invitational, which will stream LIVE on FloHoops from May 6-8, we’ve assembled a list of the top five players in the history of Howard Pulley basketball.
Gary Trent Jr. is weighing offers from many Division I schools, including Duke, Kansas, Michigan State, Kentucky, Arizona and UCLA. Leading the team in scoring this AAU season and averaging 22.7 points per game (good for second on the EYBL circuit), Trent may be next in line to have a successful career after graduating from Howard Pulley. For now, the list is highlighted by current professionals, including defending NBA champions Harrison Barnes and Brandon Rush.
5. Troy Bell
Bell was drafted with the 16th selection in the 2003 NBA draft, but he only played one season in the league before heading overseas, where he established his career from 2004-2015. Bell was the all-time leading scorer at Boston College with 2,632 career points, and his college accolades include two-time All-American honors and Big East Player of the Year his sophomore and senior seasons.
4. Brandon Rush
Rush was drafted with the 13th selection in the 2008 NBA draft after winning the NCAA title at Kansas the same year. He averaged 13.5 points and 5.9 rebounds per game at Kansas and earned honors as the first freshman to ever be named first-team, all-Big 12. During his senior campaign, he was named the Big 12 tournament MVP and was an instrumental part of the Jayhawks championship team. He currently plays for the Golden State Warriors and is searching for his second consecutive NBA title in his eighth season.
3. Tyus Jones
Jones may have had the most successful high school career of any Howard Pulley player—as an 8th-grader, he started every game for Apple Valley’s varsity team and averaged 16.8 points and 8.1 assists per game. Jones was a three-time Minnesota Player of the Year and earned invites to the McDonald’s All-American game, Jordan Brand Classic, and Nike Hoops Summit his senior year. Jones recently helped Duke secure a NCAA championship, and was included among the four most outstanding players in Duke’s 2015 national championship team. He recently finished his rookie year in the NBA with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
2. Kris Humphries
Humphries was drafted with the 14th selection in the 2004 NBA draft after leading the Big Ten in points and rebounds and averaging 21.7 points and 10.1 rebounds per game as a freshman (the first freshman to ever do this). Humphries enjoyed a lot of early success in his basketball career as he was named Minnesota Mr. Basketball in 2002 and selected for that year's McDonald’s All-American game. During his only year in college, he was the national freshman of the year and was on the honorable mention All-American team. Humphries just finished his 12th year in the NBA with the Washington Wizards.
1. Harrison Barnes
Barnes tops the list as the top Howard Pulley alum. The No. 1 prospect out of high school, Barnes was named Iowa's Mr. Basketball, Gatorade Player of the Year, and captured the Co-MVP honor at the McDonald’s All-American game. Barnes averaged 27.1 points and 10.4 rebounds during his senior season and finished the final two seasons of his high school career with a combined 53-0 record and two state titles. During his rookie campaign at North Carolina, he was honored as the ACC Rookie of the Year for his outstanding play and averaging 15.7 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. After a two-year career at North Carolina, Barnes was selected with the seventh overall pick in the 2012 draft and started on the Golden State Warriors' national championship team. He's averaging 11.7 points and 4.9 rebounds per game in his fourth season as a pro, and is looking for his second consecutive NBA title.