For the second year in a row, Kai Sotto of the Ateneo Blue Eaglets has been named the best high school player in the country.
Submitting a dominant showing this past UAAP Season 81 Juniors tournament, the 7-foot-1 phenom was recognized as the number one player in this year's Chooks-to-Go NBTC 24 high school basketball rankings.
Sotto put up gaudy averages of 25.1 points, 13.9 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 2.6 blocks per game and was named the UAAP Juniors Most Valuable Player. He was the centerpiece for the Blue Eaglets in their runner-up finish this season.
In this edition of the NBTC rankings, the top high school players from the UAAP, NCAA, and CESAFI were ranked all-year long for the first time ever. Standouts from the MMBL were also part of the final rankings. Aside from being named the best rising stars in the country, all 24 players will be part of the NBTC All-Star Game, the yearly spectacle of the NBTC League National Finals.
Behind Sotto at number two is NCAA Season 94 Juniors MVP Joel Cagulangan. The fearless leader of the LSGH Junior Blazers put up 18.7 points, 7.1 assists, 6.1 rebounds, and 2.1 steals. Displaying his tenacity and on-court wizardry, he helped the Junior Blazers to a second place finish this past season.
Carl Tamayo of the Nazareth School of National University, who earned finals MVP recognition after being one of the catalysts in the Bullpups' championship run, was ranked third overall. Explosive guard Mark Nonoy claimed the fourth spot after putting up eye-popping performances as part of the UST Tiger Cubs. Rounding up the top five is steady playmaker Gerry Abadiano of NU.
FEU Baby Tamaraw RJ Abarrientos ended up at sixth while Harvey Pagsanjan of Hope Christian high school put himself at seventh after his stellar run in the MMBL.
Scoring dynamo Clint Escamis of Mapua sits at eighth and Aaron Fermin is at nine after being the guiding force of Arellano. Completing the top 10 is NU's fiery guard Terrence Fortea.
Ateneo's Forthsky Padrigao was ranked 11th overall, followed by NCAA finals MVP Paolo Hernandez of Mapua at 12, while Inand Fornilos, La Salle Greenhills' lockdown defender, earned the 13th spot. Representing the University of Visayas, Joshua Yerro snared the 14th spot followed by Adamson Baby Falcons' Joel Sabandal at 15th.
Here is the complete list of this season's Chooks-to-Go NBTC 24:
1. Kai Sotto, center, Ateneo
2. Joel Cagulangan, guard, La Salle Greenhills
3. Carl Tamayo, center, NU
4. Mark Nonoy, guard, UST
5. Gerry Abadiano, guard, NU
6. RJ Abarrientos, guard, FEU-Diliman
7. Harvey Pagsanjan, forward, Hope Christian
8. Clint Escamis, guard, Mapua HS
9. Aaron Fermin, center, Arellano
10. Terrence Fortea, guard, NU
11. Forthsky Padrigao, guard, Ateneo
12. Paolo Hernandez, guard, Mapua HS
13. Inand Fornilos, forward, La Salle Greenhills
14. Joshua Yerro, forward, UV
15. Joem Sabandal, guard, Adamson
16. Dan Arches, guard, Mapua
17. John Amores, forward, JRU
18. Mac Guadana, guard, Lyceum
19. Bismarck Lina, forward, UST
20. Joshua David, forward, La Salle Greenhills
21. Kevin Quiambao, center, NU
22. Jonnel Policarpio, forward, Mapua
23. Geo Chiu, center, Ateneo
24. Rafael Go, forward, Chiang Kai Shek
Sotto and Cagulangan, who both topped the list for the second consecutive year, will serve as the team captains in the annual NBTC All-Star Game later this month at the Mall of Asia Arena. The two will pick their respective squads through a draft in what is one of the highlights in the 2019 Chooks-to-Go NBTC League National Finals from March 18 to 24.