With much of the early spring season in the rear view mirror, the prospect rankings for the 2016 class have been expanded to the ProspectsNation.com ELITE 60.

SEE THE 2016 ELITE 60

The expanded rankings represent 21 different states so far with the usual suspects, Texas (10) and California (9), leading the way with the most prospects. By position there are 17 wings, 12 point guards, 11 forwards, 11 shooting guards and 9 post players.

'16 ELITE 60 forward Joyner Holmes.
*Photo by Chris Hansen.

The race for the No. 1 spot is hyper competitive with at least four players making convincing arguments for consideration. Lauren Cox, the 6-foot-4 post from Flower Mound, Texas, holds on to the top spot with point guard Crystal Dangerfield of Murfreesboro, Tenn., moving up to the No. 2 spot. Joyner Holmes, a 6-3 forward from Cedar Hill, Texas, one of four Texans in the top 10, moves up to third while Tori McCoy of Champaign, Ill., remains firmly in the picture. The USA Basketball U17 national team trials this weekend could very well shake up the order at the top of the class.

Ka’ila Charles, a 6-0 wing from Glen Burnie, Md., at No. 9 is the highest ranked player who was previously outside the ELITE 25 rankings. Also cracking the top 20 is Nia Holley, a 6-1 wing from Minnetonka, Minn., from previously unranked territory at No. 19.

Besides being a well-regarded class of talent, the 2016 class may also have the best nicknames in recent memory. With players like No. 10 Amber Ramirez(Sauce) of San Antonio, Texas, No. 13 Chassity Carter (LeaLea) of Dickson, Tenn., and Calveion Landrum (Juicy) of Waco, Texas, the entertainment factor on the court is both visual and audible as coaches shout out instructions to their stars.

Next up are key evaluation events at the USA trials, at the Midwest Showdown in Mason, Ohio, and the Elite Basketball Academy Super 64 Camp in Suwanee, Ga., providing for one more potential rankings update before the July evaluation period.

SEE THE 2016 ELITE 60