Great potential

[AP photo] LeBron James, 6 feet 8, 240 pounds, is an 18-year-old with extraordinary potential, but do pitfalls await?

LeBron James is the unanimous choice for top high school basketball prospect. Here's a look at who would be No. 1 if not for James, along with the top junior, sophomore, freshman and eighth-grade players.

Top high school basketball players by class:

SENIOR

NAME: Luol Deng.

POSITION: small forward.

HT/WT: 6-8, 210.

SCHOOL: Blairstown (N.J.) Blair Academy.

COLLEGE: Duke.

OF NOTE: Native of Sudan, brother Ajou Ajou Deng played at UConn. Likely to go to college though he could be an NBA lottery selection. Six-foot-10 teammate Charlie Villanueva also is a Top 5 senior and possible lottery choice.

JUNIOR

NAME: Sebastian Telfair.

POSITION: point guard.

HT/WT: 5-11, 165.

SCHOOL: Brooklyn (N.Y.) Lincoln.

OF NOTE: Was the unanimous No. 1 player in his class until last summer, when several others emerged, including Orlando Edgewater quicksilver point guard Darius Washington, who has a Web site, www.d-wash.net.

SOPHOMORE

NAME: Tasmin Mitchell.

POSITION: power forward.

HT/WT: 6-7, 230.

SCHOOL: Denham Springs, La.

OF NOTE: Strong, aggressive low-post player who averaged 24 points and 12 rebounds as a freshman in helping Denham Springs to a 33-4 record and the Class 5A state quarterfinals, earning first-team all-state honors.

FRESHMAN

NAME: Derrick Caracter.

POSITION: power forward/center.

HT/WT: 6-9, 280.

SCHOOL: Elizabeth (N.J.) St. Patrick's.

OF NOTE: Combination of size and skill, along with his matriculation at esteemed St. Patrick's and his age -- 14 -- prompted ESPN to profile him last year. Draws comparisons to Shaquille O'Neal and Moses Malone.

8TH GRADE

NAME: O.J. Mayo.

POSITION: guard.

HT/WT: 6-4, 175.

SCHOOL: Ashland (Ky.) Rose Hill Christian.

OF NOTE: Size, skill level way beyond his years. Lone eighth-grader included in Street & Smith's preseason All-America list. Lives in nearby Huntington, W.Va. Full name: Ovington J'Anthony Mayo. Web site (no kidding): www.ojmayo.org.

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