We have been tracking this class for four years. Len Chappell Jersey . With seven of the top 10 of the latest 2017 ESPN 100 rankings between 6 feet 8 and 7 feet, the sheer size at the top of the class is the strength of this group.DeAndre Ayton holds on to the top spot, but Michael Porter Jr., Wendall Carter, Mohamed Bamba and Trevon Duvall are not far behind. Ayton had spurts of brilliance this summer along with some dominating performances and his effort certainly has been consistently better. If Ayton continues to improve his effort, his growth in the game will be scary.Based on his outstanding performances, and enormous potential, Porter moves to No. 2. He was exceptionally strong at the Peach Jam and has elite athletic ability with guard skills and small forward rebounding production. Carter is a combination of scoring, rebounding and shot-blocking talent with alertness and a high basketball IQ.The top five have areas of growth, but the class has its share of one-and-dones and lottery picks. Aytons motor needs to be there every day to cement his stature as the nations best player. Porter must commit to being a better on- and off-ball defender and play with consistent aggressiveness. Carter has few holes in his game but should try to become an elite scorer while keeping all the other facets strong. Bamba clearly needs overall body strength, which will help him on both ends of the floor. Duval understands that his outside jumper is not where it needs to be.Outside the top five, big man Mitchell Robinson has cracked the top 10 and his shot-blocking range to contest and reject shots goes out to the 3-point line.Trae Young has closed the gap on the top point guard spot. He had an outstanding summer showing off his deep 3-point shooting and playmaking ability.-- Paul BiancardiFive players on the riseWith the summer recruiting period now behind us there are several players who have made notable jumps, and even debut appearances, in the ESPN 100.At the top of the class the most notable is Collin Sexton (No. 10). An electric attacking guard, Sexton didnt just lead the EYBL in scoring this season, he averaged 31.7 points, nearly 10 points more than the next-best guy on the list. In June, he played a key role in USA Basketballs gold medal at the U17 World Championships and continued to produce at a high level during the July evaluation period. At this point, his production is virtually unmatched. Hes relentless attacking defenses and scoring the ball, and at this level he has yet to find a defense to stifle him.Troy Brown Jr (No. 18). has also climbed back into the top 20. Another player who stood out with USA Basketball, Browns size and passing ability have always been his best attributes. He can play a multitude of positions, facilitate at a very high level and open the game up for increasingly common scoring guards. Combine that with an improved jump shot, conditioning and defensive productivity, not to mention sustained consistency across the board, and he was a riser.Chaundee Brown (No. 30) and Nick Weatherspoon (No. 34) are two other notable risers in the top half of the ESPN 100. Brown is a power wing with a bruising straight line style. Weatherspoon is similar to Sexton in that he is an aggressive scoring guard who puts points on the board in bunches. Both have developed lengthy resumes of production this spring and summer and seen their recruitment go to the highest levels.Two of the more notable newcomers on the list are Marcus Garrett (No. 62) and Jericho Sims (No. 67). Garrett is an emerging big guard loaded with versatility who rode the wave of his big summer all the way to a commitment to Kansas. Sims is an athletic lefty up front whose ability to change ends, play up at the top of the box and use both hands around the rim has made him an increasing national priority. Custom New York Knicks Jerseys . The Oilers come in having lost five in a row (0-4-1) and 16 of their last 20 games, dropping a 2-1 decision to the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday. Kevin Knox Jersey . -- Jimmie Johnson held off a teammate, passed a pair of Hall of Famers, and dominated once more at Dover. https://www.cheapknicks.com/1281x-bernar...sey-knicks.html . -- Jonathan Drouin gave Halifax the boost it needed to edge host Sherbrooke Phoenix 3-2 in a shootout in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action. DUBLIN -- Ireland will hit the tackle bags again this week knowing that they only have themselves to blame for doing so without the boost of a first home win over the All Blacks. There may still be grumblings from their supporters about the validity of New Zealands second try, but the fact is the men in green paid the price for a lack of penetration in their opponents 22.Joe Schmidts side spent the lions share of a brutal Test match in the All Blacks half -- and a quarter of it playing against 14 men -- but were unable to turn possession and territory into points. Even when it seemed they had breached that impenetrable black wall, the vital pass or offload failed to find its intended target.But while Ireland have plenty to work on as they prepare for Australias visit to Dublin next weekend, they also know there were positives to take from their second encounter in three weeks with the world champions.It is not every week that New Zealand are forced to work as hard in defence as they did here, and the yellow cards for Aaron Smith and Malakai Fekitoa can be taken as proof of the pressure that the hosts were able to exert.As in Chicago, the penalty count was overwhelmingly in Irelands favour, while the All Blacks were forced to make 99 more tackles than their hosts. That Schmidts side were able to put in such an intense performance as injuries wracked up will be an antidote to the frustration.Robbie Henshaw lasted less than 11 minutes before a clash of heads with Sam Cane forced him to depart on a stretcher, while Johnny Sexton followed him down the tunnel before the end of the first quarter. CJ Stander did not last much longer.Test match rugby is a squad game, though, and it was therefore heartening for those in green that the intensity did not drop as Garry Ringrose, Paddy Jackson and Josh van der Flier entered the fray. Carmelo Anthony Jersey. Those players will be better for this experience.The coaching staff and senior players lead by example and have the subs prepped and demand the most out of you during the week, a bruised and battered Ringrose said afterwards.Whether you have one cap or 100 caps the same is expected from everyone.Moving forward that attitude will be key in driving this team on as they target regaining their Six Nations crown from England next year.Ringrose, Jackson and Van der Flier have just 24 caps worth of Test experience between them, but they now know they can go toe to toe with the All Blacks. That confidence could prove invaluable in the years ahead.Every facet of the trios game was tested on Saturday evening, and little was found wanting. Jacksons kicking kept the Irish in striking distance, Ringrose put in 10 tackles in defence, and Van der Flier made 51 metres with the ball in hand.Ringrose described the performance of Leinster colleague Van der Flier as incredible after the game. Its cool for me sitting back and seeing him do that.The Dublin-born flanker with the Dutch name has now played 114 minutes against the All Blacks, and with him on the field, the score in those two games is 25-27 to the world champions. Van der Flier now knows that he can mix it with the very best.And, as Ireland turn their attention to Australia and ultimately the Six Nations, so do they -- Schmidts squad will prepare for those challenges with confidence rather than fear.When frustration is the overriding emotion following a defeat to the All Blacks, you know youre on the right path. ' ' '