Gimme 5: Reasons Favors is favorite

High School Sports

Gimme 5: Reasons Favors is favorite

Scout.com national recruiting director Dave Telep gives us five reasons South Atlanta star Derrick Favors is his No. 1-ranked player nationally in the high school basketball class of 2009.

Scout.com national recruiting director Dave Telep gives us five reasons South Atlanta star Derrick Favors (above) is his No. 1-ranked player nationally in the high school basketball class of 2009:

1. He borrows from Dwight Howard's guide to rebounding and Tim Duncan's efficiency in the post. As a high school player from Atlanta, Howard is the gold standard because of his freakish athleticism and overall size. If Favors is the second-best post prospect from Atlanta in the last decade, that's quite a compliment.

2. As an underclassman, Derrick proved his worth during the high school season and traveling team circuit by manning up against his peers and older players.

3. He's elite in a number of categories -- shot blocking, rebounding and post scoring. Each year he's gotten better and better, and his ceiling is high.

4. He steals traits from Howard and David Robinson in the character category. Simply put, he's a gentle giant who goes about his business and is a strong player on and off the court.

5. I'm not sure there's another high school post player who has consistently put up the kind of double-doubles and triple-doubles Derrick has.

1/6

Scout.com national recruiting director Dave Telep gives us five reasons South Atlanta star Derrick Favors (above) is his No. 1-ranked player nationally in the high school basketball class of 2009:

Today's Gallery Headlines

The Center tour

PHOTOS: An early look at CNN Center's redevelopment in downtown Atlanta

Wayfair Tour

PHOTOS: Wayfair opens first Atlanta store

Atlanta Hawks host the Boston Celtics

PHOTOS: Hawks defeat Celtics in key East battle

People march in Bishop Park in Athens on Saturday, March 28, 2026. Protesters gathered in 10 different locations around Georgia’s Congressional District 10, leading up to a “Democracy Fair” at Bishop Park as part of a nationwide day of “No Kings” demonstrations. Organizers estimate that a few thousand people participated, many of them first-time protesters. (C.J. Bartunek for the AJC)

PHOTOS: 'No Kings' rally at Bishop Park in Athens, Ga.

More Galleries

toombs county, worth county

PHOTOS: Worth County wins Class A Division I Championship

Binta Darbo (front) runs drills during the 5th annual Girls Flag Football Showcase hosed by the Atlanta Falcons Monday, Aug. 25, 2025 at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium. (Daniel Varnado for the AJC)

Photos: Falcons’ Girls Flag Football Showcase

081425 milton buford hsfb

PHOTOS: Buford hosts Milton in new stadium

081025 Super 11

PHOTOS: Meet the 2025 class of the AJC Super 11