Nor Cal again getting the short and inaccurate end of the stick

ESPN's 2016 Top West Recruits is a fascinating list because it displays, among other things, the Achilles heel of national media ranking prep prospects who aren't among the very, very best. There usually is some minor quibbling on the top bluechippers, say maybe the first five or even 10, among the various entities but matters tend to unravel soon after.

For example:

The first northern California-based talent is Sacramento High's Christian Terrell. He checks in at #22. Yes, Terrell displays bountiful potential as a prototype two at the moment but the adoration ends there. Neither having a major effect on the games he plays nor consistency are present as yet.

Folsom High's Jordan Ford comes in at #26 which, at least in regards to current production, is a stunner. He is easily the most dominant 2016 performer in the Sacramento area as well as the Bay Area. Yes, greater strength and athletic ability is desired here when college coaches take a look but what he is providing right now should easily place him as the top prospect from the upper half of California.

Solomon Young of Sacramento High hold the #31 slot. Really. That is not a typo. Anyone who has watched Young more than once this spring and summer knows he is at worst the second-ranked prospect from the area.

So why is ESPN so inaccurate with these examples?

One reason may be is that no date is given for the placements so they may be from last winter or even prior.

Another is that no one in northern California is involved in providing input into the positioning of these prospects -- something that needs correcting immediately if accuracy is desired. ESPN, as well as others, tends to be southern California-centric based with its recruiting analysts.