ESPN.com is doing its annual ranking of the top 500 players and incoming rookies in the NBA. You can see the experts who voted on the rankings here and follow the#NBARank hashtag on Twitter to discuss/debate the selections.

By Patrick Hayes

Al Horford, a former Grand Ledge standout who plays for the Atlanta Hawks, is the highest ranked player with Michigan ties in ESPN’s rankings this year. Horford came in at No. 30 on the list, a pretty good accomplishment considering he missed most of last season with an injury. Horford was ranked No. 25 last season.

If healthy, he’s one of the most under-appreciated big men in the league. He’s efficient offensively and great defensively for the Hawks, and now that Joe Johnson is gone, Horford might see an increased role in the offense (finally).

Zach Randolph, a former Michigan State player who is now on the Memphis Grizzlies, was ranked at No. 34. Like Horford, Randolph also dealt with injuries last season. His ranking fell 14 spots from the previous season when he was at No. 20.

Flint native JaVale McGee of the Denver Nuggets was ranked No. 77. He climbed 22 spots from the previous season, when he was ranked No. 99. If McGee can finally put all of his immense physical tools to work while improving his ability to think his way through the game, he could jump even higher next year. He has a skillset that only an elite handful of bigs in the league can match.

That’s it for all of the players with Michigan ties in this year’s rankings. Check the links below to see where everyone else showed up.

Previously in #NBARank:

• Juwan Howard, Darius Morris, Walker Russell, Alan Anderson just make the cut
• Earl Boykins, Willie Green and Draymond Green check in
• Jordan Crawford, Shannon Brown make the list
• Wilson Chandler makes top 100; Shane Battier, Chris Kaman, Jason Richardson just miss

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