When you’re one of the top junior recruits in the nation, having people heap praise on you isn’t something new.

But even South Medford High standout Kyle Singler had to take a step back recently upon learning that he has been named to the 50th annual Parade magazine All-America high school boys basketball team.

"It came as a shock to me," the 6-foot-8, 210-pound wing said of the honor Friday. "I didn’t even know I was nominated for something like that. Just looking at the names of the guys on the first and second team, it’s just an honor to be mentioned with them."

The list will be unveiled in this Sunday’s magazine, with Singler one of 10 players selected to the Parade second team. Good friend — and fellow first-team all-state pick — Kevin Love is one of 10 first-teamers.

The Oregon juniors are among only five underclassmen on the top two teams, with Singler becoming the first player in the state south of Roseburg to receive the honor.

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Their selection marks the first time this state has had multiple players named to the elite team in the same season. Eleven Oregonians have qualified in the past, with Bjarne Jensen of Franklin recognized first in 1957 and Chris Rodgers of Wilson (2002) being the most recent honoree until this week.

"This is good for Oregon," said Singler, 17. "Oregon basketball is good, but it’s been kinda down the last couple years. Having two kids on the list shows that basketball here is coming back up. Hopefully it only gets better."

As the awards seem to only be getting better for Singler.

"I think this has to rate at the top because I’ve really never gotten an award like this," he said. "It’s something to look forward to for next year and hopefully I can try to make the first team. But the second team for this year, I can’t ask for more. I’m just honored."

Since 1957, the Parade All-America team has honored the nation’s top players and proved an early predictor of success. The list has included basketball legends Pete Maravich, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan. The NBA currently features 145 of Parade’s former picks, including Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James.

Singler averaged 20.5 points, 8.4 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.3 blocks this past season in leading the top-ranked Panthers (27-2) to a runner-up finish at the Class 4A state tournament.

Love, a 6-10, 260-pound post, averaged 28 points and 16.2 rebounds this past season for second-ranked Lake Oswego, which edged South for the state title in a 59-57 nail-biter.

Both players have a chance to join McMinnville’s Charlie Sitton, a second-team member in 1979 and first-teamer in 1980, as the only Oregonians to qualify more than once for the Parade honor. Love joins Sitton and Roseburg’s Jim Jarvis (1961) as this state’s only first-team selections.

"Kevin‘s honor is well-deserved," said Singler. "I’m so proud of him."

Love, the two-time state player of the year, is ranked the No. 3 junior prospect in the nation by Scout.com and No. 6 by Rivals.com. Singler is ranked fourth by Rivals.com and sixth by Scout.com.

Greg Oden of Lawrence North High in Indianapolis, Ind., was named Parade’s player of the year for the second straight season. The 7-foot center is one of seven repeaters, including fellow first-teamer O.J. Mayo of North College Hill in Ohio.

Oden was Singler’s teammate last summer on one of three USA Basketball Olympic developmental teams during an international tournament in San Diego.

In 17 minutes of play per game, Singler averaged 14 points and four rebounds in the tournament to help his team go 5-0 and win the gold medal. Oden averaged 17 points and eight rebounds in 26 minutes per game.

"I’ve played with or against many of (the Parade honorees)," said Singler. "They’re all great guys and very deserving."

Singler will return to the basketball court in two weeks at an AAU tournament in Las Vegas as a member of the Nike-sponsored Portland Elite Legends coached by Troy Berry. While Love has been a member of that team in the past, Singler said he believes Love will be playing his AAU basketball this offseason with a Reebok team in California.

Love said at the recent state tournament that he has trimmed his potential colleges to UCLA, Duke and North Carolina, but is in no hurry to make a verbal commitment.

Singler’s short list includes Duke, UCLA and Arizona, although Kansas and North Carolina are still in the mix. He has said that he planned to make his decision before the school year is out but likely won’t do so until he makes official visits to the aforementioned programs.

Neither player can sign a letter of intent — the binding document that would officially connect them to a school — until November. As juniors, they also aren’t permitted to make official visits to a university, but can make unofficial visits, as each has done in the past few months.

Reach reporter Kris Henry at 776-4488, or e-mail khenry@mailtribune.com.