How do I tell if he's a player?

Ok, so this is a pretty serious guy problem. My last boyfriend was a total jerk. He seemed nice, but when I told him we were moving to fast and I didn't want to go this far b/c I was still a virgin, he cheated on me. Anyway, I know what it's like to get my heart broken and to get played. I want to avoid that as much as possible now. Therefore, I don't know when I can trust a guy. Lately I have been flirting with this one guy who is a Junior in high school. I'm a sopre. We talked when I was going out with my ex, but then he really started talking to me after the breakup. He said my ex doesn't deserve me, etc. When we talk, he calls me beautiful, says he cares about me, etc. The other day I texted him and we started talking. (He started the texting in the beginning, texting me a lot, but now I seem to text him more. Not everyday, just occasionally.) We were flirting, and all of the sudden he told me he liked me last year. We didn't really talk last year but he was in my homeroom so we talked sometimes. I said I liked him to but then he said no I legit liked you. And I still like you. That through me off, but truth be told I think he's sweet and I like him a little. Now a couple of my friends say he has "player" qualities, but one friend who is good friends with him says still, a guy wouldn't text a girl that much if he didn't legit like her. That made me think. Is he a player just trying to see if he can get farther than my ex (we got to 2nd.... which was new to me) or if he really does like me. Please Help. I don't know what to do.