The NBA draft is always an exciting time. The anticipation builds before the draft, then the suspense builds until the first names are announced. Just when you think you’ve heard it all, someone new emerges to shoot up the charts. This year is no different. Here are some of the players who are making waves, and their potential destinations.
The 2015-2016 college basketball season kicks off, and since we’ve already seen the top recruits for each program, we thought we’d introduce some of the lesser-known players that will find their way into the rankings as the season progresses.
College basketball recruiting is always changing, and the men’s NCAA Division I recruiting rankings are no exception. After all, many of the top prospects in the coming year played just last year. And while the top recruits in the Class of 2018 are mostly set in stone, there are several others that could climb into the top spots in the coming months if they continue to perform well in their junior seasons.. Read more about espn 2023 basketball rankings and let us know what you think.
We’re revising the men’s college basketball recruiting player rankings in each class, fresh out of June team camps and the July evaluation period.
We have a pair of new No. 1-ranked prospects, as well as some noteworthy risers and new faces on the rankings board, thanks to the reclassifications of Emoni Bates and Jalen Duren.
Meet the top prospects in the world.
Shaedon Sharpe, SG Previous ESPN 100 ranking for 2022: 6 Uncommitted
Sharpe rose to the top of the rankings because to his exceptional ability to score points in a team setting. He finished third in the Nike EYBL in scoring with 22 points per game (48 percent from the field, 36 percent from three).
He is a shot maker both off the dribble and from a catch-and-shoot situation, and he is a powerful and explosive shooting guard. He has also shown a remarkable ability to craft his own shot. Sharpe will make his opponents pay, whether it’s a set play or a broken play.
Shape can shoot the ball well from mid-range and is a reliable transition pull-up 3-point shooter. With a fast first step, he pushes the ball and can leverage himself by going low and keeping opponents on his hip. Because of his shot preparedness, elevation to lift up above defenders, and balanced finish, his shooting range and accuracy are also on target.
“Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, RJ Barrett, and Caleb Houstan were among the players I coached. Shaedon is equally gifted “Sharpe’s coach, UPLAY director Dwayne Washington, stated as much. “He’s a plain child who doesn’t want the spotlight. He enjoys tough matches and plays to win. Shadeon is enamored with the improvement process. That is what distinguishes him.”
Sharpe has already been given a two-year contract worth $1.5 million to play in the G League, according to Washington. He also averages 5.8 rebounds and 2.7 assists. Sharpe also went to Arizona and Kentucky, and he’ll make a choice shortly.
Because of his ability to score at all three levels, D.J. Wagner is rated first in the Class of 2023. Who Will Be Next?
D.J. Wagner, PG Previous ESPN 60 Ranking: 1 Uncommitted in 2023
Wagner has been the top student in his class for quite some time. He stays in the gym and approaches each opponent with the same intensity.
Wagner told ESPN, “I need to improve on everything.” “Coach Rick Brunson has been teaching me how to be a better vocalist. That is an area of my game that I really need to develop.”
His ball screen approach demonstrates maturity, as he navigates with purpose and does not pre-read the defense. He swiftly separates the players while making the right read. His ability to drive the ball with pace on the open floor is obvious, and it puts the defense under strain.
His pull-up jumper appears out of nowhere in the half court, and his jump stop and one-foot floater are efficient in the paint. As he speeds and alters his angles to the basket, Wagner can become creative with his drive game. What makes him unique is that even when his shot isn’t falling, he stays committed to aiding his teammates in other ways.
Brunson, the head coach of Camden High School, stated, “He is an underappreciated passer” (New Jersey). “Because he must score so often, his passing is sometimes ignored. He’ll be able to locate the free guy.”
SF Naasir Cunningham’s previous ESPN 25 rating in 2024 was 2 Uncommitted.
Cunningham put in several strong outings, and his potential has grown even more, propelling him above St. Frances Academy (Maryland) power forward Derik Queen to the top of the rankings.
Cunningham has the build of a large winger with playmaking skills from an early age. Cunningham’s diverse scoring package of jumpers and drives shines with skill and smooth moves. His handling and dribble movements are in sync and synchronized, making him a moving target at all times. He can soar above the throng for a rebound or a block thanks to his small body and quick legs. With his ball talents, he makes the game seem simple.
More opportunities are becoming available.
Dereck Lively, C 2nd in the ESPN 100 for 2022. 8 Uncommitted in the ESPN 100 for 2022.
2 Related
The quality of Lively is rapidly improving. A legitimate 7-footer with lengthy strides and effort on the court, he is very fluid when covering territory, such as hedging a ball screen out by the arc and returning to the basket. This summer, he was a defensive force, and he’s beginning to put in more effort on defense, assisting and blocking shots on both his man and from the weak side.
His offensive flexibility is apparent. He’ll take lobs and drop-off passes with ease. He finishes with a fast rush to the hoop after rolling to the basket with excellent hands. When he’s facing the hoop, he’s a threat from behind the 3-point line. His back-to-basket game has to improve. He’s displayed a jump hook and a turnaround jumper on occasion. Most big guys are quiet and reserved by nature; Lively, on the other hand, adds an entertaining personality to the game and may be a future NBA lottery selection.
Duke, Florida State, Kentucky, Michigan, North Carolina, USC, and Penn State are among the schools to which he has committed.
SG Nick Smith is a writer and a musician. The current ESPN 100 ranking for 2022 is #6. Previous ESPN 100 ranking in 2022: 35 Uncommitted
Smith has established himself as one of the senior class’s most prolific scorers. Because of his ability to shoot and score, his value has soared. With the ball in his hands, he can break down his defender, rise up for a jumper, and draw fouls. Smith will use his floater to his advantage and finish.
He scored 31 points on 10-of-18 shooting in the Peach Jam title game.
Bottom line: He can shoot off the catch or dribble in a rhythm from anywhere on the floor.
“Outside of Russell Westbrook, Nick Smith may be the most competitive player I’ve seen,” stated Corey Frazier, head coach of Bradley Beal Elite. “Every game, he plays with a chip on his shoulder. He is a one-of-a-kind talent.”
Smith recently visited Arkansas-Pine Bluff and will go to Kentucky, Arkansas, and Oklahoma in the future. Alabama, Auburn, Kansas, Memphis, and Overtime Elite are among the schools he is considering.
Collin Chandler, SG The current ESPN 100 ranking for 2022 is 28. 77th place on the ESPN 100 for 2022. Utah is a state that I am passionate about.
Despite the fact that Mike Krzyzewski is stepping down in favor of Jon Scheyer, the Duke Blue Devils remain at the top of the recruiting rankings. Top ten classes for recruitment »
Chandler is a 6-foot-4, 175-pound scoring guard who can play in a variety of positions and has excellent basketball skills. He thrives in transition and is always attacking opponents, never allowing defenders to rest in preparation for the fast break.
He is most effective either hitting three-pointers or driving into the paint to create a play. Chandler, who plays a downhill style of basketball and is a dedicated defender, is willing to make a mistake. Before enrolling at Utah, he plans to serve a mission.
Jaden Schutt, SG The current ESPN 100 ranking for 2022 is 47. Previous ESPN 100 ranking in 2022: Uncommitted and unranked
Schutt, regardless of class, is one of the greatest shot-makers in the high school game. Schutt exudes confidence on every shot attempt, displaying superb elevation, balance, and footwork into the shot with two eyes on the basket.
He isn’t only a shooter when it comes to his offensive game. He makes confident off-ball cuts, and when opponents deny him a catch, he quickly executes a back cut. He drives the close-out with elegance as his opponent attempts to run him off the arc. He demonstrates tenacity in the half court, as well as straight-line speed and bounce to complete a break.
In mid-September, Schutt will go to Florida after seeing Duke. His recruiting is also including Michigan State and Iowa.
SF Bond, Leon The current ESPN 100 ranking for 2022 is 72. Previous ESPN 100 ranking for 2022: Unranked Virginia is a state that I am passionate about.
Bond’s lateral foot speed and outstanding fast-twitch fibers give his vertical some additional pop, making him one of the most muscular prospects in the Class of 2022. He is 6-foot-5 and weighs 180 pounds, and his long wing spread should help him on defense.
On the offensive end, he excels at driving, cutting, a fast post-up, or a pull-up jumper in or near the paint. Even though he is a little winger, he can be tough and successful.
Bond may be a strong emergency switch defender and can guard several spots, despite Virginia’s lack of switching on defense. He has the ability to challenge shots and get deflections. He’s also capable of making game-changing plays like a chase-down block or an alley-oop. In Virginia’s class, he is the third ESPN 100 prospect.
Welcome to the new Top 25 rankings. This is the first time in 18 years that a new No. 1 has appeared. No. 3 last season, Baylor, is now No. 2. No. 5 Michigan State is No. 3, bringing the numbers all the way up to seven (No. 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7).. Read more about ncaa basketball rankings 2020 and let us know what you think.
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