The summer basketball season is over. GG Jackson Officially a college student and now everyone wants answers to the same questions.
Who will be the 1st overall class in 2023?
Throughout the grassroots season, not a single player has managed to separate themselves from the others, so this is a question without a simple answer.
247Sports staff were divided, but it’s ideal because it accurately reflects the classes that most players can compete in.
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But in the end, someone had to be number one. That was the case when trying to analyze the film, study the numbers, balance it with what we’ve seen firsthand, and project it all onto college and beyond. Isaiah Collier who earned the distinction of being the number one prospect in end of summer Ranking of the top 150 players in their class.
Why Choose Isaiah Collier
Collier, a graduate of Wheeler High School in Marietta, Georgia, missed the summer, including both June and July recruitment periods, with a meniscus injury first diagnosed during USA Basketball U18 trials in late May. Missed most of it.
He returned in August to take part in the Steph Curry Camp and Under Armor Elite 24, earning MVP honors in both events, but his rise from ninth to top spot in the Top247 was due to these It wasn’t a performance.
Instead, its rise was rooted in answering some key questions we asked ourselves about each of our five-star prospects.
How influential are they now and how many games have been translated to the next level?
Barring a completely unexpected variable, what does the worst-case scenario for next year’s college freshmen look like (i.e., what are their floors at that level)?
Barring a completely unexpected variable, what would the best-case scenario for a freshman year next year look like (i.e., what is the upper limit at that level)?
Likewise, what are the chances of them making it to the NBA long term and what would the bottoms and tops look like at that level?
Collier stood out across the board when we looked at how each prospect scored in these multiple areas.
He’s a true point guard with good positioning size, a strong body and a natural feel for the game. He is arguably the best passer in the nation and can handle every pass. He has an advanced understanding of how to play the ball off his screen, his ability to roll down hills, and his ability to read the game accurately while creating for himself and his teammates. Collier’s jumper has historically been the most restricted part of his offensive offense, but even that has made notable progress over the last year. Has all the intangibles and personality traits that increase his chances of maximizing his long-term potential.
With that prototype, his ability to influence wins from day one at the college level would be higher, if not higher, than any prospect in his class. It is also something that can be converted to the highest level one day if it continues to rise.
DJ WAGNER Maintains Top 2 Status, Teammate Close Behind
Wagner maintains top two status with two teammates close behind
First candidate for incumbent dj wagner This summer hasn’t always been the best. He won a gold medal with his USA Basketball U17 team in Spain, but was not the star of their offense. Likewise, his EYBL career at NJ Scholars ended with an inefficient show at Peach Jam.
It wasn’t a great three-week extension, but compared to what we’ve seen in the last three years, circumstances have to be considered. During that time, Wagner not only put together arguably the best résumé of any player in his class, but more importantly, he’s exhibited some traits that are hard to bet on.
To put it bluntly, Wagner is a proven scorer who can create unique shots on multiple levels. But his best attribute might actually be his competitiveness. He plays very hard, is always in attacking mode, and has a way of willing those around him to come close to his level.
It remains to be seen how his game will play out in the long term. He doesn’t have great positional his size or athleticism. He’s more of a scoring guard than a point his guard and has to shoot the ball on a much more consistent level. But we love his competitiveness, his motor, his pace, his knack for finding the bucket.
Closing the gap at the top are two of Wagner’s teammates for the New Jersey Scholars. Aaron Bradshaw When Mackenzie Mbaco.
Bradshaw also gained traction within our group and was the top prospect overall. He’s a 7-footer, maneuverable, springy, and skilled. He protects the rim, moves his feet, stretches the floor with a very soft touch and can play comfortably on the rim. In short, that unusual collection of tools gives him a very high ceiling.
Conversely, Mgbako played his best basketball of the year at the Peach Jam and made headlines for the top spot. While the totality of his work this grassroots season hasn’t necessarily met the same standards that the last stop showed, Mgbako has next-level stilts. He’s a skilled shotmaker for his size, rebounding well enough to play as a stretch 4, and as a result fills a highly in-demand niche.
Kentucky commit stays in Hunt
Justin Edwards was another prospect who gained some support in the overall prospect discussion after answering the bill as a top 5 prospect in this summer’s class.
The 6-foot-7 wing, who committed to Kentucky almost immediately after the recruitment period, showed his versatility in July. aggressively, making enough 3s to keep opposing defenders straight.
Defensively, the way his lateral quickness sticks out in the way is questionable, but what impresses him is the versatility of his lineup, guarding larger players on the inside. , was the ability to rebound the ball high. -Volume.
In short, Collier holds the top spot for now, but this is a race that’s just getting started, along with Wagner, Edwards, Bradshawn, Mugbaco and others in other positions. Will definitely continue to play for the next year. make their point.
