Class of 2021 Rankings Update: Breaking Down the Top 10
Breaking down the top new top 10 in the updated class of 2021 rankings for Wisconsin… 1. Patrick Baldwin Jr. (Sussex Hamilton/Phenom University) Previous: 2 Baldwin moves up to the top spot. When it comes down to it, the…
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Continue ReadingBreaking down the top new top 10 in the updated class of 2021 rankings for Wisconsin…
1. Patrick Baldwin Jr. (Sussex Hamilton/Phenom University)
Previous: 2
Baldwin moves up to the top spot. When it comes down to it, the Sussex Hamilton standout simply had the better summer and showed drastic improvement. Baldwin is one of the better NBA prospects this state has seen in quite awhile . The scary thing about him, I’m not sure he’s even close to his ceiling. The 6-foot-8 sharpshooter is deadly behind the 3-point arc, but is also an adequate mid-range, fade away shooter, and gazelle-like in the open floor. UCLA, Florida, Marquette, Duke, LSU, USC, Arizona State, and more have already offered.
2. Michael Foster (Milwaukee Washington/Milwaukee Spartans-Rebels)
Previous: 1
A dominant interior presence who can shoot the ball from all over the floor, Foster is still in the running for the top player in the state and the country. It will be an interesting battle between he and Baldwin over the next few years. Foster played up in the 17U and 16U levels throughout the summer, compiling a huge workload. Another player that’s not even close to his ceiling, Foster holds offers from LSU, Arizona State, and UNLV among others. He’s also receiving interest coast-to-coast from some of the nation’s top programs.
3. David Joplin (Brookfield Central/Phenom University)
Previous: 3
Going to be hard to knock Joplin out of this spot. A lot of years, this would be the No. 1 player in the state, but it just so happens there’s two five-star prospects ahead of him. Joplin continues to show promising progression. A 6-foot-6 combo forward, Joplin’s’ post skill set combined with his ability to shoot from 3-point range and handle the ball in the half court and transition make him a potential mismatch nightmare. DePaul and UNLV are already on board with offers.
4. Brayden Dailey (Mineral Point/Wisconsin Swing)
Previous: 4
If there is somebody who can catch Joplin for that No. 3 spot, it’s probably Dailey. The Mineral Point standout had a dominant summer and is arguably the best scorer in this class right now. A skilled forward who can knock down shots from all over the floor, Dailey is extremely efficient. Dailey is a better athlete than you think and catches people off-guard with his above the rim ability. If he’s able to add some strength and explosiveness to his game, he can play his way to the high major level. There’s no offers for Dailey yet, but he’ll definitely rack up mid-major scholarships and get strong looks from power-five programs.
5. Cameron Palesse (Waukesha West/Phenom University)
Previous: 7
Maybe Palesse checks in too high right now, but I like the track that he’s on. A unique wing that can take people down in the post and knock down fade away jumpers, Palesse might be one of the top breakout players in the state next season. The 6-foot-2 sophomore is a great finisher around the rim and racks up 3-point play opportunities. He’s steadily improving his consistency from beyond the arc. Also, he’s a two-way player that defends at a high level and causes havoc.
Previous: 9
6. Tyrese Hunter (Racine St. Catherine’s/Milwaukee Spartans-Rebels)
Really loved what I saw in the summer. An explosive athlete that can play above the rim, yet is under six-feet tall, Hunter has a ton of potential. He’s got really good length and will grow over the next two years. Hunter can play with or without the ball and did a lot of damage as a catch and shoot sniper from 3-point range. He can also play in isolation, breaking defenders down off the bounce, and getting to the rim.
7. Ben Nau (Brookfield Central/Phenom University)
Previous: 6
If Nau ever drops on this list, it’s not going to be because of anything he does. A well-rounded point guard that just plays the game the right way and makes everyone around him better, Nau will probably be one of those guys that’s overlooked his whole career — much like his older brother. He may not have the measurables you want in a top 10 prospect, but he controls what he can control and is a heck of a basketball player. If I have to win one game, there’s not many guys I choose over Nau.
8. Grant Flory (Neenah/Wisconsin Swing)
Flory missed most of the July evaluation period due to illness. We were able to see him at Wisconsin’s elite camp, however. A 6-foot-5 sophomore who can stretch the floor and handle the ball, Flory can score in a variety of ways. He’s got the size and strength to finish down low and work for second chance opportunities. Flory also has a soft shooting touch and can pull people away from the rim.
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9. JaKobe Thompson (Racine Case/Milwaukee Spartans-Rebels)
A skilled scoring guard that can break people down, Thompson can put up big numbers. His size is always going to be a question mark, but it wasn’t a problem in some high-level matchups in July. The lefty can shoot off the dribble from all areas of the floor and has a terrific sweeping crossover dribble that makes defenders look silly.
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10. James Graham (University School/Phenom University)
Previous: 9
Somebody that might not be a top 10 prospect right now, but we’re trying to get ahead of the curve on, Graham is showing major flashes. A 6-foot-5 sophomore that can shoot the rock, Graham has potential to be a terrific scorer. He’s still coming into his body and looks very mechanical, but Graham was able to put together some nice scoring spurts against some of the best travel programs in the country. When you consider his size, length, and shooting ability, Graham has some of the best upside in this class.