2022 Rankings Update: The Top 10
It’s been a couple of months since the first 2022 rankings were posted. In this update, we have added 10 players to bring the total to 50 ranked prospects. This 2022 list will continue to grow and see lots of…
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Continue ReadingIt’s been a couple of months since the first 2022 rankings were posted. In this update, we have added 10 players to bring the total to 50 ranked prospects. This 2022 list will continue to grow and see lots of movement over the next 3 years. Kids we’ve never heard of will likely move into the top 10 and highly ranked kids will hit their ceiling and fall a few spots. We see it every year. Here’s the updated Top 10 in 2022:
#1. James Jewell, Eastern – When you look at the stats, 4 points and 2 doesn’t scream “D1 prospect” at you. But Jewell dominates his grade level and because of his crazy length and upside, college coaches are going to be enamored with him when he gets in front of them. His top ranked is based a lot on potential right now and if he doesn’t make big leaps in his development over the next 6-9 months, he could fall back.
#2. Justin Becker, Robertson County – Justin is sort of opposite of Jewell. He has big production but a lower ceiling as a prospect. Becker averaged 19 points and 7 rebounds as a freshman and is well on his way to being a 3,000 point scorer in his high school career. If he doesn’t grow, he’s going to be labeled a “tweener” as a college prospect but his shooting splits of 59/33/74 inspire confidence that he will continue improving his ability to stretch the floor with shooting.
#3. Brandon Rayzer-Moore, Jeffersontown – From unranked to third overall in one rankings update, there is an argument to be made that Rayzer-Moore could be the top prospect in the class. Coming off a freshman season where he averaged 12 points and 3 rebounds per game as a third option at J-Town, Brandon will see increased defensive coverage as he ages but he has the potential to be a big time player down the road. Scoring 12 points per game as a freshman in one of the toughest regions in the state is very impressive.
#4. Kendric Adams, Trigg County – I’m not yet sure what his ceiling is as a prospect but I’m sure Kendric will be the best player he can be. After leading Trigg County in points and rebounds as a freshman, Adams is still working to transition to the wing and out of the post. Averaging 13 points and 7 rebounds per game as the leader of the Wildcats, Kendric will have to start becoming more comfortable shooting the 3 ball in the next year or so or teams won’t respect him outside of the low post area.
#5. Colby Fugate, Paintsville – Colby has good size and athleticism but his shooting splits of 44/29/69 don’t inspire confidence for his future as a shooting guard prospect. Fugate has plenty of time to improve his shooting and he has a chance to be one of the best to ever play at Paintsville. The key to his future is going to be playing well against competition when AAU season rolls around. He’ll need to show he can score against athletes and guard well enough laterally to be a 2/3 at the college level.
#6. Jerone Morton, George Rogers Clark – Morton is one of my favorite players in the class and I’ve compared him favorably to current NKU freshman Trevon Faulkner. A smooth lefty with a fearlessness about him, Morton’s biggest question mark will be what position he ends up playing. If he doesn’t grow, he’ll need to transition to point guard but if Jerone can hit 6’4 or taller, he can be a nice wing prospect for the next level.
#7. Turner Buttry, Bowling Green – Blessed with a super high basketball IQ, Turner will maximize his talents and be the best player he can be at the end of his high school career. Already a good shooter, Turner put up 46% from 3 while shooting 84% from the free throw line and could be a 50/40/90 candidate in the near future. Perhaps most impressive is his ball handling against pressure. Buttry projects as a college prospect but could be limited without a growth spurt or two.
#8. Andru Markham, Fern Creek – Markham retains his top ten status for the time being but it is a concern that a player who projects as a wing prospect only shot 4 threes in 23 games for Fern Creek. Andru should see an increased role next season with the young core of the Tigers but he will have to get more assertive on the court and show he can shoot the ball well enough to merit consideration as a solid college prospect.
#9. Tim Hall, Dunbar – One of the big movers in the rankings since our initial posting, Hall averaged 6 points and 5 rebounds for a veteran Dunbar team that made a big run late in the season. Hall has good size and athleticism and could be a big time college prospect with a growth spurt to hit 6’8 or bigger. Tim has a good motor and has shown some skill level. Look for him to be the focal point of the Dunbar offense next season.
#10. Turrell Cleaves, Jr., Butler – The ultimate example of ranking potential ahead of production right now, Cleaves is the type of long, athletic combo guard that flashes crazy potential and can be frustrating to watch at times. Frustrating because he may not always play the hardest and has a tendency to worry more about referees than he should. But I think he has crazy potential as a prospect and could be the next great guard to come out of Louisville. But he’s going to have to earn it.