2022 Rankings Premier: Top Five Guards, Wings, and Forwards
The debut of our 2022 Rankings leads off with an overall top five of Chris Livingston, Sencire Harris, Josiah Harris, Paul McMillan IV, and Mike Sharavjamts. These selections — along with the remaining 47 ranked prospects — are based on…
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Continue ReadingThe debut of our 2022 Rankings leads off with an overall top five of Chris Livingston, Sencire Harris, Josiah Harris, Paul McMillan IV, and Mike Sharavjamts.
These selections — along with the remaining 47 ranked prospects — are based on first impressions from their freshmen year. The great majority of players included are those we watched in-person this high school season or last summer, with a couple that have only been caught on video.
Don’t freak out if your kid isn’t on the list — the rankings will grow rapidly throughout their 15U summer with the next set of rankings to premier in June. We understand that there are literally hundreds of talented prospects in this class that aren’t on this list. We will watch them in due time. As always, though, we are happy to check out film, so email it to anthony@prephoops.com.
Until then, let’s take a quick peak into the top players at each position:
GUARDS
Sincere Harris | 6-4 PG | North Canton Hoover
Harris is a smooth, natural left-handed slasher with a talent for finishing around the basket with either hand. Truly dynamic off the dribble and an elite athlete. Harris can also step outside to hit jumpers. All of the tools to be a lock-down defender against 1s and 2s. Explosive athlete. Good feel for the game, too.
Paul McMillan IV | 6-1 PG | Hughes
It’s not only that McMillan — the no. 4 overall prospect — has elite speed, it’s that he knows how to use it selectively. He quickly bursts out of a stand-still and cleverly picks his spots on when to push coast-to-coast. Controls tempo. Finishes tough baskets off spin moves and other elusive maneuvers. Slightly unorthodox shooting release but he does convert shots from distance. McMillan, also, beats ball-handlers to their spot with quickness.
DJ Moore | 6-3 G | Worthington Christian
Moore immediately moved the needle for Worthington Christian as a freshman. The Warriors jumped from nine wins to 20 with Moore in the fold, despite graduating real talent in the 2018 class. He’s a remarkably fast kid who likes to push in transition and makes good decisions in the open floor. Capable of finishing, shooting from the outside, and possesses an impressive feel for the game. Good size as a primary ball-handler.
Sean Jones | 5-8 PG | Gahanna
A remarkably skilled players with an impressive feel for the game, Jones’s height is yet to be a problem. If anything, he finds ways to turn his stature into an advantage by making eager shot-blockers look foolish with creative passes in the lane. Dynamic handle. Excellent outside shooting ability. Jones goes hard after the ball for steals and makes opponents uncomfortable.
Danny Young Jr. | 6-0 PG | Shaker Heights
Young is an aggressive scorer who uses his speed to set-up teammates, too. He has blow-by speed and an ability to finish in traffic, and that quickness translates to the defensive end. Simplifying the game by making the right decision consistently against help-side defense is the next step, but he showed signs of knowing how to do that. Very good outside shooter.
WINGS
Chris Livingston | 6-6 SG | Buchtel
Ohio’s no. 1 prospect in 2022 led Buchtel to the Division II State Tournament this season. His impact on each game, in turn the entire Buchtel program, is hard to capture with words. Livingston is a gifted athlete with a prototypical build on the wing, but he’s also very unselfish and smart. Great court vision. Able to create a shot on any possession with his blend of quickness, bounce, and skill. More effective when he gets down-hill, rather than settling for 3-pointers. Extremely athletic rebounder.
Mike Sharavjamts | 6-6 SF | Legacy Christian Academy
Sharavjamts is a smooth ball-handling wing who makes good decisions with the ball and has a pretty shooting stroke. Provides secondary ball-handling currently but could develop into a point forward type once he becomes a little quicker. Flashes athleticism on above-the-rim finishes. Playing against athletic, tough players in the summer should pull the best out of Sharavjamts, and we’re excited to see that.
Jared Frey | 6-4 SG | St. Charles
Frey has all of the ball skills needed to score it from any level of the floor. He can truly make the defense pay for any sort of mistake because of his ability to get to his spots and shoot the jumper. Frey, though, can also run point guard with his passing ability and feel. Very mature ability to shoot off the dribble.
Bryan Flannery | 6-2 SG | St. Edward
Although Flannery played freshmen ball for St. Edward, this is a kid who we saw score at will for NEO Tru Game last season on the 15U circuit — we don’t have questions about his ability to score against good competition. Quick first step and a nice in-between game. Shoots it well. Thick body to score in traffic. Efficient player who doesn’t force it and plays to his strengths.
Bowen Hardman | 6-4 SG | Princeton
Hardman has the look and skill of a D-I wing prospect. An athletic kid who can get to the rim a bit, but whose speciality is outside shooting. Good skill and moves well.
FORWARDS
Josiah Harris | 6-6 PF | GlenOak
Harris is a rather complete player, especially considering his age. First of all, he plays hard and doesn’t just rely on being a big-bodied 6-foot-6 forward with graceful feet. Instead, Harris works hard on the glass and sprints the floor. A true threat to hit outside shots or score with footwork in the paint.
AJ Clayton | 6-6 C | Philo
A throwback post-up post, Clayton impresses with his athleticism and footwork. Soft scoring touch and the ability to finish above the rim, too. Moves well for a powerful kid at 6-foot-6. Provides rim protection with his size and quickness from block-to-block.
Kebba Njie | 6-6 PF | Centerville
Combines length and mobility with energy to be a force around the rim as a shot-blocker and rebounder. Good touch and ability to finish in traffic, just needs to consistently assert himself. Creates second-chance opportunities and provides rim protection. Decent ball skills. Wiry and a lot of growth potential.
Joshua Whiteside | 6-5 C | Gahanna
Whiteside is a big-bodied post player with the skill inside to become a dominant force. He can score from the low-block or attack out of a face-up. Soft touch. Good feet. Plays with toughness. Good athlete.
Rich Rolf | 6-6 PF | Centerville
Rolf’s season was cut short due to injury, but he’s been very impressive since we started watching last summer. A work-horse on the glass with a real knack for tracking the ball and meeting it at its highest point. Soft touch inside. Rolf, also, can put the ball on the deck once he faces the floor and flashes passing ability inside. Exciting collection of tools.