2022 Rankings Overview: Summer Update (FREE)
It’s time for the Class of 2022 to get it’s update for the summer. Unlike the class of 2021, there’s a lot more size and versatility in this class, especially in the Top 50. There are a few new faces in the Top 10 as well with movement of some new faces into the state and reclassifying of a few well-known names. Here’s a look at the overview for the 2022 Class Rankings in North Carolina.
Top 10 Overview
- DeAnte Green DeAnte Green 6'10" | PF Asheville Christian | 2022 State #68 Nation NC
- Elijah Jamison Elijah Jamison 6'3" | PG Liberty Heights | 2022 State #204 Nation NC
- Brandon White Brandon White 6'10" | PF Donda Academy | 2023 #146 Nation NC
- Kheni Briggs Kheni Briggs 6'4" | CG The Burlington School | 2022 State NC
- Jeremy Gregory Jeremy Gregory 6'8" | PF Oak Hill Academy | 2022 State NC
- Jai Smith Jai Smith 6'9" | PF Word of God | 2022 NC
- Elijah Gray Elijah Gray 6'8" | SF Hargrave Military | 2022 State NC
- Amare Haynie Amare Haynie 6'3" | PG Winston-Salem Christian | 2022 State NC
- Corneilous Williams Corneilous Williams 6'10" | C Combine Academy | 2022 State NC
- AJ Smith AJ Smith 6'4" | CG Combine Academy | 2022 State NC
The Top 10 has a ton of changes in it, the first one most notably is the departure of the top three prospects from a year ago. Now, the No. 1 prospect is DeAnte Green DeAnte Green 6'10" | PF Asheville Christian | 2022 State #68 Nation NC . Green has made waves on the grassroots scene and recently earned an offer from Florida State University after the Team CP3 Combine this past weekend in Winston-Salem. He’s a versatile big man with tons of upside at 6-foot-10. At No. 2, Elijah Jamison Elijah Jamison 6'3" | PG Liberty Heights | 2022 State #204 Nation NC remains after recently reclassifying and moving to Liberty Heights Institute. He’ll be a prospect to watch in this class over the next two seasons and holds offers from Middle Tennessee, Elon, UNC-Wilmington and Ole Miss.
Brandon White Brandon White 6'10" | PF Donda Academy | 2023 #146 Nation NC comes in at No. 3. He’s another 6-foot-10 versatile prospect that flies around for blocks but also can spot up and knock down the 3-ball. Kheni Briggs Kheni Briggs 6'4" | CG The Burlington School | 2022 State NC comes in at No. 4 after tearing up the grassroots scene with Team EAT. He’s an explosive combo guard that can fill it up on all three levels in a hurry. At No. 5, Jeremy Gregory Jeremy Gregory 6'8" | PF Oak Hill Academy | 2022 State NC clocks in after having a productive grassroots season in the paint with Team Charlotte .
Jai Smith Jai Smith 6'9" | PF Word of God | 2022 NC and Elijah Gray Elijah Gray 6'8" | SF Hargrave Military | 2022 State NC are two new faces that come in at No. 6 and 7 respectively. Smith has a knack for defending multiple positions and rebounding the ball in bunches. Gray is a budding prospect that can handle the ball and create for himself in space at 6-foot-8. Amare Haynie Amare Haynie 6'3" | PG Winston-Salem Christian | 2022 State NC holds steadfast in the Top 10 and should be a guard to watch alongside Quante Berry Quante Berry 6'4" | PG Winston-Salem Christian | 2022 State #189 Nation NC at Winston-Salem Christian. Corneilous Williams Corneilous Williams 6'10" | C Combine Academy | 2022 State NC is another new face in the rankings after transferring from Mississippi. He’s a big man that’s growing his game to the perimeter with nice length and athleticism at 6-foot-9. At No. 10, AJ Smith AJ Smith 6'4" | CG Combine Academy | 2022 State NC comes in after reclassifying and moving over to Combine Academy. He’s a two-way prospect who’s game is still growing as well.
There’s a lot more size and versatility in this class and it shows. It wasn’t ranking such a talented group so expect a lot more changes to come in the near future as things become more clear during the high school season.
Tons of Size Roams the Top 25 and Beyond…
No. 11 Avion Pinner Avion Pinner 6'9" | PF Concord Academy | 2023 State NC – 6’7
Pinner appeared on the grassroots scene this past summer with Garner Road 3SSB and did well showing his inside-out game and ability to attack the rim with his length.
No. 14 Christ Essandoko Christ Essandoko 6'10" | C Winston-Salem Christian | 2022 State NC – 7’0
Essandoko is a new face in the Winston-Salem Christian that’s already made waves with a number of offers from Seton Hall, Rutgers and others.
No. 15 Nathan Brafford Nathan Brafford 6'8" | PF Rabun Gap | 2022 State NC – 6’8
Brafford moves into the 2022 class after joining Rabun Gap where he should be a solid inside-out threat with his ability shoot the ball on all three levels.
No. 20 Iffy Ufochukwu Iffy Ufochukwu 6'10" | C Covenant Day | 2022 State NC – 6’10
Iffy has only been playing basketball since 2017 but he’s made strides in a short-time as a rim-to-rim threat. He’s got nice length to block shots, rebound and finish above the rim.
No. 21 C.J. Collins C.J. Collins 6'11" | C Greensboro Day | 2022 State NC – 6’11
Collins is just scratching the surface of his ability and showed flashes of his potential with Garner Road 3SSB. He’ll be a breakout name at Greensboro Day.
No. 24 Anthony Sellars Anthony Sellars 6'7" | SF Quality Education Academy | 2022 State NC – 6’7
Sellars is another reclass after moving to Moravian Prep. Since joining their ranks, he’s become a lot more aggressive with the ball in his hands. He holds offers from Old Dominion, Winthrop, High Point and Tulsa.
Expansion to 155 Prospects
After expanding the rankings to 100 prospects in the fall, the 2022 rankings now holds rankings for 155 prospects in the 2022 class. Be sure to get a good look at the new names and where they stand, especially ones the teeter around the Top 100 as a ton of changes can happen to change their status.