Reason for the Ranking (Top 16)

This month we introduce our debut Class of 2023 rankings!! Rankings are subjective and PrepHoops.com ranks purely upon potential and where the player will be at their basketball peak.  Production factors in only when helping prove the potential is greater or lesser.  Why did we rank these guys?  Why are they at this spot?  Take a look at four Class of 2023 prospects and learn a little about their reputation. 13 Dante OliverDanteOliver6'3" | PGCAK | 2023StateTN 6’3" PG CAK Tennessee Bobcats 17u     14 Alex HyderAlexHyder6'2" | SGCleveland | 2023StateTN 6’2" SG Cleveland Fast Break     15 A.J. DillworthA.J.Dillworth5'9" | PGLausanne | 2023StateTN 5’9" PG Lausanne       16 Lukas WallsLukasWalls6'3" | SGKnoxville Webb | 2023StateTN 6’3" SG Knoxville Webb BMaze #13 Dante OliverDanteOliver6'3" | PGCAK | 2023StateTN (CAK) Playing for CAK, Oliver was somewhat overlooked statewide.  He changed that with a strong summer on Kevin Feltner’s Tennessee Bobcat team.  Coach Feltner is a hard-nosed AAU coach that is beloved by all of his long-tenured players.  Oliver played 17u for Coach Felt after his freshman year.  Oliver is a true talent, the son of University of Tennessee Assistant Coach Desmond Oliver.  Coach Oliver and Dante are appropriately ambitious.  Several factors earned Oliver a top 15 ranking.  All of his coaches think very highly of him very early in his career.  Oliver clearly has a strong genetic and mental pedigree.  Maturity runs in the family.  Finally, Oliver is tall for his position at the high school level.  As he ascends the basketball ladder, he will meet taller and taller defenders at his position.  That he himself is tall and athletic bodes well for his future. #14 Alex HyderAlexHyder6'2" | SGCleveland | 2023StateTN (Cleveland) Cleveland Head Coach Reggie Tucker loves the scoring versatility of Alex HyderAlexHyder6'2" | SGCleveland | 2023StateTN.  In addition to slashing with a strong body, Hyder can hit the occasional outside shots.  Outside shooting and shooting off the dribble are areas in need of improvement.  Hyder is a talented dribbler, but he will need to improve here in order to open up his college positional possibilities to include combo guard and maybe point guard.  Hyder, if he continues his hard work in the classroom, will be a high-academic prospect.  Currently he maintains interest from Penn, Truman State, and Arkansas-Pine Bluff. https://twitter.com/CourtneyHoops90/status/1322211960700784642?s=20   #15 A.J. DillworthA.J.Dillworth5'9" | PGLausanne | 2023StateTN (Lausanne)   The physical gifts of A.J. constantly startle defenders, both football and basketball.  Dillworth is a shifty and incredibly elusive undersized guard.  Currently, Dillworth is invested in his high school football season as a blur of a wide receiver.  Dillworth will be among the top tier of point guards in the state going forward, but will lag a bit behind players like Jasen BrooksJasenBrooks6'0" | PGCleveland | 2023StateTN, Dante OliverDanteOliver6'3" | PGCAK | 2023StateTN, and other more versatile and physically-imposing lead guards.  "[A.J.] is probably one the best athletes in the state pound for pound," shared Lausanne Head Coach Marvis Davis November third.  "definitely one of the top point guards."    #16 Lukas WallsLukasWalls6'3" | SGKnoxville Webb | 2023StateTN (Knoxville Webb) Classic 2/3.  Though he is merely entering his sophomore season, Lukas WallsLukasWalls6'3" | SGKnoxville Webb | 2023StateTN earned placement on BMaze’s 16u (not 15u) team.  Positives to Walls’ game include: size for position, scoring versatility, composure.  Lukas’ ball-handling is modest for an aspiring "college 2."  It must improve on the natural trajectory Lukas set during his wildly successful freshman year.  Knoxville Webb used Lukas primarily as a small forward last winter, but it needs mentioning that the team featured veteran guards Tariq DaughtonTariqDaughton6'2" | CGKnoxville Webb | 2020StateTN and Luke BurnettLukeBurnett6'2" | PGKnoxville Webb | 2020StateTN.  Without their influence and touches, Walls will enjoy more ball-handling responsibilities and opportunities.  He was named Rocky Top Fall League 1st Team by Andre Whitehead. Peruse the complete 2023 rankings. Follow @CourtneyHoops90 and @AndrewForce8.