An Early Look at the Top Available in 2022
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The 2022 class has over a year to decide their collegiate fate, but some prospects have already decided where they will go. Ryan Friedberg Ryan Friedberg 6'4" | SG Westfield | 2022 State NJ was the first player in the…
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Continue ReadingThe 2022 class has over a year to decide their collegiate fate, but some prospects have already decided where they will go. Ryan Friedberg Ryan Friedberg 6'4" | SG Westfield | 2022 State NJ was the first player in the class to announce his commitment as he will play soccer at Cornell. Kyle Cuffee Jr. became the first player to announce his choice for basketball as he committed to Kansas.
The Blair Academy guard is not the only committed player in the top 10 as three prospects in the top five are also committed. Corey Floyd Jr Corey Floyd Jr 6'4" | SG Roselle Catholic | 2022 NJ ., Jaquan Harris Jaquan Harris 6'4" | PG St. Thomas Aquinas | 2022 State #164 Nation NJ and Mark Armstrong Mark Armstrong 6'2" | PG St. Peter's Prep | 2022 State #39 Nation NJ are all headed to the Big East as they are committed to UConn, Seton Hall and Villanova, respectively. Armstrong is the most recent commitment, which could create a bit of a frenzy to some of the other available guards.
Union City’s Maurice Odum Maurice Odum 6'1" | PG West Oaks | 2022 State FL is now the top available prospect in Hudson County and is ready for a monster senior season. The 6’1 guard is a scoring point guard, capable of dropping 20 points and five assists every time he steps on the floor. Odum is unafraid of the spotlight either as he had 25 points, six assists and five steals in an upset victory against St. Peter’s Prep.
Point guards Denver Anglin Denver Anglin 6'0" | PG Gill St. Bernard's | 2022 State #120 Nation NJ and Ben Roy Ben Roy 6'2" | PG Manasquan | 2022 State #218 Nation NJ should also see big bumps in their recruitments after strong junior seasons. The former was a rock for Gill St. Bernard’s as he had six straight games of at least 25 points and five assists. Anglin was named to Second Team All-State and should be in contention for All-State honors again in his senior season.
Roy was named Shore Conference Player of the Year for the second year in a row as he led Manasquan to a perfect 12-0 record. The 6’2 guard was at his best in big games as he averaged 21.4 points and 4.2 assists per game against teams that finished in the top 30. Roy was named First Team All-State and will be looking to build upon his already impressive 72-5 record he’s amassed in three seasons.
Lenape’s Derek Simpson Derek Simpson 6'3" | PG Lenape | 2022 State NJ is another All-State performer who should see a boost in his stock with another point guard off the board. The Third Team All-State performer is lightning quick with the ball in his hands and is capable of putting up points in bunches. Simpson is also adept at getting his teammates involved as he recorded nine games with at least five assists.
Zion Cruz Zion Cruz 6'4" | SG Patrick School | 2022 #26 Nation CA-S and Will Richardson Will Richardson 6'2" | PG Bergen Catholic | 2022 State #76 Nation NJ are the top available players in the class, but Quadir Copeland Quadir Copeland 6'5" | CG IMG | 2022 State #73 Nation FL may get the biggest rise in his stock. The Gettysburg native plays with good court vision and has the ability to play both guard spots. Copeland has the size to scan the defense and knows how to finish through contact around the basket.
The top of the 2022 recruiting class is full of intrigue with several top players off the board. Prospects will not be going to college for over a year, but they could be making their collegiate decisions sooner rather than later.