Reason for the Ranking: Top 5
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The Class of 2023, as it now stands, runs about 13 deep. Players within that range have the potential to play Division I basketball someday, though our numbers typically reveal only about 12 per class do. It is necessary to…
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Continue ReadingThe Class of 2023, as it now stands, runs about 13 deep. Players within that range have the potential to play Division I basketball someday, though our numbers typically reveal only about 12 per class do. It is necessary to acknowledge that three, perhaps as many as seven, of the Top 10 players will be snatched away by out-of-state prep schools or basketball factories. It is the way the basketball world works currently.
This month we introduce our updated Class of 2023 rankings!! Today the microscope is affixed upon he players currently ranked #1- #5. 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?
Peruse the complete 2023 rankings.
#1 Blue Cain Blue Cain 6'4" | SG IMG Academy | 2023 State #102 Nation FL (Knoxville Catholic / BMaze)
Favorite for Mr. Basketball, despite his teammate B.J. Edwards vying to go back-to-back. Blue Cain Blue Cain 6'4" | SG IMG Academy | 2023 State #102 Nation FL is a classic 2-guard with fantastic abilities. Pick a point on the floor and Cain is able to get there and create a high-percentage shot.
#2 Eddie Ricks III Eddie Ricks III 6'9" | SF Clarksville Academy | 2023 State #152 Nation TN (Clarksville Academy / EAB)
Candidate for Mr. Basketball. Eddie Ricks was a dominant forward last school season, who broke out in July with PSB-Nashville UA 16u. The San Antonio-transplant, Ricks III showed he might be able to play as a college wing. If that materializes, then Ricks III is a MM/MM+ wing. His athleticism is ok, the shooting touch is good almost great, and the handle is serviceable at the wing position, and the height is nice, but not quite d1 power forward height.
#3 Isaiah West Isaiah West 6'3" | SG Goodpasture | 2023 State #216 Nation TN (Goodpasture / NYBA)
Candidate for Mr. Basketball. State Champion Isaiah West Isaiah West 6'3" | SG Goodpasture | 2023 State #216 Nation TN dropped two spots from #1 overall in the class. Why? For everything that Isaiah is, he still does not have a consistent three-point shot. That means he can not consistently bury the high school three-pointer. Forget college/NBA distances. If West masters this skill, then he is a future HM D1 starter with a chance at the NBA someday. If he never improves that outside shot, then he is a MM star two-way player with the potential to play HM basketball by the end of his college career. He has all of the other tools and seemingly all of the intangibles.
#4 E.J. Smith E.J. Smith 6'3" | PG Memphis East | 2024 TN (Memphis East)
Candidate for Mr. Basketball. Jordan is a special athlete with a long legacy to live up to. Last season, as a freshman, Jordan was rightfully named All-State. McCullum has Top 10 talent. He has to play against bigger schools and dominate, as he has throughout his brief high school career, to prove he is a Top 10 prospect. My gut says that McCullum will make that Top 10, but keep an eye out for the vultures of prep schools. McCullum is the exact tall and talented young prospect those coaches love to pluck out of their hometowns.
#5 Jarred Hall Jarred Hall 6'8" | SF Lebanon | 2023 State #65 Nation TN (Lebanon / EAB)
Jarred Hall Jarred Hall 6'8" | SF Lebanon | 2023 State #65 Nation TN is not far from #1. In my opinion, Jarred has the highest ceiling in the class. He can do everything ok to great already. There are no glaring weaknesses and his maturation from 6-foot-6 power forward to 6-foot-8 combo forward or swingman is staggeringly fast.
The Full 2023 Player Rankings.
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