2022 Final Rankings: Top Forwards/Centers
It has been a crazy couple of seasons in Southern California high school basketball. From COVID-19 canceling spring and summer club sessions to delaying an entire high school season and causing some game cancellations, we were finally able to get…
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Continue ReadingIt has been a crazy couple of seasons in Southern California high school basketball. From COVID-19 canceling spring and summer club sessions to delaying an entire high school season and causing some game cancellations, we were finally able to get a season that allowed us to get a complete look at how the 2022 class stacks up which leads to our most recent updated rankings for the senior class.
In this piece we take a look at how the small forward or wing position breaks down. From the top-ranked guys to the guys who could out-play their rankings at the college level.
Top Forwards/Centers
1. Kijani Wright Kijani Wright 6'8" | PF Sierra Canyon | 2022 State #63 Nation CA-S , Sierra Canyon – Wright is a strong, physical and big-bodied four/five man whose mobility and strength allows him to rim run and catch and finish through contact in the painted area. The 6-foot-8 senior headed to USC projects as a two-way interior presence who can impact the game on the glass, as a rim protector and transition finisher. The McDonald’s All-American is our No. 4 overall prospect and No. 1 big man in the class of 2022.
2. Koat Keat Koat Keat 6'9" | PF Crean Lutheran | 2022 State #100 Nation CA-S , Crean Lutheran – There is no better big man passer in the class than Keat and, if compared to guards in this class, he’d stack up highly with them as far as vision and feel as a distributor go. The 6-foot-9 forward has great feel for the game with the ball in his hands, he can draw double teams and kick to shooters, play at the top of the key and initiate offense, and has the ball skills and fluidity to take defenders off the dribble and get into the paint where he can finish through or above contact.
3. Shy Odom Shy Odom 6'6" | PF Sierra Canyon | 2022 State #237 Nation CA-S , Sierra Canyon – Odom wasn’t the most flashy player on a loaded Sierra Canyon squad but his impact as a rebounder, physical inside-out scorer and high motor and energy guy was important to the Trailblazers’ success. Odom’s effort on the offensive boards created second-chance scoring opportunities and his ability to guard multiple positions allowed Sierra Canyon to deploy a pressure defense and rely on him to pick up any slack left on the back end of it. Odom is our No. 10 overall prospect and third-ranked forward/center in the 2022 class.
4. Jeremiah Nyarko Jeremiah Nyarko 6'7" | PF St. John Bosco | 2022 State #209 Nation CA-S , Sierra Canyon – Nyarko didn’t have his best season after transferring from St. John Bosco to Sierra Canyon, but you can’t discount his long-term potential if he finds the right fit and college program to develop him. The 6-foot-8 forward is a high-flying and powerful athlete who thrives in transition and rim-runner and above-the-rim finisher. Nyarko’s effort and energy on both ends of the floor are what make him an intriguing next-level prospect which is why we have him at No. 12 overall and our No. 4 big man.
5. Elijah Price Elijah Price 6'8" | PF St. Anthony | 2022 State CA-S , St. Anthony – Price is another guy who we think has his best days ahead of him as a prospect. The 6-foot-8 forward is a pretty skilled all-around offensive player who can stretch the floor to the three-point line or score with his back to the basket. The biggest concern with Price is his wiry frame and how he’ll handle a full college season. While that’s a legit concern, Price has shown that he can be effective against physical bigs on the high school level. We have Price ranked as our No. 16 overall prospect and fifth-best big in the 2022 class.
Forwards/Centers Who Could Out-Play Their Ranking
Kaleb Smith Kaleb Smith 6'7" | PF Damien | 2022 State CA-S , Damien – Among the players on this list, Smith is the most skilled of the bunch. At 6-feet-8, the UC Riverside-signee can knock down three-point shots with consistency, has touch around the basket and can score with his back to the basket. Smith’s game projects well to the next level because of his ability to stretch the floor which opens up driving lanes for guards. Smith checks in at No. 23 overall in the 2022 rankings, but don’t be surprised if he has a better college career than some guys ranked above him.
Larry Olayikna Larry Olayikna 6'9" | C Birmingham | 2022 State CA-S , Birmingham – Olayikna might be the guy with the most upside in this class based on his elite combination of athleticism and high energy/high motor play. The 6-foot-9 forward/center is an NBA-like athlete with his elevation, body control and fluidity and quickness when running the floor. Olayikna is a college-level rim protector with great instincts as a shot blocker and rebounder.