2023 Rankings Update: Rounding out the Top 10
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We are kicking off the spring and summer seasons with a big update to the rankings, starting with the class of 2023. The top five went out yesterday and today we continue with numbers 6-10. Here’s a quick recap of…
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Continue ReadingWe are kicking off the spring and summer seasons with a big update to the rankings, starting with the class of 2023. The top five went out yesterday and today we continue with numbers 6-10.
Here’s a quick recap of 1-5:
1. Jaylin Stewart Jaylin Stewart 6'7" | SG Garfield | 2023 State #71 Nation WA 6’7 SF Garfield
2. Parker Gerrits Parker Gerrits 6'1" | PG Olympia | 2023 State WA 6’2 PG Olympia
3. Brooklyn Hicks Brooklyn Hicks 6'3" | CG Timberline | 2023 State #168 Nation WA 6’4 CG Timberline
4. Tyce Paulsen Tyce Paulsen 6'5" | SG Curtis | 2023 State WA 6’5 SG Curtis
5. Miles Heide Miles Heide 6'7" | C Mount Si | 2023 State #274 Nation WA 6’10 C Mt. Si
Now it’s time to round out the top ten for the class of 2023.
6. Gavin Marrs Gavin Marrs 6'11" | PF Ellensburg | 2023 State WA 6’11 PF Ellensburg
No doubt, many were reading the top five waiting to see Marrs appear. His talent is undeniable. You just don’t find guys this big who move as well as Marrs does. He’s a defender’s worst nightmare on the blocks with everything available from turnaround jumpers, quick spin moves, or buttery jump hooks. He can go around or shoot over the top. The ability to get good shots is impressive but Marrs consistently shows impeccable touch around the hoop that makes someone his size nearly unstoppable. The only thing causing him to slip in the rankings was his ability to stay on the court. He’s had a few setbacks but his ability to return from those can turn a perceived weakness into a strength. Skill-wise, he’s already shown great consistency and form from the free-throw line as well as an ability to put it on the floor and drive past defenders. In the right college program, Marrs can develop into an elite scorer from the block with catch and shoot range extending near to three-point.
Offers: Eastern Washington, Portland, Cal Poly, Point Loma
7. Cayden McDaniel Cayden McDaniel 6'3" | CG BFL Prep | 2023 State WA 6’3 CG Silas
McDaniel is another player who fell from last year’s rank due to injury. Even so, looking at his sophomore year tape, he has the talent to be a top-three player. It’s apparent from the first time you see him, from his athletic build to his poised mindset, McDaniel is a baller that’s surely ready to remind everyone what he can do. The build stands out immediately, especially as a guy who’s more than capable of running point; the long reach, strong frame, and elite footwork, help him play even faster and bigger than he looks. He has no trouble getting to the hoop and protects the ball on his way through crowded lanes on his way to silky smooth finishes. The burst is next level and he’s a sharpshooter with easy range and a quick but quiet delivery. McDaniel is a superior athlete that has supreme control over his every movement. He can’t help but stand out on the court. Silas finished 8-11 without McDaniel last season and should see an immediate impact with his return.
Offers: Washington, Montana, Portland State, Eastern Washington
8. Tennessee Rainwater Tennessee Rainwater 6'6" | CG Davenport | 2023 State WA 6’5 CG Davenport
One of the biggest risers in this year’s rankings, Rainwater is a consummate playmaker who thrives with the ball in his hands. He plays with smooth power on the go but has outstanding discretion and touch on his passes. There’s an organic deception to his game when driving to the hoop that comes from his ability to flow from one move to another. Whether it’s a dump-off inside or a one-handed pass zipped to the corner, his passes find the shooting pocket and are delivered right on time. Rainwater shows a comfort in making plays that has you wondering if he’s even breaking a sweat. It’s in his bones to create; raining down from three or with ambidextrous finishes, he has the vision and skill to make it happen. He’s got that quick-twitch you look for in high-level athletes and though he scores a lot at this level, could end up being more of a playmaking point with scoring ability in college. The hybrid scoring-point has taken over the game and Rainwater possesses the best of both.
Offers: Unknown
9. Levi Pepper Levi Pepper 6'6" | SF Selah | 2023 State WA 6’6 SF Selah
Pepper is a strong presence that commands attention. He’s a wide frame that plays strong on the glass but has the lateral quickness to zoom past defenders or jump a passing lane and take one down to the other end. The thing with Pepper is there’s more than one way he can dominate a game. If you need boards, he’s got you. You need to attack inside, finishing through contact and drawing fouls, he’s got you. If the lane is plugged up and you have to open up the defense from long range, he’s got you. He’s a smart player that pairs the body of a forward with the skills of a guard. He’s got great physical tools but has meticulously attacked the details of his game to rise above the rest. Defensively he’s a player who knows when to gamble jumping passing lanes and displays that same calculated risk making long outlets with his great court vision.
Offers: Unknown
10. Sherrell McCullum Jr. 6’7 PF Garfield
This is a bruising forward who eats up most defenders inside. He has vacuum hands, catching everything that comes his way, and can be a gamechanger cleaning up boards and putting in second-chance points. He reads the boards well and has a relentless hunger to own the paint. You won’t find him straying far beyond the key but the talented big man can still hit the mid-range shots out to 15 feet. It was hard to see how well-rounded McCullum’s game could be last season as Garfield reloaded for another state title run. Among all that talent, McCullum showed he’s a team player willing to do his job and be one of the best at it. That drive to not just beat the competition but destroy it should translate to big growth this year from a dominant, inside force, to a more well-rounded punishing forward.
Offers: Portland State