Jeffruel (Formerly FTDynasty) 2K21 Fictional Draft Classes (PS4)

[Jeffruel]

Draft Class 2 completed.

Draft Class 2
Online ID: jeffruel21
Draft Class Name: 2022 Fictional

Don't forget to look at the next post and edit the potentials following each season. Until the potential glitch is worked out you will need to do this.

Also don't forget to edit the highschool players age in this class. See post #2 to see which players need their ages edited.

[Jeffruel]

2022 class potentials

[Jeffruel]

Start of 2023 Season

Top 10 Returning Players

#1 Jamon Tiggs
Position: PG
School: Purdue
Height: 5’9
Class: Senior
Profile: After leading Purdue to a National Championship as a sophomore, the #1 overall seed and a Sweet 16 run as a junior, Jamon Tiggs is back for his senior season as the undisputed best player in the nation. Tiggs was not happy with the early exit in the NCAA tournament last season and wanted to come back and make things right. Tiggs averaged 21 points and 8 assists last season and can score from all over the floor. There is no telling where he will end up going in the draft based on his height, but he has shown he has not shown that it is a problem. Scouts feel like he could end up anywhere from the top 5 to the early lottery. Tiggs could use some help and might get it in the form of sophomore SF Courtland Styles.
NBA Comparison: Isaiah Thomas (Boston)

#2 Brad Hale
Position: Wing
School: Iowa State
Height: 6’8
Class: Redshirt Senior
Profile: Brad Hale led Harvard on one of the most exciting tournament runs ever as 5 seed Harvard advanced all the way to the final 4 before losing to Kentucky. Hale decided to transfer to Iowa State in the off season after graduating from Harvard, and he and the Cyclones seem to be looking at a Final Four or bust. Hale will be the most dynamic shooter on an elite shooting team. The athleticism might be an issue at the next level, but he has enough at the college ranks to keep defenders honest. It will be interesting to see how Hale adjusts to the bigger, longer, faster defenders in the Big 12 this season. Hale has been working on his ball handling in the offseason as an attempt to better create his own shot.
NBA Comparison: Kyle Korver

#3 EJ Mcintosh
Position: PG
School: Washington
Height: 6’3
Class: Senior
Profile: Mcintosh had a very solid season last year averaging 19 points and 7 assists a game while being named 3rd team All American. Blazing speed and excellent court vision are Mcintosh's best attributes. He's absolutely terrific in the open court and loves to push the ball up the floor. He's built like a quarterback and plays like it on the floor, directing traffic, making pinpoint passes and weaving through the defense to get to the basket. He's also a top-notch defender. Scouts have blasted his shooting stroke in the past, but he shot 38 percent from 3-point range this season which is a major improvement from his freshman and sophomore year. At times, EJ’s speed and creativity can get the best of him and he can be a tad erratic. While he is deadly on a fast break, he is still very turnover prone.
NBA Comparison: Raymond Felton

#4 Dakara Thunder
Position: PF
School: Richmond
Height: 6’8
Class: Junior
Profile: Dakara Thunder led the Richmond Spiders to the Elite 8 last year and many thought Thunder would end up in the NBA. Dakara declared for the NBA, but during the process it was revealed he had a stress fracture in his foot, as well as needing to clean up his right knee. He ended up getting a late 2nd round grade based on the medical news and decided to come back for his junior season. Thunder has not missed a single game in his college career to this point, so the injury concerns are something completely new. It will be interesting to see how Dakara plays this season fresh off those surgeries.
NBA Comparison: Taller Paul Millsap

#5 Dante Shields
Position: SG
School: Ohio State
Height: 6’4
Class: Senior
Profile: Powerful shooting guard with relentless/fearless nature. Consistently attacks the paint seeking out contact. Finishes strong and absorbs a bump. Makes a living at the free throw stripe attempting over 7 per game as a junior. Extremely efficient at the line as well converting 83%. FG% increased in each of his last three years. Has demonstrated solid fundamentals on his jump shot with significant range. Shot 37% from three last season. Dedicated worker on the defensive end. Last year showed his ability to defend the ball in Ohio State's pressure man to man scheme. Excellent rebounder for a guard 5 per game as a junior. Always around the ball on the offensive glass. His athletic ability will come into question for the next level. Lack of explosion off the floor and elevation on his jumper are serious detriments to his game. Ball handling must improve, especially when dribbling left. Can be turnover prone at times.
NBA Comparison: Wesley Matthews

#6 Simon “Cookie” Hopkins
Position: SG
School: Georgia Tech
Height: 6’6
Class: Sophomore
Profile: Cookie Hopkins quietly had one of the best defensive seasons in NCAA history enroute to his defensive player of the year award. Hopkins led the NCAA in steals last year at 3.4 a game, while holding opponents to 29% shooting while he was guarding them. Hopkins had a limited offensive game last year averaging only 11 points a game, but he has the ability to make a major impact on any team with his defensive ability. His long arms and quick reflexes helped lead to plenty of steals and easy opportunities at the other end.
NBA Comparison: Alvin Robertson

#7 Tyleek Fields
Position: Forward
School: Arizona State
Height: 6’9
Class: Junior
Profile: Tyleek Fields had a very solid sophomore year, but did not take a major step forward after a successful freshman campaign like many expected him to. He saw his 3 point percentage dip slightly as a sophomore, and he struggled with fouls. He was still a double double machine, notching 21 of them. Fields is a fantastic rebounder and has all the potential in the world, he just needs to progress more this season.
NBA Comparison: Michael Beasley

#8 Levi McCoy
Position: PF
School: Ohio State
Height: 6’9
Class: Sophomore
Profile: Levi McCoy could have entered the draft last year where he would have likely been a mid to late first rounder. A power forward with tremendous scoring instincts. Undersized, but has a terrific wingspan to compensate Not a great athlete, and could be more effective if he worked on his conditioning. Has a strong lower body, and shows impressive body control in his midrange game. Displays all kinds of offensive moves in the post. Possesses incredibly soft touch both inside and out. Solid shooter from mid-range. Below average rebounder. Not much of a presence defensively, largely due to a lack of effort. Not a serious threat behind the arc. Can fall in love with his mid range despite being a solid inside post player. Lacks athleticism to finish at the rim.
NBA Comparison: Zach Randolph with a Mid-Range

#9 Jasper Westermann
Position: Wing
School: Kansas
Height: 6’6
Class: Senior
Profile: The ultimate role player who is capable of doing a little bit of everything. Plays the 2 and the 3 effectively. Has good size and strength, but lacks ideal quickness and explosiveness. Arguably the most fundamentally sound player in the Big 12. Can score in a variety of ways, but functions primarily as a jump shooter. Isn’t a one-on-one player and tries to score by playing his role in an offense rather than asserting himself unnecessarily. Jasper does the little things. Extremely high basketball IQ. Should carry the scoring load for the Jayhawks this year. Ceiling might be limited but has a safe floor in the NBA.
NBA Comparison: Shane Battier

#10 Terell Knox
Position: SF
School: Iowa State
Height: 6’7
Class: Sophomore
Profile: Knox capped off his successful freshman year averaging 15 points a game and shooting 39% from behind the arc while attempting seven 3-point shots a game. He or Brad Hale will likely be the go to scorer for the loaded Cyclone team this season. He improved as a defender as the season went on. Could have entered the draft last year but was upset about the 1st round loss to Notre Dame. He is back and vowed to the Iowa State faithful to lead them to a Big 12 title and make a serious tournament run.
NBA Comparison: Danny Green

[Jeffruel]

Freshmen Recruiting Class

With 11 would be freshmen going pro, the freshmen class might not be as strong as we have seen in past years. There is still talent at the top of the class no doubt, but don’t expect as many freshmen taking the nation by storm. We will also likely see the number of 1 and done prospects decrease.

The number 1 recruiting class in the nation goes to North Carolina. They were able to snag five 4-star players, all in the top 50. With UNC graduating 4 seniors, don’t be surprised if they are a bit raw this year with all the youth seeing significant minutes. Coach Roy Williams made a point to go out and recruit players who he believes will be here to develop and he has gotten that at every single position. It will be fun to watch them progress.

Iowa State continues to impress on the recruiting trail with commitments from 5 star Richie Miller, the 2nd highest rated recruit who did not go pro, and #24 overall recruit Hadem Abdul-Wahad. The real prize of this recruiting class comes with graduate transfer Brad Hale. This Iowa State squad looks loaded, and boy will they be able to shoot it.

Below are the updated rankings for incoming freshmen excluding the players who declared for the NBA draft.

#1 Sullivan Cotton
Position: C
School: Michigan State
Height: 6’10
Weight: 211
Profile: Sullivan Cotton is an agile and mobile center, with nimble feet, good speed, great quickness, and vertical explosiveness. Excellent around the rim, scoring regularly on put-backs and alley oops. His offensive game is still a work in progress, but the potential is there. His offensive arsenal includes very quick drop-steps, jump hooks, and turn-around jumpers. Uses a variety of ball and body fakes to create space for his shot, including the renowned “Dream Shake.” Draws a bunch of fouls (8.8 per 40 minutes), and makes a respectable 69 percent of his free-throw attempts. On the defensive end, he alters a number of shots and is generally disruptive. Not timid at all and is willing to put a body on someone and mix it up in the paint. He lacks both offensive and defensive awareness. Defensively, he frequently focuses too much on the ball and loses track of his man. Could be pushed off the block by bigger centers.
NBA Comparison: Thinner Joel Embiid

#2 Richie Miller
Position: PG
School: Iowa State
Height: 6’5
Weight: 198
Profile: A floor general in every sense. Pass-first point guard who does an outstanding job of controlling the tempo of the game. Plays the game at his own pace, and makes everyone around him better. Vision, creativity are extraordinary. Excellent decision maker with tremendous poise and intelligence. Terrific in transition, and a master of the pick and roll. Sees over the top of defense and possesses incredible passing ability. A very good ball-handler with either hand, excellent at incorporating hesitation moves to keep defenders off-balance. Does not get to the free throw line at a high rate at this point in his career, and is a fairly poor finisher around the rim. A decent 3-point shooter, particularly with his feet set. Struggles knocking down shots off the dribble. Doesn’t get much elevation on his jumper. Very sound defender who plays passing lanes well, but does not come up with many on ball steals. Good athlete, but can be exposed when playing against someone with superior speed.
NBA Comparison: Jason Kidd

#3 Jon Nelson
Position: SF
School: Kentucky
Height: 6’7
Weight: 234
Profile: Nelson is the prize of the Kentucky class who is a hybrid forward with terrific length. He has a high motor and plays the game with a lot of energy. Spends majority of the time on the perimeter, but occasionally shows the ability to play with his back to the basket. An agile athlete, his strides are extremely long and he covers a lot of space when running the floor. His shooting has improved and he has become a respectable threat from the outside, but it still needs consistency. Operating out of the triple threat, he combines a nice jab with a fairly quick and long first step to create separation. He has a strong preference for going to his pull-up jumper. He is fairly comfortable handling the ball in the open court and is capable of pushing it out off the rebound when the situation calls for it. Even with the improvements to his offensive game, he still continues to contribute heavily in the rebounding department. With all of the offensive potential, he does not have one aspect offensively that stands out or which allows him to consistently score the ball. With his size and frame, he will almost certainly be a perimeter player at the next level, but he lacks the polish and skill necessary to consistently operate on the wing. He lacks the break down ability off the dribble and he very rarely uses his left hand.
NBA Comparison: Kawhi Leonard on Offense

#4 Ziggy Jordan
Position: SG
School: USC
Height: 6’6
Weight: 211
Profile: The safest bet you could make about this recruiting class would be Ziggy Jordan winning the dunk contest some day. Jordan has an insane vertical, and insane ball control while in the air. He is able to finish with a thunderous dunk, or with touch around the rim. Jordan is blessed with a quick first step, great second leap, fantastic speed, great lateral quickness, and strength. To go along with that, he actually has an above average jumpshot that should improve over time. He gets great lift on the shot and it appears to have a very smooth stroke. Based on his athleticism, he should improve as a defender where he is currently raw. He loves to gamble in passing lanes to lead to transition baskets at the other end. Ziggy needs to improve his defensive positioning, particularly on the perimeter and in the pick and roll game, as well as become more consistent on both ends of the floor. There is no denying the potential here.
NBA Comparison: Dominique Wilkins

#5 Armani Boomer
Position: PF
School: Duke
Height: 6’8
Weight: 253
Profile: Armani has a well-diversified game with multiple skills, especially on offense. Armani can flat out score, and gets his points from a variety of ways. He is a dangerous mid-range shooter, and can also take the ball to the hole very well, and can finish in a variety of ways. While not a big-time leaper, Boomer is an excellent finisher. He has a tremendous inside game and takes the ball to the basket very strong, with no regard to who his defender is. While this is quite effective most of the time, sometimes it can get him into trouble against bigger posts. If there's one kink in the armor of Armani's offensive game though, it's his outside shooting. To compliment his scoring, he is actually a solid passer and was 2nd on his highschool team in assists. Defensively, he can be a terror when motivated. He often was the lead man in his highschool’s press, as he guarded the man out of bounds. He has quick hands, which often leads to steals. On a negative note however, Boomer does seem to be more of a "me first" type of player which can rub teammates the wrong way. At times he can go cold from the floor but will continue to shoot his team out of the game.
NBA Comparison: Stronger Antoine Walker

#6 Jalen Selby
Position: PG
School: UCLA
Height: 6’4
Weight: 188
Profile: Jalen Selby is the more pure point guard of the two Selby twins, but he does not lack athleticism. Explosive athlete who plays with great energy and aggression on both ends of the floor. Fearless slasher, with potential to be dangerous as a transition player. He plays passing lanes very well, and has a great nose for the ball. Follows shots really well, does not give up on plays and is good at creating turnovers in the backcourt. Above average passer with average vision and accuracy. Has good length and profiles as a plus defender. Potentially can become a player with blow by quickness due to his great speed. Still very much a work in progress as a complete offensive player. He is an inconsistent shooter. Due to his aggressive nature, he can get into foul trouble. He has never been the go to scorer on his own team as he has always played with his brother Jayce.
NBA Comparison: Better passing Victor Oladipo

#7 Jayce Selby
Position: Combo Guard
School: UCLA
Height: 6’5
Weight: 191
Profile: A prolific scoring guard who displays unquestionable talent, but is still very raw in many facets of the game. Super athlete. Great first step and devastating speed in the open floor. Jumps out of the gym. Has developed the skills necessary to make an impact offensively on the NBA level, although not in an efficient manner by any stretch. Needs to continue to improve his ability to run the point as well. Will always be a shoot-first type most likely. Very fluid, explosive slasher who can drive in either direction, and does an outstanding job of drawing fouls. Displays a great crossover and is often able to take his man one-on-one. Can turn the corner routinely on the pick and roll due to his first step and tremendous ball handling ability. He struggles with poor shot selection and as a result has a low field goal percentage. Doesn’t make a major impact as a point guard, but has improved. Still learning how to run a half court offense and control tempo. Can appear lazy on the court at times, and he is not a good rebounder.
NBA Comparison: Taller Lou Williams

#8 Kaleb Floyd
Position: C
School: Florida
Height: 7’1
Weight: 221
Profile: Floyd is a bigman with great size and rebounding instincts. Has a long 7’1 frame and a huge wingspan to go along with it. Very fluid athlete. Runs the court well for a center. Good quickness and solid explosiveness/leaping ability. Strength/weight has been improving, and he should continue to add more in the future. Uses all of his physical skills to the fullest when attacking the glass. Extremely aggressive rebounder both offensively and defensively. Gets a lot of tip-ins and put-backs. Shows a good understanding of boxing out, which is somewhat rare for young players. Solid shot blocker with the potential to be very good in this area. In the paint he shows a variety of developing moves. Has a nice jump-shot from 8-12 feet away from the hoop. Great in the pick and roll. Can’t create his own offense yet. Has a budding set of skills in the post, but needs teammates who can set him up. No real perimeter game. Almost all offense comes from around the hoop. Very unselfish but not a talented passer. Plays very aggressively, which is a good quality, but it gets him in foul trouble quickly. Struggles guarding stronger players. Still skinny, though he could add weight this year at Florida.
NBA Comparison: Jonas Valančiūnas


#9 Tyson Bristow
Position: SG
School: Michigan State
Height: 6’4
Weight: 204
Profile: Bristow is a well polished guard who will provide the Spartans with a solid player after losing SG Tyler Burleson to the NBA. He and Sullivan Cotton will be a great inside out duo this year. Dangerous in transition as he glides down the floor and slithers his way to the basket. Very smooth. Good body control and great touch on his floaters. Uses nifty hop and Euro steps to get to the rim. Draws a bunch of fouls. Solid three-point shooter. Very effective scoring and finding open perimeter shooters when driving off the pick and roll. Good off-the-ball defense and denies very well. Bristow’s most glaring weakness is his lack of assertiveness and consistency. Scouts often wonder why his level of intensity is not at the same level at all times. Should look to be a little more selfish. Has standout ability but doesn’t always take it upon himself to be the star that he should be. Avoids contact when driving and prefers to pull up or pass out rather than go all the way to the hole. Limited dribble moves. Doesn’t show much ability to create his own shot, frequently relying on screens to get open. Too dependent on his right hand.
NBA Comparison: Spencer Dinwiddie

#10 Elmore Givens
Position: SF
School: North Carolina
Height: 6’7
Weight: 216
Profile: Givens is a big time scorer and a guy with fantastic instincts for the game. He works very hard on both ends of the floor and has a knack for finding openings in the defense to put the ball in the hoop, in other words, he’s very opportunistic. This ties in with his offensive rebounding as well, he always seems to be in the right position. He’s excellent in transition and runs the floor extremely well. He can spot up and knock down jumpers from deep, he can set up his man and beat them via backdoor cuts or he can create for himself. Givens has shown range from all over the floor, although he’s best from midrange, and is surprisingly comfortable handling the ball. The obvious weakness is that he doesn’t have a defined position. He lacks athleticism at the wing, and he’s small for a post player with short arms. Regardless of where he plays he’s going to be at an athletic disadvantage due to poor lateral quickness and being a less athletic player. Will be a very productive college player but his potential in the NBA seems to be in question.
NBA Comparison: TJ Warren

#11 Kwame Fox
Position: Wing
School: North Carolina
Height: 6’7
Profile: Fox is an athletic player who slashes well to the hole. He’s got a solid bounce and a quick burst to go with above average speed. He’s a plus defender who has an advanced mid range game. He is a solid passer. Struggles when he has to put the ball on the floor or shoot from outside.

#12 Deon Hunter
Position: C
School: Iowa
Height: 6’10
Profile: Still developing, Hunter has shot up the rankings this past year. Was a 6’7 slashing wing a year ago before a growth spurt. Has solid ball handling skills for a big and can pass well. Smooth stroke and shoots 80% from the line, so the potential is there. Still incredibly raw in the post as his height is new to him. Could be a better rebounder.

#13 Hamed Abdul-Wahad
Position: SG
School: Iowa State
Height: 6’7
Profile: Another shooter finds his home at Iowa State. Hamed is not strictly a spot up shooter as he can create his own shot very well. Not the best athlete in the world. Great elevation on his jump shot with a quick release. Liability on defense.

#14 DeShaun Fogg
Position: PG
School: North Carolina
Height: 6’3
Profile: Very crafty point guard. Pass first, very unselfish, with a quick first step. Not an elite athlete. Offensively a very well rounded prospect with no major weakness, but no major strength either. As a defender he struggles to guard athletic guards, but can handle the average guard just fine.

#15 Edwin Grady
Position: SG
School: Michigan
Height: 6’4
Profile: Grady is a bit undersized as the SG position, but lacks the passing ability to play the PG position. An athletic guard who relies on his mid range game. Has an excellent step back jumper. Great defender at getting into passing lanes. Needs to work on becoming more consistent at both ends of the floor.

#16 Robby Love
Position: C
School: Oregon
Height: 7’0
Profile: Bruising big man down low. Already at 250 pounds as a 18 year old and his frame looks like it can support close to 300. No real post moves down low and looks to back all his opponents down. Average athlete for his size. Blocks shots, but can be exposed if not in the paint.

#17 JT Gentry
Position: SF
School: Wichita State
Height: 6’7
Profile: Knock down shooter who committed to Wichita State over Kansas. Set jump shot that is very smooth. High release on his shot and he is long so it rarely gets blocked. Skilled passer for the position. Ball handling needs work. Struggles to finish at the rim.

#18 Jarvis Chapman
Position: PF
School: Louisville
Height: 6’8
Profile: Heavy big who has a great drop step. Backs own smaller defenders and uses finesse to finish around bigger ones. A little undersized to play post with short arms. Struggles to rebound. Can get beat off the dribble pretty easily. Not the best athlete.

#19 Noah Keefe
Position: PF
School: Texas A&M
Height: 6’9
Profile: Athletic PF who plays above the rim. Great in the pick and roll game and has potential to be the go-to scorer for a team. Developing outside shot. Not the best defender. Poor shot selection.

#20 Teejay Holcomb
Position: PG
School: California
Height: 6’2
Profile: Score first PG. Athletic and can throw down with the best of them. If he was 3 inches taller, he likely could have gone straight to the NBA as a combo guard. Needs work running the point. Solid vision but can be turnover prone at times.

#21 Zymir Baller
Position: PF
School: Virginia
Height: 6’10
Profile: Lanky defender. Garbage man who can rebound, defend, and score 14 points a night with easy put backs. Offense is non existent outside of that.

#22 Byron Simms
Position: SF
School: West Virginia
Height: 6’7
Profile: All around player with no major weaknesses. If he wants to develop and have a shot in the NBA, he needs to develop more of a 3 point shot and could profile as a 3 and D player.

#23 Derrio Valentine
Position: C
School: North Carolina
Height: 6’11
Profile: Mismatch who can hit the 3 point shot at a solid clip for a big. Could be more imposing on the defensive side of the ball. Quick first step for a center. Would benefit to add some strength.

#24 Bennett Douglas
Position: PG
School: Arkansas
Height: 6’1
Profile: Lightning quick and very crafty around the rim. Wreaks havoc as a steal machine. Passing needs work and is short by NBA standards. Struggles shooting the ball.

#25 Owen Dobbins
Position: PF
School: North Carolina
Height: 6’9
Profile: All around 4 who can score in the low post. Might not do any one thing exceptional, but has no major weaknesses. Needs to be a better rebounder.

[Jeffruel]

Preseason Updates

Preseason Top 25

1. Purdue-Four seniors and a junior in their starting 5, this looks like it could be the last run for Purdue. PG Jamon Tiggs is the best player in the nation, and this Purdue team is seasoned from their championship run two years ago. They are hungry to get back there after an upset in the Sweet 16.
2. Iowa State-This Iowa State squad is stacked. Sophomores Terell Knox and Patrick McCloud provide fantastic outside shooting as does senior transfer Brad Hale. At the PG position the Cyclones have two elite players in freshman Richie Miller, and Lousiville Transfer OJ Wyatt. Wyatt is more of the true PG as he is athletic and passes well, and Miller is a solid outside shooter. Finally, they will have Hadem Abdul-Wahad providing solid minutes off the bench. Iowa State coach Steve Prohm has said he will run a 5 guard lineup this year with the plan of putting up 95+ points a game.
3. Texas-Texas is built in the post and they return some very solid players down there. The Langford twins, Tavon and Quay, are back for their junior years and provide mismatches down there. Senior Rosel Jackson is the true center for the Longhorns with Tavon playing the 3 and Quay playing the 4. At the PG position, they have sophomore Tyrone Gaines the fantastic facilitator.
4. Duke-Fresh off a national championship, Duke loses its star power in Giovanni Gamble, but they return senior C Josh Kirkland, sophomore wing Lonnie Graham, and add freshman PF Armani Boomer. Boomer will likely be the go to scorer for the Blue Devils this season.
5. Ohio State-Ohio State returns two of the nations better players in senior SG Dante Shields, and sophomore PF Levi McCoy. Ohio State made a Sweet 16 run last season, and gave National Champion Duke their closest game of the tournament. If McCoy and Shields made some progress this offseason then the Buckeyes will be tough all season long.
6. Arizona State-Junior forward Tyleek Fields and junior SG Solomon Pack are both back and have Arizona firmly in the top 10. They were one of the best two man combos in the league last year. Fields is the more established player of the two right now and has a great inside out game, but Pack is just oozing with athleticism.
7. USC-USC has a solid 3 guard lineup with Junior PG Marcus Ponds, junior SG Idris Kersey, and freshman SG Ziggy Jordan. Jordan should come in and be the best player on this team and we’re sure he will have plenty of highlight dunks this year. Kersey is the shooter of the bunch.
8. Marquette-Marquette is led by upperclassmen in PG Myles Kirk, and C Rodney Horton. Kirk has been able to go on scoring spurts while Horton is a force down low. He is very tough, is a bruiser, and pulls down boards.
9. Kansas-Kansas is one of the more well rounded teams in the nation this year. They have strong senior leadership in wing Jasper Westermann. They have an up and coming sophomore PG Seth Dixon who had a very successful freshman year. Sophomore C Jalen Henry looks to get going after a foot injury saw him miss the majority of the year. Finally, junior SF, Randall Larson is a defensive nightmare for teams with his long quick hands.
10. Michigan State-Michigan State will be led this year by two dynamic freshmen in SG Tyson Bristow, and C Sullivan Cotton. Many thought Cotton could have gone pro this season straight out of high school, so it will be interesting to see how he fares this season.
11. Kentucky-As always, Kentcuky is filled with potential, they just need to learn how to play together. Their best player this year will likely be freshman SF Jon Nelson. Junior C Stevan Nance is a bit raw, but is a very good athlete at the center position and has one of the better verticals for centers in the nation. Sophomore Jackson Lamb shot 38% from behind the arc last season strictly as a spot up shooter.
12. Georgia Tech-Georgia Tech has one of the best defenses in the nation led by sophomore SG Cookie Hopkins. Hopkins is fresh off the DPOY award and has been working on his offensive game all summer. Senior SF Dan Schroder is a long 6’9 who can defend on the perimeter or down low.
13. Florida-Florida boasts two solid young posts in sophomore Jermaine Jones and freshman Kaleb Floyd. If the two of them figure out how to coexist on the floor and put it all together, Florida could be one of the best teams in the country.
14. Indiana-Junior PG Brennan Vincent is 6’3 and boasts one of the best assist to turnover ratios in the nation from last year. Vincent is a below average athlete, but makes up for it by just being a sound basketball player. Starting alongside Vincent are three talented sophomores in SG Donyell Phelps, a knock down shooter, C Logan Dooling, an athletic big who can run the floor, and SG Dionte Sanon who is a slasher with an electric mid range.
15. Stanford-Stanford was a bit of a letdown last season, but junior PG Darion Camby and sophomore PF Holden Shaw look to prove doubters wrong this season. Camby is only 5’11, but is a bulky 220 and is not afraid to go up against the giants.
16. West Virginia-West Virginia has a pair of sophomore guards in DeAndre Gay and Malik Walker who are solid in the press, and they add freshman SF Byron Simms who should play the front of the 1-2-1-1 press with his long frame.
17. Oklahoma State-Junior PG Chet Perry, has been at Oklahoma State for what seems like forever. Perry has spent all offseason in the gym and he is our biggest prediction for a breakout this year. Senior PF Trey Landry is a well rounded player who is a fantastic shot blocker and solid rebounder.
18. Wisconsin-Sophomore C Marvin Greer is back after being named a 2nd team All Big-10 last season. Greer is supposed to be a solid 3 point shooter, but only managed 32% behind the 3 point line last year. The addition of freshman PF Lewis Oakley, and interior scorer, should help ease the load off of Greer.
19. Texas A&M-A&M had a very solid recruiting class with two forwards in Melvin Haas and Noah Keefe. 7 foot sophomore Tyrell Ryan is a big presence down low. This team is raw but has very high expectations in a wide open SEC.
20. North Carolina-Sophomore C Callum Boyd is the best returning player for the Tar Heels. North Carolina graduated a strong class, but replenished with 5 very strong recruits, all at different positions.
21. Richmond-Junior PF Dakara Thunder is back this season as one of the nations premier players, but suddenly there are concerns about his health. Mock drafts now have him going in the late 2nd round, which is very different from where he was this time last year.
22. Maryland-Maryland has a pair of shooters in junior SG Khaleif Blu and junior SF Dorian English. English is 6’8 and could pose a mismatch, while Blue is 6’6 and easily shoots over college guards with a high release.
23. Iowa-Young and talented is the best way to describe the Iowa frontcourt. Freshman C Deon Hunter has the most potential of the bunch, while sophomore PF Parker Alkins is the most established player on the team. Sophomore forward Mitchell Sanders is the most versatile of the bunch at 6’9, he can play either forward position, as well as run the offense through the high post as he is a good passer. Sanders also shot 37% from 3 last year.
24. Louisville-Junior C Cyrus Faulk is a lanky 6’11 who could stand to add some meat to his bones, but he is a solid shot blocker and can extend his game out to the mid range. Sophomore PF Chyree Gomes is an old school big who added 30 pounds this offseason.
25. Providence-Junior SF Scottie Dean is one of the best players not from a major conference. He is a long 6’7 who can dribble like a guard, drive very well, distribute, and has an emerging 3 point shot. Last season he averaged 13 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block a game.

[Jeffruel]

November News

Iowa State starts the year off hot and jumps Purdue and is now the #1 team in the country. PG OJ Wyatt has taken off as this team's best player after transferring from Louisville. The Cyclones have the #1 offense in the country and are the best 3 point shooting team in the nation, both in percentage and 3 pointers made. They are currently 7-0 and averaging 96 points per game.

USC freshman Ziggy Jordan has been a scoring machine so far for the Trojans. He is averaging 27 ppg through November and has been the #1 play on sports center on two different occasions so far. The Trojans are sitting at 6-1.

Georgia Tech is sitting at 7-0 and is up to the #3 team in the country. Cookie Hopkins has taken a major step forward this year and has really improved his shooting. He is leading the nation in steals as well.

Coming into the year Richmond looked like they could be a top 15 team, but they have started the year 3-4 and junior PF Dakara Thunder has looked out of sorts this year. He has been exposed against some of the tougher opponents they have faced this year.

California started off the year unranked but they are now sitting at 7-0 and are one of the nation's surprise teams. They knocked off Indiana and a strong Utah State team early in the preseason. A major reason for their success is senior SF Bradley Sexton. Sexton has come out of nowhere this year and is starting to show up in the late 1st round of mock drafts. Sexton’s first 3 years he averaged 4, 7, and 9 points per game. While not terrible for his role, it does not compare to his 26 he is currently averaging.

North Carolina and their young starting lineup is sitting at 4-3 and unranked. They have shown flashes of greatness, but their inexperience is showing as well. Callum Boyd Is averaging 14 points and 9 rebounds a game. Kwame Fox has been the best of the freshman bunch.

[Jeffruel]

December News

Texas is currently sitting at 12-2 and is getting stellar play from the Langford twins. Sophomore PG Tyrone Gaines is currently averaging 13 points and 7 assists a game and is leading the nation in assist to turnover ratio.

Richmond continues their struggles this season and Dakara Thunder is continuing to slide down draft boards. He is showing up in the early 2nd currently.

California is sitting at 13-1 and Bradley Sexton continues his tear. He is giving us some Desmond Cooper vibes. Cooper, a Fresno State standout from a few years back struggled as a freshman and sophomore before erupting as a junior enroute to becoming a top 3 pick and an All-Star.

Kentucky has been sound all year long and is sitting at 13-1. Freshman SF Jon Nelson has shown a strong ability to get to the rim and is averaging 17 points a game.

Iowa State continues to impress and is sitting at 14-0. Freshman Hadem Abdul-Wahad has been solid all year and looks like he is the best 6th man in the country. Brad Hale’s scoring average is down from past years, but he is still knocking down 39% of his 3 pointers.

Purdue will enter Big-10 play undefeated and PG Jamon Tiggs looks like a shoo in for the Wooden Award. Tiggs is averaging 23 points and 8 assists a game. Scouts are concerned about his height, but there are whispers that he could still end up going in the top 5.

Michigan State has a record of 13-1 and will play Purdue next week. Freshman C Sullivan Cotton looks like an ideal big man for the NBA. He could add a little weight, but he looks like he could make a play for the #1 pick this summer.

International Player Updates

The top 3 prospects on the international front are not entering the draft as they are all just 17 years old. Next year will be one of the best international classes we have ever seen. PG Huojin Lin has grown 3 inches in the last year and is now 6’7. He has been playing SF and has looked pretty comfortable doing so. QiQang Xu has now grown to 6’9 looks like he could play either forward position. Daniil Pecherov of Russia is a 6’7 wing that has an incredible outside shot and is still just 17 years old. Lazar Teletovic of Serbia tossed around the idea of entering the draft this year, but he stated that he wants to be part of the greatest international class of all time next year.

Below are the top 5 international prospects who have declared for the 2023 NBA draft.

#1 Tomas Gonzalez
Position: PF
Country: Argentina
Height: 6’9
Age: 19
Profile: Prolific scorer with a wide array of offensive skills. A 6’9 forward with advanced inside/outside skills. Very effective facing the basket from 15-18 feet. Gets his shot off with ease with his height and quick release. Has solid range but needs more consistency. A tough match up with his ability to take bigs outside, and post up quicker forwards. A strong rebounder due to his length, toughness and positioning. Has the ability to create offense for himself off the dribble. Uses spin moves and drop steps effectively. Lacks standout athleticism. Has good agility but lacks tremendous speed in the open floor. His ability to drive on the next level will be nullified some due to his lack of foot speed. Defense also suffers due to his lack of overall athleticism and foot speed. Needs to continue to develop his upper body strength.
NBA Comparison: Ryan Anderson

#2 Matvei Kolomak
Position: C
Country: Russia
Height: 7’0
Age: 22
Profile: A long, athletic center who is a productive defender, an outstanding rebounder and a just-decent offensive player. Has a huge wingspan and good height for a center, but is extremely lanky. Very fluid for a five, but not super quick or explosive. Relies more on his incredible length and timing more so than freakish athleticism. Shows very good lateral quickness, but doesn’t have the bulk to dominate the block. Has some decent offensive tools. Uses his athleticism to find some easy opportunities. Not a horrible outside shooter, especially for a center. Can finish at the rim, but not efficiently. One of the best shot blockers in the game. Rebounds at an extremely high rate. He and Russian teammate Brogdon Ilyasova are a strong 1-2 punch in the post.
NBA Comparison: Marcus Camby


#3 Yannick Nesterovic
Position: PG
Country: Czech Republic
Height: 6’3
Age: 21
Profile: An incredibly strong and athletic point guard who can score and distribute very effectively. Plays as strong as he looks. Couples outstanding size with great explosiveness and speed. Changes speeds and directions as well as smaller guards. Handles the ball extremely well. Distributes, but also takes some very questionable shots. A tough matchup for any guard defensively. Uses his size and speed well on the defensive end. Scouts question his conditioning and ability to stay on the floor as he has a lengthy injury past.
NBA Comparison: Baron Davis


#4 Krystiyan Zozulin
Position: SG/SF
Country: Ukraine
Height: 6’6
Age: 18
Profile: Has potential to be a solid option at either SG or SF. Has great size for the perimeter. Shows good strength and explosiveness as well. Very versatile. Does it all on the floor. Can shoot from the outside, or use his size and touch in close. Cleans the glass on both ends. Shows good versatility and effort on the defensive end. Gets one third of his offense in spot up opportunities where he can make a play. Gets a significant number of touches in transition as well. Very consistent shooting stroke. Capable of hitting off balance shots with a hand in his face. Prefers to get to the rim though. Will makes some bad passes. Gets to the line at a very high rate and shoots an impressive percentage. Needs to work on finishing at the rim with contact since he draws so much of it. Commits a lot of fouls. Seems to have a low basketball IQ. Very high character player with an outstanding work ethic.
NBA Comparison: Shorter Danny Granger


#5 Bram Van Horn
Position: SF
Country: Netherlands
Height: 6’7
Age: 20
Profile: Off the charts run/jump athleticism. Lateral quickness and length also gives him great potential as a perimeter defender, along with versatility to guard both wing positions efficiently. Incredibly dangerous in transition opportunities, long strider with a quick first step. As an offensive rebounder, he can keep possessions alive that very few others can due to his second jump and tremendous leaping ability. Spin move can become a major weapon in isolation, plus has shown a floater that over time could become a weapon. Defensive awareness is something he must work on. Still needs to add upper body strength, had issues finishing around the basket and getting knocked off of his spot when defensive rebounding. Not the best outside shooter. Inconsistent at times and lacks a high basketball IQ. Could really develop into something special or fizzle out in a year or two if his game doesn’t progress.
NBA Comparison: Andrew Wiggins

[Jeffruel]

January News

Iowa has been in and out of the top 25 all season and is currently sitting at #22 at 15-6. Freshman C Deon Hunter has been solid all year. His post game is still developing, but he is shooting 81% from the line.

California has continue their climb up the polls and is now ranked #7 in the country with a record of 19-2. Senior SF Bradley Sexton is averaging 22 points a game. He was not on draft radars at all coming into the season, but now he finds himself locked into the lottery. He is firmly in the race for the Naismith POY award. He has been able to score from all over the floor.

Michigan State and Sullivan Cotton knock off Purdue to give them their first loss of the season. Cotton had a big game against Purdue scoring 25 points and pulling down 8 rebounds. Jamon Tiggs had his first off performance of the year scoring only 11 points. Michigan State is now ranked #1 in the country with Iowa State #2, Purdue #3, Kentucky #4, and USC #5.

Georgia Tech SG Cookie Hopkins registered a 18 point, 10 steal double double against NC State and has Georgia Tech sitting just outside the top 5 and #6.

Dayton has entered the top 25 and has been getting stellar play from junior PF Raiquan Jacobs. Jacobs is a 6’9 PF who is top 5 in scoring in the nation.

Texas has slid outside of the top 10 with 3 straight losses, two of which came to Seth Dixon and Kansas.

Iowa State and their offense has not skipped a beat into January. They have 6 different players averaging double figures.

High School Class of 2023
As a whole, the class of 2023 is a much weaker than the class of 2022. Ayden Pullen however, looks like a sure thing at the top of this class and he will be declaring for the draft along with 5 other would be freshman.

#2 overall recruit, PG Vado Kennedy has committed to North Carolina despite being a lock for the 1st round if he would have declared for the NBA. #4 overall recruit, SG La’damion Babbitt committed to Kentucky despite getting the same draft grade as Kennedy. Those two should give college basketball some exciting freshman.

For the 2nd year in a row, we have an intriguing pair of twins committing to play college basketball, this time for Arizona. #6 recruit Tray Giddens, and #15 Scooter Giddens, both are intriguing wing players with similar skill sets. Tray is 6’7 while Scooter is 6’6.

Many thought that Kentucky would fall off the recruiting trail with the high school rule changes, but Coach Cal has the top ranked recruiting class securing 3 players in the top 12 SG La’damion Babbitt, #8 PG Brian Newman, and #12 SF Da’mir Soloman.

Keep an eye out for the high school class of 2024. Big names like SF DJ Walker, C D’Cody Curtis, SF Knight, and PG Damian Logan all look like they will skip directly to the pros and make strong impacts.

Scouting Reports for Declaring 2023 Highschool Seniors

#1 Ayden Pullen
Position: PF/C
High School: IMG Academy (Florida)
Height: 6’10
Weight: 238
Profile: Pullen has a unique skill set incredibly similar to Kevin Loves’. He was briefly committed to Florida State before stating his interest in entering the NBA draft. Pullen has a smooth outside shot. He does not have a lot of lift, but he has a quick release and is 6’10, so he rarely gets shots blocked. Absolutely money from the corners. Can fall in love with his outside shot at times. No real post game to speak of despite his height. Slow on defense, but is a solid presence in the lane. Above average shot blocker. Does not move laterally. Could be a better athlete, but runs the floor well for a big. Very good free throw shooter. Pullen joins former teammate Kylan Sonnet at IMG Academy in going directly to the NBA, but Pullen is twice the prospect Sonnet is. Pullen has a real shot at landing in the top 5. There might be a learning curve for Pullen, but he has the makings of a star.
NBA Comparison: Taller Kevin Love

#3 Sayveon Perdue
Position: SF
High School: Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas)
Height: 6’8
Weight: 221
Profile: Perdue will be incredibly raw for the NBA, but is oozing with potential. He is the reason Bishop Gorman spent the entire last seasons as the #1 high school team in the nation. Fluid player who shows great athleticism despite not having overly explosive leaping ability. Possesses a quick first step which helps him gain separation from his defender to set-up his drive to the basket. Excellent slasher, once he gets to the basket he has the creativity to make spectacular plays due to his cat like body control. Solid rebounder thanks to his long arms. Has range on his jump shot as he can shoot from mid-range or behind the 3-point line. Has the dribbling ability to break down most defenders on the perimeter. Defensively he needs to improve on his perimeter defense such as lateral quickness and footwork. Sayveon at times can be such a dominant scorer that he can freeze teammates out of a game, so getting his teammates involved in the offense should be worked on. Shot selection can improve. Like most young players he has a tendency to throw up questionable attempts. Will be interesting to see him when he is not the best player on the floor.
NBA Comparison: Slimmer Carmelo Anthony

#5 Jashon Kerr
Position: SG
High School: Prolific Prep of Napa Christain (California)
Height: 6’5
Weight: 187
Profile: A very talented offensive-minded shooting guard. Possesses a terrific 6-10 wingspan. Adds great quickness and leaping ability as well. Shows good lateral quickness defensively. Not very strong, and could stand to add some muscle to his frame. A very capable shooter with the ability to get to the rim. Will tally some assists, but looks for his shot first. Doesn’t offer much on the defensive end. Gets about half of his offense running pick and rolls and going one-on-one. Will also get some touches as a spot up shooter in drive and dish situations and in transition. Has a nice jump shot with a good arc and nice lift. Good three point shooter, but can get streaky. Very good in catch and shoot situations, having the ability to create separation coming off screens and shoot with a hand in his face. Very good with the ball in his hands, showing great change of direction quickness with his crossover and a lot of nice hesitation moves. Not a great finisher at the rim due to his lack of strength. Seems like he will be a better complimentary scorer than go to scorer. Has the lateral quickness and length to a factor, but tends to shy away from taking advantage of his tools when he's not motivated. Comes up with a few steals by virtue of his incredibly quick hands and superb wingspan. Doesn’t make hustle plays, but shows some anticipation and timing. Won’t show a lot of effort playing defense on the ball.
NBA Comparison: Jamal Crawford

#7 Aaron Abrines
Position: PG
High School: Mountain Brook (Alabama)
Height: 6’3
Weight: 172
Profile: A standout on the U-18 USA squad, Abrines is one of the purest point guards from the highschool circuit in a while. His vision and ability to deliver precise passes make him the ultimate distributor. A great and natural feel for the game allows him to see plays before they materialize, keeping him one step ahead of the opposition. He is extremely good at maintaining his composure when operating in the pick and roll, he does not panic when the defense converges, but rather shows patience and waits to make his reads. Uses change of speed and direction extremely well, always mixing up the moves and staying unpredictable. His shot has come a long way in the last year or so, even to the point where he has become a serious threat from the outside. Defensively, he plays with a lot of energy and puts in a great effort to put pressure on the opposing ball handlers. Quick hands and terrific anticipation allow him to get his hands on a lot of balls. Has good speed but lacks the great explosiveness that top tier point guards in the league possess. He is forced to shoot a high amount of attempts in the paint because his marginal leaping ability makes it difficult for him to finish around the basket. Heavily depends on the pick and roll to create his opportunities and does not show a great ability to break down defenders in ISO situations. Has gotten better at taking what’s open, but his pass first mentality still gets him into trouble as he passes up open shots. His jumper is still not a finished product by any means. It takes him a bit to get his feet set, and his release point is fairly low; he still looks like a set shooter.
NBA Comparison: Ricky Rubio

#9 Infiniti Renfroe
Position: PF
High School: Long Island Lutheran (New York)
Height: 6’9
Weight: 235
Profile: Very strong upper body and reliable with either hand. He shows a strong motor, and finishes well around the rim with contact. He is very skilled with his face up game and has shown some creative finishing ability. He is very dangerous on P&R and Pick and Pop, because of his ability to hit mid-range jumpers. Though he lacks elite explosiveness, he is able to use his strong frame to protect the ball and avoid blocks. On the offensive boards he is an absolute beast, relentless in seeking out rebounds. The same thing is true on the defensive end where he has natural instincts for rebounds. It’s been noted that Renfroe is undersized for the PF position, lacking ideal length with a sub 7 foot wingspan. He may struggle to create looks against stronger, more athletic and taller opponents in the post. Overall his game right now is based almost entirely on overpowering weaker opponents. He is very skilled but it will be hard to find the same success overpowering post players in the league. Also it is worth considering that most of Renfroe’s game is below the rim.
NBA Comparison: Julius Randle

#10 Teron Maker
Position: PF
High School: St. Vincent-St. Mary (Ohio)
Height: 6’9
Weight: 242
Profile: An extremely productive lefty power forward who makes an impact with his hustle, smarts and athleticism. Has adequate size and length for the power forward position, at 6-9 in shoes with a 7-foot wingspan. Pretty strong as well, and has the frame to get bigger. Possesses great leaping ability, and a quick second leap. Runs well for his position. Doesn’t offer much in the way of perimeter skills. Gets the job done underneath with hustle and rebounding. Relentlessly cleans the glass. Brings a lot of energy to the defensive end. Has always been a hard working player with great athleticism. Has the lateral quickness to stay in front of most power forwards. Suffocates his man on the perimeter when he knows he has a quickness advantage. Runs the floor extremely well for a player his size. Does everything you look for from a hustle player, but also has a nice skill set to go along with it. Will get some opportunities in the post, and loves to face up. Has no trouble getting off his jumper when he turns to face and has the quickness to get by many power forwards. Not an amazing ball-handler, but is crafty enough to know how to get to the rim and finish.
NBA Comparison: David Lee