A deep look at why On3 is betting on Xavier Booker as a 5-star

Xavier Booker got a large bump in the recent On3 2023 basketball rankings, jumping all the way into the top-ten and bonafide five-star status. National Recruiting Analysts Jamie Shaw and Gerry Hamilton dive into their thoughts on Booker and why this jump was necessary for this update.

On3’s Updated 2023 Rankings

On3’s National Recruiting Analyst Jamie Shaw

When projecting and ranking big men, we must keep in mind they progress at their own rate. It can take time for some bigs to become comfortable in their own skin and coordinated enough to all the functional things asked of them in a game.

This phenomenon is why you see so many late-blooming bigs. A quick snapshot at the 2023 class shows Xavier Booker firmly planted in the top ten of On3’s updated rankings.

Booker rose over 40 spots, coming off an Indiana state championship and an exceptional spring season with his George Hill-All Indy travel team. Even though there are still inconsistencies in his game, Booker’s flashes are simply too much to ignore.

Booker’s Skill

Xavier Booker is a 6-foot-10 lefty. The way he moves is unique to players his size. The Indianapolis (IN) Cathedral product is very fluid and balanced on the move. His loose hips allow him to counter defenders off the bounce and in transition, getting him to the rim to finish. You will see an array of euro-steps and crafty spin-moves and finishes throughout the course of a game.

Booker has long arms as well, arms that get him toward the rim and aid in rebounding, finishing, and shot-blocking. While he may still be a step slow with the angles and footwork reactions, his length makes up for his being a step late.

Booker is a confident three-point shooter, preferring to score in the half-court facing the basket. He can stretch the floor, playing in the corners, or picking and popping to the three-point line. In a matchup against Aaron Bradshaw earlier this month, Booker finished with 25 points on five made threes. The combination of size, length, athleticism, fluidity, and skill is tantalizing.

Booker’s next step

Consistency. Again, it goes back to giving bigs time to grow into their own skin. However, Booker seems to lose focus a good bit during games, whether it be not getting back on defense, hiding in the corner for threes, or any number of other points in the game.

The most significant question mark in his game is his rebounding. Booker has a propensity for going dormant on the boards for long stretches.

Booker has the dimensions and the tools to be a high-level defender. He can slide his feet and has length and natural pop at the rim. As he continues to develop the footwork and the angles, his focus will be able to sustain.

Booker is a face-up big, which is fine; in fact, it plays toward the many pace and space systems employed in today’s game. Booker is going to need to develop within ten feet of the basket. Even if it is a jump hook off movement or flashing into space, he needs to have that in the arsenal.

As much of an offensive threat as he is, his ceiling is capped without rebounding and defense. The good part is many of these questions can be developed. As Booker continues developing and focusing on these things, the ceiling looks unlimited.

Booker in closing

The intrigue has always been there for Xavier Booker. The light seems to be coming on somewhat quickly and doing so under a massive spotlight. Take a snapshot now, and then check back in six months and see how these things have developed with Booker. He has NBA Draft pick upside.

On3 National Recruiting Analyst Gerry Hamilton

The 6-foot-10 left-hander is one of the toughest projections in the 2023 cycle. He simply oozes upside with his height, wingspan, hand size, and ability to shoot the ball out to 22-feet and touch inside 12-feet.

There is little doubt that Booker is a future NBA Draft pick. He fits the modern NBA game without a doubt. The ability to stretch the floor and help provide ideal spacing is ideal.

Booker also flashes the ability to finish well above the rim in transition and weak-side offensive rebounding opportunities.

Some have thrown out Chris Bosh as a potential comparison for Booker. And we get it, left-handed with similar frames and skill sets at the same age.

Where On3 believes Booker needs to make significant gains is in the physicality department. Booker has to take his physicality up two or three notches. That includes playing through contact and matching opposing bigs’ physicality when the game gets rugged. Right now, Booker will fade in and out when play gets physical.

And that includes rebounding, where Booker has to keep developing his physicality. Fight for position with more purpose, and snatch traffic rebounds at a higher rate.

The rate at which Booker has improved has been impressive when looking ahead. He’s clearly one of the most naturally gifted prospects in the 2023 cycle.

When he marries the tremendous skill and physicality will determine when and how close he comes to maximizing his ability.