Rankings Roundtable: No. 1 contenders; who's next; and more
On3 published its initial 2024 rankings today. National Analysts Jamie Shaw and Gerry Hamilton comb through some of the questions from the top 25 in this rankings roundtable.
1. Naasir Cunningham is No. 1. Who else did you give consideration to for that top spot?
Jamie Shaw: Ian Jackson was the only other player in the conversation this go-around. The 6-foot-5 guard is one of the best two-way players in the class. He has a New York flair on offense and plays with a competitive fire on defense. At the end of the day, the totality of Cunningham’s body of work won out, but it was close.
Gerry Hamilton: For me, Cunningham was a clear No. 1. His combination of heights, wingspan, explosive leaping ability, shot-making, and feel for creating space and upside are differentiators in a class loaded at wing and shooting guard. Headed into the summer, the race for No. 2 is more intriguing. And Tre Johnson is a player that has been ascending the entire year.
2. Which player are you glad On3 ranked higher than the industry standard?
Shaw: Jayden Williams. The Atlanta area product has so many tools to work with. He is a naturally quick-twitch and explosive player around the basket. At 6-foot-8/6-foot-9 he can face the basket and create off one or two dribbles in the half-court. The upside is immense here, and the production is already taking shape.
Hamilton: Robert Miller III. That may be easy as I have seen him so much up close in games and training with T.J. Ford. The near 6-foot-9 power forward has a highly-skilled game for a player that just turned 16. His ability to attack off the bounce creating straight lines, catch and shoot on the perimeter and finish around the rim is a differentiator at his size and position. Then there is the defensive end, where he shows a feel for help defense and is a shot changer. And his best basketball is way out in front of him. The bloodlines are excellent, with a father who played football at LSU and a mother who played in the WNBA.
3. Who is a player who missed the rankings this time, but you will be watching closely this spring because you think he could play into the next update?
Shaw: Yves Missi is an intriguing name. He is an athletic 6-foot-10 forward with natural fluidity. He can face the basket in the half-court and put it on the floor or finish above the rim in transition. There is still a raw element to his game, but the Colora (MD) West Nottingham Academy forward has a lot of upside to continue tracking.
Hamilton: Kur Teng for me. He may not fit all the criteria as some others do in terms of height at shooting guard, elite vertical athleticism, and flash, but he’s an excellent prospect. Teng displayed feel and understanding on both ends of the floor this spring. He can score the ball off the catch or dribble and is terrific at moving without the ball. The game moves slowly for him. He plays with ideal patience and pace in the half-court. He scores without volume shooting. And he’s a shooter and scorer that will make the extra pass. On defense, he’s a terrific help defender that displays basketball intelligence. Playing stronger with the ball will take him to another level.