Shaw's hit list: Six must-see 2023 recruits
The travel ball season ended over a month ago, and we are all getting the itch to get back into the gym. Sure, over the past six or so weeks, we have been able to stay on top of recruiting and visits, and this past weekend college football started. But nothing beats sitting in the gym, watching that ball bounce, and talking hoop.
On September 9, college coaches can be back on the road, live recruiting, and so will On3. We have been counting down the days like it is Christmas for Friday to get here.
Personally, there are some players in the 2023 class I am eager to get more views with. For example, five-star Xavier Booker is a prospect who, at this stage, needs to get consistent viewings. He has shown the exceptional tools, but how does he consistently put them to use with a motor? Checking in every couple of months to ensure he is improving is paramount in getting the best possible evaluation.
These types of questions will get reviewed in the coming months. Some it is because my live exposure to them has been limited, and some it is because I want to see the type of progression they have made. Every good analyst attacks evaluations with a purpose
Let’s go through six players in the 2023 class who are on my hit list.
NR PF Drew Fielder
Drew Fielder is from Boise, Idaho. You heard some rumblings about the 6-foot-9 power forward coming out of the west coast, but he burst on the scene this July. Playing with the West Coast Elite program on the UAA Next Circuit, Fielder averaged 10.7 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks during the UAA championships.
Fiedler only built on that performance with a strong showing on ESPN in late July and then again at Pangos in August. Fielder has discussed programs like Syracuse, Southern California, Boston College, and Providence. The Los Angeles (CA) SoCal Academy big is currently ranked No. 103 by On3.
Three-star F Macaleab Rich
Macaleab Rich built some buzz at Saint Louis (IL) East last season, averaging 19.2 points and 10.8 rebounds. On film this summer, you could see his physicality and the ball skills he had at around 6-foot-5 and 225 pounds.
One college coach described Rich’s game and physical nature to former Baylor forward Mark Vital. You can see that with the straight line burst and the ability to create from the wing and high post. Rich has taken recent official visits to Ole Miss and Missouri and has visits set with Kansas State, Eastern Michigan, and Illinois-Chicago. Getting a feel for Rich’s size in person is on the to-do list.
Four-star PF Dylan James
Dylan James is someone I admittedly do not know much about. He played this summer with the independent 1Family program out of Florida. A couple of college coaches I trust spoke about him, as did some event coordinators telling me to put him on my radar. I was not able to see him live.
The 6-foot-9, 195 pound James recently put out a top five, Iona, VCU, Central Florida, Georgia, and Georgia Tech. I am already looking up Winter Haven (FL) High’s schedule.
Four-star PG Garwey Dual
Garwey Dual was travel ball teammates with Xavier Booker this summer. The long-armed 6-foot-5 point guard built himself a reputation coming out of Indiana, but you do not get the sense of what Dual could be until you see him live. A paint-touch point guard with incredible shake and wiggle, Dual will need to add weight and put some consistency on the jump shot.
The natural tools are there, and a move out to Los Angeles (CA) SoCal Academy could continue to grow his game. While On3 was the first to rank him as a four-star, we need to see has he taken any steps? An early-season look should let us know. Dual is On3’s No. 52 player in the class, and he is committed to Providence.
Four-star C Jacob McFarland
Jacob McFarland is a 6-foot-10 late blooming big out of Moreno Valley (CA) Rancho Verde High. Quite simply, bigs do not move with the natural fluidity McFarland does. He has natural timing on the defensive end and can high-point a rebound above the rim. During the UAA Next Finals, he averaged 2.0 blocks and 6.2 rebounds per game. His defense graded out as ‘excellent’ by Synergy.
This summer, McFarland’s defense was ahead of his offense. Checking in on him this season, I would like to see if he has figured out a way to score or at least show some comfort in looking to do so. He has scheduled three official visits, Wyoming, Georgia, and Houston.
Four-star SF Cody Williams
Perhaps the most talked about player of July, Cody Williams brought hundreds of coaches to Peach Jam to watch him live. And Williams was solid. He showed flashes off the bounce and with defensive instincts, but he had mixed results in the Peach Invitational Tournament (PIT), which is for the Nike teams who did not qualify for Peach Jam. Williams averaged 17.0 points but shot 42.1 percent from the field and 12.5 percent from three. The 6-foot-7 wing dished out 2.3 assists per game, but he averaged 3.0 turnovers.
An early look at Williams this season at Gilbert (AZ) Perry High will be in line to see if he has tightened some things up. Williams announced a top eight schools, Loyola Marymount, Southern California, Georgia Tech, LSU, Colorado, UCLA, Arizona, and Santa Clara. He took junior year official visits to Loyola Marymount and Santa Clara.
An interesting note, Williams’s older brother Jalen Williams was also a late-blooming wing. Jalen was the 12th pick of the 2022 NBA Draft after three seasons at Santa Clara.