Shaw's Superlatives: Best shooter in the 2023 class
With recruiting almost at a screeching halt, the never-ending search for content landed on the 2023 class. A senior class that saw 95 percent of its top 100 prospects sign during the early signing period. I wanted to dig deeper into the class and hand out some senior superlatives.
The high school season is only a couple of weeks old, so what should you be looking for? Over the next couple of days, I will go through the ‘best of’ in the senior class. Today we will talk about the most explosive player in high school basketball. Future superlatives going out will include the best rim protector, the most electric, and more.
Best rebounder in the 2023 class
Most explosive player in the 2023 class
Best perimeter Defender in the 2023 class
Shooters shoot
Anyone who watches today’s brand of basketball sees how important shooting is. In the age of analytics, when looking at the worth of the shot in conjunction with the success rate of the shot, many times, a three is a more valuable look than a two. The threat of a shooter behind the arc also helps with floor spacing, opening up lanes for bigs and guards to attack.
Shooting is an incredibly valuable part of the game. I wanted to take a look at shooters in the 2023 class. It should also be worth noting that a shooter and a scorer are not necessarily the same thing. Here is Shaw’s Superlative for the best shooter in the 2023 class.
Four-star SG Gavin Griffiths (Rutgers)
Heigh/Weight: 6-7/190
High school: West Hartford (CT) Kingswood-Oxford School
On3 Consensus: No. 44
Gavin Griffiths averaged around 24 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists last season and was named the NEPSAC Class B Player of the Year. Toward the end of his season, the 6-foot-7 wing suffered an injury that forced him to miss court time until Nike’s Louisville EYBL stop at the end of May.
With a couple of months off his feet, Griffiths still returned to play the final three Nike EYBL Circuit sessions and averaged 2.5 threes made per game. During Nike’s Peach Jam, Griffiths shot 41 percent from three on 2.6 makes per game. This is coming off a full 2021-22 Nike EYBL 16u Circuit, where Griffiths averaged 17.1 points and shot 39.0 percent from three on 11 attempts per game.
Griffiths’ dad played at Hartford and averaged 10.8 points and 6.0 rebounds for his career. He then played overseas for a few seasons. Griffiths has the long arms, quick and consistent release, with positional size, and the utmost confidence that every shot is going in. Continue watching as he keeps getting back to full strength after his injury.
Other top shooters
Five-star SG Ja’Kobe Walter (Baylor)
Height/Weight: 6-6/190
High school: Branson (MO) Link Academy)
On3 Consensus: No. 15
Four-star SG Andrej Stojakovic (Stanford)
Height/Weight: 6-6/185
High school: Carmichael (CA) Jesuit
On3 Consensus: No. 22
Four-star SF TJ Power (Duke)
Height/Weight: 6-8/210
High school: Shrewsbury (MA) Worcester Academy
On3 Consensus: No. 23
Four-star PG Aden Holloway (Auburn)
Height/Weight: 5-11/160
High school: Napa (CA) Prolific Prep
On3 Consensus: No. 32
Four-star SG Dusty Stromer (Gonzaga)
Height/Weight: 6-6/180
High school: Sherman Oaks (CA) Notre Dame
On3 Consensus: No. 49
Four-star SG Jamie Kaiser (Maryland)
Height/Weight: 6-5/210
High school: Bradenton (FL) IMG Academy
On3 Consensus: No. 50
Four-star SG Parker Friedrichsen (Notre Dame)
Height/Weight: 6-3/160
High school: Bixby (OK) High
On3 Consensus: No. 116