With new player rankings comes excitement, as well as important new names to know at the top of the ESPN 100, ESPN 60 and ESPN 25 rankings. Though the name of 2022 standout Emoni Bates will be familiar to anyone who casually follows high school basketball or college basketball recruiting, our two other No. 1s -- 2021 pacesetter Chet Holmgren and 2023 leader D.J. Wagner -- might be less known to readers.
So let us meet all of the No. 1 prospects, shall we?
2021: Chet Holmgren (C, 7-0, 200, Minnehaha/Minneapolis, Minnesota)
With the recent graduation and reclassification of Jonathan Kuminga, who was considered the top prospect in the rising senior class, Holmgren takes over the No. 1 spot in 2021.
I remember ESPN colleague Adam Finkelstein's words after evaluating Holmgren for the first time: "He is tougher than he looks, and he is really skilled."
In fact, Holmgren is the most unique prospect in the game. There are very few players in the game who you can say possess limitless upside, but Holmgren fits that description.
He stands at a legitimate 7-feet tall and has a 7-4 wingspan, yet owns nice perimeter skills. Holmgren is listed as a center because he is best defensively in the paint and at the rim, but in many ways he is position-less on the offensive end. His game and frame remind many of Kristaps Porzingis, as he is a world-class shot-blocker with offensive scoring skill and fluidness at a center's size. He is the ultimate rim projector because the shots he does not block, he changes -- his defense is worth about 20 points per game.
What amazes most people are Holmgren's ballhandling skills, nimble footwork and coordination. His stretch-the-floor jump shot makes it almost impossible for opposing big men to guard him away from the basket. He will move smaller defenders closer to the basket and utilize his massive height differential.
In a win against Sierra Canyon in January, Holmgren had a rare form of double-double, posting 12 blocks and 10 rebounds ... he was one point from a triple-double.
With increased overall body strength and the awareness to live lower in his stance on both ends of the floor, Holmgren's balance and offensive production level will improve. He's a budding star who projects as a one-and-done with high lottery pick potential.
2022: Emoni Bates (SF, 6-8, 170, Lincoln/Ypsilanti, Michigan)
Emoni Bates -- the most impactful underclassman whom I can remember since LeBron James -- retains the No. 1 spot in the 2022 class.
When you combine his 6-foot-9 slender frame with a crisp jumper and two-way versatility, it becomes as hard to stop Bates as it is to score against him. His game is suited for today's NBA, as he owns explosive athletic ability, long-range shooting, extreme positional length and versatility.
"Emoni Bates has all the makings of an NBA prospect and player right now," said USA Basketball director of coach development Don Showalter.
Bates has strong shooting mechanics and accuracy from beyond the arc as well as from the midrange game. Even more impressive is his comfort level with his jumper both off the catch and with his dribble. At the rim, he finalizes a play with length and explosiveness, he will rebound and push the break and easily can turn into a playmaker in the open floor. Bates' big performances are a byproduct of his focus and how hard he plays -- you can count on a double-double and at times a triple-double.
With all of the early publicity, lofty ranking and accolades that include the first Gatorade National Player of the Year award for a sophomore, Bates also is very self-aware of where he is and how he needs to improve.
"I am starting to play in the post more," he said. "I am trying to get easier points ... without having to exhaust energy. I also need to be a better leader. I feel like I did a better job with that this year than I did in my freshman year. I need to keep building on my leadership skills and keep getting my teammates involved."
James was courtside for some of Bates' games on the recruiting circuit last summer.
"He told me to stay in the gym," Bates said of James.
Bates displays all the physical tools and scoring skills along with a special intensity level that makes him not only the best prospect in his class, but in all of high school basketball.
2023: D.J. Wagner (G, 6-1, 165, Camden/Camden, New Jersey)
The son of ex-Memphis star Dajuan Wagner and grandson of former Louisville great Milt Wagner, D.J. has some serious basketball DNA. Dajuan was a McDonald's All American before spending one year at Memphis and being selected No. 6 overall in the 2002 NBA draft. Milt is one of just a few players in history to win titles in high school (Camden HS), college (Louisville, 1986) and the NBA (Los Angeles Lakers, 1988).
Next up is D.J., who just completed an outstanding freshman season where he led Camden to a 29-1 record under coach Rick Brunson, a former NBA player. Evaluating Wagner's game, there are three apparent characteristics: his uncanny scoring ability, playmaking instincts and athletic ability. He is special at such a young age because of his strong work ethic and mature approach to the game.
"He does not want to be good, he wants to be great," Brunson told ESPN. "He works hard. He eats and sleeps basketball."
Wagner is evolving as a point guard, but his current game is best described as a combination guard. He reminds Brunson of the Portland Trail Blazers' C.J. McCollum.
Perhaps the bigger question is: Which family member does he play like?
"Right now his game is more like his grandfather," Brunson said. "He is skinny, shoots it and he is smooth. At the same time, he has that killer mentality like his dad."
Wagner can get others involved but to be an outstanding point guard as he moves up in the game, he still needs to learn how to run a team while keeping his attacking mindset. That's a process that entails coaching, repetition and having a teachable spirit. All of which is evident.
"He has all the skill the game requires," USA Basketball's Showalter told me. "He plays older than his age, gets everyone involved and is extremely coachable. His leadership also stands out."