We released our final player rankings for the men's college basketball recruits in the 2022 class, and this group of players now becomes the next class of freshmen.
Several players held onto the No. 1 spot and in the top 10. Emoni Bates and Jalen Duren reclassified up and played at Memphis this past season. Shaedon Sharpe then took over at the top, but he enrolled at Kentucky. Jazian Gortman, ranked No. 7 at one point, went to Overtime Elite.
In the end, there were 23 five-star prospects and several of them proved they have the potential not just to be college stars, but also future lottery picks in the NBA draft.
Dereck Lively held onto the prestigious No. 1 ranking with his physical measurables -- 7-foot-1 with a 7-foot-8 wingspan -- not to mention his skill set. He utilizes his frame to block shots and finish lobs, along with having a capable face-up game. His best basketball is clearly down the road when his time at Duke is done.
Dariq Whitehead, Lively's future Blue Devils teammate, made a late charge for the top spot after winning MVP at the McDonald's All American Game and leading Montverde (Florida) to a championship at GEICO Nationals. He will bring a vertical presence, versatility and maturity on both ends of the floor at Duke.
Arkansas signee Nick Smith showed off his skills and spirit at the McDonald's All American Game and received MVP honors at the Jordan Brand Classic. His high school teammate Kel'el Ware, an Oregon signee, might have the most upside of anyone in the class.
Dillon Mitchell (Texas) was also MVP at the Jordan Brand Classic and has the best vertical, as well as the quickest second jump, in his class. Anthony Black (Arkansas) caught the eyes of NBA scouts at McDonald's and Hoop Summit with his 6-7, 190-pound size and playmaking ability. Brandon Miller (Alabama) moved up the rankings at the end of the season with his active game and scoring skills. Tre White (USC) finished strong at GEICO Nationals and climbed from his No. 34 ranking to inside the top 25.
The group of 2022 prospects collectively shows off strong versatility and will bring excitement and future star power to the college game, and some will be intriguing one-and-done prospects.
But what about the classes that come next? With the 2022 class signed and sealed, we also updated our prospect rankings for the 2023 ESPN 100, 2024 ESPN 60 and 2025 ESPN 25. We break down three key recruits in each class and analyze what makes each so special.
Class of 2023
PF Kwame Evans
Montverde Academy (Florida)
2023 ESPN 100 ranking: 2
Uncommitted
Evans has had major upside for quite some time. During the GEICO Nationals championship game, he hit some clutch shots to help Montverde win it all. At 6-foot-9 with a 7-foot-2 wingspan, he can run with speed and long strides and play with extreme skill to stretch out the defense.
What makes him special is his shot-making abilities both off the catch and with a hang dribble. Evans is finesse forward who functions on the perimeter as a shooter, has point forward passing talent and can operate in ball-screen scenarios.
Evans must find the balance between taking advantage of his length, wingspan and touch inside to be a true dominant mismatch in the game, and he must improve upon his rebounding numbers as he plays more minutes in high school and on the AAU circuit. But that said, he is one of the top competitors behind D.J. Wagner for the No. 1 spot in 2023. Evans cut his final list to Indiana, Auburn, Oregon, Kentucky and UCLA.
SF Scotty Middleton
Sunrise Christian Academy (Kansas)
2023 ESPN 100 ranking: 19
Uncommitted
Middleton jumped from No. 27 to inside the top 20 because of his productivity, energetic approach and consistent play. Sunrise Christian finished the 2021-22 season No. 5 in the SC Next Top 25, in part because of Middleton's impressive shooting: 49% overall, 50% from 3-point range.
While he boasts speed, lateral quickness and strong defensive skills, Middleton has shown an ability to involve his teammates more and energize his team. Among the schools he is considering include Arkansas, Seton Hall, Ohio State, Kansas, Texas A&M, UConn and Gonzaga.
PF Carey Booth
Cherry Creek High School (Colorado)
2023 ESPN 100 ranking: 96
Uncommitted
New to the rankings is Booth. At 16 years old, he has a long, thin, 6-foot-10 frame that moves exceptionally well. His game starts with his shooting, his range and his touch both inside and beyond the arc. He brings shot-blocking talent both on and off the ball as he moves into position when opponents penetrate. He changes direction in the transition game and chooses to impact the action on the glass, rather than stand and watch.
Consistency is next in his development. Booth displays blossoming tools and the lineage -- his dad, Calvin, spent 10 years in the NBA after standing out at Penn State, and is now the Denver Nuggets general manager -- to make more strides in the game.
Class of 2024
F Jarin Stevenson
Northwood High School (North Carolina)
2024 ESPN 60 ranking: 8
Uncommitted
Stevenson jumped into the top 10 with his impressive talent and progression. An inside-out threat with excellent ball skills and touch, the 6-foot-8 Stevenson has a gifted scoring prowess in the paint, along with a capable 3-point shot.
He is a finesse, long-framed forward who is not afraid of physicality at the rim. In fact, he is starting to recognize the double team inside and make a quick move before it arrives or wait and pass out to an open man.
Defensively, he could shine with more focus to hedge out on ball-screen coverages or even switch on small players because he is mobile with good footwork. It is important for him to work on playing in a lower stance, which could take him to another level.
SG Karter Knox
Tampa Catholic High School (Florida)
2024 ESPN 60 ranking: 11
Uncommitted
Knox held steady on the board with his five-star status. At 6-foot-4, 180 pounds, his basketball frame is strong with an explosive vertical bounce and quick-twitch fibers to sprint the floor and slide laterally. He can impact the game with transition scoring, shooting, confidence along the perimeter and good free throw mechanics.
Knox stands out because of his productivity and efficiency. The younger brother of Atlanta Hawks forward Kevin Knox II, Karter has clear basketball instincts with a lot of upside on the defensive end.
SG Rodney Brown
Rancho Christian School (California)
2024 ESPN 60 ranking: 50
Uncommitted
Brown's prowess behind the arc as a spot-up shooter is evident. When he curls into the midrange and rises up, he demonstrates balance and body control to knock down shots with effectiveness. With a live dribble, he can shoot a 3 or put it on the deck under control and find the open pocket of space into a scoring move.
Defensively, he should take advantage of being more active at pressuring the ball, contesting shots and getting deflections. With his long 6-foot-6 frame, plus wingspan, fluid movements and shot-making abilities, Brown has the makings of a promising prospect.
Class of 2025
PF Cameron Boozer
Columbus High School (Florida)
2025 ESPN 25 ranking: 1
Uncommitted
Boozer, the son of former Duke great and two-time NBA All-Star Carlos Boozer, brings a balance of skill, toughness and basketball instincts. At 6-foot-8, 215 pounds, he is physically ready for contact and can play through bumps at an extremely young age. In many ways, he is a multidimensional player who has demonstrated early on the ability to rebound and throw the advance pass to a teammate in stride.
Boozer spreads the floor with his shot-making abilities and as a ball mover. He takes pride in his defense, though he needs to stay engaged in his stance off the ball. Still, he produces with plenty of future potential and ample time to grow.
SF Koa Peat
Perry High School (Arizona)
2025 ESPN 25 ranking: 2
Uncommitted
Not only does basketball come easy to Peat, but he makes the game easier for his teammates. Peat looks to make the correct play with his scoring, vision and decision-making. He is a versatile scorer, be it with his post game, perimeter jumper or drive; he doesn't limit himself to one spot on the floor. Attacking from a ball screen, he keeps his head up to better display his passing vision to move the ball or find the open man.
He is hard to defend because he can go inside and take contact to create fouls, or step outside with a compact jumper beyond the arc. His middle game is a viable option, too, as he elevates to score over defenders. He can battle for rebounding position and second-chance points thanks to his strong frame. Peat has established himself as a talented player with emerging traits to make him more elite.
SF Cooper Flagg
Nokomis Regional High School (Maine)
2025 ESPN 25 ranking: 3
Uncommitted
New to the basketball circuit, Flagg has established himself quickly in dominant fashion. He is a multiskilled forward who is potent as a scorer, shot-maker and facilitator, with next-level decision-making. He has a soft and accurate touch inside, understands how to execute a set play and a give and go. His bounce is getting stronger, but his demeanor to dunk on defenders in traffic is eye-opening.
In operating against the zone, Flagg can play through at the high post with confidence. His positional size (6-8, 190 pounds), smooth movements, scoring instincts and toughness with the ball make him hard to defend. He is an exciting prospect who can challenge for the top spot.