“Superlatives” may sound like something from the high school yearbook, not necessarily a relevant category for the best men’s college basketball recruits in the country. But from an evaluator’s perspective, it can be better described as a player’s niche, which is extremely relevant.
Whether it is a college coach or NBA scout, a prospect’s evaluation typically begins with whatever they do best. Once that’s identified, the rest of the evaluation can be built out.
For example, Zion Williamson‘s freakish combination of power and explosiveness was his calling card, and only after properly identifying that did it become relevant to mention the quality of his hands, his natural touch around the rim or passing potential.
And when a prospect is truly elite in an area that translates levels (like many of the ones listed below), that makes them a potentially dynamic prospect for years to come.
Who is the toughest shot-maker in the ESPN 100?
SF Emoni Bates
6-foot-8, 200 pounds
2022 ESPN 100 ranking: 1
Uncommitted
Developing creative scorers in this generation requires walking a very fine line. Players have to cultivate unique skill, playmaking versatility and the ability to create space, all while encouraging creativity without sacrificing efficiency.
It is an inexact science, so while Bates has been criticized at times for his shot selection and decision-making, he has still simultaneously developed the most versatile package of individual offense in the high school game with a full assortment of deep 3s, pull-ups, dribble combinations and even floaters. He makes plays, scores and makes tough shots at all three levels. The fact that he does all of that at his size is the basis for why he remains a unique prospect in the high school game.
Who is the best rebounder in the ESPN 100?
C Jalen Duren
6-foot-10, 225 pounds
2022 ESPN 100 ranking: 2
Uncommitted
Duren is the best rebounder in the country … when he wants to be. He is the most physically imposing prospect in high school basketball, and although his motor has improved significantly over the course of the last year, it has still shown bouts of inconsistency this spring.
When he is fully engaged, Duren’s combination of size, power, length, physicality and soft hands allow him to snatch balls off the rim, both in traffic as well as out of his area, and make him unmatched on the glass.
Who is the best shot-blocker in the ESPN 100?
C Dereck Lively
7-foot-1, 215 pounds
2022 ESPN 100 ranking: 10
Uncommitted
Lively is a 7-foot-plus big man who is mobile, able to change direction with ease and get off his feet very quickly. That’s the recipe for an elite rim protector. That he also has soft hands, is an emphatic finisher as a vertical spacer and is developing the face-up touch to be able to stretch the floor makes him the prototypical modern day big man.
What is perhaps ironic, though: For such a highly regarded prospect, Lively has thus far been more comfortable in a supportive role offensively. As such, he may be the best “blend player” in the country with a floor game that should translate seamlessly across multiple levels.
Who is the best defender in the ESPN 100?
SF Dariq Whitehead
6-foot-6, 190 pounds
2022 ESPN 100 ranking: 6
Uncommitted
Versatility is necessary when it comes to being an elite defender in the modern-day game. Players must be able to defend multiple positions, and that requires a combination of size, length, physicality and lateral quickness, not to mention a competitive — and oftentimes inherently unselfish — approach.
The player that has embodied that most on the national scale thus far is Whitehead. At 6-foot-6, he has proven he can keep the quickest of guards in front of him or switch on to bigger frontcourt players with equal comfort, all while defending the opposition’s top scoring threat on a nightly basis down the stretch of Montverde Academy’s latest championship season.
Who is the fastest player in the ESPN 100?
PG Dug McDaniel
5-foot-9, 145 pounds
2022 ESPN 100 ranking: 50
Committed to: Michigan Wolverines
The recent Michigan pledge is a little undersized, but he has game-changing speed. As cliché as it may sound, he is a one-man fast-break in that he can run baseline to baseline faster than any player in the country, and do it virtually on demand.
He is also equally agile, which means his ability to get into the lane and collapse a defense is equally prevalent in a half-court game as it is in transition. Also important is the strides he has made with his shot, which prevents opposing defenders from just sitting back in the lane to guard against his unmatched wheels.
Who has the best floor vision in the ESPN 100?
PG Dior Johnson
6-foot-3, 180 pounds
2022 ESPN 100 ranking: 11
Committed to: Oregon Ducks
Johnson is to passing what Duren is to rebounding; there’s nobody better, so long as he is willing. He sees things that others don’t, has complete mastery of the ball and can thread the needle on demand.
However, he has historically played with more of a scoring mentality and has been guilty of hunting shots for his individual offense. He has made nice strides in recent months when it comes to buying into being a true point guard, and if things continue to trend in that direction, his ability to make plays for others should only increase because his natural gifts are undeniable.
Who has the best footwork in the ESPN 100?
C Jaxon Kohler
6-foot-10, 225 pounds
2022 ESPN 100 ranking: 39
Uncommitted
Kohler is a throwback post in the very best way. While he may be too young to have grown up watching the likes of Jack Sikma and Kevin McHale, his game bears immediate resemblance to those who tried to patent the same pivots, drop-steps, spins, fakes and step-throughs.
He’s not the tallest, bounciest or fastest in his class, but his mastery of his feet makes him one of the craftiest and smartest big men in the class. Plus, the fact he uses the hashtag #footwork in his social media profiles only adds self-awareness to his already unique game relative to the rest of his generation.
Who is the best layup maker in the ESPN 100?
PG Skyy Clark
6-foot-2, 185 pounds
2022 ESPN 100 ranking: 13
Committed to: Kentucky Wildcats
As the game has evolved into more of a skill-based, perimeter-oriented one, there has been a rise of creative and skilled guards whose abilities are based more on what they can do with the ball than how big or explosive they are. Players like this grew up watching Steve Nash, Stephen Curry and now Trae Young.
They are rarely above the rim but are still able to finish at the rim because of the same creativity and touch that make them so elite on the perimeter. Clark best embodies that quality in the current ESPN 100. He has dexterity, body control and the ability to jump off either foot, and he can release the ball with either hand at various angles with a consistently great touch.