- Aug 2, 2006
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I got you Scuse7
Justin Jackson all the way to no 7 in 2016 class.
We just keep pumping out Mcdonalds all americans.
Thing is justin Jackson may not even be the best Canadian in 2016, we got more on the way.
As part of ESPN's Future of Basketball Week, RecruitingNation looks toward the classes of 2014, 2015 and 2016. Later this week, we'll release our updated player rankings and expanded class rankings. Here's a sneak peek at the biggest storylines from the late summer period.
We asked our experts about the next crop of stars in the college and pro ranks. Here are their answers:
1. If you could build a team around one player in any class, whom would it be?
[+] EnlargeTyus Jones
AP Photo/Damen Jackson No. 1 PG Tyus Jones already has some of the passing skills NBA scouts look for in a prospect.
Paul Biancardi: Teams can only function at a high level and be successful if their point guard is elite. Tyus Jones can do it all by creating shots for himself and others, dish out assists and score at a consistent pace while controlling the tempo with his physical tools. He is selfless, understanding the strengths of the talent that surrounds him, but knows when to be selfish and score when his team needs it. Jones is a true point guard who exudes a quiet toughness. He can make a bad team better and help a talented team win it all.
Dave Telep: Provided his knee responds well to rehab, the player I'd build my team around is sophomore 4-man Harry Giles (Wesleyan Christian Academy/Winston-Salem, N.C.). Prior to his injury, the uncommitted 2016 prospect was USA Basketball's top player and prospect. A gifted passer, rebounder and midrange shooter, Giles is working on a complete offensive package. What would sell me on building around him is his humble approach and focus on winning. He's a mega-talent who has the makings of a humble superstar -- exactly the type you'd want to build around.
Reggie Rankin: The point guard position is the most important on the college level but I think C Myles Turner is who I would build my team around. He is just too good and has too much potential to pass on. Turner's size, length, skill, motor, work ethic and off-the-charts upside is amazing. He also seems like a high-character kid based on the time I have spent around him and his family. Turner will have to add strength and will need to adjust to the physical play on the college level but it won't take him long. Turner simply affects the game in too many areas at a high level and has proved it on a consistent basis.
Joel Fransisco: As I evaluated each class there were a number of prospects who exhibited the qualities that would warrant the label "franchise starter." After narrowing it down to Emmanuel Mudiay, Myles Turner and Stephen Zimmerman, I decided to go with Zimmerman because he displays the best combination of athleticism, skill, savvy and production.
2. Which player has the best chance to lead his team to an NCAA title as a freshman?
[+] EnlargeJahlil Okafor
Kelly Kline/Getty ImagesJahlil Okafor is one of the most sought-after prospects in the Class of 2014.
Adam Finkelstein: This is a loaded question because it has more to do with the program than the player, but on the surface I think Jahlil Okafor (Chicago/Whitney Young) is best prepared to make an immediate impact at the highest level of college basketball. Now, if he wants to be a one-and-done national champion, he better not only bring Jones along for the ride, but also pick a program with a supporting cast already in place.
Telep: With top players choosing the same school, it's getting more difficult to ride the coattails of one player to a championship. However, I think Tyus Jones could be the kind of leader and guard who is a unifying player. Given the role a point guard must to play on the road to a championship, he's got the goods to get it done.
John Stovall: In my opinion, it is very hard for a big to lead his team to a championship because they do not have the ball enough, so I will choose a perimeter player: Tyus Jones. I base my argument on him going to college with Jahlil Okafor. Given their list of schools the cupboard will not be bare when they get there. Jones is a winner and he knows how to make his teammates better. He is like a coach on the floor and understands when to score and when to pass.
Francisco: Although some would argue that perimeter play is the catalyst for making a March Madness run, the bigs past and present would say otherwise -- as Anthony Davis and Tyler Hansbrough bagged player of the year awards en route to championships. Thus logic got the best of me as I'm going with the most polished player in the country regardless of position in Jahlil Okafor. The massive Okafor has magnetic hands, nimble feet and he'll probably have the most college-ready point guard (Tyus Jones) dropping him dimes on a regular basis.
3. Who's the next Myles Turner -- a player who will come from nowhere to shoot up the rankings?
Biancardi: A new name to watch out for is Giorgos Papagiannis, a 6-foot-11 center from Greece who is now playing in the U.S. at Westtown, Pa. We've heard he is one of the best in Europe and a strong low-post prospect. Keep an eye out for him in our next rankings.
Finkelstein: What we're looking for here is the classic late bloomer and based on what we saw this summer a guy such as Devin Robinson (Chesterfield, Va./Christchurch) is among the top contenders. Not only does he have prototypical size, length and athleticism of an NBA 3-man, but he's also got a solid foundation to his game and potential to continue developing his ball skills.
Telep: The beauty of Myles Turner and Anthony Davis is that they were bigs who didn't rise until the spring of their junior seasons, making their stories uniquely connected. I'll take Juwan Durham, a 2016 Tampa product who is working on reaching the magical 7-foot mark. Already a touted prospect, he's a guy to watch for a meteoric rise.
Rankin: I'm not sure there is another player out there who will go from unranked to the top of the rankings, but SF Devin Robinson has already made a tremendous jump and could be poised for another rise with a great high school season. Robinson has the size, skill and versatility and is a matchup nightmare with pro potential. Another player who could make another big jump is C Paschal Chukwu, who is committed to Providence. He is a rim protector, shot-blocker, rebounder and finisher. His touch and ability to pass is undervalued. When he adds strength, look out.
Stovall: I would choose 6-11 Doral Moore; he is raw but has tremendous tools. He is long and a solid athlete. He has a nice touch and better than average hands. Moore is just beginning to understand what he can be and should be a true force next summer.
Francisco: This may be a stretch, but Chase Jeter has slowly but assuredly climbed the ladder of the national rankings. At this stage he has gone from a relative unknown outside of the west to a top-50 national recruit. I predict by the end of next summer Jeter will be pushing toward top-10 status. He is a "young" junior who is just scratching the surface of his potential. With his combination of length, improved bounce and an advanced skill set, it is only a matter time before he starts dominating, regardless of the competition.
4. Where do Jahlil Okafor and Tyus Jones go to college?
[+] EnlargeMike Krzyzewski
Jamie Rhodes/USA TODAY SportsCould Coach K land the talented duo of Jahlil Okafor and Tyus Jones?
Francisco: Once Tyus Jones confirmed on ESPN that he and Jahlil Okafor would be attending the same college, the list of schools they had in common narrowed to six (Baylor, Duke, Michigan State, Kansas, Kentucky and Ohio State). It was always my belief that Duke would snag the talented tandem, and after Tyler Ulis announced for Kentucky, that only solidified it for me.
Finkelstein: Duke and Kansas appear to be the favorites. While Jones is widely considered to be favoring Duke, popular sentiment is mounting that Okafor might be leaning toward Kansas. If they can't bridge that gap I think it's possible they go their separate ways, but at the end of the day I still say Coach K scores both.
Telep: Assuming they go together, the early line has been Duke. I think Jones ends up in Durham, N.C., but Okafor's a different issue. Programs are trying to drive a wedge between them, which tells me that Duke sits on solid ground with Jones, making Okafor the prime target to break up the proposed marriage. Something tells me there are a few more twists and turns before the process ends.
5. In five years, which class will we look back on as the strongest -- 2014, 2015 or 2016?
Biancardi: The 2015 group will turn out to be the strongest because of the amount of talent in terms of size (power forwards and centers) as well as the scoring on the perimeter. The class of 2014 is good but does not possess a true star and 2016 is full of projection and unproven commodities.
Rankin: I think the class of 2016 has the potential to be better than 2014 and 2015 when we look back in five years. The class is still in the development stages, but the 25 players we have ranked to date is just mind-boggling.
Telep: The natural tendency is to lean toward the younger classes because you know less about them and get infatuated by the potential. Having spent a ton of time with 2016 kids such as Harry Giles, Thon Maker, Jayson Tatum and Josh Jackson (to name a few), I'll take the 2016 class. There are some uniquely talented individuals in that group.
Francisco: When I evaluate a class there must be strong contingent of big men and point guards and at the end of the day the 2016 class potentially meets those requirements. The 2014 class has a solid group of bigs and a nice collection of high-level point guards. The 2015 class, on the other hand, has a dearth of quality point guards. Which leads me to the 2016 class. Although it's early, I see a number of immensely gifted bigs -- Thon Maker, Harry Giles and Dedrick Lawson -- who possess versatile games. In addition, the point guard pool appears to have a number of talented lead guards in Lonzo Ball, DeAron Fox, Derryck Thornton, Devearl Ramsey and Cassius Winston.
6. Which programs are doing the best jobs recruiting the '15 and '16 classes?
Telep: I don't think too many schools do a better job with the younger prospects than the Big Ten programs. It recruits regionally -- along with the Pac-12 -- and places such as Indiana, Purdue and Michigan State routinely host tons of players on campus during the fall.
Finkelstein: Kansas, Kentucky and Duke are all making their presence felt with the top up-and-coming young prospects, but North Carolina has been able to allocate more time to the underclassmen by virtue of having their 2014 class all but in the books. While Roy Williams isn't the type to throw out a lot of offers, the Tar Heels are locked in on their top targets in '15 and '16.
Stovall: Right now I would say Central Florida is leading the 2015 recruiting war. It probably won't finish No. 1 but getting Corey Sanders and Alex Owens gives them an early edge. Central Florida would have to be considered an overachiever right now, getting off to a quick start. Ohio State is a close second with talented Mickey Mitchell and solid PG A.J. Harris.
Francisco: Recruiting is the foundation of any program and it's never too early to tap into the underclassmen. Out west the programs that appear to be sinking their paws into the depths of the underclassmen pools appear to be Arizona, USC and UNLV. All these programs are in the thick of it for many of these prospects including Stephen Zimmerman, Chase Jeter, DeRon Davis, Leland Green, T.J. Leaf, Derryck Thornton and Lonzo Ball.
7. What are the biggest trends you noticed in putting these rankings together?
Biancardi: Players today are so caught up into being labeled (or not being labeled) as a certain position. For example, there are not many true centers in the high school game as every big man wants to be called something smaller and more appealing, like a "stretch 4." Small forwards want to be known as shooting guards and shooting guards want to be called point guards just because they dribble the ball up the floor. Prospects are focusing on position over performance.
Francisco: The classic, pass-first point guard appears to be evaporating before our eyes. Most lead guards now look to score first. As a result, there are increasing debates on whether a certain player is a point guard or a scoring guard. If you want further proof, look to the NBA, where most of the elite point guards can score at will.
Finkelstein: While the East Coast is still producing superior talent, the West Coast continues to close the gap. The West Coast saw four new prospects crack the ESPN 100 and then have a strong presence atop the ESPN 60. In 2016, Justin Jackson (Henderson, Nev./Findlay Prep) went from unranked to No. 7 in the latest ESPN 25, which will debut Tuesday.
We asked our experts about the next crop of stars in the college and pro ranks. Here are their answers:
1. If you could build a team around one player in any class, whom would it be?
[+] EnlargeTyus Jones
AP Photo/Damen Jackson No. 1 PG Tyus Jones already has some of the passing skills NBA scouts look for in a prospect.
Paul Biancardi: Teams can only function at a high level and be successful if their point guard is elite. Tyus Jones can do it all by creating shots for himself and others, dish out assists and score at a consistent pace while controlling the tempo with his physical tools. He is selfless, understanding the strengths of the talent that surrounds him, but knows when to be selfish and score when his team needs it. Jones is a true point guard who exudes a quiet toughness. He can make a bad team better and help a talented team win it all.
Dave Telep: Provided his knee responds well to rehab, the player I'd build my team around is sophomore 4-man Harry Giles (Wesleyan Christian Academy/Winston-Salem, N.C.). Prior to his injury, the uncommitted 2016 prospect was USA Basketball's top player and prospect. A gifted passer, rebounder and midrange shooter, Giles is working on a complete offensive package. What would sell me on building around him is his humble approach and focus on winning. He's a mega-talent who has the makings of a humble superstar -- exactly the type you'd want to build around.
Reggie Rankin: The point guard position is the most important on the college level but I think C Myles Turner is who I would build my team around. He is just too good and has too much potential to pass on. Turner's size, length, skill, motor, work ethic and off-the-charts upside is amazing. He also seems like a high-character kid based on the time I have spent around him and his family. Turner will have to add strength and will need to adjust to the physical play on the college level but it won't take him long. Turner simply affects the game in too many areas at a high level and has proved it on a consistent basis.
Joel Fransisco: As I evaluated each class there were a number of prospects who exhibited the qualities that would warrant the label "franchise starter." After narrowing it down to Emmanuel Mudiay, Myles Turner and Stephen Zimmerman, I decided to go with Zimmerman because he displays the best combination of athleticism, skill, savvy and production.
2. Which player has the best chance to lead his team to an NCAA title as a freshman?
[+] EnlargeJahlil Okafor
Kelly Kline/Getty ImagesJahlil Okafor is one of the most sought-after prospects in the Class of 2014.
Adam Finkelstein: This is a loaded question because it has more to do with the program than the player, but on the surface I think Jahlil Okafor (Chicago/Whitney Young) is best prepared to make an immediate impact at the highest level of college basketball. Now, if he wants to be a one-and-done national champion, he better not only bring Jones along for the ride, but also pick a program with a supporting cast already in place.
Telep: With top players choosing the same school, it's getting more difficult to ride the coattails of one player to a championship. However, I think Tyus Jones could be the kind of leader and guard who is a unifying player. Given the role a point guard must to play on the road to a championship, he's got the goods to get it done.
John Stovall: In my opinion, it is very hard for a big to lead his team to a championship because they do not have the ball enough, so I will choose a perimeter player: Tyus Jones. I base my argument on him going to college with Jahlil Okafor. Given their list of schools the cupboard will not be bare when they get there. Jones is a winner and he knows how to make his teammates better. He is like a coach on the floor and understands when to score and when to pass.
Francisco: Although some would argue that perimeter play is the catalyst for making a March Madness run, the bigs past and present would say otherwise -- as Anthony Davis and Tyler Hansbrough bagged player of the year awards en route to championships. Thus logic got the best of me as I'm going with the most polished player in the country regardless of position in Jahlil Okafor. The massive Okafor has magnetic hands, nimble feet and he'll probably have the most college-ready point guard (Tyus Jones) dropping him dimes on a regular basis.
3. Who's the next Myles Turner -- a player who will come from nowhere to shoot up the rankings?
Biancardi: A new name to watch out for is Giorgos Papagiannis, a 6-foot-11 center from Greece who is now playing in the U.S. at Westtown, Pa. We've heard he is one of the best in Europe and a strong low-post prospect. Keep an eye out for him in our next rankings.
Finkelstein: What we're looking for here is the classic late bloomer and based on what we saw this summer a guy such as Devin Robinson (Chesterfield, Va./Christchurch) is among the top contenders. Not only does he have prototypical size, length and athleticism of an NBA 3-man, but he's also got a solid foundation to his game and potential to continue developing his ball skills.
Telep: The beauty of Myles Turner and Anthony Davis is that they were bigs who didn't rise until the spring of their junior seasons, making their stories uniquely connected. I'll take Juwan Durham, a 2016 Tampa product who is working on reaching the magical 7-foot mark. Already a touted prospect, he's a guy to watch for a meteoric rise.
Rankin: I'm not sure there is another player out there who will go from unranked to the top of the rankings, but SF Devin Robinson has already made a tremendous jump and could be poised for another rise with a great high school season. Robinson has the size, skill and versatility and is a matchup nightmare with pro potential. Another player who could make another big jump is C Paschal Chukwu, who is committed to Providence. He is a rim protector, shot-blocker, rebounder and finisher. His touch and ability to pass is undervalued. When he adds strength, look out.
Stovall: I would choose 6-11 Doral Moore; he is raw but has tremendous tools. He is long and a solid athlete. He has a nice touch and better than average hands. Moore is just beginning to understand what he can be and should be a true force next summer.
Francisco: This may be a stretch, but Chase Jeter has slowly but assuredly climbed the ladder of the national rankings. At this stage he has gone from a relative unknown outside of the west to a top-50 national recruit. I predict by the end of next summer Jeter will be pushing toward top-10 status. He is a "young" junior who is just scratching the surface of his potential. With his combination of length, improved bounce and an advanced skill set, it is only a matter time before he starts dominating, regardless of the competition.
4. Where do Jahlil Okafor and Tyus Jones go to college?
[+] EnlargeMike Krzyzewski
Jamie Rhodes/USA TODAY SportsCould Coach K land the talented duo of Jahlil Okafor and Tyus Jones?
Francisco: Once Tyus Jones confirmed on ESPN that he and Jahlil Okafor would be attending the same college, the list of schools they had in common narrowed to six (Baylor, Duke, Michigan State, Kansas, Kentucky and Ohio State). It was always my belief that Duke would snag the talented tandem, and after Tyler Ulis announced for Kentucky, that only solidified it for me.
Finkelstein: Duke and Kansas appear to be the favorites. While Jones is widely considered to be favoring Duke, popular sentiment is mounting that Okafor might be leaning toward Kansas. If they can't bridge that gap I think it's possible they go their separate ways, but at the end of the day I still say Coach K scores both.
Telep: Assuming they go together, the early line has been Duke. I think Jones ends up in Durham, N.C., but Okafor's a different issue. Programs are trying to drive a wedge between them, which tells me that Duke sits on solid ground with Jones, making Okafor the prime target to break up the proposed marriage. Something tells me there are a few more twists and turns before the process ends.
5. In five years, which class will we look back on as the strongest -- 2014, 2015 or 2016?
Biancardi: The 2015 group will turn out to be the strongest because of the amount of talent in terms of size (power forwards and centers) as well as the scoring on the perimeter. The class of 2014 is good but does not possess a true star and 2016 is full of projection and unproven commodities.
Rankin: I think the class of 2016 has the potential to be better than 2014 and 2015 when we look back in five years. The class is still in the development stages, but the 25 players we have ranked to date is just mind-boggling.
Telep: The natural tendency is to lean toward the younger classes because you know less about them and get infatuated by the potential. Having spent a ton of time with 2016 kids such as Harry Giles, Thon Maker, Jayson Tatum and Josh Jackson (to name a few), I'll take the 2016 class. There are some uniquely talented individuals in that group.
Francisco: When I evaluate a class there must be strong contingent of big men and point guards and at the end of the day the 2016 class potentially meets those requirements. The 2014 class has a solid group of bigs and a nice collection of high-level point guards. The 2015 class, on the other hand, has a dearth of quality point guards. Which leads me to the 2016 class. Although it's early, I see a number of immensely gifted bigs -- Thon Maker, Harry Giles and Dedrick Lawson -- who possess versatile games. In addition, the point guard pool appears to have a number of talented lead guards in Lonzo Ball, DeAron Fox, Derryck Thornton, Devearl Ramsey and Cassius Winston.
6. Which programs are doing the best jobs recruiting the '15 and '16 classes?
Telep: I don't think too many schools do a better job with the younger prospects than the Big Ten programs. It recruits regionally -- along with the Pac-12 -- and places such as Indiana, Purdue and Michigan State routinely host tons of players on campus during the fall.
Finkelstein: Kansas, Kentucky and Duke are all making their presence felt with the top up-and-coming young prospects, but North Carolina has been able to allocate more time to the underclassmen by virtue of having their 2014 class all but in the books. While Roy Williams isn't the type to throw out a lot of offers, the Tar Heels are locked in on their top targets in '15 and '16.
Stovall: Right now I would say Central Florida is leading the 2015 recruiting war. It probably won't finish No. 1 but getting Corey Sanders and Alex Owens gives them an early edge. Central Florida would have to be considered an overachiever right now, getting off to a quick start. Ohio State is a close second with talented Mickey Mitchell and solid PG A.J. Harris.
Francisco: Recruiting is the foundation of any program and it's never too early to tap into the underclassmen. Out west the programs that appear to be sinking their paws into the depths of the underclassmen pools appear to be Arizona, USC and UNLV. All these programs are in the thick of it for many of these prospects including Stephen Zimmerman, Chase Jeter, DeRon Davis, Leland Green, T.J. Leaf, Derryck Thornton and Lonzo Ball.
7. What are the biggest trends you noticed in putting these rankings together?
Biancardi: Players today are so caught up into being labeled (or not being labeled) as a certain position. For example, there are not many true centers in the high school game as every big man wants to be called something smaller and more appealing, like a "stretch 4." Small forwards want to be known as shooting guards and shooting guards want to be called point guards just because they dribble the ball up the floor. Prospects are focusing on position over performance.
Francisco: The classic, pass-first point guard appears to be evaporating before our eyes. Most lead guards now look to score first. As a result, there are increasing debates on whether a certain player is a point guard or a scoring guard. If you want further proof, look to the NBA, where most of the elite point guards can score at will.
Finkelstein: While the East Coast is still producing superior talent, the West Coast continues to close the gap. The West Coast saw four new prospects crack the ESPN 100 and then have a strong presence atop the ESPN 60. In 2016, Justin Jackson (Henderson, Nev./Findlay Prep) went from unranked to No. 7 in the latest ESPN 25, which will debut Tuesday.
Justin Jackson all the way to no 7 in 2016 class.
We just keep pumping out Mcdonalds all americans.
Thing is justin Jackson may not even be the best Canadian in 2016, we got more on the way.
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, I don't have the stomach to follow recruiting like that, too much he say she say.
from three-point range last season. Dekker could use a little more muscle, and scouts will likely be watching to see if he develops other aspects of his offensive game to complement his jumper. But Dekker's three-point shooting will be appealing to teams in a league where stretch forwards are on many rosters.
