The college basketball recruiting landscape has seen many changes throughout the years. As ESPN’s ranking of recruits continues to grow, so does the conversation surrounding the top players in the sport
The “espn top 100 2021” is a ranking of the top 100 college basketball players in the ESPN era. The list includes Anthony Davis, Ben Simmons and other notable prospects.
We’re taking a look back at the finest No. 1-ranked talents in the ESPN recruiting history as we approach the early-signing period for men’s college basketball.
Gonzaga center Chet Holmgren was the top prospect last cycle. Shaedon Sharpe, a Kentucky recruit, is the player this time. Since the Class of 2007, we’ve been ranking college basketball prospects.
The rankings of players are determined by a variety of factors, including their performances, output, potential, and prediction. It was a difficult task to choose the finest of the best, and it reminded us of their abilities. Brandon Jennings (2008), Harrison Barnes (2010), Jahlil Okafor (2014), and Marvin Bagley III (2017) all missed the cut with so much star power to pick from.
The following players were chosen based on a mix of their high school and college careers, as well as their draft pick and NBA career. There is no denying greatness. The greatest of the best are these five.
1. Anthony Davis, PF, Kentucky Wildcats, Class of 2011
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Davis was unique in that he could put up large numbers with his low-post and face-up shots, as well as rebound for second-chance points, thanks to his length. Davis was the only player in the 2011 class who had improved their game. He’d gone from being a virtual unknown to becoming the country’s top prospect and a McDonald’s All American.
After his second season at Perspectives Charter (Chicago), he went through a seven-inch growth spurt. Davis, despite his thinness, possessed guard abilities, a huge wingspan and standing reach, and tremendous movement. As a senior, he averaged 32 points, 22 rebounds, and 7 blocks per game.
Davis, a member of Kentucky’s No. 1 recruiting class, led the Wildcats to a 38-2 record and the national championship in 2012, averaging 16 rebounds, 6 blocks, 5 assists, and 3 steals in the final game, earning him Final Four Most Outstanding Player honors. Months later, he was chosen No. 1 in the NBA draft, aided the Los Angeles Lakers in winning the 2019-20 NBA championship, and was named to the NBA’s 75th anniversary squad.
Kevin Love, Kevin Love, Kevin Love, Kevin Love, Kevin Love, Kevin Love, Kevin Love, Kevin Love, Kevin Love,
When post players who can dominate the paint were highly wanted, love arose in the game. As a rising senior at the famed ABCD camp in New Jersey, I tutored him. He was a drill worker even back then, and his outlet passes to spark fast breaks were excellent. His advanced talent and rebounding abilities shone out as a big-bodied post player with natural strength.
But it was his in-depth knowledge of the game combined with a keen awareness of his own abilities that set him apart. At Lake Oswego High School in Oregon, he won two state titles, was awarded Gatorade’s national player of the year, and ended with 2,628 points as the state’s all-time greatest scorer in boys’ basketball history.
In his one year at UCLA, his output and effect were off the charts. His 23 double-doubles rank him fourth among freshmen. He was the first freshman since Shareef Abdur-Rahim in 1996 to be selected Pac-12 Player of the Year after leading UCLA to the Final Four. (Since then, Deandre Ayton and Evan Mobley have won it.) He has won one NBA championship, been a five-time All-Star, and been chosen to the All-NBA team twice in his 14-year career. But perhaps most striking of his work ethic is that in 2011, he was named the NBA’s most improved player.
3. LSU Tigers PF Ben Simmons, Class of 2015
Simmons made an instant impact when he arrived in the United States as a sophomore in January 2013. He was selected MVP in his final two years, as well as the McDonald’s, Naismith, and Gatorade players of the year, after leading Montverde Academy to three consecutive GEICO National Championships in Florida.
He was a matchup nightmare because he had the stature of a power forward with the mentality and talent of a point guard. On defense, he shown the ability to cover all positions from point guard to center. His passing skills was among the finest in recent memory, and as a playmaking guard, he was compared to Jason Kidd, Magic Johnson, and Penny Hardaway.
Although his LSU team did not qualify for the NCAA tournament, he had 23 double-doubles as a freshman, which matched him for fourth most among freshmen. Simmons was the first player in SEC history to finish in the top five in points, rebounds, and assists, and his 199 free throws were the most in a season since Pete Maravich. He is a three-time All-Star and two-time first-team all-defensive player with the Philadelphia 76ers, and he is the second player in LSU history (Shaquille O’Neal) to be picked first overall.
4. RJ Barrett, RJ Barrett, RJ Barrett, RJ Barrett, RJ Barrett, RJ Barrett, RJ Barrett, RJ Barrett,
When Barrett was a freshman at Montverde Academy, I recall witnessing him score 18 points and convert four key free throws in a victory against Huntington Prep. With his drive, rebounding, and defense, he was dynamic and combative. Under coach Kevin Boyle, he had a huge success, leading unbeaten Montverde to the GEICO national Championship, scoring 25 points and collecting 15 rebounds.
Barrett was reclassified to the 2018 class and excelled under Mike Krzyzewski’s tutelage. He set freshman marks at Duke for total points (860), scoring average (22.6 ppg), minutes played, and games with 20 points. Barrett was taken third overall in the 2019 NBA draft by the New York Knicks, along with Zion Williamson and Cam Reddish, who guided the Blue Devils to the Elite Eight. He is averaging more than 18 points and 5.7 rebounds in his third year after averaging 14.3 points and 5.0 rebounds as a rookie.
Drew Hanlen, his trainer, told ESPN, “First, his confidence off the bounce has been substantially improved.” “When the ball is in his hands, he’s shooting off the bounce with better consistency and confidence. Then there’s his defense. So far this season, he’s done an excellent job of slowing down outstanding players.”
SF No. 5 Andrew Wiggins, Kansas Jayhawks, Class of 2013
At an early age, Wiggins built a reputation for himself as an NBA-caliber player. He had excellent vertical bounce, a quick initial step to the basket, a lightning-fast second leap, and the ability to elevate above opponents. He was selected Gatorade Player of the Year, McDonald’s Player of the Year, and Naismith Player of the Year.
He was most effective in college when it came to finishing transition plays, midrange jumpers, short shots in the paint, post-ups, rim cuts, and second-chance chances. He was selected Big 12 Freshman of the Year after his opponents had no answer for him.
He won the NBA Rookie of the Year title after being picked first overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves, and he is the franchise’s third-leading scorer. The 26-year-old Wiggins, who is now with the Golden State Warriors, is coming off a season in which he shot a career-high 38 percent from outside the arc.
The “espn top 100 basketball 2022” is a ranking of the best college basketball players in the ESPN era. The list features athletes from all over the world, including Anthony Davis, Ben Simmons and more.
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