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Men's college basketball recruiting: Meet the No. 1 prospects in the 2022, 2023 and 2024 classes
ESPN PLUS $ MATERIALSelecting the No. 1 men's college basketball prospect in each recruiting class is more than looking at statistics, analytics or forecasting potential (although each of those certainly are taken into consideration).
When talent is close or equal, other factors come into play, such as how one impacts a game, levels of consistency and productivity. Below the surface, there are on-court traits that need to be examined, because they can and will separate talent.
Being a coachable player, having a competitive spirit, displaying positive body language during adversity and being a quality leader are also vital.
As is the case with all rankings boards, they are fluid and will change. Upon updating the rankings for the 2022 ESPN 100, 2023 ESPN 60 and 2024 ESPN 25, let's meet the prospects who come in at No. 1 and break down why they are atop the rankings.
Class of 2022
C Dereck Lively
Westtown School (Pennsylvania)
Committed to: Duke
There are nights Lively shows how he can be a difference-maker without scoring, and that makes him unique. There are also games when he can disappear, but this is more of a long-term view.
Physically, he has all the markers to succeed at the next level. He is 7-foot-1 with a 7-foot-6 wingspan and is an impressive vertical threat to go along with his straight-line speed and good mobility. He runs the floor exceptionally well, and his ability to change ends of the court is impressive.
Defensively, he has shot-blocking range. He can block his own man's shot or come from the weak side, and he has shown the willingness to get the chase-down block. He has demonstrated the desire to make multiple jumps to protect the rim.
Offensively, Lively is an elite lob-catch and drop-off finisher. When he steps away from the basket, he can be a threat both passing and shooting. As a passer, he finds cutters, shooters or a teammates on the block. A center who can pass is very attractive.
He is comfortable and confident shooting jumpers, as he has solid range to stretch the floor and a proven touch. When engaged, he will grab double-figure rebounds. As he adds strength to both his upper and lower body, along with learning how to leverage his frame in a lower base, he will further develop his finishing abilities and low-post defense.
When he plays with everyday effort and makes sure he puts his stamp on every game in some form or fashion, he will make even more progress. With Lively, there is a lot to work on, but there is so much to work with. His best days of basketball are down the road.
Class of 2023
PG D.J. WagnerCamden High School (New Jersey)
Uncommitted
With the No. 1 spot comes a target. That has been the case with Wagner. In recent games, the defensive attention he has garnered has at times seemed overwhelming, but Wagner has adjusted. Now, he and his teammates expect pressure and traps. Wagner is better at reading and breaking the ball-screen blitz and random double-teams, as well as having intense on-ball pressure in his face.
Wagner is quite clever in his scoring. His 3-point shot has made clear progress, and he has an array of floaters to go along with his balanced pull-up jumper. He is making strides off the ball, which will serve him well to score points versus a loaded defense when he starts with possession. In ball screens, he comes off hard and has shown the uncanny ability to get into the paint and score with body control.
At only 16 years old, he was putting up big numbers and played a major role in Camden's 44-game winning streak. He has strong intangibles too: being a quality teammate and demonstrating strong work habits.
PF Kwame Evans, SF Mackenzie Mgbako, PF Ron Holland and SF Mookie Cook all moved up within the top 10 in the ESPN 60 in the latest rankings update, and they have demonstrated as much, if not more, upside as Wagner. But for now, Wagner has demonstrated the most productivity among them. He wins and has a promising future in the game.
Class of 2024
SF Naasir CunninghamGill St. Bernard's School (New Jersey)
Uncommitted
Cunningham had a strong summer, and he has continued improving his game. The slender, 6-foot-7, 175-pounder has fluid movements and strides along with a smooth stroke from distance.
Though young, he is trending toward putting more impactful performances together, which means he is progressing.
He already has demonstrated the ability to make 3-point shots at a high clip and rise above defenders for highlight-reel putbacks. Early in his career, he impressed with his length, vertical bounce and scoring prowess.
Cunningham currently lacks the strength to dominate a game, but he can be a difference-maker with a coveted skill package as a driver, shooter and layup maker. He also can be a defensive playmaker with his measurables. He owns the tools and the traits to develop into the best version of himself, which can be scary for opponents.
