The brand-new faces, risers and sleepers of ranked high school
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Paul Biancardi, Basketball RecruitingSep 6, 2024, 03:00 PM ET Close National Recruiting Director for ESPN.com
- 18 years of training experience at Department I level
- Former Horizon League coach of the year at Wright State
ESPN’s huge board of high school basketball player rankings has a brand-new look.After a full
summer of travel, examination and movie study, the extremely competitive window in between travel basketball and camps saw movement in both directions.In assessing the very best players in the nation, a litany of aspects are considered.Talent, production and potential are essential– as is a player’s future NBA draft prospect– but they’re not the only criteria.We objective to dive beyond just counting stats, so we consider athletic capability, basketball IQ, ball skills, passing, ball handling, footwork, overall principles, defense and the total complete nature of a player’s game.Does a player assist his group win?Does he impact the outcome of a game?Winning is a significant factor, and valuing winning is a procedure within the examination, too.By method of intel, we go into the habits and characteristics of as lots of prospects as possible. Frequently, players with strong character and work habits will raise their game and enhance. The outcome is new faces in the rankings, however likewise those who made a dive up, and some we feel still don’t get enough recognition.NEW FACES Darius Ratliff is a brand-new entrant to ESPN’s rankings for the class of 2026. Courtesy Archbishop Stepinac 2025 ESPN 100 ranking: 56|SG|6-foot-5|175 pounds|Berkeley Prep
( Florida
)| Miami dedicate Editor’s Picks 2 Associated Only a few players handle to burst onto the huge board each spring and summer season. Able becomes part of this year’s small group, very first getting attention in June at the NBPA Top 100 camp.He’s a positive shooter with a sizable frame, establishing strength and plenty more room for growth. He looks to shoot on the catch and is very consistent behind the arc, utilizing a hard dribble to discover his pull-up mid-range jumper if needed, and his drive game is underrated.The next step for
Able is to secure as a protector both on and off the ball.2025 ESPN 100 ranking: 63 |
SG|6-3|175 pounds|Milwaukee Academy of Sciences(Wisconsin)| Iowa State commit Batemon was among the premier shot-makers in the 2025 class earlier this summer. He’s an offending juggernaut, in spite of a non-traditional shooting stroke, and his makes are high-level. He has a tight frame and pound-for-pound strength.Batemon’s mindset is plainly specified to score and be a difference-maker shooting the ball. And it shows: Over the previous two years, he’s enhanced on his 3-point shooting, going from 37% in 2015 to 42%this summertime while balancing over nine efforts from deep per game.Jamarion Batemon is one of the premier shot-makers of the class of 2025. Courtesy adidas 3ssb
2025 ESPN 100 ranking: 97|SF|6-6|205 pounds|Phillips Exeter Academy (New Hampshire)|Uncommitted
Noticing a style? Frost is another addition with strong shot-making ability. He also has a durable frame, good principles and is efficient.
“He’s a huge reason why [his AAU group, the Middlesex Magic] win,” U.S.A. Basketball director Don Showalter said.The wing shoots a high volume of threes but made 44%of them with his feet set and 56 %off running screens, a skill longed for by college coaches. He has a quick release, excellent mechanics and is always called into the next ownership, showing a mindfulness on the court.Frost went to Iowa this previous weekend and prepares
to go to Michigan, Wisconsin and Notre Dame. He has actually already checked out Syracuse, Penn State and Virginia Tech.2026 ESPN 60 ranking: 49|PG |
5-10|150 pounds|Canyon International Academy(Arizona )| Uncommitted Sadler is one of the quickest guards in the class with the smarts to
understand when to alter his speed to beat defenders and get them off balance. He’s a real paint-toucher with a floater and a low, tight handle.Sadler played well in the FIBA U17 World Championships, completing with
14 points and 4 assists per game. The highlight: an effective 30 points against Egypt.2026 ESPN 60 ranking: 59|PF|6-9|200 pounds |
Archbishop Stepinac High School(New York )| Uncommitted Long-framed and fluid, Ratliff plays both in the paint and on the boundary. He’s an excellent rim protector. Offensively, Ratliff is a notable jump-shooter and finisher with a great deal of potential.His father, Theo Ratliff, was an NBA All-Star and two-time All-Defensive second team player.
RISERS Nate Ament, the No. 4 recruit in the class of 2025, might challenge for the top spot in the rankings entering the high school season. Courtesy USA Basketball 2025 ESPN 100 ranking: 4|SF|6-9|185 pounds|Colgan High School(Virginia)| Uncommitted Increasing in the rankings to crack the top 5 is a big jump. Ament continues to make use of both his size and skill, and his shot-making, scoring and game instincts on all platforms were evident this summer season. He was the very best prospect from Team Loaded in 3SSB, the MVP of the Slam Classic and pleased at Elite 24 and Nike Abilities camp.His future screams versatile wing who concentrates on scoring. He plays quickly, thinks sluggish– he’s rarely sped up– and is competitive.
He’s now strongly on the NBA’s radar.2025 ESPN 100 ranking: 30|SG|6-5|225 pounds|Bellaire High School(Texas )| Uncommitted Henderson is among
the more reputable potential customers in this class. He’s a 6-5 guard with a 6-10 wingspan who is a terrific chauffeur, but can likewise move the ball (2.5 helps
per game). Leading stories of the week from Get unique access to thousands of premium
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More ESPN +material”His production comes by way of opportunity. He makes defenders pay in shift, completes his cuts and converts putbacks.
Henderson knows his jumper is a work in progress, however college coaches see enormous value in his overall game.After a Louisville check out Aug. 23, Henderson has gos to planned to Texas Tech(Sept. 13), Houston (Sept. 20 ), Texas( Sept. 27), Duke(Oct. 3)and LSU(Oct. 11).2025 ESPN 100 ranking: 61|SF|6-6|200 pounds|Oak Ridge High School (Florida)| Florida devote Like his dad– Cornelius Ingram Sr., who arrived at Florida as a quarterback before transitioning to tight end and seeing three seasons in the NFL– Ingram Jr. was at one time slated
to be a high-major quarterback before switching focuses to basketball.Making a huge jump with his ball skills this summer season, Ingram Jr. is a multi-positional player who ratings, safeguards and deals with the ball when needed. Among the much better and more productive two-way players in the class.2026 ESPN 60 ranking: 5
| PF|6-9|200 pounds|AZ Compass Prep(Arizona )| Uncommitted Initially from Finland, Muurinen has fantastic movement with the size of a center, shooting precision and inside touch.
He stood apart on a big phase at Peach Jam (61 %shooting, 50% from behind the arc, 90 %on totally free tosses )and led Bradley Beal Elite to a 16U championship.He’ll produce even
more as he keeps up higher effort. High-majors are pursuing Muurinen on the strength of his total offending ability level, shot-blocking, touch and agile size. “I have actually taken unofficial check outs to Cincinnati, Indiana and Minnesota,” he informed ESPN.” I’m going on main visits to Utah(Sept. 6-8), Duke (Sept. 27-29 )and I will be rescheduling my Kentucky go to. I’m also taking a look at North Carolina, UConn and Michigan.” Miika Muurinen was coached by Hanno Mottola, who bet Rick Majerus and remains in the University of Utah hall of fame. Griffin Greenberg 2026 ESPN 60 ranking: 9|PF|6-8|200 pounds|St. John Bosco(California )| Uncommitted Collins is gradually turning his capacity into an outstanding ability. He can play either forward position and is strongly considered among the much better long-lasting prospects in the 2026 class.From his drive game all the method to the arc, Collins is
difficult to guard. He gets low and has the long strides and length to end up. His pull-up jumper is taking shape, and he’ll sprinkle in a 3-point shot.Collins earned five-star
status and get into the leading 10 in this update. SLEEPERS Xavion Staton is becoming a constant and top-level player. Thanks To Sierra Vista HS 2025 ESPN 100 ranking: 28|PG |
6-2|180 pounds|Sidwell Friends School( D.C.) |
Uncommitted One of the much better guards in the nation at playing out of the pick-and-roll and making reads, Lewis plays a balanced game, scoring as much as he passes efficiently. His float game works in tight spaces– he makes 42 %of those shots according to Synergy Sports– and will only become more crucial as the competitors gets more powerful. Get your favorite live sports, stories and originals with ESPN+, Disney +and Hulu. Upgrade to a Disney Package plan and begin streaming something for everyone today! In a little sample, Lewis has revealed he can keep defenses truthful by making 46%of his catch-and-shoot threes. Most of his long-distance shots come off the dribble, however he transformed on simply 24%of those attempts. His 5.7 assists per game are definitely attractive.His last eight schools are Tennessee, UConn, Kentucky, Syracuse,
Michigan, North Carolina, Duke and Auburn.2025 ESPN 100 ranking: 51|SG|6-3|180 pounds|Gonzaga College High School(D.C.)| Uncommitted Regardless of not receiving much excitement, Dixon constantly finishes the job. His complete game stands apart and his open 3-point shooting is outstanding. Dixon radiates self-confidence during games.”He’s calm under pressure and can adjust his game throughout the game,”Gonzaga College High School coach Steve Turner said.”He’s called a shooter and scorer, and now he can help with too.”Dixon informed ESPN he has visited Syracuse, Pittsburgh, Virginia and Vanderbilt, with extra visits planned to North Carolina(Sept. 6-8)and Arizona(Sept.
13-15). He wants to make a decision on or by his birthday, which is Sept. 27.2025 ESPN 100 ranking: 50|SG|6-3|215 pounds|Riviera Prep (Florida)| Uncommitted It’s easy to get overshadowed by the exceptional Boozer twins when you’re on the same team. Still, Allen is the anchor of a Nightrydas group that won Peach Jam this summer. He ratings and is always in the best place
at the correct time defensively. Allen has a durable frame, above-average 3-point shooting and is a top-level decision-maker with the passing vision to make the assist.His papa, Malik Allen, was a valuable player at Villanova who etched out an 11-year NBA career
despite going undrafted and is now an assistant coach with the Miami Heat.Villanova, Notre Dame, Georgia and Tennessee are Allen’s last options.2025 ESPN 100 ranking: 42 |
C|6-10|210 pounds|Sierra Vista High School(Nevada)|Uncommitted A late-blooming possibility, Staton recently went into the rankings as he develops into a more constant player and top-level possibility. He’s at his best when he keeps it simple as a standout rim protector defensively and finisher on the offensive end. He has the self-awareness to play to his strengths and remain in the paint on both ends to make an impact.Staton will just get stronger as he plays more and stays lower in his position. His increased productivity will be fun to watch.Staton’s final 4 schools are BYU, Stanford, Michigan and UNLV.2026 ESPN 60 ranking:
40|SF|6-7|200 pounds|Western Reserve Academy (Ohio)|Uncommitted
The combination of Thompson’s 7-1 wingspan with his sophisticated skill level and soft shooting touch from various spots on the floor is intriguing. He makes the game appearance simple at times.Strength and conditioning is a must heading into his junior season to pack more mass onto his light frame. His existing ranking stems from his potential– adding more consistency is his next action.