"January is the grind of college basketball. Nonconference play is over, teams should be settled into their identities, and coaches have determined their starting lineups and bench rotations. It's also the month freshmen begin to establish more consistency. Last year we said that the current freshman class would be one of the most talented and impactful in decades. Names such as AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer, Caleb Wilson, Darius Acuff Jr. and Kingston Flemings have lived up to the billing."
"But what about the players who were not ranked, or those who significantly outperformed their rankings? With more than half a million high school players nationwide each season, cracking the SC Next rankings is an indicator of elite traits, though it doesn't guarantee success. And every year players exceed their evaluations, thanks to exceptional character traits, physical development, late growth or a breakthrough offseason before stepping on a college campus."
January is the grind of college basketball, with nonconference play over and teams settled into identities, rotations and lineups. Freshmen begin to establish more consistency. The current freshman class has been exceptionally talented, with AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer, Caleb Wilson, Darius Acuff Jr. and Kingston Flemings performing near expectations. Many players who were unranked or underrated can still exceed evaluations due to character, physical development, late growth or offseason breakthroughs. Examples include Ebuka Okorie at Stanford and Keaton Wagler at Illinois. Five class of 2026 prospects are projected to outperform current rankings; one, Toure, shows elite athleticism and improved shooting.
Read at ESPN.com
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