Matthew Hurt – No. 8 overall
Hurt might not look the part of an elite basketball prospect, yet the 6-9, 215-pounder is up there with the biggest heavy hitters in this class.
Obviously, he needs to get stronger and add muscle to his frame, but he has made his mark as an elite shooter (maybe the best in the class) and has fantastic all-around offensive skill from scoring to rebounding to passing. He’s a tough matchup who can hurt opponents from inside and out.
The Rochester, MN native has been a heavy lean towards Kansas for a while, but Duke and Kentucky have been making a strong push over the last few months. Like Achiuwa, Hurt’s recruitment is one to watch for big, sudden changes even if I’m sticking with the Jayhawks for now.
Prediction: Kansas
Jaden McDaniels – No. 5 overall
The younger brother of current San Diego State forward Jalen McDaniels, Jaden has been a late riser that has scouts super excited about his potential. Considering his versatile skill set and 6-11 frame, it’s not hard to see why.
The first thing you notice about McDaniels is, at 185 pounds, he desperately needs to get stronger. Outside of that, though, there aren’t many negatives to his game. He can score from all three levels and is a fantastic defender due to his length, quickness, and fluidity. Oh yeah, he can handle the ball and distribute, too.
Kentucky is in the mix for McDaniels but many view this as a race between San Diego State and Washington. The Aztecs are pitching him on playing with his brother while Washington is pitching playing for the top team in the Pac-12 with Isaiah Stewart, the No. 6 overall prospect in the 247sports Composite. I think the Huskies will win out in the end.
Prediction: Washington
Cole Anthony – No. 4 overall
The son of Greg Anthony, Cole Anthony’s game is extremely fun to watch. He competes hard on both ends and might be the fastest prospect in this class.
When Anthony gets out in transition, he’s gone. He uses that speed and quickness to be a pest on defense and, unlike most young players, takes pride in his play on that end of the court and thrives. That said, he’s a tremendous scorer who can really score however he wants to, whether it’s by driving past his defender or shooting from deep.
Decision-making is the only area of Anthony’s game that really needs some improvement. He turns the ball over more than he should and takes some forced shots. But, all in all, there’s a lot to love about his game.
As such, it’s no surprise that every top school is after him, but the race is pretty much down to North Carolina and Oregon. I think the Tar Heels have emerged as the clear favorite ever since five-star big man Armando Bacot committed, as the two are close friends and Bacot has been recruiting him.
Look for Anthony to land in Chapel Hill, earning Roy Williams the biggest prize still on the table.
Prediction: North Carolina