Ranking the 7 options for class of 2022 and top-10 prospect F Kijani Wright
By Ian Mumm
Florida State Seminoles
If it wasn’t for the cancellation of the 2020 NCAA Tournament, head coach Leonard Hamilton would have likely made his 4th-consecutive trip to the Sweet 16 or better with Florida State. Hamilton has this program running on all cylinders and is finding ways to make players thrive, despite players leaving for the NBA.
He is fortunate to have developed a roster and team that truly adopts the “next man up” phrase and has executed it flawlessly. Including the certain selection of freshman Scottie Barnes, Hamilton has seen 9 players make NBA rosters in the last five years.
Despite the top-end turnover his program has experienced, the Noles really have not missed a step. Hamilton has managed to secure the nation’s 4th-highest recruiting class this offseason, complete with top-30 guards Matthew Cleveland and Jalen Warley, in addition to signing high impact transfers Caleb Mills (Houston) and Cam’Ron Fletcher (Kentucky). Even then, Hamilton has not landed a dominant big-man inside the top 50 rankings since Solomon Alabi (#24) in the 2007 class.
The ramifications of giving Hamilton a top-10 player and dominant rebounder in Wright are significant. Florida State’s defensive tendencies fit naturally for the Californian’s skillset and his natural development under the renowned coach will certainly boost his stock for the professional ranks.
The Seminoles have the potential to reach the next level of the NCAA Tournament with the addition of a big man that can reliably space the floor and open things up for the truckload of high-end guards this team will add in the coming seasons.