NCAA Basketball: Ranking the 8 teams in play for 2023 big Xavier Booker

8. Oregon Ducks

The Ducks are restarting its 2023 class after losing five-star prospect Mookie Cook, which can’t be the best thing in trying to get Booker. Them also being a west coast team and away from home also hurts them compared to the Midwest programs.

Oregon has a five-star incoming freshman in Kel’el Ware, who is a projected 1st round NBA Draft pick. But he may not be ready to leave after one year and with N’Faly Dante and Nathan Bittle also on the roster, there would be some potential issues getting a lot of early playing time as a freshman. It’s hard seeing them be a real contender in this sweepstakes.

7. Auburn Tigers

Seeing the success of first-round NBA Draft picks, Jabari Smith and Walker Kessler, this past season has made the Tigers very appealing for frontcourt prospects. That helped land Morehead State transfer and Ohio Valley Defensive Player of the Year Johni Broome at the center spot and five-star power forward freshman Yohan Traore as the new starters inside.

The question here is whether both or neither are ready to go pro after next season. It’s hard seeing Booker committing there unless there’s a clear pathway for playing time and possibly starting as well. And with Auburn also being a bit of distance away, I think they’ll probably target a different frontcourt player in the 2023 class.