NCAA Basketball Recruiting: 2023 Live Event evaluations and takeaways

I spent the last few weeks traveling around the midwest for a few NCAA-certified live events and high school tournaments, seeing a handful of 2023-2025 NCAA Basketball prospects that should make an impact at the college level.

AAU events and games have odd team contexts and aren’t always indicative of projection, but it’s good to see high-level players against each other in non-high school contexts. Here are my notes on the 2023 prospects I saw.

Xavier Booker – 6’10, 205 lbs – Cathedral High School (Indianapolis) – George Hill Rising Stars – Uncommitted

One of the hottest names of the spring cycle, I was able to catch a few Booker games in Milwaukee for the NY2LA Final Chapter. His length and movement skills are noticeable from the jump. Booker is very coordinated and is a fluid run and jump athlete. He should be pretty impactful as a rim protector from the start of his college. When engaged, Booker kept a lid around the rim, altering a ton of shots.

The offense was harder to gauge as his team construct didn’t give him a ton of post-up or roll-man opportunities. He showed some ability to handle, especially off of a defensive rebound, and he didn’t shoot great, but he has good touch and bankable mechanics. I buy Booker as a stretch big at some point in his college career down the line.

Booker recently cut his list to 10 schools and had a handful of high-major head coaches in attendance to watch him. He was easily the best long-term prospect I saw in July, tracking as a one-and-done. But given he’s still raw and not a complete physical force yet, I’m not sure he will be the most dominant college big.

Stephon Castle – 6’6, 205 lbs – Newton High School (Georgia) – Atlanta Express – Uconn

A powerful, hard-nosed, athletic combo guard, Castle easily fits the bill. I caught Castle at the UAA Finals, where his strength and downhill speed with the ball overwhelmed opponents. He can play a little bit on or off the ball. Castle’s size and tenacity should allow him to defend both guard spots, as well as smaller wings.

I didn’t see him take many mid-range shots, but there’s real three-level scoring potential if he gets comfortable in that in-between area.  Castle has all-league potential if he stays a few seasons, should make an immediate impact, and is worth monitoring from an NBA perspective.