Best in Class: A look at college basketball's 25 best incoming … – 247Sports

The final top 150 player rankings for the class of 2023 was released on Thursday with Duncanville (Texas) High forward Ron Holland taking over the top spot. While there was change in the individual rankings, John Calipari and Kentucky continue to hang on to the top spot in the industry-generated 247Sports Composite Team Rankings.
Who else has the top classes in the land? Today we take a look at the top 25 recruiting classes for 2023.
The class: SF Justin Edwards, C Aaron Bradshaw, CG DJ Wagner, PG Robert Dillingham and CG Reed Sheppard.
What to expect: Just in case anybody somehow managed to forget, John Calipari and Kentucky still have some serious pop on the recruiting trail. Their trio of five-stars Edwards, Bradshaw and Wagner all rank among the top six in the senior class and should make instant impacts. Edwards is a smooth wing who can get to the rim and keeps defenders honest from deep. A fluid big man, Bradshaw has as much natural talent as anybody in the class of 2023 and Wagner is a well-known commodity as a scorer who will arrived as an accomplished player.
If you can call a player ranked in the top 20 an X-factor, that’s Dillingham. He’s as clever a scorer as anybody in the class but lacks strength and can be a little wild at times. If he’s focused and motivated, look out. Sheppard gives them a home-grown shooter to develop through the years.
The class: CG Jared McCain, PF TJ Power, C Sean Stewart and CG Caleb Foster.
What to expect: In year two of his tenure at Duke, Jon Scheyer is going to have the luxury of adding elite high school talent to a group of three five-stars – Kyle Filipowski, Mark Mitchell and Tyrese Proctor – who have decided to come back for their sophomore years. As a result, there should be a little less pressure on the newcomers. Both McCain and Power were elevated to five-star status during the final ranking cycle. McCain for his shot making and ability to play either on or off the ball, Power for his ability to stretch the floor and rebound. Stewart is slightly undersized as a center but is a big-time athlete and defender while Foster will add offensive firepower and can play the role of designated scorer.
It wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Blue Devils add a big man out of the transfer portal to finish off the class.
The class: CG Stephon Castle, SG Solomon Ball, PF Jaylin Stewart, SF Jayden Ross and C Youssouf Singare.
What to expect: Fresh off of their 2023 National Championship, Dan Hurley and Connecticut have a big-time crop of talent headed to Storrs. A big and physical guard, Castle was a McDonald’s All-American and should provide scoring punch at the point of attack. Ball is a tough wing scorer who wields a streaky jump shot and good athleticism. Hailing from Seattle, Stewart is a crafty combo forward who is wired to score from 15 feet and in. As a senior, Ross turned into one of the better three-point shooters in the class of 2023 while Singare is a big man who can protect the rim and rebound while the coaching staff builds him up on the offensive en.
Every member of the group ranks among the top 150 in the class and it’s a good blend of guys who can step in and contribute right away and players who can be developed for a few years down the road.
The class: C Xavier Booker, PG Jeremy Fears, PF Coen Carr and SF Gehrig Normand.
What to expect: Tom Izzo and the staff at Michigan State weren’t playing around during this recruiting cycle. In Booker and Fears they’ve landed a pair of McDonald’s All-Americans. Booker is a five-star big man who can run the floor, has tremendous length and faceup skill. He is just going to have to adjust to giving the type of effort that will be demanded of him in East Lansing. As for Fears, he’s a gung-ho competitor whose motor never stops running. He’s not the biggest guard, but you would never know it by how physically he likes to play.
Speaking of physical, Carr is one of the most athletic and tough players in the class and fits the mold of tail-kicking forwards that have thrived under Izzo. Normand is a shooter with good size who rounds out a class where every signee is ranked as a four-star or better prospect.
The class: C Dennis Evans, SF Trentyn Flowers, PF Kaleb Glenn, SF Curtis Williams Jr. and SG Koron Davis.
What to expect: At Louisville, the fanbase knew that Kenny Payne would need some time to get the Cardinals headed in the right direction. That being said, year one went worse than expected and the pressure to get things moving forward will be on this season. Known for his recruiting prowess, Payne has delivered a class that has much long-term potential. In Evans, they’ve got a gigantic shot blocker who has made tremendous strides throughout his high school career and has upside, but he will need some development. Flowers is a skilled forward who has all the tools to be a top end player.
A hometown kid, Glenn is a small ball four man who is strong, tough, athletic and plays with a lot of heart. Williams is a wing who can stretch th floor some while the hope is Davis can add some experience and scoring punch as a juco transfer. The Cardinals are also hoping for big things out of transfer point guard Skyy Clark who was an elite high school prospect before getting derailed a bit by injuries. Their other transfer Danilo Jovanovich is another forward who can shoot.
The class: PG Elmarko Jackson, SF Marcus Adams Jr., CG Chris Johnson and SG Jamari McDowell.
What to expect: Kansas is going to feature a completely rebuilt roster next season with the departures of payers like Gradey Dick, Kevin McCullar and Jalen Wilson along with a mass exodus via the transfer portal. Never fear Jayhawk fans, Bill Self and company have reloaded. Jackson is a McDonald’s All-American and the kind of athletic, playmaking and versatile guard that Self has always coveted. Hailing from California, Adams is a rangy forward with size and big upside. Johnson is a big combo guard who has the talent to exceed his ranking if he is willing to be coached while McDowell is a utility wing that can be developed over time.
The real excitement comes with the Jayhawks additions via the transfer portal where they have the second highest ranked transfer class. Michigan big man Hunter Dickinson is the top player in the portal and likely to be a preseason All-American. Texas transfer Arterio Morris is only a year removed from being a McDonald’s All-American while Nicolas Timberlake is a bouncy shooter who has a lot of games under his belt.
The class: CG Taison Chatman, PF Devin Royal, SF Scotty Middleton and C Austin Parks.
What to expect: Chris Holtmann will welcome nicely balanced class at Ohio State. The headliner, Chatman is a skilled guard with good size capable of playing multiple backcourt positions. A local product, Royal will provide an infusion of toughness and anything for a win attitude. Middleton is a wing with real defensive chops and potential as a shot maker while Parks is a big man they can take their time to develop over the next few years.
Like so many others, the Buckeyes have also hit the transfer portal hard. Jamison Battle is a four who can shoot that should be a more than adequate replacement for Brice Sensabaugh. Evan Mahaffey is a jack-of-all trades wing while Dale Bonner is an experienced guard who should pose a threat from deep.
The class: PF Eric Dailey, C Brandon Garrison, PF Justin McBride, CG Jamyron Keller and SF Connor Dow.
What to expect: Mike Boynton and Oklahoma State have been hit pretty hard by transfers, particularly in their frontcourt, but they’ve got some young talent on the way to replace it. Dailey is the type of inside/out combo forward that has caused headaches in college hoops and he’s got the tools to be a reliable scorer from day one. Hailing from nearby Oklahoma City, Garrison is a McDonald’s All-American with a great frame and length who can really rebound and run the floor. McBride is a sneaky skilled four man who can shoot a bit while Keller looks like a strong safety playing in the backcourt. The hope is that Dow can provide them with some shooting.
The Cowboys picked up a really key piece in East Carolina guard Javon Small and Jacksonville transfer Mike Marsh will provide another big body.
The class: PF Kwame Evans Jr., PG Jackson Shelstad and SF Mookie Cook.
What to expect: At Oregon, Dana Altman and the Ducks are welcoming a recruiting class that includes a pair of McDonald’s All-Americans in Evans and Cook and point guard coming off of a great senior year in Shelstad. Evans has all kinds of length, size and fluidity for a four man, unlocking his inner beast could turn him into a massive steal. Shelstad moved himself into the national top 25 by bulking up, turning into a mid-range assassin and becoming a real Alpha leader. A native of the Portland area like Shelstad, Cook is a versatile wing who could be a big time defender and open floor playmaker if he will get to campus and lock in.
In Georgia transfer Kario Oquendo the Ducks are getting an athletic driver and they are adding even more wing athleticism with the addition of Arizona State transfer Devan Cambridge.
The class: PF Omaha Biliew, PF Milan Momcilovic, SG Jelani Hamilton and PF Kayden Fish.
What to expect: At Iowa State TJ Oetzelberger and the Cyclones are excited to welcome an Iowa bred McDonald’s All-American in Biliew. A dynamic athlete who is a big time finisher on lobs, Biliew has growing offensive game to go along with elite potential as a defender. Momcilovic is a very skilled four man who can score out to 20 feet while Fish is a rough and tumble guy who impacts winning and will be a great culture guy. Hamilton is capable of going on scoring binges from deep and has good size but needs to find consistency.
UNLV transfer Keshon Gilbert is an explosive backcourt addition while Jackson Paveletzke is one of the best shooters on the transfer market. Curtis Jones gives them more backcourt size and experience.
11. BAYLOR
The class: SG Ja’Kobe Walter, PG Miro Little and C Yves Missi.
Walter could lead the Bears in scoring as a freshman while Jayden Nunn is a big transfer pickup.
12. UCLA
The class: SG Ilane Fibleuil, SG Sebastian Mack, PF Brandon Williams and PF Devin Williams.
Mack can really score it while Brandon Williams has a huge ceiling for growth. An import from France, Fibleuill has all the tools to be a high end wing.
13. MEMPHIS
The class: CG Mikey Williams, SF Carl Cherenfant, SF JJ Taylor, PF Ashton Hardaway and SG Ryan Forrest.
Williams is an explosive scorer but has legal issues to clear up. Juco transfer Jonathan Pierre has NBA upside.
14. GEORGIA
The class: CG Silas Demary Jr., PF Dylan James, SG Blue Cain and SF Mari Jordan.
After improving in year one under Mike White, the Bulldogs have three four-stars on the way in Demary, James and Cain. Transfer RJ Melendez could be an important pickup.
15. XAVIER
The class: PG Trey Green, SF Reid Ducharme, SF Dailyn Swain and C Kachi Nzeh.
Green, Ducharme and Swain all rank as four-stars while Nzeh also ranks among the top 150 in 2023. Sean Miller has high hopes for Western Kentucky transfer Dayvion McKnight.
16. MARYLAND
The class: SF Deshawn Harris-Smith, SF Jamie Kaiser, SG Jahnathan Lamothe and C Braden Pierce.
A class heavy on local talent features a potential Big Ten star in Harris-Smith while Kaiser is a big wing scorer.
17. TENNESSEE
The class: SG Cameron Carr, C JP Estrella and PF Cade Phillips.
Carr is a late-blooming guard with size who can shoot it from deep while Estrella is a rim protector with skill. Wing Dalton Knecht leads an impressive haul of transfers.
18. KANSAS STATE
The class: PG Dai Dai Ames, SG RJ Jones and SF Macaleab Rich.
The Wildcats have some playmaking guards in Ames and Jones but Rich is a potential inside/out beast. North Texas transfer Tylor Perry is a big-time shot maker.
19. ALABAMA
The class: PF Sam Walters, PF Mouhamed Dioubate and SF Kris Parker.
A bouncy forward who can be a deadeye shooter, Walters has loads of potential. Transfer Aaron Estrada was one of the best guards in the portal.
20. HOUSTON
The class: C Joseph Tugler, C Jacob McFarland and CG Kordelius Jefferson.
Tugler looks like the typical hard playing and physical big man that thrives under Kelvin Sampson. LJ Cryer and Damian Dunn is one heck of a backcourt duo landed via the transfer portal.
21. COLORADO
The class: SF Cody Williams, C Assane Diop and SF Courtney Anderson.
A McDonald’s All-American and top five prospect, hopes and expectations for Williams are going to be sky high out in Boulder.
22. NOTRE DAME
The class: PF Carey Booth, PG Markus Burton, SG Braeden Shrewsberry, CG Logan Imes.
Micah Shrewsberry was able to bring over the class he signed at Penn State including his son and a guy with NBA potential in Booth.
23. VIRGINIA
The class: SG Elijah Gertrude, C Blake Buchanan and C Anthony Robinson.
Gertrude missed his senior year due to injury and could prove to be a major steal for Tony Bennett. They’ve also done good work in the portal where big man Jordan Minor will be key.
24. MISSOURI
The class: PF Trent Pierce, C Jordan Butler and PG Anthony Robinson.
The Tigers landed a pair of four-stars in Pierce and Butler. Kansas City native Tamar Bates could end up being a very underrated addition via the transfer portal.
25. MARQUETTE
The class: CG Tre Norman, SF Zaide Lowery and PF Al Amadou.
Norman and Lowery will be a big part of Shaka Smart’s backcourt of the future while Amadou is big with upside once he bulks up.
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