Re-Ranking the 2017 Class (Part 6)
We’ve been thrown a curveball this summer. Due to social distancing guidelines, opportunities to comprehensively evaluate prospects in and around the DMV area have been few and far between. As a result, we will not be providing a mid-summer rankings update as we typically do.
But to be creative and keep content flowing consistently, the team is excited to take a look back at the 2017 and 2018 rankings. Our aim is to re-rank notable prospects in those respective classes based on their performances since high school and ultimately come up with a new top-30 for each.
Here we conclude the 2017 update by taking a closer look at our new top-five.
#5 | Anthony Duruji, 6’7″ F | St. Andrew’s | Original Rank: #16 | College: Florida
Wilson: Anthony is coming off a great year at Florida under Mike White after he averaged 12 points and 6 rebounds in 30 minutes per game. Something that certainly stands out also is how effective he has been on offense. This past season he shot 47% from the floor. Look for Anthony to be a sneaky underrated player in the SEC this upcoming year.
#Gators transfer Anthony Duruji is extremely explosive and can really finish above the rim. Here is ever Duruji dunk from his sophomore season at Louisiana Tech. @Anthony_Duruji pic.twitter.com/dQlObhcjC8
— Eric Fawcett (@EricFawcett_) April 15, 2019
#4 | DJ Harvey, 6’6″ W | DeMatha | Original Rank: #3 | College: Vanderbilt
Wilson: Harvey has probably not had the college career he was planning on having but this upcoming year he is getting a fresh start at Vanderbilt University while he will have two more years of eligibility. Looks for Harvey to play in a pivotal role for the rebuild going on in Nashville led by Jerry Stackhouse.
Commodore Nation, this is DJ Harvey, over an hour after the final buzzer.
I promise he’ll make a lot of threes for this team next year. These losses are weighing on all of these guys. pic.twitter.com/bX3gjfD6TU
— 𝐌𝐚𝐱 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐞𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫 (@Max_Schneider15) January 19, 2020
#3 | Darryl Morsell, 6’5″ W | Mount St. Joseph | Original Rank: #2 | College: Maryland
Giacubeno: Morsell was regarded as not only a top guard but a top player in the DMV as a senior at Mount St. Joseph. He garnered attention from a fair share of high major programs but ultimately chose the hometown Terps where he has established himself as a do-it-all guard. He contributes to many categories on the box score. His combination of size and strength at 6-foot-4 allows head coach Mark Turgeon to use him in many different ways defensively. Morsell is a unique competitor who is no stranger to diving on the floor, taking charges, and doing all of the other little things that help his team win.
DARRYL MORSELL CALLED GAME! 🔥@TerrapinHoops completes the comeback in The Barn: pic.twitter.com/Ulxl5IEQSM
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) February 27, 2020
#2 | Chris Lykes, 5’7″ PG | Gonzaga | Original Rank: #1 | College: Miami
Wilson: Chris is another player that has made an impact since day one in college. I know a lot of people were worried about his size while playing in the ACC but that has not been an issue at all as he is one of the most exciting players to watch in the league due to his crazy quick speed. This past year he was named to the ACC honorable mention team after averaging 15.4 points per game.
#1 | Luka Garza, 6’11” C | Maret | Original Rank: #5 | College: Iowa
Wilson: This selection was a pretty easy no brainer as Garza was a consensus All-American this past year and won Big Ten Player Of The Year. He has been successful ever since he first stepped on the court for Iowa and took it to a whole new level this year as he was turning into must-see TV. Garza finished this past season averaging 23.9 points and 9.8 rebounds per game.