Class of 2023 Top Wings

Shooting guards and small forwards are the players who comprise the "wing" position in prep basketball. While they do handle the ball some, wings are normally associated with scoring, rebounding, and shooting. Within the top 50 players in the class of 2023, we have a myriad of players who compromise the traits of the "wing" position. We will take a look at the top wings in the class of 2023 and traits at what makes them preps that colleges should take a chance on. 1. [player_tooltip player_id="1055170" first="John" last="Kelly"] (6’7" / SF / Crescent City / OVR #2) The Crescent City forward may not be recognized on the national scene yet. However, if he keeps winning championships, he will eventually garner some. He can score inside and out while rebounding like he is a power forward. Becoming a better ballhandler will make him impossible to guard. 2. [player_tooltip player_id="970133" first="Tyler" last="Ringgold"] (6’7" / SF / Southern Lab / OVR #4) Ringgold is the only other nationally rated player by Prep Hoops. With the overall game that he has, it is pretty easy to see why. Ringgold can score consistently from the mid-range in and is a willing passer. He can also finish at or above the rim well which makes him a tough cover for smaller wings and post players. Ringgold is a player with a very high ceiling. 3. [player_tooltip player_id="1130799" first="Brandon" last="Rodgers"] (6’4" / SG / Zachary / OVR #5) Shooting guard may be his designation on this list but Rodgers is the true definition of a basketball player. He runs the floor, rebounds, and does whatever his team needs offensively and defensively. Rodgers is a high wire act as well and will dunk on another player in a second. He is definitely making a case for best player in the class. 4. [player_tooltip player_id="1055172" first="Corey" last="Chest"] (6’7" / SF / McMain / OVR #6) The only player I have seen with as much athletic ability as [player_tooltip player_id="937609" first="Solomon" last="Washington"]. Chest will go get it off the rim in the midst of traffic and dunk on everyone. He also has great touch from 15 feet in and has shown that he has a clutch gene in him (check the 4A title game). His upside will have suitors from every level courting him. 5. [player_tooltip player_id="1213569" first="Jakobe" last="Dykes"] (6’5" / SF / Springfield / OVR #7) This high riser did not just come out of nowhere. The former Madison Prep attendee has set the Prep Hoops Circuit on fire with his ability to score at all three levels along with his finishes above the rim. Dykes has a skill set that will hurt the opposition on every level. He is going to be a steal for someone who gets him in recruiting. 6. [player_tooltip player_id="970108" first="Corey" last="Skillman"] (6’4" / SG / Brother Martin / OVR #11) The wing from Brother Martin may be the best shooter in this class. He is one of those shooters that can make shots from anywhere if his shoulders are square. Skillman is good at quick hitting plays and on inbound situations because it does not take him long to rise and fire. Stopping a trigger like his is very hard to do. 7. [player_tooltip player_id="1130809" first="Jonathan" last="Bradshaw"] (6’4" / SF / Ouachita / OVR #20) Bradshaw really is the perfect marriage between a player who can bang in the paint and have a sweet stroke from outside. Ouachita does a good job of running sets that capitalizes on both skill sets. With a year of varsity under his belt, I expect Bradshaw to have a breakout season with the Lions. 8. [player_tooltip player_id="1055173" first="Robert" last="Youngblood"] (6’3" / SG / Dutchtown / OVR #21) The shooting guard from Dutchtown may push LivOn teammate Skillman for the best shooter moniker. Youngblood can really fill it up from outside. He has embraced going to the rim which has turned him into a threat on multiple levels. The continued growth of his game will make him a player to fear in class 5A. 9. [player_tooltip player_id="970130" first="Courtney" last="McCarthy"] (6’4" / SG / Richwood / OVR #23) The Richwood Rams have one of the better wings in the Boot in [player_tooltip player_id="970130" first="Courtney" last="McCarthy"]. He can handle the ball like and point guard and also get his team into sets. McCarthy flourishes in the open floor and is hard to stop from scoring or getting fouled. He is a Swiss Army knife on the floor who keeps getting better. 10. [player_tooltip player_id="970112" first="Jaylon" last="Hicks"] (6’5" / SF / Carver / OVR #24) If the play by their big named guys does not strike fear in the Carver opponents, the all-around play of [player_tooltip player_id="970112" first="Jaylon" last="Hicks"] should. Hicks shifts from position to position creating mismatches on the offensive and defensive end he can take advantage of. He is a great passer, slasher, and scorer who only gives the Rams another weapon to be fearful of. Other top wings: 11. [player_tooltip player_id="970126" first="Omarion" last="Layssard"] (6’3" / SG / Northwood-Lena / OVR #25) - He may play at a small school but he is usually a highlight waiting to happen; explosive to the rim 12. [player_tooltip player_id="1213563" first="Randarius" last="Morris"] (6’4" / SF / Northwood-Lena / OVR #27) - Very good around the rim; can run the floor as well 13. [player_tooltip player_id="1130801" first="Zion" last="McCoy"] (6’1" / SG / Northside / OVR #28) 14. [player_tooltip player_id="1130802" first="Amir" last="Rios"] (6’3" / SG / East St. John / OVR #30) 15. [player_tooltip player_id="1130813" first="Josh" last="Washington"] (6’5" / SF / Jesuit / OVR #32) - a post player who can finish over either shoulder and eats the glass; as solid as they come. The top ten wings really are heavy on talent. They are good at several things on the floor on both ends and that is what makes them hard to defend. Look out for the listings about other wings in the Boot as we continue to look at all classes after the rankings release.

Shooting guards and small forwards are the players who comprise the "wing" position in prep basketball. While they do handle the ball some, wings are normally associated with scoring, rebounding, and shooting. Within the top 50 players in the class of 2023, we have a myriad of players who compromise the traits of the "wing" position. We will take a look at the top wings in the class of 2023 and traits at what makes them preps that colleges should take a chance on.

1. John Kelly John Kelly 6'7" | SF John Ehret | 2023 State #237 Nation LA (6’7" / SF / Crescent City / OVR #2)

The Crescent City forward may not be recognized on the national scene yet. However, if he keeps winning championships, he will eventually garner some. He can score inside and out while rebounding like he is a power forward. Becoming a better ballhandler will make him impossible to guard.

2. Tyler Ringgold Tyler Ringgold 6'7" | SF Legacy Early College | 2023 State SC (6’7" / SF / Southern Lab / OVR #4)

Ringgold is the only other nationally rated player by Prep Hoops. With the overall game that he has, it is pretty easy to see why. Ringgold can score consistently from the mid-range in and is a willing passer. He can also finish at or above the rim well which makes him a tough cover for smaller wings and post players. Ringgold is a player with a very high ceiling.

3. Brandon Hardy Brandon Hardy 6'4" | SG Zachary | 2023 State #234 Nation LA (6’4" / SG / Zachary / OVR #5)

Shooting guard may be his designation on this list but Rodgers is the true definition of a basketball player. He runs the floor, rebounds, and does whatever his team needs offensively and defensively. Rodgers is a high wire act as well and will dunk on another player in a second. He is definitely making a case for best player in the class.

4. Corey Chest Corey Chest 6'7" | SF McMain | 2023 #94 Nation MO (6’7" / SF / McMain / OVR #6)

The only player I have seen with as much athletic ability as Solomon Washington Solomon Washington 6'7" | SF Carver | 2022 State #127 Nation LA . Chest will go get it off the rim in the midst of traffic and dunk on everyone. He also has great touch from 15 feet in and has shown that he has a clutch gene in him (check the 4A title game). His upside will have suitors from every level courting him.

5. Jakobe Dykes Jakobe Dykes 6'5" | SF Shaun Dumas Academy | 2023 State LA (6’5" / SF / Springfield / OVR #7)

This high riser did not just come out of nowhere. The former Madison Prep attendee has set the Prep Hoops Circuit on fire with his ability to score at all three levels along with his finishes above the rim. Dykes has a skill set that will hurt the opposition on every level. He is going to be a steal for someone who gets him in recruiting.

6. Corey Skillman Corey Skillman 6'4" | SG Brother Martin | 2023 TX (6’4" / SG / Brother Martin / OVR #11)

The wing from Brother Martin may be the best shooter in this class. He is one of those shooters that can make shots from anywhere if his shoulders are square. Skillman is good at quick hitting plays and on inbound situations because it does not take him long to rise and fire. Stopping a trigger like his is very hard to do.

7. Jonathan Bradshaw Jonathan Bradshaw 6'4" | SF Ouachita | 2023 State LA (6’4" / SF / Ouachita / OVR #20)

Bradshaw really is the perfect marriage between a player who can bang in the paint and have a sweet stroke from outside. Ouachita does a good job of running sets that capitalizes on both skill sets. With a year of varsity under his belt, I expect Bradshaw to have a breakout season with the Lions.

8. Robert Youngblood Robert Youngblood 6'3" | SG Dutchtown | 2023 State LA (6’3" / SG / Dutchtown / OVR #21)

The shooting guard from Dutchtown may push LivOn teammate Skillman for the best shooter moniker. Youngblood can really fill it up from outside. He has embraced going to the rim which has turned him into a threat on multiple levels. The continued growth of his game will make him a player to fear in class 5A.

9. Courtney McCarthy Courtney McCarthy 6'5" | SG Richwood | 2023 State LA (6’4" / SG / Richwood / OVR #23)

The Richwood Rams have one of the better wings in the Boot in Courtney McCarthy Courtney McCarthy 6'5" | SG Richwood | 2023 State LA . He can handle the ball like and point guard and also get his team into sets. McCarthy flourishes in the open floor and is hard to stop from scoring or getting fouled. He is a Swiss Army knife on the floor who keeps getting better.

10. Jaylon Hicks Jaylon Hicks 6'5" | SF Carver | 2023 State LA (6’5" / SF / Carver / OVR #24)

If the play by their big named guys does not strike fear in the Carver opponents, the all-around play of Jaylon Hicks Jaylon Hicks 6'5" | SF Carver | 2023 State LA should. Hicks shifts from position to position creating mismatches on the offensive and defensive end he can take advantage of. He is a great passer, slasher, and scorer who only gives the Rams another weapon to be fearful of.

Other top wings:

11. Omarion Layssard Omarion Layssard 6'2" | SG Northwood | 2023 State LA (6’3" / SG / Northwood-Lena / OVR #25) - He may play at a small school but he is usually a highlight waiting to happen; explosive to the rim

12. Randarius Morris Randarius Morris 6'4" | SF Northwood-Lena | 2023 State LA (6’4" / SF / Northwood-Lena / OVR #27) - Very good around the rim; can run the floor as well

13. Zion McCoy Zion McCoy 6'1" | SG Northside | 2023 State LA (6’1" / SG / Northside / OVR #28)

14. Amir Rios Amir Rios 6'3" | SG East St. John | 2023 State LA (6’3" / SG / East St. John / OVR #30)

15. Joshua Washington Joshua Washington 6'6" | SF Jesuit | 2023 State LA (6’5" / SF / Jesuit / OVR #32) - a post player who can finish over either shoulder and eats the glass; as solid as they come.

The top ten wings really are heavy on talent. They are good at several things on the floor on both ends and that is what makes them hard to defend. Look out for the listings about other wings in the Boot as we continue to look at all classes after the rankings release.