Updated 2023 Rankings: Bigs Rankings (15-6)
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We have updated our 2023 class rankings and have been breaking down content over the past few weeks. Here, we will take a look at rankings by position, breaking it down into three categories: Guards, wings and bigs. Here’s a…
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Continue ReadingWe have updated our 2023 class rankings and have been breaking down content over the past few weeks. Here, we will take a look at rankings by position, breaking it down into three categories: Guards, wings and bigs.
Here’s a look at part two of the bigs rankings, ranking the best power forwards and centers numbers 15-6.
To see the entire class of 2023 rankings, click here.
15) Brett Dent Brett Dent 6'8" | C LC Bird | 2023 State VA | 6’8” | LC Bird (#56 Overall)
Dent is a player who could shoot up these boards as he’s just scratching the surface with how good he can be moving forward, and he’s already improved a lot over the past few years. He’s mobile and has become much more coordinated, he has good hands and good touch in the paint and he’s always around the basketball whether it’s getting deflections or rebounding in traffic.
14) Owen Gray Owen Gray 6'10" | C Steward | 2024 State VA | 6’8” | Steward School (#55 Overall)
Gray came onto the scene during the winter with Steward School and continued his strong play with Team Richmond 17U group this summer, and he has a lot of potential moving forward as he continues to improve. He’s a good athlete who can play in transition and finish above the rim, he can protect the rim and guard multiple positions and he has touch that he continues to extend the range on.
13) Christian Greenlaw Christian Greenlaw 6'6" | PF Woodside | 2023 State VA | 6’6” | Woodside (#53 Overall)
Greenlaw is a little undersized as a power forward, but what he lacks in height he makes up for with his athleticism and physical play around the rim. He’s a strong player who knows how to use his body to clear out space in the paint, he is explosive off of a stand still and can play above the rim and he owns the paint as a rebounder and a defender as well.
12) Will Bonde Will Bonde 6'7" | PF Miller School | 2023 State VA | 6’7” | Miller School (#52 Overall)
Bonde is a versatile piece that should be very good for Miller School as someone who can play multiple positions and space the floor with his shooting ability at his size. He’s a knock down shooter from deep with a quick release and good range, he has a high IQ defensive and is great in help side and can switch to multiple positions and he plays with a good motor and some grit to his game as well.
11) Dylan Saunders Dylan Saunders 6'8" | C Cave Spring | 2023 State VA | 6’7” | Cave Spring (#40 Overall)
One of Roanoke’s top prospects, Saunders plays at a school that is known for producing college level big men and he may be the best one they’ve had in a while. He’s a high motor big man that can play in transition and rebounds well, he has touch out to the three-point line and can is efficient around the rim and he is very productive whenever he’s on the floor.
10) Josh Sime Josh Sime 6'8" | PF Western Albemarle | 2023 State VA | 6’7” | Western Albemarle (#39 Overall)
Like Saunders, Sime comes from a program in Western Albemarle that has produced multiple college level big men over the past few years, and his rapid rate of improvement means he could be the best one they’ve had in a while. He’s very athletic and can play above the rim on both ends, he’s a good shot blocker with good length and he’s improved his range out to the three-point line making him a threat to score it from all three levels.
9) Patrick O’Brien Patrick O’Brien 6'8" | C Bishop O'Connell | 2023 State VA | 6’8” | Highland School (#38 Overall)
O’Brien is an intriguing big man prospect that continues to blossom and look more and more comfortable every time I see him play. He has good size and continues to add muscle to his frame, he can stretch the floor from deep while also being able to score in the low block and he’s still growing into his body which means he should become more fluid over time, which he already has shown steps in.
8) Josh Hughes Josh Hughes 6'6" | PF John Marshall | 2023 State VA | 6’6” | John Marshall (#32 Overall)
Hughes is one of the youngest names on this list as he’s young for his grade, and he has a budding skill set that should get better with time to couple with his natural strength and high motor. He’s a physical big that will bang in the post and fight for loose balls and rebounds, he has good touch out to 15 feet and continues to increase his range and he has great coordination and touch in the paint too.
7) David Solomon III David Solomon III 6'6" | C VA Academy | 2023 State VA | 6’6” | VA Academy (#29 Overall)
Solomon, by all accounts that I’ve heard, has decided to reclassify to the 2023 class to work on his body and continue to improve his game, and if he ends up at VA Academy he’ll be a welcome addition to an already big front line they have. The 6’6” post is a load in the paint and he’s a powerful athlete who can play through contact and above the rim, he plays with a good motor and rebounds the ball very well and he’s surprisingly mobile and quick laterally to switch defensively.
6) Luke Smith Luke Smith 6'9" | C Collegiate | 2023 State VA | 6’8” | Collegiate (#19 Overall)
Smith is set for a breakout season at Collegiate school under Head Coach Del Harris who is known to play through his bigs, but Smith can do more than most bigs as he can score in the paint but he’s also extremely comfortable on the perimeter as well. He’s able to post and has a variety of moves in the paint but he can also step out and shoot it from deep, put it on the deck and get to spots and he’s an excellent passer in high-lows and at the top of the key around the perimeter too.