2023 Rankings Newcomers
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With extended coverage comes extended rankings, and the Prep Hoops team has been hard at work expanding our reach for the 2023 class. There are a ton of names new to the ranks this season. Here we’ll be taking a…
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Continue ReadingWith extended coverage comes extended rankings, and the Prep Hoops team has been hard at work expanding our reach for the 2023 class. There are a ton of names new to the ranks this season. Here we’ll be taking a dive into some of the forwards climbing the list. These guys made big jumps over the past year, and I’ve nailed them down as guys who should continue to rise.
#18 Will Landram Will Landram 6'6" | SF Gig Harbor | 2023 State WA 6’6 | SF | Gig Harbor | FOH Seattle
A lanky, athletic wing, Landram possesses an all-around game that impacts across all categories. He’s a gifted shooter who can knock them down from three-point land, and works well on the block, rising straight over defenders or hitting turnaround jumpers. His length is outstanding and accentuates his skillset, making him one of the fastest-rising prospects in the state. He’s got the athleticism to sky-high for rebounds, and rise up for dunks, but can also dip down low and makes any pass near him a potential steal. The effort is there on both sides of the ball and there is no spot on the court he can’t go to work from. He was a first-team selection in the South Sound Conference last year, and his Tides fell to the eventual runners-up, Rainier Beach, in a close five-point loss at state. This summer will be key for Landram, playing with an extremely talented group at Friends of Hoop. There is no reason he shouldn’t continue to climb the ranks.
#33 Sylas Williams Sylas Williams 6'6" | SF Jackson | 2023 State WA 6’6 | SF | Jackson | North City
Williams was a double-double machine last season for the Jackson Timberwolves. Even though he primarily gets his buckets inside, Williams has a strong face-up game and can catch it out near the arc before working his way inside. Contact doesn’t bother this guy and he’s got a strong rip-through move that he often pairs with a spin back the other way that gets him where he needs to go. Once inside, he shows finesse finishing from all angles. Williams’ motor is non-stop too. He’s been unstoppable on the glass this spring and works hard to reject shots before they even have a chance. While he’s primarily an inside player, he has great footwork and handles to operate in tight quarters and from the perimeter. I want to see him start to stretch the floor more as we get into the summer months, and really see his game take flight.
#40 Bennett Olujic Bennett Olujic 6'7" | SF Mount Si | 2023 State WA 6’7 | SF | Eastside Catholic | Big Drip Hoops
Last season, Olujic filled more of a complementary role for the Crusaders, but he’s proving this spring he’s ready for more. He’s been a man on a mission thus far, showing heightened aggression on offense and more power as a finisher. He already showed an all-around skillset last year and an ability to step up in clutch moments. It will be interesting to see how he fares as one of the top dogs in the high school season, with two of their top guys graduating. Olujic can stroke the three, drive the ball, plays largely mistake-free, and uses his size effectively on defense. If he keeps going at this rate, he’ll make another jump after summer. I am excited to get to see him later this year on the Prep Hoops Circuit.
#49 Josh Salguero Josh Salguero 6'7" | PF Morton-White Pass | 2023 State WA 6’7 | PF | Morton-White Pass | Team Stuck UAA
Salguero is a name that might be off a lot of people’s radars but he’s got the presence of a lumbering big man who has more touch and burst than a first look would tell you. He’s a big 6’7, with a stout frame, and though he didn’t have to make a lot of plays outside the paint last season, he has surprising athleticism. From under the hoop, he can take a quick step and burst to the short corner where I saw him block many shots, and he can catch drivers from behind, sending their shots off the backboard. Offensively, he has a reliable jumper from near the top of the key and has good touch from the blocks. I haven’t seen him yet this spring, but playing with Team Stuck gives him a chance to work against our 21st ranked player, the 6’8 Andreas Engholm Andreas Engholm 6'8" | PF Olympia | 2023 State WA . This is the time for Salguero to test himself against competition he won’t likely see in his 2B high school schedule and an opportunity to show what he’s really got.