2023 Rankings: New Additions

We have dropped our final 2023 rankings, and here are some of the new additions and the analysis of their play that helped them find their way into the final installment.     <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/PH-Jonathan-Caicedo-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/PH-Jonathan-Caicedo-C.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1817718" width="256" height="256" /></a></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='1876909' first='Jonathan' last='Caicedo'] (6'7/SF/'23/Hoover HS)   Instagram: Jonathan05_   Twitter: @jonathan_c25   One of the hottest players at the end of the season was Jonathan, as he was a big piece of the puzzle behind the lifting of the blue map for Hoover HS. The transfer from Florida breaks into our rankings and finishes as the #7-ranked player in the 2023 class. He is an unsigned senior still waiting on the offers to start coming in, and after his performance during the postseason, I have received quite a few calls asking about him. He is a versatile and explosive athlete that showed a very mature game as he was surrounded by a lot of youth. He brings a lot of intangibles to the floor and has a skillset along with the size that can contribute and make an impact at the next level.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/HooverBucsBBall/status/1639381403761614850 </div></figure>   <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/03/Tucker-Cagle-2023.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/03/Tucker-Cagle-2023.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1407281" width="256" height="256" /></a></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='1876949' first='Tucker' last='Cagle'] (6'3/CG/'23/Cullman HS)   Instagram: tucker_cagle   Twitter: @Tuckercagl2   Tucker was one of the hardest players to guard that I have seen this season. He is a versatile hard playing wing player who impacted the game in many ways. He can flat-out score the basket and has the power to bully smaller gaurds and the speed to put the ball on the floor and get by bigger frontcourt players. I witnessed him put his team on his back several times this year and carry them to victories. He is mentally tough and just makes up his mind to be better than the person in front of him, regardless of what end of the floor it is on. One thing that stood out the most throughout this year was Tucker's impact on the glass and how his extra effort to hit the boards was often means of how he, at times, dominated possessions. He found his way into the final 2023 rankings at the #42 spot.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/winfreyjake/status/1625918917309759491 </div></figure>   <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/03/PHN-Kalib-Thomas.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/03/PHN-Kalib-Thomas.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1416955" width="256" height="256" /></a></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='1799197' first='Kalib' last='Thomas'] (6'1/PG/'23/John Carroll HS)   Instagram: kalibthomas3   Twitter: @Thomas13Kalib   Kalib makes his debut in the 2023 rankings at the #51 spot. He was one of the reasons why John Carroll had the success they had this year. He is an athletic PG that can score in bunches. He balances scoring and facilitating, but make no mistake about it; his strength this season was scoring the rock. As I just mentioned, he can go for huge numbers and hold his own with the best scorers in the state. He is a multi-dimensional lead guard with a balanced floor game that impacts the stat sheet in numerous ways. He plays at a nice pace, is poised under pressure, is a smart decision-maker, and could bring a lot of value to a program at the next level.       <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Thomas13Kalib/status/1638297710016057349 </div></figure>   <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/10/PH-Bennett-Russ.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/10/PH-Bennett-Russ.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1317190" width="256" height="256" /></a></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='1876911' first='Bennett' last='Russ'] (6'0/PG/'23/McGill-Toolen)   Instagram: bennettwruss   Twitter: @bennettruss4   The #54-ranked player in the final 2023 rankings is Bennett. I have watched Bennett extensively over the past two years, and all he has done was get better every time I laid eyes on him. He was one of the most solid and effective PGs this year, and his importance to his team was evident as he led them to the final four. He's tough and fearless and willing to take on all challenges. He doesn't have a lot of size, but he's a dynamic playmaker that makes others around him better. He looked for his shot more as McGill lost a lot of scoring power in the 2022 class. He is a lead guard who can run the show and score when needed and was one of the best floor generals I saw the entire year.     <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/McTHoops/status/1637514675012218881 </div></figure>   <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/11/PH-Jayden-Spearman-c.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/11/PH-Jayden-Spearman-c.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1653674" width="256" height="256" /></a></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='1876912' first='Jayden' last='Spearman'] (6'2/G|F/'23/Charles Henderson HS)   Twitter: @JaydenSpearman5   Jayden enters his first installment of the 2023 rankings as the #55-ranked player. His stock rose on the season's biggest stage, which was the final four. His scoring prowess was a huge reason why his team was able to take down the favorite Ramsay Rams in the semi-final game. He is a versatile wing scorer who is at his best in iso situations and can maneuver his way to the basket off the bounce. He is really good at finishing in the paint and at the rim. Jayden is a heady player that thrives within his means and does not try to play beyond his strengths. He has a lot of tools in the toolbox, and he had them on display throughout the final four.       <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/athletics_CHHS/status/1638373025237151745 </div></figure>   <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/03/PH-Elijah-Causly-C.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/03/PH-Elijah-Causly-C.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1878961" width="256" height="256" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Knight Eady, Knight Eady</figcaption></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='1876951' first='Elijah' last='Causly'] (6'7/F/'23/Florence HS)   Instagram: elijah.causly   Twitter: @Elijah_causly   Elijah makes his debut in the final 2023 rankings at the #58 spot. Like many of the players listed, there can always be an argument on whether a player should be ranked higher, and that is the case with Elijah. He is one of the most dynamic frontcourt players I have seen the entire year. He is extremely athletic and explosive. He can score off the low block, face up on the perimeter, and is at his best when he is out in the open court and can fly around making plays and bringing the crowd to their feet with thunderous dunks. He's the type of prospect who shows flashes of ability that makes talent evaluators take notice, so you have probably read a lot about Elijah. He is also the type of prospect with the versatility and ability on both ends of the floor to make an impact at the next level.    <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/elijah_causly/status/1626009600158728193 </div></figure>   <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/11/PH-Chase-Bell-C.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/11/PH-Chase-Bell-C.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1673203" width="256" height="256" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Knight Eady Knight Eady</figcaption></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='1876914' first='Chase' last='Bell'] (6'4/SG/'23/Sparkman HS)    Instagram: chase._.be11   Twitter: @ChaseBell_2023   [player_tooltip player_id='1876914' first='Chase' last='Bell'] makes his debut in the final 2023 rankings as the #63-ranked player. He is a lengthy wing player that had a solid senior season. There were times when he led the team in scoring, and the promise of a big-time scorer was seen, then there were times when he impacted winning without scoring. Chase showed his shiftiness off the bounce and the ability to score when given the slightest bit of space, and he's really crafty and has a knack for scoring. He is a guy that can score at all levels. Chase has the skill, scoring prowess, and intelligence Sparkman leaned on to help them have a season that shocked many. Chase is definitely a player who, if he stays the course, can find his way to the next level once the dust settles with the transfer portal.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/ChaseBell_2023/status/1596221800975060994 </div></figure>

We have dropped our final 2023 rankings, and here are some of the new additions and the analysis of their play that helped them find their way into the final installment.