2024 Rankings: Top Versatile Forwards

Colby Giacubeno May 22, 2023 @ 04:26 PM

The release of our updated 2024 player rankings means for a slew of follow-up content breaking them down in several ways. For this article, I'll be highlighting the top wing and off-ball guards found in MD/DC.   Donovan Freeman | St. John's (DC)/[program_tooltip program_id='2077004' first='Team' last='Takeover']   Ranking: No. 1   Freeman emerged as our new No. 1 ranked prospect in this release of the rankings. We felt that his two-way dominance throughout the Cadets' run to the WCAC title warranted such a bump. The 6'9 forward recently announced his commitment to Syracuse and despite Jim Boeheim no longer being the head coach, Freeman has always fit the prototypical long, versatile power forward that the future Hall-of-Fame ball coach recruited. Freeman is lethal from the baseline on when shooting off the catch from 10-to-15 feet and has improved his stock as a pick-and-pop threat over the calendar year. In transition he's a lob threat and is always looking to clean up misses in exciting fashion after sprinting the floor. He moves well laterally on the defensive end and understands how to utilize his length to make up for his slimmer frame at this time.   [player_tooltip player_id='1370514' first='Malcolm' last='Thomas'] | DeMatha/[program_tooltip program_id='2078457' first='Team' last='Durant']   Ranking: No. 6   Thomas is another frontcourt prospect who enjoyed a productive junior campaign in the WCAC. Standing 6'7-6'8, Thomas was counted on to act as the anchor to head coach Mike Jones' defense this past winter and thanks to his spring athleticism combined with instinctual timing as a shot blocker, he lived up to expectations. Offensively Thomas is a threat from 17 feet and in. He can face up and knock down jumpers, take his man off the dribble for hard straight-line drives or capitalize off teammates' penetration where he can quickly get eye-level with the rim when jumping off two feet.   [player_tooltip player_id='1280947' first='Tyonne' last='Farrell'] | Mount St. Joe/[program_tooltip program_id='2076999' first='Team' last='Melo']   Ranking: No. 10   Farrell and 2023 [player_tooltip player_id='957018' first='Amani' last='Hansberry'] formed the most dominant frontcourt duo that you'd find in the BCL/MIAA A Conference last season. The two complemented each other well since defenses had to respect them on catches beyond the arc. Farrell's three-point shot is still very much a work in progress, but with time and space he has proven himself as a guy who can take advantage. His calling card since his sophomore season has been supplying his team with gritty, hard-nosed play inside on both ends. He battles for position on the block and takes pride in grabbing rebounds by the boatload. His motor and grit make up for his somewhat lack of positional size at 6'6 when you project him at the college level.   [player_tooltip player_id='1153967' first='James' last='Moore'] | Mt. Zion Prep/Team Final   Ranking: No. 14   Moore's combination of size and length have been intriguing since he entered the high school season as a freshman. While his game and techniques still require polish, he offers a lot to work with due the positional versatility that he can provide. When he's locked in on the defensive end, he has valuable tools as well. Sustaining the necessary motor and remaining even keeled will be ultimate factors in him reaching his potential.   [player_tooltip player_id='1366891' first='Xander' last='Alarie'] | St. Andrew's/Global Squad   Ranking: No. 21   Alarie is a skilled, left-handed four man that brings IQ, shot making and fluidity to the floor. He's effective as a swingman at the top of the key where he can catch and attack off of 1-to-2 dribbles, deliver crisp high-low passes or side the ball to a guard and follow up with a hard ball screen. He has good instincts as a cutter, soft hands on the move and can finish with either hand around the rim. Alarie is a prospect I feel is underrated at this point considering how well his game fits in at the college level.

The release of our updated 2024 player rankings means for a slew of follow-up content breaking them down in several ways. For this article, I'll be highlighting the top wing and off-ball guards found in MD/DC.