Charlie rose three spots from #8 to #5 in the August Rankings Update. He is not yet the finished product, but there are lots of intriguing pieces to Cothran’s game. He is offensively skilled in multiple areas on the floor, looking comfortable finishing around the cup, making plays out of short roll or in the post, and stretching his game to the perimeter. At 6’8″, Charlie has size that you can teach, but if he can get stronger and more dominant on the defensive end and on the glass, that’s what could take his game to the next level.

On the flip side of that opening-window matchup, Cothran showed a glimpse into why he is so highly rated in his class. I got to see Charlie in the final weekend of the AAU season with Carolina Premier , and one thing that I noticed in both settings was his confidence on the perimeter. He has added that element to his game over the last 12 months, turning him into a true inside-out threat. If Cothran can get stronger to hold up defensively and on the glass, he has a chance to rise even higher than #8.

Charlie looks to be next up in a golden generation of size at TL Hanna. He didn’t get a ton of usage in his freshman year, but he was dominant with Upward Stars and Carolina Celtics last summer, earning him a spot in the Top 10 of the Freshman Rankings. Cothran is well-polished in the pick-and-roll game, with a strong base to be an effective big man down the line.