2018 HoopSeen Top 100: Nitty gritty breakdown
In releasing the updated 2018 HoopSeen Top-100 Rankings, the likes of Marvin Bagley and Zion Williamson look to have cemented themselves as the elite of the elite within the class. Beyond the two electric big men sits a bevy of talent and upside. Sure, the class isn’t as good compared to those preceding it, but there still is enough talent to go around. We take a look at the nitty gritty that includes state breakdown, where the strength of the class lies, and the top newcomers and risers following the most recent update.
The state of Florida is tied with the state of Georgia within our 2017 rankings for the most prospects ranked and the Sunshine State remains just as strong in 2018. Leading the way again, producing nine prospects within the top-100, is the state of Florida where it also boasts six of the top-38 recruits included. In all, 34 states are included within the rankings, plus the addition of Washington, DC.
Getting to the positional portion of the breakdown, if your favorite college program needs a point guard or a center, well then, they better get on board as soon as possible. Just 16 lead guards and seven centers can be found within the top-100, where the wings of the floor and the power forward position become the strength of the class. There is a bevy of talent and star power at the 3-spot as Khavon Moore, Cam Reddish, and Jaylen Hoard lead the way where both the small forward and power forward positions display 27 prospects a piece. The shooting guard position, headlined by top-three prospect Romeo Langford, placed 23 into the top-100.
Thomasville, GA
Still some time to go before we see a bevy of commitments take place, a few programs have gotten on the board early. Just five have committed from the top-100 but of those, two belong to the University of North Carolina, while two others belong to Big 10 programs. Arkansas landed the top prospect to date in Reggie Perry and it would seem that a few more could come off the board in the coming weeks and months.
The top newcomer to the rankings comes from not inside the borders of the United States, but rather from overseas. Jaylen Hoard, a 6-foot-7 smooth and graceful wing with immense upside and versatility, will head to the states this fall and attend Wesleyan Christian Academy. He slots in at the eighth overall spot as the French wing has the chance to move up even further during our next update, of which will come prior to the beginning of the high school season in November.
No one made a bigger climb in the rankings than Emmanuel Akot. Just like Hoard, Akot is not a born and bred American athlete but rather from north of the border. The 6-foot-7 Canadian small forward uses his bouncy body, improving ball skills, and quickness to score at the basket but also displays great versatility as an on-ball defender. Now ranked at the 19-spot where he was originally slotted at number 100, the 81 slot jump is well warranted and might not just be the end to his escalation. Not far behind him in making a giant leap up the board is Emmitt Williams. Now ranked at 21, the Sunshine State native has improved his outside jumper and post moves down low, while remaining his dominant self in the lane making his 51 spot leap easy to put into motion.
