Heat Map: The five best available PGs nationally in 2023
As the summer is getting closer and closer to an end and as school is in session around the country, our best available lists are shrinking.
In todays’ Heat Map, we look at the five best available point guards in the class of 2023 and where they are at with their respective recruitments.
When we were compiling our rankings for the class of 2023, we talked about putting Isaiah Collier number one. The logic was this - he’s consistently productive, he has owned his match0-ups, he’s gotten bigger and stronger when he was out with an injury.
When the August camps came around, he was dominant in the settings that was founded on getting better and growing in competition. Collier owned it. He was brilliant.
Collier looks like the player who will be the most consistent and game-ready of this class when you look at the college game. From a pro point of view, Collier has the tools to develop into a guard like Jalen Brunson. Or better.
On the recruiting front, he’s been aggressive on his visit tour. Collier has been to Cincinnati, Michigan, UCLA and USC.
As we draw closer to the early signing period and more players are committing, it will be interesting to see how his recruitment moves forward.
If we were to handicap it, it feels like Cincinnati and USC are in a good position.
As the early signing day quickly approaches, you probably aren’t going to see Johnson’s name pop up too much with colleges and universities.
It feels like the guard who last played at Norcoss (GA) HS is likely going to write his own story. It feels more and more like Johnson is going to be a G League Ignite player.
Fellow Atlanta area prep star Scoot Henderson has thrived in that system.
Johnson has thrived in International compassion with Jamaica’s U17 team.
If you were to do a deep dive into our 2023 national rankings, you could make a strong argument that Johnson has the biggest chance to jump into the 5-star, elite status of this rather lackluster class.
He was impressive at the Chris Paul guard camp over the weekend in Los Angeles. Blessed with great size, versatility in the backcourt and an ever-improving skillset, Johnson could be one of the most attractive players for the level beyond college. There are a lot of facets of his game that warrant a closer look.
He’ll be at Donda Academy in Los Angeles and he’ll play a schedule that dots the nation this scholastic season.
On the recruiting front, his interest spans across several conferences across the country. In the mix: LSU, NC State, Texas, USC and Louisville.
Johnson was great at the Pangos All-American Festival last weekend in Long Beach.
The energetic and exciting guard from St. Benedict’s in New Jersey has an extra gear in his arsenal that we don’t see from too many other guards.
His recruitment has some upcoming activity. According to reports, Johnson will take an official visit to Pittsburgh (9-1) and Ole Miss (9/24).
Rounding out the five best available point guards in the class of 2023, James is in the home stretch of his requirement.
The son of NFL Hall of Famer Edgerrin James is down to LSU, Georgia and Cincinnati.
All three of those programs would allow James to play right away as a freshman. He has a game that would translate for early minutes and a key part of a team’s rotation.
