10 Signees We Love from Outside of the Power Conferences
The power conferences get all of the shine during the early signing period. We get it. That’s where the biggest brands in the sport operate and those brands attract star power. We’ve certainly spent our fair share of time covering those teams over the last week.
However, if you’ve been paying attention to the college basketball season to this point, you’ll have noticed a significant number of upsets. Teams from within the power conferences have been picked off by teams from outside of that structure.
Why is that? The talent gap isn’t as vast as people perceive it to be, and it shrinks every year. We’ve been saying it for a while at HoopSeen. There are ballers at all levels. I mean, why do you think the transfer portal has taken off in the way that it has?
That being said, here are 10 signees that we love from outside of the power conferences.
Several things here to consider: One, he’s a really important pickup because of the talent. Carr has been exposed to high-level competition at the high school and travel ball levels. He will be mentally ready for conference battles. Two, he’s from Southern California and the Compton Magic program. That matters for a program like NMSU. - Justin Young
Take notice, days @JustinDYoung with what @gregheiar is doing at New Mexico State. Let’s start with @dlowellcarr. pic.twitter.com/ddx7xhI0dI
— HoopSeen West (@HoopSeenWest) November 15, 2022
Right away, Lipscomb is getting a guy who can make an impact on defense. Whether swatting shots at a long, athletic 6-foot-9, or guarding out on the perimeter, Faulkner doesn’t allow easy buckets. His versatility extends to his offense as well. Lipscomb is a perennial contender atop the ASun, and signing a guy like Dylan Faulkner will continue their program momentum moving forward. - Josh Tec
You have to like the pairing of @DylanFaulkner_ & @LipscombMBB. As we continue our scope at the college bound players from the Peach, @_joshtec & @JustinDYoung have good things to say about the @CalhounHoops & @AtlAllStars_ star. pic.twitter.com/12Fo8jqYUI
— HoopSeen Georgia (@HoopSeenGA) November 16, 2022
Belmont is a mid-major powerhouse, so when I say that Brigham Rogers has a chance to be one of the next great Bruins, it’s not a claim that I’m throwing out with abandon. Rogers is going to be able to be impactful early on in his Belmont career because of his two-way versatility. The 6-foot-9 forward can do a little bit of everything well. As his career progresses, it wouldn’t surprise me one bit to see him evolve into an all-league guy. - Josh Tec
When we look back on the 2022 travel season, we saw @BelmontMBB at all of the @AtlAllStars_ games to see @BrighamRogers. We talk about the @BT_Hoops stud and his decision to join the Bruins. pic.twitter.com/Z21C8LiQpX
— HoopSeen Georgia (@HoopSeenGA) November 10, 2022
Malik Ferguson, Georgia State: Malik Ferguson and Georgia State is one of my favorite pairings in the 2023 class regardless of level. Ferguson is a tough, tough guard who’s going to bring a physical style to downtown Atlanta. He’s a bigger, stronger guard who wins. I love winners, and Ferguson has one state championship to his name, and he’s in a great position to get another one on his way out of high school.
With @CoachJonas now at the helm at @GeorgiaStateMBB, you better believe he's going to go after champs from the Peach State. @_joshtec breaks down a pair of in-state signees @dkmanyiel00 & @VashonFerguson in the 2023 class. pic.twitter.com/nrD8s0569p
— HoopSeen Georgia (@HoopSeenGA) November 15, 2022
This is one of the most significant signings in the class of 2023. And that’s how you build the foundation for separation of mediocrity. The last time the Colonials made it to the NCAA tournament was 2014. Adding guys like Hutchinson is how you start that pivot. He could start from the outset and be a major player from the get-go. - Justin Young
Our guy @JustinDYoung doesn't hand out compliments very often so when he raves about the incoming backcourt for @coach_c_caputo of @GW_MBB, it is worth a listen. Good things about @HutchinsonJacoi and @cj_jones23 here. pic.twitter.com/AxwUHDMT4H
— HoopSeen (@hoopseen) November 16, 2022
Davis was one of the prospects that I couldn’t get enough of when I got to see him with Meanstreets on the EYBL circuit. He’s a shifty playmaker who can hit shots consistently. I love his fit in the Ivy League. He has a tremendous feel for the game and become one of the better pure PGs in the league in time. - Josh Tec
The big guard is a big commitment for a program looking to do big things. Make no mistake about it, we love this signing for the Jaguars for a number of reasons. For starters, the program is adding a state championship-level player from within its own border. Just how we loved Jamar Franklin last year, USA has done it again with another significant signing in the backcourt. When you stack good classes up, good things happen. - Justin Young
Our own @GTuckerHoops is a big fan of South Alabama signed John Broom. He breaks down what @USAJagsCoachRR is getting in the @JvilleHoops guard here in the #TuckerTopics pic.twitter.com/D7JrDTltZn
— HoopSeen Alabama (@HoopSeenAL) November 16, 2022
If you are paying close attention to basketball recruiting, the Owls are building a nice roster over the last couple of recruiting classes. With Warren, they get a Texas native who has been a part of some very good and very successful teams during his scholastic and travel ball career thus far. Now at Dream City Christian in metro Phoenix, he’s found a nice role as a big wing with strong rebounding ability. At the collegiate level, I think he fits the same role he’s playing in at the HS level - elite role guy on a very good team. I think Rice is building a roster that can raise their current level of play.
I’m all about tough guards. Every team needs that guy who has some edge to him, the guy who’ll get up in an opposing ball handler’s face and not give him any room to breathe. Jaylen Jones is that kind of guy, and he’ll be bringing that kind of energy with him to Tenneessee State. The theme of the early signing period for me has been winning, and Jones has a state championship under his belt, so he checks that box. I love this get for the Tigers. - Josh Tec
Mayar Wol, Charleston: Charleston has a sneaky great class, and one of my favorite players in it is Mayar Wol. The 6-foot-8 wing is all upside. I don’t want to sound hyperbolic, but I’m talking pro upside. Sure, he’ll need to develop some more to get to that point, but he combines size, length and athleticism with perimeter skill and shooting. It’s not everyday that a guy with all of the tools he has doesn’t wind up at a power conference, but Charleston is certainly glad he did. - Josh Tec
