2024's Summer Risers
July 27, 2023 by Max Feldman
With the summer coming to a close, I want to dial in on a group who've entered new tiers after strong campaigns. Plenty who fit the bill, but the following twelve prospects outside the top 15 in our 2024 rankings have entered a new tier within the class, each of which we are higher on than the rest of the industry.
Billy Richmond
17th Overall
It wasn't all seamless, but I think there's a chance that this spring and summer could be looked back upon as an instrumental one for Richmond. After a season playing alongside DJ Wagner and Cian Medley at Camden where he popped in a big way as an athlete and off-ball scorer, the 6-6 wing slotted into more of a primary, on-ball role with Scholars. Volume as well as efficiency from three in addition to a negative assist to turnover ratio are concerns, but in-person and on film, there's a lot of 'Can't teach that' mixed in. Dynamic first step to get downhill and electric in transition, the flashes were enormous. He hasn't put the pieces all together just yet, and monitoring the shooting will be key, but he's shown different areas of progress in spurts such as his playmaking on the ball in Memphis and his defense at Peach Jam. Young for the class with an athletic profile matched by few, Richmond has become one of the most intriguing long-term bets in the class.
Nic Codie
23rd Overall
It's been a fast rise this spring from Nic Codie, but one that seemed well within the cards when I saw him back last summer with Southern Assault. At 6-9 with a 7-4 wingspan, his role at the time was primarily as a frontcourt hustle piece — commanding the glass, defending multiple spots, blocking shots and running the floor. Since, his ball skills and overall skill level have taken a leap. Soft hands attacking the cup as a roll man, real ability to punish switches as a slasher, a functional handle playing in space and promising touch to build on as a shooter. On the other end of the floor, he's one of my favorite prospects in the cycle with his ability to stick on guards, generate deflections and mix it up with bigs due to his length, pop and energy. We're higher on Codie than anyone, and I feel strongly that we may not be high enough given his rate of progression and next-level tools.
Thomas Sorber
24th Overall
One I've come around on significantly over the last few months, Ed Cooley and the Hoyas locked down one I think was set to see his recruitment hit another level. Higher on him than anyone in the industry, it's the blend of immediate scalability and production mixed with upside for more moving forward that have him cemented inside the top 25 nationally. Elite hands, the ability to finish with either hand and rim protection instincts, he's been a force in deep on either end. As he enters as a college strength and conditioning program, taking steps physically should unlock plenty more in terms of defensive versatility and pop around the rim. On top of that, the 6-9 bruiser has shown a willingness to shoot in spurts and it seems well within play to become serviceable from deep in the next few years.
Jackson McAndrew
28th Overall
One that's been riding some momentum over the last year or so, but it become clear this summer that Jackson McAndrew's skillset warrants a top-30 ranking. The 6-9 four-man has shot a combined 40% from three point range through the past two years with Howard Pulley on just over 8 3PA per game. An elite floor-spacer with size, he's steadily grown more and more adept at attacking closeouts, serving as a connector and shooting it with range. While there are natural shortcomings defensively, he's impressed rotationally — coming over from the weakside to shut down advantages and stifle shots at the rim. Continuing to buy the level of feel, instincts and nuclear shot-making from the Minnesota native, who is now down to four schools.
38th Overall
It was a bit of a streaky early spring, but I thought it was an exceptionally strong summer for Marquette-bound Damarius Owens. The 6-7 wing seems to be more athletic with each viewing, flying around on both ends and playing above the rim with consistency. He does a lot with a little, and while he's not a guy that a high volume of plays are draw up towards, he's always around the ball and finding avenues to impact winning. Owens does a ton well, and continues to grow in polish, but my favorite trait is his brisk decision-making offensively. The ball never sticks, and whether it's a play for himself or for someone else, he's looking to make the simple play more times than not. In North Augusta, the City Rocks wing hit his stride from deep shooting 40% on over 5 3PA per game and showed to be more consistent mechanically. The defensive end is where he's hung his hat though, as he'll be a hand in glove fit under Shaka Smart with his length, activity and knack for generating deflections. There's plenty of room to grow as a ball-handler, and while the brisk processing ability is impressive, he still has stretch of playing too sped up and forcing the issue. Yet, I think his upside has ridden a bit under the radar as a 3 & D wing who continues to progress across the board. We're the highest on him in the industry by a strong margin, and I wouldn't be surprised to see him continue to rise.
Bishop Boswell
39th Overall
He's been a personal favorite within the class for a bit now, and he seems to be getting better and better each step of the way. 6-4 and built like a linebacker with high level table-setting instincts, Boswell is taking off at the right time in a class low on true floor generals. The Carolina native has a knack for seeing a rotation before it plays out and passing his teammates open in unsettled situations. Seems there may be another level to hit in terms of tilting defenses in ball screens, but his cadence and willingness to bump defenders and play in traffic remains highly impressive. Defensively, his track record on the gridiron shines bright, giving more slight handlers fits with his lateral quickness and physicality. Less of a steal producer than an overall stalwart at the point of attack, making any advantage hard to come by on the defensive end. Boswell's recruitment is down to six, and I'd bet on him being an impact player at the next level before long.
Gicarri Harris
49th Overall
A skilled scorer and lights out shooter from deep, it seems like Gicarri Harris has gone a bit too under the radar nationally. 6-3 with a mature, steady approach, he's continued to develop his frame while retaining an ultra crafty scoring skillset and a diverse shot profile. The last two summers with the Atlanta Celtics, he's toggled between primary duties generating offense and slotting in off the ball, impressing thoroughly in the process. Harris thrives attacking closeouts and creating slight advantages inside the arc, all capped by a dynamic shooting stroke from deep. He scores in bunches and requires little usage to bring a big impact on the offensive end. Purdue, Georgia and Stanford have seemed to be entrenched in his recruitment for sometime, and one will get a ready-made shot-maker who's style of play fits seamlessly within a team concept.
Matt Hodge
55th Overall
Swiss-Army Knife productivity was present from the very first viewing early last fall upon his arrival in the US, and it all translated to the EYBL stage. At 6-8 with high level functional athleticism, Hodge has a knack for doing all the little things to impact winning. Rebounding, connective playmaking, switchability defensively and toughness to secure loose balls. However as the spring rolled into the summer, the St. Rose (NJ) wing began to find further consistency as a catch and shoot threat from deep. From the Belgian national team in FIBA play, to St. Rose and to PSA, he's fluidly toggled through roles and found avenues to bring winning value regardless of his offensive usage. A seamless fit within a team construct as a versatile four-man, while flashing plenty more juice as an offensive hub when given the opportunity. Still unranked by most of the industry, he's quickly become a priority high-major recruit and for due reason.
Pharoah Compton
56th Overall
Compton arose quickly last summer, and while a ways away from being a finished product, a 6-7 ball of energy with springs in his legs to go with a 7-2 wingspan is a bet I'm willing to take. There aren't too many with comparable tools, and there surely aren't too many with a similar impact on the game as the Vegas native. From AZ Compass to Vegas Elite, he's been surrounded by a ton of talent in each context over the last year or so, and I think his progression has gone a bit overlooked. Compton's ability to play in traffic and bruise his way to the rim as a roll man shined bright in Vegas Elite's run at Peach Jam, and has certainly become a calling card for the rim runner. He's looking to rip the rim down with every opportunity, and has a growing sense of patience around the rim as shown by an 83% FG rate at the rim, per Synergy. There's facets to polish up in terms of feel and decision-making at times, but with youth on his side and a collection of tools matched by very few, I've grown more and more bullish on his long-term upside.
Miles Goodman
77th Overall
Far from a finished product, but the upside of Miles Goodman seems to grow more intriguing by the viewing. 6-10 with plus length on him, the tools have been impressive from the onset. The Seattle native has continued to fill out, and while he still has room to add plenty more strength, he has an impressive blend of agility, toughness and size. Perhaps my favorite aspect of his skillset at this stage is his versatility defending ball screens. He's comfortable switching onto guards to force a tough look and has the quickness mixed with size to smother guards at the level. Lapses come with any young big, but he's excellent playing in space, quick off the floor and continues to grow more sound as a back-line decision-maker. Goodman has begun to roll hard to the rim with consistency, carving out more of identity on that end to go with flashes as a shooter from deep. Now leading a high major recruitment, I'm big on the prospects of him long-term.
Colin White
84th Overall
Flory Bidunga and Travis receive the lion's share of attention for a dynamic Indiana Elite group, and for due reason, but the steady progression and impact of Colin White has impressed with each viewing over the last few months. 6-6 with a versatile skillset and the frame to add more strength, but it's White's instincts, workman-like approach and toughness that have shined bright. An excellent rebounder, timely cutter and a high impact, low maintenance offensive piece. He does a ton of little things to impact winning, on top of a smooth shooting stroke, crafty scoring ability driving closeouts, impressive instincts and plus athleticism. Offers have stacked up fast this spring and summer, and it's easy to see why given his ability to provide value in a number of different roles.
Angelo Ciaravino
86th Overall
One that I've been big on for quite a bit of time now, but has begun to introduce himself nationally. Similar to White, the key separator with Ciaravino has been and continues to be his decision-making, feel for the game and hard-hat approach. At 6-6 with a frame that's grown stronger and more athletic over the last year, he's at his best consistently toggling through offensive responsibilities. A dynamic off-ball cutter with aggression around the rim, a timely playmaker attacking downhill and an elevated shooter who continues to grow in efficiency. The Chicago native has always done the little things to impact winning, and his motor is relentless, but he's beginning to do the big things with more consistency as his body, confidence and assertiveness evolve. He processes the game at a high level and brings a competitive edge matched by few. Ciaravino's steady progression skill-wise paired with his mature approach to the game has a hotly contested, national recruitment brewing.