The Hoopstate continues to reign supreme as one of the country’s top recruiting pipelines, and for good reason, with guys like Brandon Ingram, Bam Adebayo, Dennis Smith Jr., Harry Giles, Grant Williams, Coby White, and Devon Dotson all emerging within the last four to five years. Now, the senior class is arguably as top-heavy as ever and appears to be littered with potential star prospects at nearly every position. With respect to Josh Nickelberry and Juwan Gary, this argument will be between Wendell Moore, Patrick Williams, Greg Gantt, and Kadin Shedrick. There’s a case to be made for each of these guys (including Gary and Nickelberry), but only one player can claim that top spot.
6’6 Wendell Moore (Cox Mill/Team CP3/Duke signee)
Throughout the last four years, no player has been more consistently great than Wendell Moore. At the end of the day, winning games is the most important statistic and Moore simply knows how to deliver in that category. Our own Rick Lewis said it best, explaining “Moore is a true leader that allows his teammates to make plays and then takes over when the game is on the line.” That notion is always true, regardless of what team or collection of players he suits up with. Moore has an incredibly well-rounded skillset, which truly allows him to affect all facets of the game without ever needing to force the action. He has no holes on offense and has become an even more destructive, versatile defender over the last year or so. Moore is a special talent and should enjoy a lot of success at Duke and beyond.
6’8 Patrick Williams (West Charlotte/Team United/Florida State signee)
This exact conversation heated up about a year and a half ago, when Patrick Williams really started to break out and dominate everyone in his path. He possesses the most pro-friendly skillset, given his size and ability to score from any spot on the floor. Williams is an elite two-way prospect that plays with a calm demeanor and carves opposing defenses on a regular basis. He’s very crafty with the ball in his hands and does a great job of creating scoring opportunities for himself and others. Williams was one of the most efficient scorers on the EYBL last summer and has carried that consistency into the high school season. He has all the necessary tools to maintain his star status at the next level and could become the alpha dog for Florida State.
6’8 Greg Gantt (Trinity Christian/Team Felton/Providence signee)
There’s no better prospect-to-college fit on this list than Greg Gantt and Providence University, which should be a match made in heaven. His ascension to stardom has been unlike any other player mentioned here, as his approach and overall skillset have gradually changed over the years. Over the last two years, Gantt has added an unbelievable amount of offensive polish and is now capable of handling a prominent role within an effective offense. He’s now showing more range and ability, yet has still maintained his defensive versatility—which is a big part of what makes him unique. Gantt’s ability to legitimately defend four to five positions at the high school level is exceptional and quite rare. That being said, he should be able to keep that same defensive prowess at the next level and actively highlight his ability to switch onto anyone, especially with how Providence elevates their combo-forwards.
6’11 Kadin Shedrick (Holly Springs/Garner Road/Virginia signee)
Concluding this article, we take a closer look at the player that has rapidly improved and skyrocketed himself into the national spotlight within the last six months, Kadin Shedrick. It’s difficult to bet against proven big men, especially with a guy like this. Shedrick already established himself as one of the premier rim-protectors in the region, and that was even before the noteworthy haircut. He looked utterly dominant with Garner Road this summer and has been nothing short of phenomenal this season for Holly Springs. Shedrick has always been an instinctual defender, but it’s his incredible jump in offensive polish that should have folks talking. He’s simply showcasing ball-skills and scoring moves that nobody could’ve seen coming. Shedrick is likely the underdog in this scenario, but he’s placed himself in the conversation and could be a real game-changer for Virginia going forward.