With the high-school season back in full swing, there’s simply no better time to take an extended look at our rankings and some of the players who have already separated themselves from the pack. This is the time where potential starts to directly translate into ability. All of the players on this list have taken massive strides over the last calendar year and have definitely earned their place atop our rankings.
6’5 Freddie Dilione (Trinity Christian)
Outside of the big three (Bradley, Rice, Hood-Schifino) Dilione has a legitimate argument as the best available backcourt prospect. He’s smart, extremely crafty, and scores the ball at an extremely efficient rate from all three levels. Dilione creates for himself and others with relative ease, but also rebounds at a quality rate and has clear upside as a defender. He knows how to lead by example and, although already incredibly polished, will only continue to get better over the next few years.
6’7 Daniel Sanford (Vance)
There’s a lot of size within North Carolina’s Class of 2022, and Sanford is likely the most underrated of them all. He’s big, strong, and incredibly explosive, which allows him to pretty much dominate any opponent at the high school level. Sanford has an impressive frame and knows how to properly utilize his body on both ends of the floor. In terms of ceiling and overall upside, no prospect on this list is more appealing. Sanford’s motor and terrific nose for the ball seem to shine on every single possession.
6’8 Asa White (Garner)
Arguably no prospect on this list possesses a better balance between skill and athleticism than White. The crazy thing is that he’s truly just beginning to scratch the surface of his long-term abilities. White is a walking mismatch with ball skills and the ability to create for himself or others. He makes smart decisions with the ball in his hands and has blossoming versatility on both ends of the floor. White already knows how to regularly make his presence felt but is a prospect that should only continue to trend upward going forward.
6’6 DJ Nix (Cannon)
Few players have done more for this recruitment over the last few months than Nix, who has added a reliable three-point stroke to his already rugged approach. He’s a strong, physical forward prospect that loves to get downhill, attack the rim, and finish through contact at the rim. However, the addition of his three-point shot opens up an entirely new realm of possibilities for Nix—both now and in the future. He’s already proven to be an excellent rebounder and high-motor defender with the ability to initiate offense as needed. Now, he’s able to score the ball in multiple different ways while still overwhelming opponents with his sheer size.
6’3 Kheni Briggs (A.L. Brown)
Last but certainly not least, Briggs is quite possibly the most popular prospect among this group. He’s earned that reputation by being incredibly polished and productive over the last three or so years but has also made incredible strides over that span. Briggs creates like a point guard, attacks like an athletic wing, and battles on the glass like a big man. He’s also a phenomenal defender with sharp anticipation and the ability to quickly turn defense into offensive by forcing turnovers and dictating transition play. Briggs should only continue to be productive and collect offers.