2024 Rankings Explained Part 3 (21-25)
As we get into the top half of our 2024 rankings, we look at five players who should all see major upticks in their recruitment.
As always, you can see the rankings up to this point at the links below.
Tier 6 (17-22)
Tier 7 (23-28)
Tier 8 (29-34)
Tier 9 (35-39)
Tier 10 (40-44)
Tier 11 (45-50)
HM Part 1
HM Part 2
(21) 6’3” Franklin Johnson (Chapel Hill)
Johnson is a strong guard with good size for his position. He shoots the ball at a high clip and is comfortable creating his shot off the dribble. He’s smooth with the ball in his hands and doesn’t allow defenses to speed him up. He applies a ton of pressure on the rim, able to get downhill seemingly whenever he wants. He defends his position well, guarding on and off the ball with great energy, instincts, and toughness. He has a clear and obvious identity as a two-way guard that should translate to a variety of programs at the next level. He’ll see much of the scoring load this year for a Chapel Hill team that can really surprise some people.
(22) 6’3” Kyren Smith (Trinity of Durham & Chapel Hill)
Smith is one of the most productive players on this list, averaging 17p/4r/3a per game for the Lions last season. He’s a long and physical wing that can score at multiple levels. He impresses with his ability to get to his spots and connect, specifically on mid-range pull-up jumpers. He’s growing more and more as a primary creator, making great passing reads with more and more regularity. His handle is quick and is made better by his strength and athleticism which can overwhelm smaller matchups. He finishes at the rim at a high level, using his athleticism, strength, and relentlessness to power through and around defenders. Smith will be expected to have one of the most productive seasons on the private school side this season and lead Trinity of Durham & Chapel Hill to their best year in the Brian Wrighten era.
(23) 6’7” Logan Ware (Panther Creek)
Ware is a prospect who has his best basketball ahead of him. He’s still teeming with potential and has made significant strides over the past 6-12 months. He’s seen noticeable improvements to his athleticism, toughness, and overall interior presence in that time frame. He’s more comfortable than ever creating and absorbing contact in the paint and it’s made him a better finisher, rebounder, and defender. He’s also a quality shooter who can space the floor and even put the ball down and make the occasional one-dribble pull-up. He should see much more responsibility in a Panther Creek frontcourt that will allow him to showcase his offensive versatility. He’s received offers from NC Wesleyan, Clinton College, and Mountain Gateway CC. Given his size, length, and overall skillset it would be surprising to not see more schools get involved sooner rather than later.
(24) 6’8” Kaden Morris (Cleveland)
Despite basketball being his second sport, Morris is one of the most productive and intriguing big men in the triangle. The NC State baseball commit averaged 12p/10r/2b in his breakout campaign last season. He’s a traditional back-to-basket type of big man who thrives on cleaning up the glass and protecting the paint at a high level. He has solid touch around the rim and has great hands in the post. He has great size and strength, especially given that he’s a legitimate 6’8”. These superior physical tools make him an elite defender as smaller guards driving can’t handle the contact while forwards and bigs are unable to move him down low. He’ll be relied upon to shoulder a lot of responsibility on both sides of the ball for Cleveland in a conference full of talented big men.
(25) 5’9” Isaiah Page (Southern)
Page is a gritty point guard who simply knows how to win. He has a strong frame for his size and is extremely quick, both with the ball in his hands and when sliding his feet on defense. He does so many small things well on both sides of the ball. His toughness and hard-nosed style of play give him an advantage over other guards, regardless of the size matchup. He’s great at playing the low-maintenance point guard role on offense with his capable shooting, elite finishing, and high-level playmaking sense. He’ll be asked to shoulder pretty much all of the point guard duties this year for a Southern team that has legitimate state championship aspirations.