Rivals Roundtable: Looking ahead to the 2023 and 2025 rankings updates

Rankings for the class of 2023 and 2025 are set to update next week and the recruiting buzz surrounding a number of 2024 prospects is picking up. That’s all to say there’s no lack of news surrounding any of the next three classes of college-bound stars. That’s why this week’s roundtable features Rivals national basketball analysts Rob Cassidy and Travis Graf weighing in on a question about each group.

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2023 Rankings: Rivals150 | Team | Position

2024 Rankings: Rivals150 | Team

2025 Rankings: Top 40

Transfer Portal: Latest news

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Cassidy: I get more bullish on Stephon Castle every time I see him. He’s set to make a significant jump in next week’s update and I’m not certain he won’t rise higher by the time things are said and done in March. The UConn signee has improved his point guard skills in the past year and has spent his senior season stuffing box scores. Few guards in the country impact the game in as many different ways as Castle, who has grabbed the attention of multiple NBA scouts with whom I’ve recently spoken. It’ll be interesting to see how he looks in all-star settings.

Graf: I’ve been a major advocate for 2023 big man Dennis Evans and believe he could find himself in the top-10 by the time it’s all said and done due to his elite rim protection. He’s young and he’s progressing at a very fast rate. He’s also one of the best rim protectors I’ve scouted in recent memory, and you just can’t teach 7-foot-1 and a 7-foot-7 wing span. His offensive game has made big strides as well and I’d like to see how he looks in all-star game practice settings. If he’s deterring shots at the same rate in that setting, he could continue to move up the rankings.

Cassidy: I think Ian Jackson is the obvious answer here, as things have heated up with him in recent weeks. The five-star guard has taken a pair of official visits this month, touring both Arkansas and North Carolina and now rumors that a commitment could come in the very near future have started to swirl. Adding intrigue to Jackson’s recruitment are the whispers of a possible reclassification to 2023. Kentucky was once seen as the clear leader to land the New York based star, but things on that front look far less certain now with the Wildcats off to a slow start and the fan base getting antsy with John Calipari, who has not won an NCAA Tournament game since 2019. UNC seems to be in a great spot as things stand, but, as always, things are subject to change.

Graf: I’ll go with Dink Pate here. The 6-foot-7 guard has offers from seemingly half the country at this point and leads a very busy recruitment. He wants to go somewhere that will utilize his ball skills and put the ball in his hands at the point guard spot. A lot of schools will be reluctant to do that at his size, which will narrow the list down over time. Georgetown has been on him hard for a long time and Arkansas has come on strong, with Pate just recently wrapping up a visit there. The Razorbacks have shown that they’ll put the ball in Anthony Black’s hands this season, who is another guard with size. The professional routes will also be on the table for the five-star guard.

Cassidy: I’m a believer in Will Riley. As more people have gotten to see him that opinion is becoming a bit less unique. That said, he still only holds a couple of major offers. This is the Canadian-born wing’s first season in the states, however, so his offer list is likely to grow with haste this summer. His offensive game is a bit unconventional and sometimes isn't the most aesthetically pleasing thing on Earth, but he has the length, the jumper and the ball-handling ability to get it done against elite competition. His scoring his well ahead of the other parts of his game for the time being, but I like how he projects enough to push him up the 2025 rankings.

Graf: Nyk Lewis isn’t a name that too many people are overly familiar with at this time, but that will change soon. He played 16U last grassroots season and would’ve put up bigger numbers playing on the 15U level, but the talent is undeniable. I got an extended look at Lewis at the MADE Hoops Jordan Holiday Classic last month and his size, strength, and ability to drive the ball immediately stood out. He’s got the measurables and strength to be a good two-way guard and gets paint touches very regularly. His jump shot wasn’t falling consistently that week, but his mechanics were also promising.