Rivals150: New four-star prospects
In the newly updated 2017 Rivals150, 11 players made their rankings debuts as four-star prospects. Why did they make such impressive debuts and what can we expect from them down the road?
RELATED: Complete updated 2017 rankings | By the numbers | Ayton returns to No. 1
Why he stands out: At around 6-foot-10 or so, Gak is a fluid athlete who turned heads during his junior season. He is lacking strength and consistency at this point, but his athleticism, ability to face and attack off the dribble and ceiling for improvement all suggest he could emerge as a big-time prospect.
Recruiting: Gak has offers from Kansas, SMU, Minnesota, Seton Hall, Cincinnati, Providence and others.
Why he stands out: What we love about Sexton is the way he competes. He’s the kind of kid that if you score four points on him he’ll find your family and tell them that he’s not letting you score again. He shoots it with range, he is athletic and he has a very nice feel for making the right play at the right time.
Recruiting: Sexton has offers from Cincinnati, Old Dominion, Ole Miss, Georgia, Kansas State, Alabama and others.
Why he stands out: One of several Canadian prospects making their imprint on the rankings, Alexander is a long and rangy athlete at the point. He is explosive with the dribble and knows what to do as either a scorer or playmaker for others once he finds his way into the paint.
Recruiting: Alexander is committed to Florida.
Why he stands out: When you are 6-foot-5 and can legitimately play the point, word will eventually get out. Though a “late bloomer” by some recruiting standards, Garrett has the size and athleticism to play all around the perimeter, but it’s his feel for the game and making the correct, and most often simple, play that stands out.
Recruiting: Baylor, Texas, Kansas, Virginia Tech, SMU, TCU and many others have offered.
Why he stands out: A skinny two guard who can fill it via the jumper, Randolph reminds us a lot of current UNLV standout Patrick McCaw. He can run some offense but is most comfortable as a scorer who can also help out on the glass. If anything, we’re thinking his entrance at No. 73 may have been a bit on the conservative side.
Recruiting: St. John’s, Xavier, Florida State, VCU, Manhattan, Wake Forest, George Washington, Seton Hall, Marquette, Vanderbilt, Temple and Louisville have all offered.
Why he stands out: Another import from Canada, David has a feathery jump shot and terrific size for the wing. He appears to be a good athlete with an aptitude for making smart passes. We’d love to see him post up and attack off the dribble more to make even better use of his size.
Recruiting: Illinois, Baylor, Oregon, Providence, Creighton, Florida and more have offered.
Why he stands out: It certainly isn’t because of his size that Lykes stands out. Only 5-foot-7, Lykes stands out because he’s a nasty competitor, a total winner and a true leader on the floor. He’s an explosive athlete who defenders have trouble staying in front of and he makes good decisions.
Recruiting: Lykes has offers from Dayton, Richmond, George Mason, George Washington, VCU, Georgetown and Villanova.
Why he stands out: Doumbia is a bit raw when it comes to overall skill, but he is a magnificent athlete who truly excels in the open floor. He soars for dunks, chases down opponents to block shots and has a body to build on.
Recruiting: Baylor, Tennessee, South Carolina, UCF and Florida have offered.
Why he stands out: Of the new four-stars on our list, Livers is one of the least known outside of his home state. We haven’t seen him as much as some other players, but he’s capable of knocking down a 15-footer, can finish with the best of them in transition and he checks all the boxes of a guy who could have a huge breakout this spring.
Recruiting: Livers has early offers from Toledo and Western Michigan but he’s taken recent unofficial visits to Pittsburgh and Michigan State.
Why he stands out: Cosby-Roundtree has always looked the part with long arms, a nice basketball frame and good size. A good athlete, he can play with some physicality and he’s now become a pretty reliable option as a scorer and rebounder. He’s by no means a finished product but is heading in the right direction fast.
Recruiting: St. Jospeh’s, Penn State, VCU, Villanova, Providence, Miami and Syracuse are among his offers.
Why he stands out: A slick scorer, Oliver has a strong feel for the game and he plays with confidence. He has a pretty jumper with deep range and has become explosive when attacking the basket. His reputation in his home state currently exceeds his national reputation, but he’ll jump in the rankings if he’s capable of performing against top competition this spring and summer.
Recruiting: Oliver is committed to Clemson.