Five college freshmen who have lived up to their high school ranking

We are in the final week of the college basketball regular season. This is a perfect time to look at the past few months and see how the freshmen performed. Not only to look at their performance but also at how they have progressed. Every prospect’s trajectory is different, which oftentimes calls for a variance in performance levels during their first couple of years out of high school.

Looking back through the 2022 rankings, there are a few players On3 had higher than the industry. Kyle Filipowski, Leonard Miller, Cason Wallace, and Cam Whitmore are some in the top ten. However, the ranking differential is not significant. The plan is to take a look at players who have outplayed their ranking later in the week.

Here are five college freshmen On3 ranked higher than the industry standard who have lived up to their ranking.

The 2022 On3 Industry Rankings

PG Anthony Black (Arkansas)

Height/Weight: 6-7/200
High school: Duncanville (TX) High
2022 On3 150: No. 9
2022 On3 Industry Ranking: No. 15

2022-23 stats: 12.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 2.0 steals, 46.2% FG

Anthony Black has started all 29 games for the 19-win Razorbacks this season. The 6-foot-7 point guard was a dual-sport athlete for most of his high school career, doubling as a D-I recruited wide receiver. Black gave up football for basketball in his junior year, and things took off. The former McDonald’s All-American played on an independent travel team (3D Empire) and had to sit for a lot of his senior season at Duncanville (TX) High due to Texas state transfer rules.

The positional size and the instincts were obvious; however, what really stood out was his toughness and willingness to make the right play. The injury bug has hit Arkansas this season, which has caused Black’s role to be fluid. There are times when he has been asked to score and other times to facilitate and run the team. He has stepped up to the plate under both scenarios.

There is still more upside to reach with Black, and he continues to grow with each game he plays at Arkansas. He is currently being projected as a 2023 NBA Draft lottery pick.

SG Gradey Dick (Kansas)

Height/Weight: 6-8/205
High School: Bel Aire (KS) Sunrise Christian
2022 On3 150: No. 11
2022 On3 Industry Ranking: No. 17

2022-23 stats: 14.9 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.5 steals, 41.8% 3P

Gradey Dick is in the conversation for this season’s best in-game shooter in college basketball. The 6-foot-8 wing ran with the KC Run GMC program on the UAA Next Circuit and played his first two years of high school basketball at Wichita (KS) Collegiate. Dick played his last two years of high school at Bel Aire (KS) Sunrise Christian, where he was the 2022 Kansas Gatorade Player of the Year as a senior.

Interestingly enough, earlier in his development, Dick was known more for his athleticism than his jump shooting. Last season, at Sunrise Christian, he averaged almost 18 per game while shooting 46.7 percent from three for the 26-1 program. He was the state player of the year and a McDonald’s All-American.

Dick is leading Big 12 freshmen by shooting 41.8 percent from beyond the arc for a No. 3 ranked Kansas team. He is currently being projected as a potential lottery pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. Dick’s mom, Carmen (Jaspers) Dick, played basketball at Iowa State and then professionally overseas.

PG Jalen Hood-Schifino (Indiana)

Height/Weight: 6-6/215
High school: Montverde (FL) Academy
2022 On3 150: No. 19
2022 On3 Industry Ranking: No. 25

2022-23 stats: 13.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 0.9 steals, 36.4% 3P

Jalen Hood-Schifino has come on strong during Big Ten play. The 6-foot-6 point guard upped his season averages to 15.4 points and 3.6 assists in league play.

Hood-Schifino was not chosen for the 2022 McDonald’s All-American game after leading his Montverde (FL) Academy team to a Geico National Championship. While his calming demeanor and ability to take care of the ball spearheaded the best team in high school basketball, Hood-Schifino made his reputation on the defensive end.

The former On3 five-star started his Indiana career off slow, but things have taken off for him as the season progressed. Hood-Schifino is the nephew of former West Virginia 1,000-point scorer Drew Schifino. He is being talked about as a possible 2023 NBA Draft lottery pick.

C Donovan Clingan (UConn)

Height/Weight: 7-2/265
High school: Bristol (CT) Bristol Central
2022 On3 150: No. 33
2022 On3 Industry Ranking: No. 46

2022-23 stats: 7.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.9 blocks, 65.9% FG

Donovan Clingan has been an interesting prospect all season, developing what seems like a niche following around basketball circles. The 7-foot-2 center has not started any games for the Huskies, yet he is tied for fourth and leading all freshmen in the Big East in blocked shots.

Clingan played on the independent Hoop Group Circuit and for his local public high school at Bristol (CT) Bristol Central. The footer was the 2022 Connecticut Gatorade Player of the Year after averaging 29.9 points, 18.1 rebounds, and 6.1 blocks as a senior.

Clingan has become an analytical darling as his advanced numbers are very high. In recent seasons, Walker Kessler is a 7-foot-0-plus player who had big analytical numbers as a freshman in a limited role and took a big step in production from year one to year two. Clingan is popping up on 2023 NBA Draft boards, mostly as a mid to high-second rounder.

PF Taylor Hendricks (Central Florida)

Height/Weight: 6-9/210
High school: Fort Lauderdale (FL) Calvary Christian
2022 On3 150: No. 45
2022 On3 Industry Ranking: No. 56

2022-23 stats: 15.3 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.7 blocks, 41.2% 3P

Taylor Hendricks committed to Central Florida at the same time as his fraternal twin brother Tyler Hendricks. The 6-foot-9 forward started the season strong and has consistently grown as the season progressed. He is leading American Athletic Conference freshmen in scoring at 15.3 per game.

When the lights have been brightest, Hendricks has shined. In two league games against Houston this season, Hendricks is averaging 15.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks. Against Santa Clara, he had 19 points; against Oklahoma State, he had 16 points and 12 rebounds while shooting 3-of-4 from three.

Hendricks has recorded five double-doubles this season and nine games where he has had multiple threes and multiple blocks in the same game. There is a switchable defensive upside with some rim protection and consistent three-point shooting touch. All of this production has moved him into the 2023 NBA Draft lottery consideration.