Five Must Get Recruits from On3's 2023 rankings

The two most significant story topics for fan sites like On3 are rankings day and recruiting news. Today On3 updated its 2023 basketball rankings today, so let’s put a recruiting spin on it. Here are five players in On3’s 2023 rankings and the college programs that must get them. 

6-9 PF GG Jackson
Columbia (SC) Ridge View High
New On3 Ranking: No. 1
Must get for: South Carolina

It is no secret that the South Carolina program needs some juice. Coming off a Final Four run just five seasons ago, the Gamecocks have not been to an NCAA tournament since. GG Jackson grew up in Columbia, just minutes away from campus. The new No. 1 overall prospect has been on campus numerous times, grew up coming to the basketball camps, and has South Carolina in his top group. It is more than just landing On3’s 2023 rankings No. 1 player. The program has had trouble keeping the high-level players in the state, were Jackson to sign with South Carolina, more home-grown prospects would be sure to follow. 

Status: Jackson recently released a top-six, South Carolina, North Carolina, Duke, Auburn, G-League, and Georgetown

6-8 SF Mookie Cook
Chandler (AZ) AZ Compass
New On3 Ranking: No. 9
Must get for: Oregon

Much like Jackson, Cook grew up in the shadows of Eugene. The Oregon native is a consensus five-star prospect, and his sister ran track (triple jump) at Oregon. In the age of NIL, Oregon has a lot to offer an elite player, especially one from Oregon. Also, Cook’s friend and travel ball teammate, Jackson Shelstead, has committed to Oregon. There is a lot of pull toward the Ducks. 

Status: Cook recently released a top three, Oregon, Kentucky, and Gonzaga

6-7 SF Gavin Griffiths
West Hartford (CT) Kingswood-Oxford School
New On3 Ranking: No. 15
Must get for: Michigan

Michigan needs shooting. Griffiths is two years out, but this season’s Wolverines have been below the 150 mark in D-I for three-point shooting the entire season. Griffiths is one of the nation’s premier shooters, who plays with confidence and an ingrained swagger. He fits a need, Michigan identified Griffiths early, and they have staying power. There will be a pull from Providence and UConn to remain local, and with him being a top-15 prospect, more schools are sure to jump in. Michigan needs to withstand the push. 

Status: Griffiths recruitment is heating up, but things are still early. Iowa, Creighton, Michigan, UConn, Syracuse, Providence are some he speaks about regularly. 

6-6 SF Dennis Parker, Jr.
Richmond (VA) John Marshall
New On3 Ranking: No. 28
Must get for: NC State

Parker is a defensive wing who can guard up and down a lineup. He has good length, and he plays with toughness – his dad was a football player. This recruitment is a must-get for NC State because Parker plays for Team Loaded, an Adidas-sponsored travel ball program. Adidas also sponsors the NC State athletics program. Wolfpack head coach Kevin Keatts has deep ties to Virginia, as do assistants Roy Roberson and James Johnson. Parker, Jr. is a fit for the archetype of the wing/forward spot that has had success in Keatts’ system. It would be a splash, getting a top-30 player, but also one that makes sense. 

Status: Parker says he hears most from Oklahoma State and NC State. He has also visited TCU and Maryland unofficially.

6-5 CG Silas Demary, Jr.
Charlotte (NC) Liberty Heights
New On3 Ranking: No. 96
Must get for: VCU

Sure VCU is not a high-major school, and Demary, Jr. is on the back end of the top-100, but there is more to this. VCU is a proud basketball program that competes in the uber-competitive Atlantic-10 Conference. Demary, Jr. is the type of player (think Briante Weber) that VCU could ride to an NCAA tournament birth and then get wins once selected. He is a premier defensive player with positional size, and he simply wins. Demary, Jr.’s dad played football at Virginia State, so there is familiarity with the area. VCU has been on him for a while, and Demary, Jr. has been on campus multiple times. Can the Rams hold off the high-major programs which are sure to enter the picture?

Status: VCU, St. John’s, Texas A&M, etc.