New five-star recruits in the class of 2023: several additions

On Monday, On3 released its updated class of 2023 player rankings and we saw significant movement throughout the entire top-150, but especially within the five-star range.

A total of five prospects graduated to five-star status.

Let’s dive in and identify which prospects earned their fifth star.

Updated 2023 Player Rankings

C Ugonna Kingsley

Previous ranking: No. 25
Updated ranking: No. 5
Position: Center
High school: Putnam Science Academy (CT)
Recruitment: Uncommitted

If you haven’t heard of Ugonna Kingsley yet, it doesn’t come as too much of a surprise. The 6-foot-11 big man arrived in the United States six months ago, coming over from the NBA Academy Africa. Kingsley makes his presence felt immediately on the defensive end of the floor, and walking off the court with double-digit blocks is not unusual for him. The offensive game will need work, but Kingsley is a prospect to buy stock in.

Kingsley saw a significant jump in his ranking, rising a total of 20 spots. His recruitment is still open but he recently told On3 that Kentucky, Kansas, UConn, and LSU were the schools he was looking at.

Scouting Report: “You immediately see the size, length, and fluidity in the way Ugonna Kingsley moves. The hips are loose, the feet are quick, and the leaping is explosive. On the defensive end, he is a natural. The timing is excellent at the rim and in the passing lanes. He can also fluidly move his feet when he switches onto a perimeter player. His defense is ahead of his offense at this point. At Putnam, they use him a lot from the high-post and elbows as a screener and ball-mover. He has touch but will need to continue developing confidence in the shot. The ball skills and vision will have to continue to tighten, but he runs the floor very well, changing ends at the drop of a time. He finished with double-figure blocks in the second game we watched. The defense is high level.” – Jamie Shaw, On3’s National Recruiting Analyst

SF Matas Buzelis

Previous ranking: No. 21
Updated ranking: No. 6
Position: Small Forward
High school: Sunrise Christian (KS)
Recruitment: Uncommitted

Matas Buzelis is having a strong AAU season playing on the EYBL Circuit for Expressions Elite. There’s no denying his skill at 6-foot-10. He has the ability to bring the ball down the court when needed, play on the wing, and score the basketball in a variety of ways. Buzelis will need to add strength and his motor needs some work, but his upside is tremendous. He jumped 15 spots in the updated rankings.

Buzelis recently narrowed his list of choices to five different options: North Carolina, Wake Forest, Florida State, Kentucky, and the G-League.

Scouting Report: “Matas Buzelis has a lot of tools you look for in a modern forward. He has great positional size and good length. At 6-foot-10 you see he is very effective in transition with great balance and good burst. Buzelis has a good handle in the open floor. He is currently a perimeter-oriented player. He needs to tighten his handle in the half-court, to help get him to his spots better and more effectively. The jump shot is also a slow-release. He is better shooting off the catch than the bounce…a good off-ball cutter, finishing above the rim on backdoor cuts.…at his best working with minimal dribbles from the mid-range/mid-post area. He needs strength and the motor runs hot and cold. The upside is high here.” – Jamie Shaw, On3’s National Recruiting Analyst

PF Omaha Biliew

Previous ranking: No. 14
Updated ranking: No. 7
Position: Power Forward
High school: Link Academy (MO)
Recruitment: Uncommitted

Omaha Biliew is not a new name in grassroots basketball. The 6-foot-8 forward has seemingly held onto his five-star status since his rankings debut in the 10th grade. Biliew separates himself from the rest of the class with his motor, versatility, and physical strength. He jumps seven spots in the updated rankings.

Biliew recently cut his list to Iowa State, Oregon, Kansas, and the G-League.

Scouting Report: “Biliew is a physical presence as his frame looks like that of a college upperclassman. He has great length and is a good, functional athlete. Biliew is still learning how to use his physical traits to impact a game. When he is at his best, Biliew is a switch-able defender between wings and forwards and he is rebounding at a high rate. Offensively, Biliew has touch and he can knock down a three, but he is still not all the way comfortable handling and creating on the perimeter. There is some of that in his game, and he shows flashes but that is something he will need to work on. Right now Biliew is a defensive-minded four-man. It will be interesting to see how his perimeter skills tighten over the summer to see where his game goes. He needs to have a consistent summer and continue growing in his game, the upside is there, along with the tools.” – Jamie Shaw, On3’s National Recruiting Analyst

C Xavier Booker

Previous ranking: No. 52
Updated ranking: No. 8
Position: Center
High school: Cathedral (IN)
Recruitment: Uncommitted

Xavier Booker might be the hottest prospect on the block right now. In the last 30 days, Booker has picked up offers from Duke, Kansas, Louisville, Texas, Oregon, Memphis, and Auburn. Michigan State, Michigan, Purdue, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Indiana, and others have also offered.

At 6-foot-10, Booker is a fluid athlete that can stretch the floor. He can also push the ball in transition, guard multiple positions, and has the skill set of a modern big. Booker soared up the rankings a total of 44 spots.

Scouting Report: “Xavier Booker is a lengthy lefty who just moves in a way most his size does not. He has a lot of pop in his step and fluidity in his movements. While he is a more perimeter-based big right now, you see the ability to alter shots and the rim and rebound in traffic. He will need to get stronger and maybe pay more attention to the rebounding, but there is upside as a switchable type defender. Booker is a good spot shooter with consistent three-point range. He can push the break and has counters when he gets cut off, but he will need to work on not getting too deep with the ball. He runs the floor well. Strength will be a bit thing, will help with his stamina. There is immense upside here.” – Jamie Shaw, On3’s National Recruiting Analyst

PG A.J. Johnson

Previous ranking: Unranked
Updated ranking: No. 9
Position: Point Guard
High school: Taft (CA)
Recruitment: Uncommitted

Last but not least is AJ Johnson. The 6-foot-5 point guard is making a name for himself out west and colleges are starting to catch on. Louisville, Tennessee, Miami, USC, Texas, LSU, Texas Tech, and others have extended scholarships. Johnson saw one of the biggest jumps we’ve seen in the rankings, propelling himself from unranked all the way to No. 9 in the country.

Scouting Report: “Johnson has elite-level speed, with excellent positional size and length. He can play fast but also controlled, and he attacks the teeth of the defense with a purpose. He has had a considerable rise over the last year. The native of Fresno, California, is ultra-thin. He will need to continue developing and reigning in his reads; however, the natural tools are in place to be one of the top point guards in the 2023 class.” – Jamie Shaw, On3’s National Recruiting Analyst