Updated On3 Top 150 rankings headlined by new No. 1 prospect

On3 released the latest update of its On3 Top 150 basketball prospect rankings for the 2023 cycle Monday. This rankings release is the fourth update in the 2023 cycle, and it is heavily impacted by summer events, including the NBPA Top 100 Camp and the July live period.

This update includes new entires, and more than a dozen big movers in the On3 2023 rankings. On3 heavily prioritized in-person evaluations throughout the summer. The next rankings update take place in January with senior season in-person evaluations being a major factor in those.

Updated On3 Top 150 for the class of 2023

The basketball player rankings scale is as follows: Five-star prospects have grades 98-100, four-star recruits have grades 90-97, while 80-89 grades are for three stars.

The first 10 prospects are five stars with a rating of 98 or higher. The rankings for current cycles will be updated on a regular schedule throughout the year with 20 five stars by the final ranking of a cycle. 

Our goal is to assess a prospect’s long-term potential in college basketball, ultimately manifested by the NBA draft. Let’s get into some of the storylines surrounding the On3 Top 150.

D.J. Wagner Jr. moves into the No. 1 spot

With unanimous No. 1 in the cycle G.G. Jackson of Columbia (S.C.) Ridge View reclassifying to the 2022 class, combo guard DJ Wagner moves to No. 1 headed into the fall. The race for the No. 1 spot is far from over in a cycle that has seen two five-star prospects — Jackson and dominant defensive big man and 5-star center Ugonna Kinglsey — make the move to 2022.

Headed into the fall, there are a number of scenarios left to play out in the final rankings, especially at the top.

Wagner claims the top spot for now with a combination of fiery competitiveness on both ends of the floor, and a nonstop motor that is always in attack mode.

His competition could come from a number of directions. The 2023 cycle has a handful of talented big men with extremely high ceilings, but all have things to prove. Michigan State commitment Xavier Booker has a NBA skill set offensively with the length, but he has to become more of a physical presence. And more importantly, he needs to do so consistently with an end line to end line motor.

Duncanville (Texas) star Ronald Holland plays at a much higher level consistently for Duncanville head coach David Peavy vs. on the summer circuit. Holland had a strong showing at the 2022 FIBA U17 World Cup after some up-and-down performances in the spring and early summer, once again bringing his name into the equation headed into his senior campaign. The 6-foot-8 forward will need to continue expanding his offensive game with consistency as a senior to make that ascent.

Kwame Evans Jr. had a strong conclusion to the summer, and he continues to be a very high upside prospect. Evans has the ability to make some noise at Montverde Academy as a senior on a team that will provide ideal opportunities to produce consistently playing to his strengths. Consistency is what has been lacking throughout the spring and early summer.

A pair of new 5-stars added

Two prospects added a fifth star in the latest update for the 2023 cycle to bring the total number to 12 headed into the fall. The headliner is Duke commitment Mackenzie Mgbako. The 6-foot-8 combo forward, known as a stretch shooting forward, averaged 16.2 points and seven rebounds per game for the NJ Scholars on the EYBL Circuit this season. He showed an improved game in several aspects, including confidence finishing in traffic and grabbing more contested rebounds. Mgbako continues to develop into more than a catch-and-shoot threat with size from the 3-point line. Mgbako makes the move from No. 15 overall to No. 3 in the latest rankings update.

Kentucky commitment Justin Edwards jumps from No. 13 to No. 4 overall. The 6-foot-7 lefty small forward is one of the top defenders in the cycle. His ability to switch and defend multiple players places him near the top of defenders in the class. He has an understanding of how to use his long wingspan, and quick feet and reactions to disrupt shots and timing with the ability to get deflections in passing lanes.

On3 5-stars:

No. 1 CG DJ Wagner, Camden (N.J.) High

No. 2 PG Isaiah Collier, Marietta (Ga.) Wheeler

No. 3 F Mackenzie Mgbako, Gladstone (N.J.) Gill St Bernard School – Duke commitment

No. 4 SF Justin Edwards, Philadelphia (Pa.) Imhotep Institute – Kentucky commitment

No. 5 PF Matas Buzelis, Chicago (Il.) Sunrise Christian – NBA G League

No. 6 PF Omaha Biliew, Waukee (Ia.) Link Year Prep – Iowa State commitment

No. 7 PF Kwame Evans Jr., Baltimore (Md.) Montverde Academy

No. 8 PG Rob Dillingham, Charlotte (N.C.) Donda Academy – Kentucky commitment

No. 9 C Baye Fall, Denver (Colo.) Accelerated Schools Aka Family Services Found

No. 10 PF Ronald Holland, Duncanville (Texas) High

No. 11 PG A.J. Johnson, Woodland Hills (Calif.) Taft

No. 12 C Xavier Booker, Indianapolis (In.) Cathedral – Michigan State commitment

Several big risers in the On3 Top 150

The updated On3 Top 150 rankings include 12 prospects that ascended 20 spots or more in the updated ranking. Point guard Elmarko Jackson made one of the biggest leaps with explosive performances all summer. The 6-foot-3, near 200-pound guard out of the Garden State added 15 high-major offers in June and July. Maryland and Miami have built strong relationships with Jackson ahead of fall official visits.

No. 21 PF T.J. Power, Shrewsbury (Ma.) Worcester Academy – Up from No. 55

No. 23 PG Elmarko Jackson, Richland (N.J.) South Kent School – Up from No. 61

No. 29 CG Chris Johnson, Missouri City (Texas) Montverde Academy – Up from No. 53

No. 58 C Blake Buchanan, Coeur D Alene (Id.) Lake City – Virginia commitment – Up from No. 116

No. 61 CG Silas Demary Jr., Charlotte (N.C.) Liberty Heights Athletic Institute – Up from No. 87

No. 62 SG Blue Cain, Knoxville (Tn.) Knoxville Catholic – Georgia Tech commitment – Up from No. 92

No. 85 SG Reid Ducharme, Boston (Ma.) Brewster Academy – Up from No. 109

No. 97 SG Tre Norman, Worcester (Ma.) Worcester Academy – Up from No. 135

No. 98 SG Miles Colvin, Indianapolis (In.) Heritage Christian School – Purdue commitment – Up from No. 120

No. 110 CG Jamari McDowell, Manvel (Texas) High – Up from No. 149

New names in the On3 Top 150

The updated On3 top 150 rankings includes three new names that impressed in June and July.

No. 75 C Jacob McFarland, Moreno Valley (Calif.) Rancho Verde

No. 104 PF Drew Fielder, Meridian (Id.) So Cal Academy

No. 124 SF Bobby Durkin, Glen Ellyn (Il.) Glenbard West