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Analyzing the 2017 Rankings

By Zach Fleer, 11/10/16, 12:00PM EST

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Kaleb Wesson and Sterling Manley top the class of 2017

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- We wrap up New Rankings Week with a look at the senior class. The top five of this class has been set in stone for about a year now, as quality big men dominate this class. Check out the entire list of rankings here.

Let's take a look at the top prospects and classes below.

Top Prospects

1. Kaleb Wesson (6'10 C / Westerville South)

Kaleb Wesson has been atop the 2017 class from start to finish, which is a testament to his work ethic, consistency and dominance. At 6-foot-10, Wesson is a dominating presence around the basket, as he has the area's best footwork and assortment of moves in the post, while also showing to be a reliable outside shooter. Wesson's explosiveness and conditioning has improved as he has put focus into losing weight, which will make 2016-17 a intriguing season for himself and Westerville South. A pretty durable big man who has been committed to Ohio State for awhile now, Wesson is looking to lead Westerville South back for another run at a state title.

2. Sterling Manley (6'11 C / Pickerington Central)

While the gap between Wesson and everyone else was pretty sizable a few years ago, Sterling Manley has quickly closed the gap. Not far behind, if at all, Manley is the first Columbus area player since 1971 to sign with North Carolina, which is a testament to not only the rise he has made in the last year, but his strength and toughness to overcome a gruesome season-ending leg injury as a junior. With his college decision behind him, Manley is at full strength now and has looked nothing but dominant as of late. Manley has great hands and feed, can hit the post hook with either hand, and is an athletic and explosive presence in the post who is only improving. Manley's upside is the best of any player in the class, as his wingspan exceeds seven feet, while his skill set continues to improve, along with his toughness and strength on the interior. Manley could be the piece to the puzzle that Pickerington Central needs to return to the state final four.

3. BJ Duling (6'7 SF / Newark)

The top wing in the class, Duling has been a presence in 2017 for a long time. The first player to earn a Division I offer, Duling remained loyal to that first offer which came from Kent State in the summer of 2014. As a result, Duling signed with the Golden Flashes on Wednesday, putting an end to a recruiting process that saw the 6-foot-7 wing forward pick up interest and offers from other high-major programs. Long, athletic and bruising on the interior, Duling has arguably the most college ready body of any player in the class, especially for his position. Duling is effective as a downhill slasher who can finish in many ways, while also having a reliable enough jump shot to keep defenses honest. For Newark, Duling does a lot of his damage on the offensive glass, using his length and athleticism to give the Wildcats second chance looks. Duling leads a talented Newark team into a 2016-17 season with lots of expectations. 

4. Nick Muszynski (6'11 C / St. Charles)

The most improved player in the class from start to finish, Muszynski has emerged as one of the very elite post prospects in all of the area. With great length, IQ and skill, Muszynski can operate in a variety of ways in the post, as he can score as a back-to-the-basket player with hook shots and drop steps, but also has the versatility to pick and pop out to the three-point line. On the defensive side of the ball, Muszynski is a shot-blocking force who alters anything that comes near him. After last season, Muszynski needed to improve his strength and athleticism, two things he has done over the offseason, which will make this season very interesting for him and St. Charles. Muszynski committed to Belmont late in the summer after taking five official visits to programs all over.

5. Caden Sanchez (6'8 PF / DeSales)

From start to finish, Sanchez has been a terrific prospect who has been among the best in the class. Coming into his senior season, Sanchez looks to be at his best, as the 6-foot-8 post is signed, sealed and delivered to High Point. A workhorse underneath, Sanchez has a strong and athletic build that allows him to score on just about anyone underneath. Improving his perimeter skill set this offseason, Sanchez is now consistently hitting outside jumpers, which has made him an even more difficult matchup for most high school big men. In addition to his scoring abilities, Sanchez is a stout rebounder who really battles underneath, which is a major reason for why we think DeSales has the pieces to make a run to the Division II state final four. 

Top Classes

We have developed a system that assigns point values to prospects based on where they are ranked. We took those values and then put together the top classes for each program. Take a look at the top five senior classes below.

1. Westerville South - 235 points (Three players)

2. Newark - 210 points (Five players)

3. St. Charles - 200 points (Three players)

4. DeSales - 175 points (Four players)

5. Pickerington Central - 150 points (Four players)

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