The final days of the last live evaluation period of the 2022 recruiting calendar are officially upon us. Beginning Wednesday and running through Sunday, college coaches and scouts get one final formal look at players across multiple venues nationwide before the quiet period gives way to the dead period.
This is the last time for coaches to see recruits in person before buckling in for preseason planning with their respective teams on campus and typically, as the dust settles on the live period, we see lots of changes in recruiting rankings and commitments.
As Peach Jam, the marquee recruiting event of the calendar year, wraps up in the closing days to mark the end of the live period, there are several storylines to follow with the quiet period fast approaching and a new portion of the recruiting calendar in our sights.
Below are five storylines to watch as we shift slowly into a new phase of that schedule.
1. Will No. 1 recruit GG Jackson reclassify?
The sentiment in recruiting circles is that it’s a matter of when, not if, GG Jackson — the No. 1 recruit in the 2023 class according to 247Sports — will reclassify to play college basketball this season. The only question left remaining is which school will benefit.
The former UNC commit decommitted from the Tar Heels a week ago, and all signs point to him staying in the state and signing with South Carolina. His Crystal Ball at 247Sports is Gamecocks-heavy, with nine of the last predictions all rolling in for South Carolina.
It won’t be the first time the No. 1 recruit reclassifies if indeed Jackson does as expected — just a year ago, Jalen Duren did the same, and went on to become a lottery pick — but it’s nonetheless a significant (and likely imminent) decision that will have a profound impact on the rankings, the 2022-23 college basketball season and very possibly the 2023 NBA Draft as well.
2. … if GG reclassifies, who is new No. 1?
If the current No. 1 moves to the 2022 recruiting class and enrolls at a school for next season, the obvious curiosity then turns to the prospect who will take his place. And right now there’s no clear answer to who that player will be.
Five-star guard DJ Wagner would be my pick as the favorite. He’s No. 1 in the Composite rankings, No. 2 in the 247Sports rankings and has been at that position for well over a year. It’s very possible he’d get a natural bump.