The 2023 NCAA Tournament has been nothing but madness thus far with double-digit seeds like Fairleigh Dickinson, Furman and Princeton pulling off upsets of programs stocked with highly-recruited talent.
But typically talent wins out in the NCAA Tournament and Cinderellas are weeded out of the bracket prior to the Final Four. Of the teams advancing to the Sweet 16, only Florida Atlantic and aforementioned Princeton are without a top 100 recruit on the roster.
If raw talent is an indicator of tournament success, which teams might be in line to survive the weekend and punch a ticket to Houston? We dug in to the rosters of each remaining team to see how the experts at 247Sports sized up the players coming out of high school.
The Sweet 16 matchup with the biggest collection of top 100 talent takes place Thursday in Las Vegas between Gonzaga and UCLA as the two heavyweights combine for 16. The contest with the least tips Friday in Louisville as four former top 100 recruits will suit up for Creighton against Princeton.
Drew Timme is one of eight top 100 recruits on the Gonzaga roster. (Photo: Michael Horbovetz)
247Sports ranking – Player, High school, Graduating class
No. 10 – Hunter Sallis,
Millard North (Omaha, Neb.), Class of 2021
32 – Efton Reid III,
IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.), 2021
41 – Anton Watson,
Gonzaga Prep (Spokane, Wash.), Class of 2019
46 – Nolan Hickman,
Wasatch Academy (Mt. Pleasant, Utah), 2021
57 – Drew Timme,
Pearce (Richardson, Texas), 2019
79 – Julian Strawther,
Liberty (Henderson, Nev.), Class of 2020
89 – Dominick Harris,
Rancho Christian (Temecula, Calif.), 2020
93 – Braden Huff,
Glenbard West (Glen Ellyn, Ill.), Class of 2022
Tennessee – 8
19 – Julian Phillips,
Link Academy (Branson, Mo.), 2022
29 – Josiah-Jordan James,
Porter-Gaud (Charleston, S.C.), 2019
46 – Freddie Dilione V,
Word of God Christian Academy (Raleigh, N.C.), 2022
47 – Jonas Aidoo,
Liberty Heights (Charlotte, N.C.), 2021
57 – Jahmai Mashack,
Etiwanda (Calif.), 2021
79 – Santiago Vescovi, NBA Global Academy, 2019
85 – D.J. Jefferson,
Minnesota Prep Academy (Brooklyn Park, Minn.), 2022
97 – B.J. Edwards,
Knoxville Catholic (Knoxville, Tenn.), 2022
UCLA – 8
10 – Amari Bailey,
Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.), 2022
17 – Adem Bona,
Prolific Prep of Napa Christian (Napa, Calif.), 2022
42 – Mac Etienne,
Brewster Academy (Wolfeboro, N.H.), 2020
42 –Dylan Andrews,
AZ Compass Prep (Chandler, Ariz.), 2022
66 – David Singleton,
Bishop Montgomery (Torrance, Calif.), 2018
83 – Jaylen Clark, Etiwanda, 2020
87 – Tyger Campbell,
La Lumiere (La Porte, Ind.), 2018
100 – Jaime Jaquez Jr.,
Camarillo (Calif.), 2019
Michigan State – 7
43 – Mady Sissoko, Wasatch Academy, 2020
50 – Joey Hauser,
Stevens Point (Wis.), 2018
61 – Jaxon Kohler,
Southern California Academy (Castaic, Calif.), 2022
64 – Pierre Brooks,
Douglass (Detroit, Mich.), 2021
66 – Jaden Akins,
Ypsi Prep Academy (Ypsilanti, Mich.), 2021
76 – Malik Hall,
Sunrise Christian Academy (Bel Aire, Kan.), 2019
87 – Tre Holloman,
Cretin-Derham Hall (St. Paul, Minn.), 2022
Alabama – 6
14 – Brandon Miller,
Cane Ridge (Nashville, Tenn.), 2022
27 – Jaden Bradley, IMG Academy, 2022
28 – Jahvon Quinerly,
Hudson Catholic (Jersey City, N.J.), 2018
38 – Nimari Burnett, Prolific Prep, 2020
43 – Rylan Griffen,
Richardson (Texas), 2022
99 – Noah Clowney,
Dorman (Roebuck, S.C.), 2022
Arkansas – 6
1 – Nick Smith Jr.,
North Little Rock (Ark.), 2022
15 – Anthony Black,
Duncanville (Texas), 2022
20 – Jordan Walsh, Link Academy, 2022
80 – Derrian Ford,
Magnolia (Ark.), 2022
91 – Makhi Mitchell,
Jackson-Reed (Washington, D.C.), 2019
100 – Barry Dunning Jr.,
McGill-Toolen (Mobile, Ala.), 2020
UConn – 5
51 – Andre Jackson Jr.,
Albany Academy (Albany, N.Y.), 2020
55 – Jordan Hawkins,
DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.), 2021
58 – Samson Johnson,
Patrick School (Hillside, N.J.), 2021
73 – Donovan Clingan,
Bristol Central (Bristol, Conn.), 2022
98 – Hassan Diarra,
Putnam Science Academy (Putnam, Conn.), 2020
Creighton – 4
49 – Arthur Kaluma,
Dream City Christian (Glendale, Ariz.), 2021
69 – Ryan Nembhard,
Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.), 2021
76 – Mason Miller,
Houston (Germantown, Tenn.), 2021
89 – Trey Alexander,
Heritage Hall (Oklahoma City, Okla.), 2021
Houston – 3
12 – Jarace Walker, IMG Academy, 2022
31 – Terrance Arceneaux,
Beaumont United (Beaumont, Texas), 2022
94 – Tramon Mark,
Dickinson (Texas), 2020
Miami – 3
69 – Harlond Beverly, Montverde Academy, 2019
83 – Jakai Robinson,
Rock Creek Christian (Upper Marlboro, Md.), 2021
88 – Isaiah Wong,
Monsignor Bonner (Drexel Hill, Pa.), 2019
Texas – 3
8 – Dillon Mitchell, Montverde Academy, 2022
18 – Arterio Morris,
Kimball (Dallas, Texas), 2022
40 – Tyrese Hunter,
St. Catherine's (Racine, Wis.), 2021
Xavier – 3
51 – Jerome Hunter,
Pickerington North (Pickerington, Ohio), 2018
76 – Kam Craft,
Skill Factory (Atlanta, Ga.), 2022
82 – KyKy Tandy,
University Heights (Hopkinsville, Ky.), 2019
San Diego State – 2
57 – Miles Byrd,
Lincoln (Stockton, Calif.), 2022
85 – Matt Bradley,
San Bernardino (Calif.), 2018
Kansas State – 1
82 – Keyontae Johnson,
Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.), 2018
