Who's the 1?

College football is right around the corner, but be sure you don’t miss Wednesday’s Daily. We’ve got something big in store for every college basketball fan.

Let’s get to the news.

STARTING FIVE

1. There’s a new No. 1 (from 247’s POV)

If the debate about the top 2023 prospect is ongoing, 247 Sports offered its opinion Monday — with a new player atop its rankings.

Collier, a 6-3 point guard who’s reportedly considering Michigan, USC, UCLA and Cincinnati, made a late push after knee surgery earlier this spring. 247 pointed to recent performances such as the Elite 24 in Chicago that elevated him, not to mention excellent court vision, good size and an improving outside shot (he connected on 40 percent of his 3s during EYBL play). Still, Collier isn’t a clear-cut No. 1, as Adam Finkelstein explains.

D.J. Wagner dropped to No. 2. A full list of the rankings is here. (For more recent context, Dereck Lively II is viewed as the top incoming freshman. Chet Holmgren was tops in 2021.)

The updated player rankings also tweaked the team rankings a bit, though mostly to just break some ties. Michigan State (3) is now ahead of Ohio State (4), while Oregon (5) pulled ahead of Iowa State (6). Tennessee — thanks to Dilione’s jump into the top 25 — is now No. 9.

But this is just 247. Who’s the consensus No. 1? Rivals.com has Booker atop its top 150, and On3.com tabs Wagner. ESPN (rankings here) is set for an update next week, so we’ll see how the four sites compare. Depending on what ESPN does with Collier vs. Wagner, we could see a new consensus top prospect.

Also notable? Point guards usually aren’t the consensus top prospect. Only Cade Cunningham (2020) bucked that trend in the last decade, and he’s substantially taller than Collier and Wagner.

2. Guess Archie Miller didn’t hit the beaches this August

In less than two weeks — primetime for the picturesque Rhode Island coast — the Rams secured commitments from three 2023 prospects, the latest coming on Monday.

Estevez is a 6-4 combo guard who’s rated a 3-star player but thrived during the summer on the Under Armour Association. As a more physical, attacking player, he figures to pair with another 2023 guard, Connor Dubsky, in the Rams’ backcourt, with Adrian Myers, the third of those three recruits, playing the wing.

That’s a nice way for new Rhode Island coach Archie Miller to cap his summer. Maybe this is the beach week?

Also in recruiting news: 

• Former Boise State wing Emmanuel Akot changed his mind on a transfer destination. Rather than Memphis, he’ll reportedly play at Western Kentucky.

3. Oregon to Big Ten: Do you like me? Check yes or no.

The wording in this tweet struck me as funny.

Even though the decision-makers weren’t involved, it wasn’t a nothing meeting. Given UCLA’s recent hiccup with the UC Board of Regents, along with an ongoing desire to expand and cull schools and build power within the college landscape, it’s probably not even the last time the Big Ten will be talking to Oregon. Or Arizona. Or Washington. (Pick a school in a major market.)

I mean, everyone wants to be part of the Big Ten ($7+ billion is quite the draw) or the SEC (also drowning in money). This is just the new reality.

4. Patric Young stays positive

The only thing more impressive than Patric Young’s arms? His outlook on life.

Young, the former Florida star and All-SEC center who helped the Gators reach the 2014 Final Four, was paralyzed in a June 29 car accident. He retired from professional hoops in 2020, was working as an analyst for SEC Network and was engaged. Yet, he’s determined to maintain a positive outlook, as he explains in this interview with The Florida Times-Union ($).

Bravo, Patric. Most people need this sort of inspiration given the last two years.

5. Duquesne offers LeBron’s youngest son (context coming)

Bryce James is 15. He’s still a few years away from being seriously recruited, but he did receive his first Division I offer over the weekend. From Duquesne.

Why Duquesne? Two reasons.

First, the Dukes’ head coach, Keith Dambrot, coached LeBron in high school (he was at Akron from 2004-2017), and the two remain friends. (LeBron recently donated shoes to Duquesne’s program.)

Second, the Dukes’ new Associate head coach played with LeBron and remains friends with LBJ.

Does any of this mean Bryce attends Duquesne? Probably not. But it is different from the standard offer for a 15-year-old when the staff knows dad so well. (Also, Dambrot could use the positive press. He’s 15-33 the last two seasons.)

SUMMER READING

It’s a new-look Illini, but still potent

Summer reading assignments suck. Trying to absorb info when your brain just wants to zone out is like trying to outrebound Oscar Tshiebwe. Well, good news. We did the assignment. Every Tuesday and Thursday, Sean Paul gives CliffsNotes on programs that aren’t Top 25 contenders but are worth knowing entering the 2022-23 season. So sit back, relax, and enjoy. 

The Illinois synopsis: It’s a transition time in Champaign. Gone are All-American center Kofi Cockburn and team leader Trent Frazier. The Illinois staff hit the portal and helped re-tool a roster that earned a 4-seed in last year’s NCAA Tournament.

Main Characters: It starts with two Big 12 transfers: Matthew Mayer (Baylor) and Terrence Shannon Jr. (Texas Tech). Mayer, a 6-9 forward averaged 9.5 points, 5.8 rebounds and played an integral role during the Bears’ 2021 national title run. Although he was inconsistent last year as a starter, a change of scenery could benefit the skilled shot creator. Shannon, an athletic 6-foot-6 wing gives Illinois experience and stability on the perimeter. If injuries didn’t hamper Shannon’s junior season in Lubbock, he may have made the move to the NBA.

Beyond those two, two returnees — Coleman Hawkins and RJ Melendez — will raise the Illini’s ceiling. Hawkins (5.9 points and 4.3 rebounds last season) is capable of playing forward or center, which should maximize his time on the floor.

Melendez, a former top-100 recruit from Puerto Rico, slowly but surely found his footing last season as a glue guy off the bench. With perimeter players like Jacob Grandison, Alfonso Plummer, Da’Monte Williams and Frazier gone, it’s an opportunity for Melendez, who was an efficient scorer in limited minutes. Add in former Baylor commit Dain Dainja, a 6-9 forward who can play inside and on the perimeter, and it’s a potent group, though untested.

The conflict: Last season, unreliable point guard play hampered Illinois. The now-departed Andre Curbelo dealt with a lingering concussion and posted an alarmingly high turnover rate (26.7). The Illini now turn to 5-star recruit Skyy Clark, who spent most of his senior season shaking off the rust from an ACL injury. He’s a capable playmaker, but probably better as a scoring guard.

Still, if he’s a consistent lead guard who limits turnovers, Illinois will be a tough out.

Spoiler alert! Brad Underwood’s team has the pieces to earn a preseason Top 25 ranking again. The public perception, however, won’t change until the Illini start winning games in the NCAA Tournament.

THE FAST BREAK

Links as you watch Tom Hardy show how he would beat up Batman.

• DeShawn Harris-Smith, a 2023 4-star guard, will announce his college of choice on Wednesday.

• Once the new Big Ten media deal kicks in, about 20% of Illinois’ games will be on Peacock.

• The NCAA wants help to investigate NIL violations. They’re also going to publicize them “as soon as possible.”

• Hm. Kyle Lowry could be correct.

• Exactly how far are we (officially) from pay-for-play?*

*This is sponsored content. Want your business to be highlighted? Contact us about advertising opportunities at TheFieldOf68@ gmail.com

THE DTF PODCAST

Hog wild

After back-to-back Elite Eights, Arkansas only returns one starter for 2022-23. Yet, the Razorbacks are a Top 15 team who will contend to win the SEC.

With six (6!) incoming freshmen — including likely lottery pick Nick Smith — and five transfers, coach Eric Musselman will be pressed to figure out the right player combinations to put together another March run.

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