ESPN Recruiting Nation Basketball

Editor's note: This story originally ran on Feb. 28. With Andrew Wiggins' college decision on tap for Tuesday afternoon at 12:15 p.m. ET, here is a complete breakdown of his game from RecruitingNation's Paul Biancardi.

By now, you probably know that Andrew Wiggins (Thornhill, Ontario/Huntington Prep) is an extra-special prospect. The best high school basketball recruit in the country, Wiggins is the kind of player who doesn’t come around very often. He’ll make an immediate impact in college and then likely go on to a long, successful NBA career.

It’s no wonder some of college basketball’s best programs -- he’s down to Kentucky, Florida State, North Carolina and Kansas -- are salivating at the chance to get him on campus.

But what exactly makes him such an amazing prospect? Here’s a full scouting report of his game, complete with strengths, areas for improvement and what his ultimate potential could be.

To continue reading this article you must be an Insider

With No. 3 overall prospect Julius Randle committing to Kentucky on Wednesday, we’ve decided to take one last look at his game to see what he will offer his team at the next level.

The 6-foot-9, 225-pounder was named a McDonald’s All American and selected to play in the Jordan Brand Classic. Randle recently led his Dallas Prestonwood Christian squad to its second consecutive state crown despite missing the bulk of the season with a foot injury.

Here’s a final breakdown of Julius Randle’s game.

To continue reading this article you must be an Insider

For most of his high school career, small forward Jabari Parker (Chicago/Simeon) has been ranked the No. 1 player in his class -- and rightfully so. As his senior season began this fall, the only reason he moved to the No. 2 spot was because of the world-class athletic ability and potential of Andrew Wiggins (Thornhill, Ontario/Huntington Prep), who reclassified from 2014 to 2013.

We broke down Parker’s game back in December just prior to his commitment to Duke, but at that time he was just getting back on the court after missing five months due to a fractured foot. Now that he’s back close to 100 percent, has had a senior season to develop his game and is focused on winning a fourth consecutive state title, let’s take a look at what makes Parker such a unique and talented prospect who should make an immediate impact at Duke next year.

To continue reading this article you must be an Insider

The most important position on the basketball court when it comes to winning games is point guard. They come in all shapes and sizes with different talents, but the one common denominator is that a good point guard is a must in recruiting.

Here is a look at five of the nation’s top point guards in the Class of 2013, what each does better than anyone in the country and what they’ll bring to their college teams next season.

To continue reading this article you must be an Insider

Ever since No. 2 prospect Jabari Parker committed to Duke on Dec. 20 and immediately boosted the Blue Devils’ recruiting class into the top five, Parker has been the focus of Duke’s 2013 class. But forgetting about the other two talented ESPN 100 recruits in this class -- shooting guard Matt Jones and small forward Semi Ojeleye -- would be a huge mistake.

So let’s focus on Jones for a moment. The 6-foot-4 guard has established himself as one of the best shooters in the Class of 2013, but he’s also expanded his game beyond being just a shooter. As a senior he has led DeSoto (Texas) to a No. 12 national ranking in the ESPN 25 Power Rankings by giving his team whatever has been needed to win.

Here’s a breakdown of Jones’ game and the qualities that make him such a successful, well-rounded player.

To continue reading this article you must be an Insider

Aaron Gordon (San Jose, Calif./Archbishop Mitty) is the No. 1 player on the West Coast, the nation’s No. 2 power forward and the No. 7 overall prospect in the ESPN 100.

And what makes him one of the most coveted uncommitted recruits in the country -- he’s down to Washington, Arizona and Kentucky -- is that he can dominate opponents with both his physical ability and his versatility. One thing is for sure: You won’t outwork this 6-foot-8, 210-pound athletic marvel, who can influence the outcome of any game.

You can watch Gordon in action Monday at noon ET on ESPNU when his Archbishop Mitty squad takes on No. 3 Lone Peak (Utah) at the Spalding Hoophall Classic in Springfield, Mass. But to give you an idea of what to expect and what makes him so good, let’s break down the major parts of Gordon’s game.

To continue reading this article you must be an Insider

Dakari Johnson (New York, N.Y./Montverde) has been making a lot of news lately. The No. 1 center in the ESPN 100 plays for the nation’s No. 1 team, won MVP honors just before Christmas at the loaded City of Palms Classic in Florida and just this past weekend announced his commitment to Kentucky.

But who is Dakari Johnson and what makes his game special? Let’s break it down -- and remember that even though he’s a senior, this is only his third year of basketball.

To continue reading this article you must be an Insider

Senior small forward Jabari Parker (Chicago/Simeon) has been a national name on the recruiting trail since his freshman year. On Thursday at 4 p.m. ET (live on ESPNU and WatchESPN), the wait will finally be over when the No. 2 prospect in the ESPN 100 makes his college announcement, choosing from a final list of BYU, Duke, Florida, Michigan State and Stanford.

Before we find out which lucky college is going to land Parker, let’s examine what has made him special over his career and break down five major factors to consider with his game.

To continue reading this article you must be an Insider

When you look at some of the most important attributes needed to play center, it’s obvious that just having size isn’t enough. It’s a difficult position to play at this level considering posts aren’t always involved in every play, meaning they might not touch the ball for long stretches of time. Also, the player’s coordination needs to catch up to the growth of their body, which also takes time. Some of the most important fundamentals lie in one’s footwork, hands, balance, as well as keeping yourself highly conditioned to score and defend.

West Charlotte (Charlotte, N.C.) senior center Kennedy Meeks is an example of a player with the requisite tools to succeed, evidenced by his No. 2 position ranking in the ESPN 100. Let’s take an in-depth look at which areas of his game make this future Tar Heel such an elite talent and how he might factor into coach Roy Williams’ plans in 2013.

To continue reading this article you must be an Insider

Kentucky-bound Andrew Harrison (Richmond, Texas/Travis), the No. 1 point guard in the 2013 ESPN 100, is special for many reasons.

First are his physical tools. He’s 6-foot-5, 210 pounds, which is elite size for the position and gives him a college-ready body from the start. Next, he understands the game and what the point guard position is all about. As a lead guard he brings high-level ball-handling, passing and scoring to the floor.

But his success goes much deeper than just those attributes. So what exactly makes him such a special prospect? Here are five skills Harrison uses to enhance his performance as the nation’s best point guard.

To continue reading this article you must be an Insider