I have decided to expand on the world a bit and start adding some clarifying information on the systems upon which a lot of things in this novel are based. First, let's talk about scouting and player rankings.
In the U.S., high school basketball players are not rated by any official government or athletic body (like a state association or the NCAA).
Instead, private scouting and media organizations evaluate, rank, and assign ratings – usually in the form of "star ratings" (from 1⭐ to 5⭐). These ratings measure a player's:
- Skill level
- Athletic potential
- Physical tools (height, wingspan, etc.)
- Performance against top competition
- Projected college or pro success
There are a few major national organizations whose rankings are trusted by college coaches and media:
- 247Sports: 0–100 composite + 5⭐ scale. Combines data from multiple sources into the "247Sports Composite" – most widely used system.
- Rivals: 1⭐–5⭐. One of the original online recruiting services (early 2000s).ESPN Recruiting Nation: 60-100 grade scale (ESPN Top 100). Focuses on ESPN-televised tournaments; tends to cover only top-tier prospects.
- On3: 1⭐–5⭐ (newer). Launched in 2021, gaining influence quickly.
- Prep Hoops / HoopSeen / NERR: Regional and grassroots focus. Cover lower-ranked prospects and under-the-radar talent.
The star ratings are broken down as follows:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5-Star) – Elite national recruit, likely NBA or high-major D1 player. Usually Top 25 nationally.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4-Star) – High-level D1 recruit; projected starter at major conference school. Usually ranked 26–100.
⭐⭐⭐ (3-Star) – Solid D1 player, mid-major contributor. Often Top 101–250 nationally.
⭐⭐ (2-Star) – Low D1 / D2 prospect, often under-scouted or developing.
⭐ (1-Star) – Small college (D2/D3/NAIA) potential, or unverified prospect.
Each service uses a slightly different methodology, but overall, "5-star" = elite NBA-level prospect, "3-star" = solid college player.
Scouts assign grades using:
- Live evaluations at major events (EYBL, Adidas 3SSB, Under Armour Association, Pangos, Hoop Summit, etc.)
- Video review (Hudl, YouTube, Synergy)
- Stats and context (competition level, efficiency, team role)
- Interviews and projections (growth potential, attitude, work ethic)
They constantly update rankings through:
- Grassroots/AAU season (April–July)
- High school season (November–March)
- Elite Camps (NBPA Top 100, Nike Skills Academy)
The 247Sports Composite is the most accepted "overall" ranking – it merges scores from: 247Sports, ESPN, Rivals, On3. It calculates a player's national ranking, position ranking, and state ranking, giving each athlete a percentile. Example:
- Player: Cooper Flagg (Montverde Academy)
- 247 Composite: 0.9999
- Rating: 5-star (Rank #1 nationally)
- College: Duke (commit)
This system is often cited in college recruiting news and ESPN broadcasts.
The important thing about this system to understand is that star ratings are projections, not guarantees:
Many 3⭐ players become NBA starters. Some 5⭐ players flame out in college. However, statistically, 5⭐ recruits have a ~50% chance of being drafted into the NBA, versus <1% for 3⭐ players.
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Here are some examples of real NBA players and their rankings with explanations that would be easy to understand for the anime and manga fans who are not that much familiar with the US basketball circuits:
5-Star Recruits (Top 25 Nationally)
LeBron James – St. Vincent–St. Mary (OH)
Total command: could read every rotation and manipulate defenses. Played like an adult among teenagers: orchestrated sets, baited help defenders with his eyes, threw cross-court passes on time. Physically unstoppable, but his feel was what terrified coaches. Already reading 2nd and 3rd-level help rotations.
Kevin Durant – Montrose Christian (MD)
Fluid assassin: 6'10" shooter with guard touch. Moved like a wing, shot like a guard, blocked like a center. His pull-up looked effortless from NBA range. Scouts said he "floated" through defenses rather than powered through.
Anthony Davis – Perspectives Charter (IL)
Evolved overnight: went from 6'3" guard to 6'10" rim protector in a year. Kept his guard handle and vision after the growth spurt. At 17, could block a shot, grab the rebound, push the break, and euro-step into a layup. Fluidity over raw power.
Zion Williamson – Spartanburg Day (SC)
Force of nature: broke physics on the way to the rim. A 6'6", 280-pound comet with real handles and left-hand finishes. Every dunk was a social-media event, but he also had soft touch, court awareness, and uncanny anticipation on defense.
Cade Cunningham – Montverde Academy (FL)
Chess player: mastered pacing and timing. Could shift gears mid-drive, read drop coverages, and hit the weak-side corner before defenders blinked. Not the flashiest, but always in control.
Ben Simmons – Montverde Academy (FL)
Positionless engine: rebounded, led breaks, defended 1–5. His passing looked like a 6'10" point guard's; could grab-and-go off rebounds and hit cutters without setting his feet. Critics questioned his jumper even then, but everything else was elite.
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4-Star Recruits (Strong but One Limitation)
Stephen Curry – Charlotte Christian (NC)
Sharp shooter: lightning release, but undersized and skinny. He was already a master of relocation – pass, drift to corner, catch-and-fire. Just lacked strength to finish at the rim; scouts doubted he could survive physical defenses.
Tyrese Maxey – South Garland (TX)
Firestarter: fearless attacking guard. Quick first step, smooth floater, vocal leader. Could heat up in seconds but sometimes played too fast. Confidence was his engine – and still is.
Bradley Beal – Chaminade (MO)
Professional scorer: complete offensive toolkit. Elite balance, two-foot explosion, and off-hand finishing. Already trained with pros; his poise and discipline made him look older than everyone else.
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3-Star Recruits (Skilled, but Undervalued)
C.J. McCollum – GlenOak (OH)
Calculated scorer: lean frame, smooth rhythm. Not flashy, but crafty with pace and angles. Used hesitation dribbles and footwork to offset athletic gaps. High IQ, low ego.
Draymond Green – Saginaw (MI)
Brain of the team: quarterback from the power-forward spot. Out-talked, out-thought, and out-positioned everyone. Didn't jump high, but saw everything – rotations, cutters, traps – before they unfolded.
Tyrese Haliburton – Oshkosh North (WI)
Visionary: skinny, awkward shot, but elite passer. Even as a teen, knew how to flow an offense. Would pass before teammates realized they were open. Unselfish to a fault.
Ja Morant – Crestwood (SC)
Hidden weapon: lightning first step, freak bounce. Played under radar AAU team, discovered by accident. At 17, was dunking over bigs and running high pick-and-rolls with real timing. Thin but fearless.
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1 to 2-Star Recruits (Unranked Late Bloomers)
Kawhi Leonard – M.L. King (CA)
Relentless: no frills, all effort. Defensive maniac who treated every possession like a fight. Scouts saw him as a rebounding forward, not a scorer. Worked himself into one of the best two-way players alive.
Russell Westbrook – Leuzinger (CA)
Raw explosion: late growth spurt changed everything. At 16, was barely recruited; by 17, was dunking on centers. Played with fury, but little polish – UCLA molded him into a disciplined tornado.
Paul George – Knight HS (CA)
Long and smooth: flashes of greatness. Showed hints of handle, jumper, and defensive range, but hadn't put it together yet. Scouts saw "potential," not greatness.
Jimmy Butler – Tomball (TX)
Grit personified: overachiever with no hype. Played every possession like his life was at stake. Defended everyone, ran the floor, and outworked stars. Skill came later – mindset came first.
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This is an example of one of the most notorious late bloomers from the league – Ja Morant. His Basic Profile could be described like this:
Graduation Year: 2017
Height in HS: ~6'0"
Weight: ~160 lbs
Position: Point Guard
AAU Team: South Carolina Hornets (small local program, not Nike/Adidas sponsored)
College: Murray State University
His Recruiting Rankings – 247Sports: Not ranked. Didn't even have a profile until he got into college. ESPN: Not ranked. Had never made it to the lists. Rivals: Not ranked. Not a single scouting report was published before graduation.
He was overlooked because of the following primary reasons:
Small Market, Small Team – Played for Crestwood High in rural South Carolina; not part of a national circuit. His AAU program didn't face top prospects in Nike EYBL or Adidas 3SSB, where scouts focus.Late Physical Bloom – He was thin, about 6 feet tall, without elite strength early on. Scouts didn't see his vertical explosion coming because his frame hid his athletic pop.No Big Camps or Exposure Events – He wasn't invited to Pangos, NBPA Top 100, or Nike Skills Academy – the main exposure gateways for talented young recruits.His discovery story is like a legend now in recruiting circles. In July 2016, assistant coach James Kane from Murray State was scouting another player at a small camp in Augusta, Georgia. He got hungry, walked to a back gym looking for a snack stand – and accidentally saw Ja Morant dunking on people in an unadvertised 3-on-3 run. Kane called head coach Matt McMahon: "Coach, I found someone. You've got to come see this kid." Murray State offered Morant on the spot after the next day's scrimmage. At Murray State he averaged 24.5 PPG, 10.0 APG, first player in NCAA history to average 20+ points & 10+ assists, during his sophomore year. Led nation in assists. Went from "completely unranked" to #2 overall pick in 2019 NBA Draft.