NCAA Basketball Recruiting: Analyzing 5 finalists for 5-star big Aaron Bradshaw

In the 2023 NCAA Basketball recruiting class, the new No. 1 frontcourt player that has emerged in many player rankings is Xavier Booker, a current Michigan State commit that had a meteoric rise this summer. Before that, there was a clear No. 1 big man in the group in Aaron Bradshaw, a 7’0 center out of the state of New Jersey.

Bradshaw’s appeal is that he’s a modern center in his ability to rim the floor and be an interior impact defender. He still has room to grow on offense but can easily be a double-digit scorer and more at the college level, while also being an elite rebounder and rim protector.

The top-10 overall prospect has been linked to a couple of specific programs but has kept his recruitment open; at least for the next month. Bradshaw reportedly is set to announce his decision on November 16th, with five options in the running.

Here’s a closer look at the pros and cons of each of Bradshaw’s options.

NBA G League

The G League Ignite Team is in year three, with some mixed results overall. A number of five-star prospects out of high school have joined them but roughly have ended up as lottery picks, while the others fall down towards either the second round or even undrafted.

For a player like Bradshaw, that’s a potential possibility. Not because of his raw talent but because centers have been devalued these days, with the first being taken at No. 13 last season (Jalen Duren). If he’s out of sight and not in NCAA Basketball, Bradshaw could fall down the draft in the future. But if he’s a star in college, that could be avoided.