Brandon Miller tops list of class of 2022 stars projected to be picked in NBA draft

The 2023 NBA Draft has arrived, and the class of 2022 will likely have a big day.

Thursday night, 13 former top class of 2022 high school boys basketball recruits are projected to hear their name called in the first round of the draft.

Headlining the 2022 stars are five-star prospects Brandon Miller and Anthony Black. Both are expected to be taken within the top 10 picks of the draft. 

Here is a closer look at the 13 class of 2022 recruits who are projected to be first-round selections:

(Note: Players are listed in alphabetical order, and all 2022 prospect rankings are courtesy of On3. NBA Mock Draft projections courtesy of The Ringer's latest 2023 Mock Draft that was updated on June 20.) 

Anthony Black - Duncanville High School (TX) - Arkansas - Guard

The nation's No. 15 overall prospect and No. 3 point guard in the country in the class of 2022, Black led Duncanville to a Texas 6A state championship, was named a McDonald's All-American and helped the USA Basketball Men’s U18 National Team win a gold medal.

The 6-foot-7 guard had an impressive freshman season with the Arkansas Razorbacks - averaging 12.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 2.1 steals. 

Black could be selected as high as No. 6 to the Orlando Magic based off of recent mock draft predictions. 

Gradey Dick - Sunrise Christian Academy (KS) - Kansas - Forward

Gradey Dick, a former five-star recruit and 2022 Gatorade National Player of the Year, decided to stay home and play college basketball at the University of Kansas. As a freshman with the Jayhawks, the 6-foot-8 sharpshooter set a Kansas record with the most three-point field goals made - knocking down 83 total. 

Dick also earned multiple Big 12 honors in his lone season for Kansas while averaging 14.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.4 steals and shooting 40.3% from three. He's projected to be taken No. 19 overall to the Golden State Warriors. 

Keyonte George - IMG Academy (FL) - Baylor - Guard

Keyonte George was a former five-star recruit and 2022 McDonald's All-American out of national powerhouse IMG Academy (Florida). The 6-foot-4 combo guard was ranked as the nation's No. 9 overall prospect and Florida's No. 2 recruit before heading to Baylor. George had an impressive freshman year at Baylor - winning awards like: Big 12 Freshman of the Year, All-Big 12 Freshman Team and holds the record for most three-pointers made by a freshman at Baylor (77 total).

George averaged 15.3 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.1 steals and shot 33.8% from three-point range. He's projected to go No. 13 overall to the Toronto Raptors in the 2023 NBA Draft. 

Jalen Hood-Schifino - Montverde Academy (FL) - Indiana - Guard

Jalen Hood-Schifino was a former four-star recruit out of national powerhouse Montverde Academy (Florida) and helped lead them to back-to-back GEICO national championships. Hood-Schifino came to the Indiana Hoosiers and head coach Mike Woodson as the nation's No. 25 overall recruit and No. 5 combo guard in the class of 2022. 

In his freshman season at Indiana, the 6-foot-5 guard started all 32 games he played in while averaging 13.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.7 assists and shooting 33% from the three-point line. Hood-Schifino earned Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors and is mocked to the Atlanta Hawks with the No. 15 overall pick. 

Jett Howard - IMG Academy (FL) - Michigan - Guard/Forward

Jett Howard came into Michigan as a four-star recruit and the nation's No. 41 overall prospect in the class of 2022. Howard had lofty expectations coming into playing with the Wolverines as the head coach was his dad, Juwan Howard, a Michigan legend and former NBA player. The 6-foot-8 freshman wing struggled with an ankle injury throughout the season but still put up great numbers to help his draft stock in the 2023 NBA Draft. 

Howard averaged 14.2 points, 2.8 rebounds, two assists and shot 80% from the free throw line and 36.8% from beyond the arc in 29 games for the Wolverines. 

On The Ringer's latest mock draft, Jett Howard is projected to be drafted by the Sacramento Kings with the No. 24 overall pick.

Dereck Lively II - Westtown School (PA) - Duke - Center

Lively came into the 2022-2023 season at Duke as the nation's No. 1 overall boys basketball prospect and center in the class of 2022. The 7-foot-1 freshman center struggled to find his footing with the Blue Devils at the beginning of the season, but has since emerged as a projected lottery pick in the 2023 NBA Draft.

According to the latest mock draft by Sports Illustrated, the ACC All-Freshman and Defensive Team selection is projected to go as high as No. 11 to the Orlando Magic. Lively averaged 5.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.4 blocks and shot 65.8% from the field in his freshman season.

Brandon Miller - Cane Ridge High School (TN) - Alabama - Guard/Forward

Miller, a former five-star recruit and McDonald's All-American out of Cane Ridge High School (TN), is projected to be selected 2nd overall to the Charlotte Hornets on draft night. The 6-foot-9 freshman wing had a spectacular season at Alabama - earning numerous awards such as; First-Team All-American, SEC Freshman of the Year, SEC Player of the Year honors and was a National Player of the Year finalist.

The 2022 Tennessee Gatorade Player of the Year and No. 14 overall recruit in 2022 - averaged 18.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists and shot 38.4% from three-point range in his freshman season.

Miller was the only Division I player in the last 30 years to score 696 points, record 305 rebounds and make 106 three-pointers in a single season. 

Leonard Miller - Fort Erie International Academy (ON) - G League Ignite - Forward

Miller, a former four-star recruit out of Fort Erie International Academy (Canada), chose to bypass college basketball and play professional basketball right away with the G-League Ignite. The 6-foot-10 forward averaged 18 points, 11 rebounds, 1.6 assists while shooting 55.4 FG% and 32.7% from three-point range.

The Brooklyn Nets select Miller with the No. 22 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. 

Nick Smith Jr. - North Little Rock Academy (AR) - Arkansas - Guard

Smith was the nation's No. 3 overall prospect and Arkansas' top ranked recruit in the class of 2022. Smith decided to stay in-state and commit to the Arkansas Razorbacks and head coach Eric Musselman out of high school and now will look to be a part of the Razorbacks' historic 2023 NBA Draft class.

The 6-foot-4 guard out of North Little Rock Academy (Arkansas) only played in 17 games for the Razorbacks due to right knee management. The former McDonald's All-American and projected SEC Freshman of the Year averaged 12.5 points and shot 33.8 FG% from three-point range as a freshman. The Los Angeles Lakers with the No. 17 overall pick could be a potential landing spot for Smith. 

Jarace Walker - IMG Academy (FL) - Houston - Forward

Jarace Walker, a former five-star recruit and the No. 3 overall power forward in the country in 2022, committed to the Houston Cougars and head coach Kelvin Sampson out of high school.

The 6-foot-8 freshman forward averaged 11.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.3 blocks and shot 34.7% from three-point range on his way to earning AAC Freshman of the Year honors. Walker is projected to go No. 7 overall to the Indiana Pacers in The Ringer's latest mock draft.

Cason Wallace- Richardson High School (TX) - Kentucky - Guard

Cason Wallace came to the Kentucky Wildcats as the No. 1 overall recruit in Texas and the nation's No. 7 overall prospect in the class of 2022. The 6-foot-4 guard out of Richardson (Texas) also earned 2022 Texas Gatorade Player of the Year and McDonald's All-American honors.

Wallace started 32 games for the Wildcats this season while averaging 11.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 2.0 steals per game - earning him All-SEC Freshman honors. Wallace is projected to go No. 16 overall to the Utah Jazz in the latest mock draft by The Ringer. 

Dariq Whitehead - Montverde Academy (FL) - Duke - Guard/Forward

Dariq Whitehead was the nation's No. 2 overall prospect and Florida's former top overall recruit in 2022. After a spectacular senior season at Montverde Academy (Florida) winning the GEICO National Title, Whitehead came into Durham with high expectations. However, Whitehead started out the season injured with a foot injury causing him to miss time at the beginning of the season which eventually lowered his draft stock.

Whitehead, a 6-foot-7 wing, averaged 8.3 points, 2.4 rebounds, one assist and shot 43% from the three-point range in 28 games for the Blue Devils. The Utah Jazz could look to pick him as high as No. 28 overall on Thursday night. 

Cam Whitmore - Archbishop Spalding (MD) - Villanova - Forward

Cam Whitmore came to Villanova as the 2022 Maryland Gatorade Boys Basketball Player of the Year, nation's No. 10 overall prospect in 2022 and a McDonald's All-American. The 6-foot-7 forward had an up and down season for the Wildcats but eventually found his stride throughout the year to become a projected top five pick.

Whitmore was named Big East Freshman of the Year after averaging 12.5 points and 5.3 rebounds while shooting 34.3% from three-point range. He's projected to go No. 9 overall to the Utah Jazz.