After a 2021-22 freshman class that produced two second-team All-Americans and a third-team All-American -- a trio that would ultimately end up as the top three picks in the 2022 NBA draft -- there was a pretty high bar for the high school class of 2022 to hit at the college level.
Because of the increasing number of players opting for the G League Ignite or Overtime Elite over college, this season's freshman class was a bit watered-down at the top. It certainly wasn't without a considerable amount of talent, though: ESPN's mock draft entering 2022-23 featured 20 incoming college freshmen in the first round.