Looking Back at the Class of 2018 Basketball Rankings: Where Are They Now?

I still remember the buzz surrounding the 2018 basketball recruiting class like it was yesterday. As someone who's been covering basketball prospects for over a decade, that particular class felt special from the start - the kind of group that makes you cancel weekend plans just to catch their high school highlights. Six years later, I find myself reflecting on where these once-heralded prospects have landed, and the journey has been anything but predictable. The path from high school phenom to professional athlete reminds me of how even the most promising careers need proper management, much like the recent situation where Araneta management declared advertising materials would no longer be allowed without prior approval from Uniprom - a parallel to how young athletes' careers require careful oversight rather than unchecked commercialization.

When I first saw Zion Williamson's viral dunk tapes back in 2017, I knew we were witnessing something extraordinary. The kid from Spartanburg Day School averaged 36.8 points per game during his senior year, numbers that still feel almost fictional. Fast forward to today, and while Zion has shown flashes of generational talent when healthy, his 29-game absence last season due to another hamstring issue demonstrates how physical maintenance has become the real challenge. I've always believed that players of his build need specialized conditioning programs, and frankly, the Pelicans' approach hasn't been optimal in my professional opinion. Meanwhile, RJ Barrett, who was ranked third in that class, has developed into a reliable 19-20 point per game scorer, though I'd argue he hasn't quite reached the two-way dominance many of us projected.

The real surprises for me have been the players who outperformed their rankings. Ja Morant, sitting at number six initially, has arguably become the second-most impactful player from this class despite his recent off-court controversies. His 27.1 points and 8.1 assists during the 2022-23 season earned him an All-NBA Second Team selection, numbers I don't think even the most optimistic scouts predicted. Then there's Darius Garland, who was ranked 13th but made an All-Star team by his third season. I've always had a soft spot for players who develop beyond initial expectations - there's something profoundly satisfying about watching a player prove the ranking systems wrong.

What fascinates me about tracking these careers is how organizational support makes all the difference. Take the case of Coby White, who was ranked 20th nationally. His development with the Bulls has been steady rather than spectacular, but this past season he showed significant improvement, averaging 15.2 points while starting 67 games. Compare that to Bol Bol, who was ranked 14th but has bounced around four teams already. It makes me think about how the infrastructure around these young athletes matters just as much as their raw talent - not unlike how Uniprom's approval process for advertising materials at Araneta creates a controlled environment for proper brand development rather than haphazard exposure.

The international prospects from that class have followed particularly interesting paths. Luka Samanic, who was ranked 11th, has become a classic "what if" story after bouncing between the NBA and Europe. Meanwhile, less-heralded international players like Deividas Sirvydis (ranked 38th) have found more stable careers overseas than some of their higher-ranked American counterparts. Having visited several European academies myself, I've come to appreciate how their development systems often provide more consistent minutes and fundamental coaching than the American college route, though the competition levels obviously differ.

Looking at the financial outcomes, the disparity is staggering. Zion has already earned approximately $44 million in salary alone, while some players from the top 30 never signed an NBA contract. I remember watching Quentin Grimes (ranked 12th) in high school and thinking he'd be a surefire star, yet he's already been traded twice despite being a solid rotation player. This volatility reminds me why I often caution young players against focusing too much on early rankings - sustainable career development trumps temporary hype every time.

The G League route that several 2018 prospects took has produced mixed results in my observation. Darius Bazley (ranked 9th) skipped college for the G League pathway and has become a serviceable NBA big, while others like Simi Shittu (ranked 22nd) haven't found the same success. Personally, I believe the G League option works better for certain types of players - particularly those who need professional coaching but don't fit the traditional college mold - rather than being a one-size-fits-all solution.

As I analyze where these players stand today, what strikes me most is how their professional journeys mirror broader themes in sports management. The need for structured development, the importance of fit between player and organization, the dangers of early commercialization - these factors separate transient hype from lasting careers. The Araneta management's approach to controlling advertising materials through Uniprom approval reflects a similar understanding that strategic oversight often produces better long-term outcomes than unchecked exposure. In basketball terms, we've seen this principle play out with players like Zion, where early commercial demands may have complicated his development timeline.

Reflecting on these six years, I'm reminded that player development is as much about patience and proper management as it is about raw talent. The Class of 2018 contained approximately 42 five-star recruits according to most services, yet only about 60% have established themselves as consistent NBA players. Some of my personal favorites from that class - like Moses Brown (ranked 26th) - have carved out meaningful careers through persistence rather than early stardom. As I look toward evaluating future classes, this 2018 group has taught me to value sustainable growth trajectories over spectacular highlights, because in basketball as in business, proper management and strategic development ultimately determine who stands the test of time.

By Heather Schnese S’12, content specialist

2025-11-07 10:00