NCAA Basketball Recruiting: The 10 Best Sharpshooters in the 2014 Class

The class of 2014 in high school basketball is loaded with talent. With many of the top prospects still uncommitted, the next six months will be very exciting in terms of recruiting.

While every program is looking forward to getting started with the 2013-14 season, coaching staffs are already looking ahead toward next year’s recruiting class, always building for the future.

A key component to any great team includes an outside shooter who can consistently knock down perimeter shots.

The following list looks at the 10 best sharpshooters in the class of 2014.

10. Dion Wiley

Dion Wiley is a 4-star guard who can light up the scoreboard from the perimeter.

The 6’3”, 210-pounder is the No. 17-ranked shooting guard and No. 58 overall prospect in the 247Sports class of 2014 rankings.

He’s committed to Maryland and will be able to immediately contribute for the Terrapins as a three-point specialist.

A shooter like Wiley will give Maryland a big lift in its transition to the Big Ten in 2014.

9. Rashad Vaughn

Rashad Vaughn is a shooting guard with deep range who has a chance to end up as the top-ranked shooting guard in the class of 2014.

With a 6’6” wingspan and explosive athletic ability, Vaughn’s outside shooting is just one aspect of his offensive repertoire that makes him difficult to defend.

His shooting range is part of what has earned him the distinction of being one of the best scorers in the 2014 class.

The 5-star prospect, according to 247Sports, from Minneapolis, Minn., has yet to commit to a school and is being heavily recruited by North Carolina, Minnesota, Kentucky, Iowa State and many others.

8. James Blackmon Jr.

James Blackmon Jr. quickly became a hot name in recruiting circles when he de-committed from Indiana earlier this month.

Blackmon had been committed to the Hoosiers for the past three years, but now, one of the top shooters in the class of 2014 is back on the open market.

He’s a 6’3”, 180-pound guard who is the No. 10-ranked shooting guard in the 2014 class, according to 247Sports. His outside shooting is the strongest part of his game.

Blackmon averaged 33.3 points per game last season as a junior and is expected to become a prolific scorer at the college level.

7. Tyus Jones

One of the reasons Tyus Jones is one of the best point guard prospects in the class of 2014 is because of his ability to knock down perimeter shots.

Jones’ primary role is to be a leader and distributor for any offense, but that doesn’t mean he can’t take over a game with his own scoring ability.

Jones waits for his opportunities to take outside shots, but he’s very effective when he becomes more aggressive and looks for his own offense.

It’s yet another reason experts have compared his game to that of Chris Paul.

6. Grayson Allen

Grayson Allen is the first commit of the 2014 class for the Duke Blue Devils and one of the best shooters in the class.

He’s a 6’4”, 190-pound shooting guard who has had an outstanding summer on the AAU circuit. He possesses a dangerous combination of athletic ability and deep shooting range.

It could be a couple years before Allen receives significant playing time, as Duke has a tremendous amount of depth at the wing positions, but once he gets on the court, the Cameron Crazies will love his deep three-point shooting and explosive finishes above the rim.

5. Riley LaChance

Riley LaChance isn’t getting the same type of attention as the big-name recruits from the class of 2014, but he is still one of the most gifted shooters in the country.

LaChance is a 6’2”, 160-pound shooting guard from Brookfield, Wis., who is the No. 28 shooting guard in the 2014 class, according to 247Sports.

While he lacks the athletic ability of many of the top recruits in the country, LaChance’s shooting ability takes a backseat to no one.

He’s being recruited by Butler, Creighton, Baylor and Davidson. His perimeter shooting will be a great asset to any of those programs.

4. J.P. Macura

J.P. Macura is another member of the extremely talented class of 2014 in the state of Minnesota.

Though Macura doesn’t get the same amount of hype as other Minnesota guards, Tyus Jones and Rashad Vaughn, he’s a deadly perimeter shooter who will likely develop into a very valuable college player.

Macura is 6’4”, 180 pounds and is listed as the No. 30 shooting guard in the class of 2014, according to 247Sports.

He averaged 25.6 points per game last season while shooting over 46 percent from the field.

3. Trey Kell

Trey Kell’s outside shooting ability has earned him a great deal of attention this summer at various AAU tournaments.

Kell’s performance at the Double Pump Best of Summer Tournament in California caught the attention of many college coaches because of his impressive shooting performance.

247Sports lists Kell as the No. 27 shooting guard in the class of 2014. He offers good size to be a physical shooting guard at 6’4”, 200 pounds.

Look for Kell to rise in recruiting rankings as more coaches take note of his shooting ability.

2. Karl Towns Jr.

It’s unusual for one of the top center prospects in a class to also be one of the top outside shooters in a class, but that’s what Kentucky is getting in Karl Towns Jr.

Towns is 7’1”, 250 pounds. His deep shooting range is one of the most unique aspects of his game. It’s also part of why he’s No. 10 player in the class of 2014, according to 247Sports.

He has beautiful form on his jump shot and will be a nightmare for any coach who has to design a scheme to stop him.

Towns could be one of the most unique big men to play for John Calipari during his time at Kentucky.

1. Devin Booker

Whether it’s from the perimeter, mid-range or attacking the rim, Devin Booker knows how to put the ball in the basket.

He’s a 4-star shooting guard from Moss Point, Miss., and one of the most sought-after recruits in the class of 2014. Booker recently trimmed his list to five schools—Michigan State, Florida, Kentucky, Michigan and Missouri, which he confirmed on Twitter (h/t Peter Woodburn of SB Nation). 

He shows excellent maturity with his offensive game and doesn’t force many bad shots, particularly from beyond the three-point line.

Booker averaged nearly 30 points per game last season as a junior and won’t have any problem filling up the scoring column in college.