2018-2019 Prospect Rankings

Prospect Rankings By Weight

A little about "Prospect Rankings":

The Prospect Rankings are markedly different from the weight class rankings (which are all grades with wrestlers at their current weights and based entirely on results) and the Big Board rankings (which are grade specific and opinion-based).

Prospect Rankings take wrestlers from all grades and project them to their college weights. We then rank them based on what we think (opinion/assessment) their potential is.

A good measure to understand what I'm assessing, is to find a valuation to a senior, and then to take all the other wrestlers and project what level they will be at when they are a senior.

It's certainly an inexact science - one that is ever evolving and full of factors (none more obvious than the difficult in projecting physical growth). But Prospect Rankings just might be the most important one to recruiters, who have to not only target each weight, but have to deliberate on signing that weight this year, or waiting a year or two on someone who might turn out to be better.

The Turnover:

- Eight of the previous Top 20 graduated

- Five of the previous Top 20 remained ranked at the same weight

- Six of the current Top 20 were ranked at other weights

- Nine of the current Top 20 are new to the Prospect Rankings

At The Top:

Howard won rather decisively over Tagg in their Akron final. It sets up a clear Top 3 tier where you can pick your poison. Decatur is probably the best neutral wrestler at any weight in the country. But he has shown some struggles on bottom. Bartlett is likely the most athletic of the bunch. But I opted for Howard this go-round with his all round game and toughness. 

Tagg is sort of in a tier with Coco, though I stick Burks in their as well. He's just coming into his own entering his Junior year but he's young for his grade and, I think, represents a ton of upside. 

Joey Cruz had a bad Akron, but the incoming Freshman is a terror and has my full confidence. He will be a star. It's certainly interesting that I have him one spot ahead of Busiello, who is his foil in almost every way. Where Busiello is proven, Cruz isn't. And where Busiello is crafty, Cruz is simply a bull.

Why isn't Busiello higher? I have concerns about his consistency, though they may be much ado about nothing. Look, every year, when it's really time to perform (the State tournament and Super 32 (which he's won a record five straight times), the kid is on point. But there are also other spots where he takes losses to kids you really think he shouldn't. Granted, it's not in the most important bouts/events - so maybe it's just a priority thing - but it makes you wonder. So frankly, I'm hedging a bit there.