Let’s be honest, rankings exist for one reason: to drive conversation. That’s it.
They’re the sports world’s version of reality TV, dramatic, addictive, and mostly fake.
Useful for buzz?
Sure.
Useful for evaluation?
Not even close.
Most rankings are built to attract clicks, not inform decisions.
If a ranking site puts out a surprising top 10 list, people argue, comment, share, it drives traffic.
That’s the goal.
Not accuracy.
Not the truth.
Traffic.
Players know it.
Coaches know it.
Media definitely knows it.
But for some reason, we still treat these lists like they mean something.
We give them power they haven’t earned.
That’s on us.
Rankings are great for fans.
They give us something to argue about on Twitter.
They help fill the gaps between games.
But they have no business influencing real recruiting decisions.
They’re like box office rankings, not a measure of quality, just popularity.
Some of the most highly ranked kids flame out because they were never taught how to be coached or how to lead.
Meanwhile, unranked kids show up hungry and dominate. That’s the truth you won’t see on a list.
We need to separate what’s entertaining from what’s effective.
Evaluating a player should involve watching games, not highlight reels. Talking to coaches.
Watching film when the player has a bad night.
Rankings don’t do any of that.
They’re a summary, not a study.
Conclusion:
Basketball rankings aren’t real.
They’re entertainment content made to stir conversation, not guide recruiting.
Let’s treat them like what they are: noise.
Coaches need clarity, not clickbait.
Leave the rankings to the fans and get back to real scouting.
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