Every time I hear someone say, “He’s a five-star,” or “He’s ranked top 50,” my stomach turns.
Not because I don’t appreciate talent, but because I know how fake and misleading these rankings can be.
I hate rankings because they simplify a complex process into a marketing gimmick, and people buy into it like it’s gospel.
Basketball is about skill, IQ, fit, development, work ethic, and character.
Rankings, meanwhile, are based on incomplete data, cherry-picked events, and subjective evaluation.
A kid might be ranked high because he played well in one major AAU event in front of scouts.
Another, equally talented player might be overlooked because he plays in a smaller market or wasn’t at the “right” camp.
That’s not evaluation, that’s lazy perception.
Worse, rankings create a hierarchy that too many coaches follow like a cheat sheet.
College coaches say they recruit the best fit, but watch how quickly they jump when a kid gets a bump in a ranking.
It becomes a feedback loop: a player’s rank attracts attention, which leads to more exposure, which boosts his rank even further, whether or not his actual game has improved.
Rankings also mess with players’ heads.
A high ranking inflates egos, kills work ethic, and turns development into entitlement.
A low or no ranking can destroy confidence or make players feel invisible. Kids start playing for mixtapes and stars instead of playing to win.
The whole mentality shifts from team and toughness to image and individualism.
Parents aren’t immune either.
Many get obsessed with rankings as validation for their child’s future, pushing them into expensive circuits or toxic environments just to “get seen.”
It becomes a chase for clout, not a path to improvement. The dream gets hijacked by the illusion of status.
And who’s doing these rankings anyway? Often it’s media people, not coaches or scouts.
People who may have never developed a player in their life. People who depend on clicks and headlines.
So what do they promote?
Flash, not fundamentals.
Hype, not heart.
That’s not evaluation, it’s entertainment.
Conclusion:
I hate rankings because they’re fake currency in a system that should be about real growth.
They reward the loudest, not the best.
They mislead players, parents, and even coaches.
They turn basketball into a circus of comparisons and quick judgments instead of a grind of development and trust.
Let the game speak.
Watch the full film.
Talk to coaches.
Check the work ethic, the character, the fit.
Rankings don’t tell that story, but the right eyes can.
Recommendations
Why Rankings Don’t Always Matter In High School Basketball Recruiting
Rankings Are Just Entertainment Not A Serious Tool For Basketball Evaluation
Rankings Have No Value In Real Recruiting The Myth Of The Star System
Rankings Are Hurting The Recruiting Process A System Built On Hype Not Truth