What Happened to the 34 Recruits Ranked Higher Than Shai Gilgeous-Alexander?

In 2017, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was ranked the 35th best player in his high school class by ESPN.

At the time, scouts questioned his three point shooting ability, consistency on the defensive side of the floor, and debated whether his unique style of play could translate to the NBA.

Fast forward to today, S.G.A. is a top 5 player in the NBA and arguably the best point guard in the league right now.

He’s a 2 time All-Star, made the All-NBA First Team twice, and is currently in the MVP conversation…

So there's no doubt when you look back, scouts got it wrong. But in order for the scouts to underrate Shai, they had to have overrated lots of players ranked ahead of him.

So in today’s video, we’re gonna dive in and gain a better understanding of what exactly happened to the 34 players ranked ahead of Shai…

Let’s break it down…

[SwoleFish]

I’m gilgeousing my Alexander to this video rn

[theman]

Nobody is waiting on PJ Washington. He is a great role player.

[xisredacted]

That’s the sad thing about nba prospects. You get guys that are amazing in college and when they get to the nba they average 1.4 ppg on 27% shooting.

[teshaunbeckles]

Lonnie walker game translates. He just don’t get the opportunity.. cause he has shown us plenty of times

[teshaunbeckles]

How can someone be considered a bust if they undrafted. Clearly he had no expectation placed on him.

[ryanamburgy]

Trae and Shai were both crazy disrespected wtf

[edwardkimakaballislifekim_]

Shai is so elite since high school and Kentucky 🔥🔥🔥

[michaelhuerter]

He played high school ball in my hometown, absolute baller. The high school he went to had like 30-40 boys and girls and they all played basketball haha. They breed D1 hoopers

[Antbeast]

I mean u have to look at it like these guys were 17-18 and Shai potential wasn’t filled filled he moved up a lot in the rank ish already and was ranked where he was. The other guys were more talented coming out of hs. It’s easy to say that they didn’t pan out now lmao

[gkb]

Trey Duval was really nasty in HS, wish he stayed 1 more year at Duke to play with Zion, RJ, and cam

[brodiestephens]

As a non-American, I was screaming at my TV when the Sons picked Ayton first overall, when Luka was right there. Luka was the Euroleague MVP as a teenager, and I couldn’t believe that the Sons were so dumb that they would take Ayton, who definitely didn't seem like the smartest guy in the world! 😅

When the Kangs chose Bagley over Luka, I couldn’t believe it. I knew that was going to be one of those draft choices that people would laugh at for years to come.

Watching all the American so-called "experts" talk about Luka in the draft lead-up was legitimately embarrassing. I'm not even European (I'm Australian).... but it was so obvious that Luka should have gone first overall, that it was borderline hilarious hearing people like Stephen A Smith not only mispronounce Luka's name.... but say all the usual dumbass stuff like "He's too slow, too unathletic, etc etc."

The kid was the Euroleague MVP as a and they were saying the most ridiculous things like "He's unproven against top competition, he's a mystery man, etc." When the Euroleague is such an obviously higher level of competition compared to college basketball. 😅😅😅

What a time to be alive!!!

[KiusJa]

Why u show the Brandon that’s #2 ranked in his class?

[DasFlippityFlop]

I remember I was upset when the clippers drafted him and jarome over Michael porter Jr. MPJ would’ve still been a great pick, but SGA is the steal of the draft

[AHoops]

He wasn’t even the highest ranked player in his family lmao

[edwardkimakaballislifekim_]

Collin Sexton my favorite pg young bull 🔥🔥🔥

[tproslayer]

No one sees bagly as more than maybe a roleplayer rn. He has no more to prove and is not gonna be a star or even close too it

[milkman_nbak]

I think this video has the wrong message some of these people are so good in high school and college

[TripShiesty]

Mitchell Robinson is elite I watched him drop a mean 30 ball at peach jam

[gbcprofesional]

Those players that went UnDrafted should’ve just stayed in College 😇

[takefades]

They thought SGA playstyle would translate to the nba. But ranked marvin bagley #1, where no team can fit him in the right position. Since he’s not big enough to be a center, can’t shoot at all to be a PF, and too slow to guard SF, and can’t pass. Marvin bagley sucks 😂