While George is an extreme example, the truth is that scouts often miss the mark when it comes to identifying future NBA stars. In fact, they missed out on Damian Lillard, Steph Curry, and Tyrese Haliburton too, all of whom were considered three-star recruits and not ranked highly by scouts.

But why do scouts miss out on talented players? One reason is that there are just too many talented players to keep track of, and the competition for the top recruits is fierce. The class of 2008, which featured players like Isaiah Thomas, Jimmy Butler, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green, is considered one of the most talented in NBA history, but none of the players listed here were ranked in the top 10 by scouts.

In the case of Paul George, he was overshadowed by other California talent, leading him to take his best offer and attend Fresno State. He was a rangy jump-shooting combo forward, ahead of his time, and not seen as anything near what he ended up being. These days, he would have gotten a lot closer look and perhaps been ranked.

It's clear that scouts are not perfect and that there will always be players who slip through the cracks. But it's important to remember that just because a player isn't highly ranked, it doesn't mean they can't go on to achieve great things in the sport they love. Paul George's success story is proof of that.

So, the next time you see a player on the court who doesn't have a five-star ranking, remember that they might just be the next big thing in the NBA.