Cooper Flagg F 6-8 17 Montverde Academy (Newport, ME) *Duke
From an NBA perspective, Flagg is the clear lower high prospect within the class at this cut-off date. There’s a full yr for gamers like Ace Bailey and VJ Edgecombe to probably make a run at him, however for now he’s THE GUY with room to spare. Whereas it didn’t all the time look fairly as quite a lot of his performs regarded wild, the top consequence was largely optimistic. Flagg shot very nicely within the recreation and completed with a powerful efficiency, ending up with a (19 and 11) double-double . Cooper has franchise stage upside, if he’s capable of maximize his talents, with each management and charisma. An elite defender, who exhibits nice potential as a 2-way expertise. If he can efficiently regulate his capturing movement and tuck his elbow in, he would improve his long run potential. He exhibits an amazing really feel for passing. His jumpshot is respectable however lacks consistency, as he shoots the ball above his proper shoulder, and his kind takes away a few of his precision. He exhibits nice coordination and leg energy and absorbs contact with out getting knocked off stability.. His capability to defend each the put up and perimeter and be disruptive on that finish of the ground offers him a variety of upside as a two means participant. For now, his protection is forward of his offensive affect. At Lake Oswego in entrance of a health club stuffed with scouts and GMs within the scrimmage,, he struggled. Total the week was under his customary, however he made up for that with a powerful recreation. Flagg’s demeanor is all enterprise and he has a maturity and willpower that you just hardly ever discover in an 17 yr outdated. All of his power is concentrated and he acts extra like a university senior than a highschool senior. Search for him to make main strides within the subsequent yr at Duke. He initiatives to be the doubtless high general choose of the 2025 draft.
Ace Bailey F 6-9 17 McEachern HS (Powder Springs, GA) *Rutgers
Airious “Ace” Bailey is maybe probably the most gifted participant in the whole class, Flagg included. His upside is extraordinarily intriguing. A superb shooter with vary. And the capturing mixed with elite stage size and athleticism places him on one other stage as a prospect. However proper now he nonetheless he nonetheless has bouts of unfocused play and immaturity, his physique language exhibits a variety of “youthful power”. He performed nicely within the scrimmage. When he’s on, he can put up factors in a rush. Possesses a close to 7-foot wingspan. Exhibits stable understanding of enjoying off the ball, and utilizing screens to get himself open. Has a nostril for scoring. Slipped into the paint at one level for a rebound put again, exhibiting hustle and anticipation. Additionally knocked down a step again nook three. In his interview he got here throughout as a youthful HS senior in want of construction and maybe considerably misunderstood. He’s clearly obsessed with basketball, and simply wants to realize extra maturity socially. On the court docket, he brings the entire bundle. He’s lengthy and athletic and an amazing finisher, and it’s clear that he has labored on his bounce shot and his vary. With shades of Paul George and Rashard Lewis, Bailey has immense upside however growing his physique and consistency would be the key. Bailey had 14 factors within the recreation however struggled some from the ground hitting simply 6-15 and 2-7 from 3.
Dylan Harper G 6-6 18 Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, NJ) *Rutgers
Harper is among the most poised and artful gamers in his class. Whereas not the very best upside man, he performs with a excessive IQ and makes successful performs. He’s not going to wow you however positively a stat-sheet-stuffer. He’s additionally an above common perimeter defender. Had a coast to coast lay in within the scrimmage, displaying his capability to push the ball up the ground. He performs a really managed recreation. A combo guard with good, however not nice size. Has a really calm, mature, even keeled demeanor. Performs with a variety of consistency. Excessive flooring, low ceiling kind of prospect. Completed the sport with 14 factors on 4-11 capturing and an ideal 5-5 from the road. Additionally had 7 boards, 3 assists, and hit his solely three level try. Scouts see a possible Jalen Brunson kind of participant for the following stage with extra dimension and fewer level guard capability.
Isaiah Evans F 6-6 18 North Mecklenburg (Huntersville, NC) *Duke
Evans has some shades of Brandon Ingram physique and recreation clever however a number of inches smaller. He nonetheless clearly wants to realize a variety of weight. He’s a naturally gifted scorer that excels in any respect 3 ranges. However he nonetheless must develop extra depth. He appears to coast some when enjoying with different good gamers. The expertise is there for him to take off at Duke, it’s a matter of placing within the work on his physique and coming into the season centered and motivated and enjoying to his talents. Got here off the bench and performed simply 5 minutes, however was environment friendly in his time on the ground flattening 3/4 pictures, ending with 6 factors.
Boogie Fland G 6-2 17 Archbishop Stepinac (White Plains, NY) *Kentucky
Johnuel “Boogie” Fland has that typical flashy NY recreation. He dominates the ball some, however to his credit score makes issues occur. He confirmed his quickness within the scrimmage and obtained into the lane with ease. His bounce shot continues to be slightly inconsistent. He sees the court docket nicely. Showcased a pleasant pull up off the dribble. Had a productive 9 factors on 4-8 capturing in 17 minutes of motion within the recreation. Kind of within the Cole Anthony mould. Will probably be attention-grabbing to see how rapidly he takes over at Kentucky and realizes his expertise.
Ian Jackson G 6-5 19 Our Savior Lutheran (Centereach, NY) *North Carolina
His recreation is generally predicated on enjoying downhill and attacking. Jackson has glorious pace off the dribble, which he had on show within the scrimmage. He additionally confirmed when locked in, he generally is a dynamic defender. He shows an amazing shot from exterior, with pull up capability. He’s additionally an excellent athlete who can rise up above the rim for spotlight finishes. Jackson began however struggled to affect within the recreation, scoring simply 2 factors on 1-5 capturing in 18 minutes. He was extra spectacular within the week of practices and appears like probably the greatest backcourt prospects within the class.
Morez Johnson Jr. C 6-9 18 Thornton Township (Harvey, IL) *Illinois
The Illinois recruit has a protracted and nicely developed body. He confirmed some flashes within the practices with excellent capability to soak up contact and get to the free throw line. His shot continues to be in want of labor and he’s in all probability a multi-year recruit which ought to affect Illinois fairly rapidly and stick round some time, music to the ears of Illinois supporters. Small energy ahead with good energy. His free throw capturing appears good. Kind from exterior the paint breaks down in video games some.
Tre Johnson G 6-5 18 Hyperlink Academy (Dallas, TX) *Texas
Johnson is a little bit of an enigma. When he’s on, he appears like a future NBA star, however he usually floats and appears unfocused. He exhibits glorious dimension for a wing, and excellent handles. Good drive and dish capability with imaginative and prescient. At instances evidently he loses his cool. Like many of the gamers his age, he nonetheless must mature. Whereas he disenchanted within the recreation capturing simply 1-7, and ending with simply 2 factors, his efficiency in practices confirmed the expertise he possesses. When he’s dialed in he brings so much to the sport.. He’s supreme stage ISO participant with the flexibility to create pictures off the dribble and has an image excellent stroke. He is also adept at driving and dishing with each handles and artistic passing. He was good off the bounce and was dialed in from deep in quite a lot of the practices. He simply appears to run cold and warm at instances, as the sport confirmed. Certain to be one of many extra polarizing prospects a yr from now.
Asa Newell F 6-9 18 Monteverde Academy (Destin, FL) *Georgia
Newell performed within the shadow of Queen and Cooper all yr at Montverde. This week he obtained present how good he’s when he’s allowed some house. He’s an excellent scorer across the basket and confirmed a motor we didn’t see on a regular basis this yr. In apply he confirmed that he persistently knock down the mid-range jumper. Nice bigman physique. He’s obtained an enormous body with an enormous wingspan and large palms. A sensible child. He exhibits a clean capturing stroke with vary. Newell obtained the beginning within the recreation and actually performed nicely going 6-12 from the ground for 17 factors and 10 boards in half-hour.
Patrick Ngongba II C 6-11 18 Paul VI Catholic (Fairfax, VA) *Duke
The long run Duke bigman didn’t play within the recreation however was in motion through the week in practices. He has a good trying shot with delicate contact. He was simply again from damage so his conditioning and weight usually are not there but. Appeared very sluggish, however unfair to guage him whereas he will get again to his regular enjoying weight. Clearly must drop pounds after which can get again to shifting and enjoying higher.
Jayden Quaintance PF/C 6-9 16 Phrase of God Christian Academy (Raleigh, NC) *Kentucky
Quaintance didn’t produce a lot within the scrimmage. However his consideration to element and his continuous motor in apply was eye opening for a 16 yr outdated. He’s aggressive and all the time attacking the basket. His improvement might produce one thing scary. An absolute beast of a 16 yr outdated. He has placed on fairly a little bit of muscle previously yr. He must proceed to deal with ball abilities, and changing into more adept at creating offense going through the basket. Huge Q was an ideal 3-3 from the ground and 1-3 from the road for a productive 7 factors in simply 9 minutes of motion within the recreation. Very stable exhibiting for the youngest participant within the recreation.
David Castillo G 6-1 18 Dawn Christian Academy (Wichita, KS) *Kansas St.
An undersized PG for the very best stage. Castillo has a elegant ability set for his age. He exhibits stable energy. He’s robust and an excellent flooring normal. In apply he was centered and dialed in. His recreation gained’t wow you, as he typically makes the precise resolution most the time. Within the scrimmage he ran the offense the best way the coaches needed. He’s additionally a stable on ball defender. Missed his two pictures within the recreation with 0 factors and had 1 help.
Portland Generals
Carter Bryant 6-8 210 PF/SF Corona Centennial *Arizona
Performed within the scrimmage at Lake Oswego and had some flashes. Began sluggish. Clearly very gifted athlete however nonetheless very inconsistent and unfocused. Introduced the ball up vs strain with none challenge at one level. Hit a pleasant 3 pointer. Additionally had one bigtime 2 handed flush. Exhibits flashes however resolution making continues to be a methods away.
*Darnell “Tate” Johnson contributed to this report.
