The hardwood echoes with squeaks and cheers as a new generation of giants rises. In high schools across the nation, prodigies are weaving magic with the orange sphere, their names whispered as future legends.
This is their stage, where raw talent collides with relentless ambition, forging stars destined to illuminate the college and professional ranks.
In this piece, we reveal the foremost high school basketball athletes, dynamic adolescents reshaping the narrative of the game with each skillful crossover, slam dunk, and last-second shot.
Get ready to be captivated by the emerging future of basketball, unfolding right in front of us.
1. Cooper Flagg
- School: Montverde Academy, Florida
- Position: Small Forward
- Height: 6 ft 9 in
Cooper Flagg was raised in Newport, Maine, and started his high school education at Nokomis Regional High School.
However, he moved to Montverde Academy in Montverde, Florida, after completing his freshman year. During his initial season at Montverde, Flagg posted an average of 9.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, and three assists per game.
2. Dylan Harper
- School: Don Bosco Preparatory, New Jersey
- Position: Point Guard
- Height: 6 ft 5 in
Dylan Harper, recognized as a five-star recruit and among the standout athletes in the 2024 class, holds his current position at Don Bosco Preparatory High School in Ramsey, New Jersey, according to 247Sports.
In his sophomore season, Harper maintained an average of 15.2 points per game. Moving into his junior year, he boasts impressive statistics with an average of 24.9 points, 6 rebounds and two steals per game.
3. Ace Bailey
- School: McEachern High, Georgia
- Position: Small Forward
- Height: 6 ft 8 in
Airious "Ace" Bailey, an American basketball athlete, currently studies at McEachern High School in Powder Springs, Georgia.
He initially went to Boyd-Buchanan School in Chattanooga but relocated to Powder Springs after his freshman year, subsequently joining McEachern High School.
During his junior year, Bailey demonstrated impressive stats with an average of 22 points, 14 rebounds and four blocks per game.
4. Drake Powell
- School: Northwood High, NC
- Position: Small Forward
- Height: 6 ft 6 in
Drake Powell, hailing from Pittsboro, NC, is a small forward standing at 6-foot-6 and weighing 170 pounds who attends Northwood High School.
With a height exceeding 6-foot-7 in shoes, he possesses impressive positional size, long arms, and a naturally robust frame that is expected to further develop with added muscle.
5. Tre Johnson
- School: Link Academy, Missouri
- Position: Shooting Guard
- Height: 6 ft 6 in
Tre Johnson held the title of the top overall recruit according to 247Sports, ESPN, and Rivals for the entirety of his junior year.
However, his status changed in the summer of 2023 when Dylan Harper surpassed him. Formerly a student at Lake Highlands High School, Johnson transferred to Link Academy after the school year concluded.
6. VJ Edgecombe
- School: Long Island Lutheran, New York
- Position: Shooting Guard
- Height: 6 ft 4 in
VJ Edgecombe, a basketball player from the Bahamas, is presently enrolled at Long Island Lutheran High School.
Prior to joining Long Island Lutheran, he spent two years at Victory International Institute in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Initially ranked 153rd in the composite ranking by 247Sports, Edgecombe ascended to the top five after an impressive showing in the Adidas 3SSB travel circuit during his junior year.
7. Flory Bidunga
- School: Kokomo High, Indiana
- Position: Center
- Height: 6 ft 9 in
Flory Bidunga, a basketball player from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, was raised in Kinshasa.
He joined Kokomo High School in Kokomo, Indiana, through the school's International Baccalaureate program. In his inaugural season at Kokomo, Bidunga posted impressive statistics with an average of 17.5 points, 13.3 rebounds, and 5.3 blocks per game.
8. Jalil Bethea
- School: Archbishop Wood, Pennsylvania
- Position: Shooting Guard
- Height: 6 ft 4 in
Jalil Bethea, standing at a height of 6-foot-4, is presently a member of the Archbishop Wood Boys varsity team, having enrolled in the school in 2020.
In his last season, Bethea recorded an average contribution of 23.2 points, accompanied by 7.8 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game.
9. Jayden Quaintance
- School: Word Of God Christian Academy, NC
- Position: Center
- Height: 6 ft 9 in
Jayden Quaintance stands out as one of the country's most inherently gifted prospects.
Possessing a height of 6-foot-9, remarkable arm length (a wingspan exceeding 7-foot-3), vertical athleticism, a robust physique, promising shooting abilities, innate face-up skills, and evident signs of a passing instinct, he showcases a diverse range of talents.
10. Ian Jackson
- School: Our Saviour Lutheran, New York
- Position: Shooting Guard
- Height: 6 ft 5 in
Ian Jackson, also known as "Captain Jack," holds the 10th position nationwide and is ranked second in New York according to the 247Sports 2024 Composite.
Attending Our Saviour Lutheran School in Centereach, NY, Jackson poses a scoring challenge every time he handles the ball, consistently demonstrating improvement and refinement in his game.
11. Isaiah Evans
- School: North Mecklenburg, NC
- Position: Small Forward
- Height: 6 ft 6 in
Isaiah Evans, a highly-ranked prospect in the 2024 class, stands at 6 feet 6 inches, playing as a forward for North Mecklenburg High School in Huntersville, North Carolina.
He has made the commitment to attend Duke University. Evans achieved a notable career milestone by scoring 62 points in a double-overtime victory.
12. Derik Queen
- School: Montverde Academy, Florida
- Position: Center
- Height: 6 ft 10 in
Derik Queen is currently enrolled at Montverde Academy in Florida. He showcased an impressive performance during the spring season in the Under Armour Association, with an average of 17.9 points, 12.1 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 2.0 blocks per game over eight matches.
Queen played a pivotal role in leading Team Thrill to victory in the spring championship, contributing 22 points, 15 rebounds, and five blocks in the title game.
13. Asa Newell
- School: Montverde Academy, Florida
- Position: Power Forward
- Height: 6 ft 9 in
Asa Newell is a 2005-born power forward for Montverde Academy.
Originally enrolled at Choctawhatchee High School in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, Newell earned recognition as the area Player of the Year by the Northwest Florida Daily News, boasting averages of 14.7 points and 8.7 rebounds.
He later made the move to Montverde Academy in Montverde, before embarking on his junior year.
14. Karter Knox
- School: Overtime Elite, Georgia
- Position: Small Forward
- Height: 6 ft 5 in
Karter Knox, a top recruit in the 2024 high school basketball class, has gained recognition for his proficiency as a shooting guard.
With a height of 6-5 and a weight of 180 lbs, he embodies an athletic wing, receiving offers from numerous colleges. Presently, he is an active participant in the Overtime Elite program based in Atlanta.
15. Liam McNeeley
- School: Montverde Academy, Florida
- Position: Small Forward
- Height: 6 ft 8 in
The Richardson, Texas native Liam McNeeley initially joined JJ Pearce High School.
He then moved to John Paul II High School in Plano, Texas following his first year. Subsequently, after the season, McNeeley made another transfer to Montverde Academy in Montverde, Florida.
In his first season, he posted statistics of 13.7 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.2 steals in NIBC.
16. Derrion Reid
- School: Prolific Prep, California
- Position: Small Forward
- Height: 6 ft 7 in
Derrion Reid, a magnificent small forward in the 2024 high school basketball class, stands at 6'7" and weighs 200 lbs.
Presently a member of Prolific Prep, he has secured a spot on ESPN's top-60 list for his class. Recognized for his basketball instincts and adeptness in assisting teammates, Reid has made a commitment to play for Alabama in December 2023.
17. Kon Knueppel
- School: Wisconsin Lutheran, Wisconsin
- Position: Small Forward
- Height: 6 ft 5 in
Kon Knueppel hails from a family deeply rooted in the rich basketball culture. He holds the role of small forward at Wisconsin Lutheran High School, nestled in the heart of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Displaying remarkable promise and skill, he achieved an impressive average of 10.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.2 assists during his freshman season with the Wisconsin Lutheran.
18. Jason Asemota
- School: Hillcrest Prep, Arizona
- Position: Small Forward
- Height: 6 ft 8 in
Jason Asemota is a highly regarded prospect in the 2024 class and is a five-star small forward hailing from Hillcrest Prep, Arizona.
Standing at a height of 6-foot-8, Asemota is recognized for his polished jump shot and growing proficiency in ball handling. In 2024, he chose to commit to Baylor over various other esteemed programs.
19. Zoom Diallo
- School: Prolific Prep, California
- Position: Point Guard
- Height: 6 ft 4 in
Zoom Diallo, a standout point guard prospect in 2024, is a highly-rated recruit with a five-star status. He spent his initial three seasons at Curtis High School before making a move to Prolific Prep in California.
Renowned for his adept pick-and-roll decision-making, smooth shooting release, and evident passing abilities, Diallo displayed impressive stats in his junior season, averaging 20.2 points, 5.5 assists, and 4.4 rebounds per game.
20. Carter Bryant
- School: Centennial High, California
- Position: Power Forward
- Height: 6 ft 8 in
Carter Bryant ranks among the top 20 recruits nationwide in the 247 Sports Composite rankings, holding the 4th position for power forwards and securing the second spot among California prospects.
Bryant, a 6-foot-8 wing, who plays for Centennial in Corona, California officially signed his LOI on the first day of National Signing Day to play for Arizona men’s basketball next season.
21. Patrick Ngongba II
- School: Paul VI Catholic, Virginia
- Position: Center
- Height: 6 ft 11 in
Patrick Ngongba II, a standout high school basketball prospect in 2024, is a 6-11, 235-pound Center from Paul VI Catholic High School in Fairfax, VA.
Ngongba is recognized for his impressive size and offensive abilities and has recently committed to Duke. He boasted an average of 12.7 points and 7.8 rebounds in just under twenty minutes on the Nike EYBL circuit.
22. Kanon Catchings
- School: Overtime Elite, Georgia
- Position: Power Forward
- Height: 6 ft 8 in
Kanon Catchings, a power forward hailing from Brownsburg, Indiana, stands at 6-foot-8 and weighs 185 pounds.
He is currently a player for the Overtime Elite. According to 247Sports, Catchings holds the 30th position in the national rankings for the 2024 class. He has recently announced his commitment to join the Purdue Boilermakers.
23. Billy Richmond
- School: Camden High, New Jersey
- Position: Shooting Guard
- Height: 6 ft 5 in
Billy Richmond, a Shooting Guard hailing from Memphis, TN, stands at 6-5 and weighs 200 pounds.
Possessing significant size and athleticism as a left-handed wing, Richmond is in the process of honing his guard abilities. This prominent athlete from Camden High School has officially pledged his commitment to Kentucky, as reported by On3.
24. Jamari Phillips
- School: Dream City Christian, Arizona
- Position: Shooting Guard
- Height: 6 ft 3 in
Jamari Phillips, a Combo Guard hailing from Modesto, CA, stands at 6-3 and weighs 190 pounds.
Commencing his high school journey at Modesto Christian in California, he later transferred before his junior season to join the basketball powerhouse Compass Prep in Arizona.
25. Bryson Tucker
- School: Bishop O'Connell, Virginia
- Position: Small Forward
- Height: 6 ft 6 in
Bryson Tucker hails from Baltimore and initiated his high school journey at Mount Saint Joseph. Nonetheless, he switched to the prestigious IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, before his junior season.
Contributing to USA Basketball's gold medal victory at the 2021 FIBA Americas Championship, Tucker posted an average of 9.5 points and 4.3 rebounds during the tournament.
