247sports’ “Basketball Rankings Week” is here!
Over the course of the next five days, 247Sports will be updating its national basketball rankings across all three high school classes (2024, 2025 and 2026). We begin this journey with today’s release of updated 247Sports 2024 national rankings.
It has been four months since our last update. And since then, fall events have passed along with the first-half of the high school season.
This is also the last update before final rankings are released in the spring. Admittedly, upcoming evaluation settings, like the McDonald’s All-American Game, played a part in our decision-making process for this rankings update. We were reluctant to reshuffle things too much at the top of the class since we know that we are going to have multiple opportunities to see 2024’s top prospects go head-to-head in the coming months.
Another upcoming variable that could play a part the final rankings is the impending reclassification wave. This time last year, we predicted that this trend would impact the high school game. It proved to be true as numerous players ended up reclassifying up from the 2024 class to 2023. We’re expecting more of the same this year. Several players who are currently listed as juniors will likely to join this 2024 senior class before it is all said and done. If that happens, then the final rankings will see a host of new names in new positions.
But until then, here’s everything you need to know about the 2024 class:
Cooper And Ace Race For No. 1
Cooper Flagg has retained the class’ No. 1 ranking. But, he’s getting some stiff competition for the top spot. No. 2 Ace Bailey is showing some serious signs of stardom this season which could lead to a showdown for the No. 1 spot that would play out in the final rankings update.
The big wing from McEachern High School (GA) has continued to grow, fill-out his frame and show the explosive athleticism that has become one of his calling cards. Simultaneously, Bailey is demonstrating some an improved ability to make tough shots.
Thanks to a multitude of high-level performances, Bailey taken his game to unprecedented levels and has shown his rapid improvement in the process. But, the most exciting thing about Bailey is the amount of upside that has yet to be discovered. Bailey is new to the game, so he’s still fairly raw in some ways (this is particularly evident in his shot selection and decision-making). He should benefit immediately from the caliber of coaching he’ll receive once he hits the Rutgers’ campus.
As for Flagg, he wowed evaluators this summer when he found new gears to his game. Unfortunately, he hasn’t been able to replicate those shifts this winter.
We’re still seeing the same defensive dominance — particularly off the ball — that we saw this summer as well as all the same offensive versatility. On top of all of that, he’s incredibly competitive with a very high motor. However, Flagg’s biggest area of growth has been with his shooting.
A year after shooting just 24% from 3 in league play, he’s now up to 35% this year. Also, he’s starting to pull-up into tough 3-pointers with more regularity and fluidity. In the process, he’s showing the potential to unlock new levels of his attack.
While these two players have distinguished themselves as the best long-term prospects in the class, they play in vastly different high school situations. As a result, evaluators are looking forward to seeing Flagg and Bailey in postseason events where they’ll be on equal playing fields.
The race for the No. 1 spot in the 2024 class won’t be done until our staff sees Bailey and Flagg in the postseason. But, from what we know right now, it’ll come down to these two potential stars.
2024 Is Better Than We Thought
This 2024 class was initially perceived as a poor one. In fact, it was believed by college coached and NBA scouts that the two-year window between the classes of 2023 and 2024 had notable declines in star power and total depth of talent. While this assumption has remained unchanged for the most part, this 2024 class is starting to look better than expected.
It certainly starts with the unexpected star power that Flagg and Bailey are now giving the group. But even as we move down the rankings, there is more depth than initially projected.
No. 3 Dylan Harper and No. 5 Tre Johnson have both previously held the number one spot in this class. They’ve sustained the same value that initially afforded them that distinction. Harper is a big lead guard with extreme productivity and efficiency, thanks to his exceptional basketball IQ. Johnson also has excellent measure-ables in addition to the translatable ability to make tough shots.
No. 4 VJ Edgecombe is making his debut in the top-4. He is another prospect who many scouts are now talking about as a probable one-and-done candidate. He’s arguably the most dynamic perimeter athlete in the 2024 class. He also has the competitiveness and motor to maximize those physical gifts on both ends of the floor.
No. 6 Jalil Bethea is another guard who has come on strong late in his high school career. He established himself as one of the top shooters in the class during the EYBL season while showing plenty of bounce to match his stroke. Bethea has continued to ascend this winter as he demonstrated by his 40-point outburst at the HoopHall Classic.
No. 7 Jayden Quaintance’s reclassification made him arguably the most naturally talented true front court player in the class even though he’s too young to be one-and-done eligible. Players like Ian Jackson (No. 8), Drake Powell (No. 9) and Flory Bidunga (No. 10) have also maintained their spots in the top-10.
