We are closing in on another spring, summer, and grassroots seasons. NBA scouts, personnel, college coaches, and the national media scouts have been around the last few months just taking a look at what the future of basketball could be in the future with all of these highly rated prospects across the board. I am asked this question every single year, who are your top ten high school prospects regardless of class?
2024 Cooper Flagg (Montverde Academy, FL) – The now rising senior, Cooper Flagg, is the number one overall prospect in the world of high school hoops regardless of class and I believe most NBA scouts and personnel can agree. The 6-foot-8 phenom impressed recently at the annual Nike EYBL Peach Jam just last month in North Augusta, South Carolina. His overall tool box is just outstanding and it literally shows every time Cooper steps on the floor. He is an elite help side shot blocker, utilizes his lengthy arms in a variety of ways, can score the ball from all levels, and loves to facilitate from the forward position getting his teammates involved. Flagg is the prototypical NBA dual forward and showcased to next level scouts on multiple occasions what he can bring to the NBA in just a couple of years. His decision to reclassify to the 2024 class just boosted the 2025 NBA Draft.
2026 A.J. Dybantsa (Prolific Prep, CA)– The next one up out of the Boston area? A.J. Dybantsa. The 6-foot-8 forward is coming off an outstanding freshman campaign and is headed out West next season to join the powerhouse Prolific Prep (CA) program. Dybanstsa is coming off a grassroots season where he led the Nike EYBL Peach Jam in scoring at 25.8 PPG and helping the USA U16 National Team secure a gold medal. He is a uniquely special prospect that could see himself playing at the highest level in just a few years. A.J. is a skilled forward that can score the ball in many ways, rebounds, loves to defend, and plays with motivating energy on a consistent basis. His versatility on both ends of the floor is what NBA personnel have been impressed with the most. He holds an all around great feel for the game at a young age and will continue to grow over time.
2024 Tre Johnson (Link Academy, MO) – One of the more threatening scorers in the country, Tre Johnson has been on NBA scouts radar and continues to prove so with his performance on the floor. The 6-foot-6 guard is arguably the number one prospect in his class. Johnson has the ability to showcase multiple skills and at a consistent rate. He is an elite competitor, willing to defend his opponent’s best player, and is able to consistently make plays with the ball in his hands. He holds elite positional size at 6-foot-6, holds long arms that he utilizes on both ends of the floor, and the next level athletic ability. Tre has a natural feel for the game and should be a versatile guard when he makes it to the next level.
2024 Dylan Harper (Don Bosco Prep, NJ) – Dylan Harper, son of 5x NBA Champion Ron Harper, is another prospect that you can argue is the number one player in the 2024 class. The 6-foot-5 plus point guard has such an amazing feel for the game and a crafty lefty that should see himself playing at the highest level real soon. Harper plays at an impressive pace, has the ability to draw contact consistently, and make strong finishes around the rim. He is an elite lead guard that will have the skills to operate an offense, is a capable shot maker, and loves utilizing his size against smaller defenders. Dylan consistently prove he can make scoring opportunities look easy for his teammates. He is an effective rebounding guard and makes plays on the defensive side of the ball as well.
2025 Cameron Boozer (Columbus, FL) – The resume for now rising junior, Cameron Boozer, has just been phenomenal over the last two years. The 6-foot-9 forward has had many accomplishments so far early in his high school career and should continue to add more as the next two years move along. Cameron Boozer is just physically dominant over most of his opponents, but he is also an extremely skilled individual. Outside of his already next level body frame, Boozer can space the floor with his ability to make shots, can make the right decisions with the basketball, and makes his presence well-known inside the paint. He is an elite athlete, has shown he is capable of guarding multiple positions, and is one of the more consistent prospects in the country.
2025 Koa Peat (Perry, AZ) – Koa Peat is another one of my top ten overall prospect in the country regardless of class. The 6-foot-9 forward out of Arizona has been on the radar as one of the more interesting long term prospects for a couple of years now. Peat holds positional size with a football-like body frame, elite athleticism, and an all-around versatile tool box. He is able to showcase multiple skillsets at a time on the court at a consistent rate. Koa is able to handle the ball, holds great strength, has that next level explosiveness at the rim, and has displayed time and time again that he can score from all levels of the floor. His ability to block shots, make good passes, and spreading the floor with his shot-making never goes unnoticed. The rising junior forward has also won two gold medals with the USA U16 and U17 national teams.
2026 Tyran Stokes (Prolific Prep, CA) – The Louisville native, Tyran Stokes, has had major buzz over the last year or so and especially after his freshman campaign with powerhouse Prolific Prep (CA). Stokes is a 6-foot-7 forward who is uniquely talented and was certainly able to showcase that over the last few months, recently at the 2023 Nike EYBL Peach Jam back in July. He is a young rising sophomore and already holds incredible upside. Tyran is able make plays for his team on both ends of the floor, moves well without the ball, shows mature defensive awareness, and consistently shows his athleticism. He has been able to showcase his explosiveness at the rim, shot-making abilities, and versatility on both ends of the floor as well. Stokes is also an underrated passer and has proven multiple times he can make plays with the ball in his hands.
2024 Ace Bailey (McEachern, GA) – Atlanta has been known for their talent coming out of the Peach State for years and Ace Bailey should be next up. Bailey sits at 6-foot-9, holds unnoticeable length, plays with great energy, and has all the tools to be the next big name out of Atlanta to reach the NBA. Although he did not run on any of the main shoe circuits this past grassroots season, Ace has still been able to capture the attention of the national media and scouts. He is an athletic forward with skill, has proved he can hit jumpers, utilizes his length on both ends of the floor, and is actually a very unselfish player. Rutgers is receiving a possible one-and-done prospect in the 2024 class. NBA scouts and personnel have been all over Ace Bailey since his sophomore year.
2025 Darryn Peterson (Huntington Prep, WV) – Darren Peterson is certainly in the conversation when talking about the best of the best prospects in the country, regardless of class. The 6-foot-5 guard is an electric scoring prospect that should be the next one up out of Ohio. Peterson played his grassroots ball in the Adidas Circuit this spring, summer and also recently helped the USA U16 National team secure a gold medal back in June. He holds unique talents, has the ability to score in a variety of ways, very athletic, and showcases his all around feel for the game. Darryn has quick instincts, impacts the floor on both ends, and plays at a next level pace already. The rising junior guard certainly has high hopes to make it to the next level, which is reaching the NBA at some point.
2024 Ian Jackson (Cardinal Hayes, NY) – One of the next big names out of the state of New York will be Ian Jackson and that’s a definite. Jackson has been known as one of the top high school prospects regardless of class since his sophomore campaign and now coming into his senior season, that should not change. He is a 6-foot-5 guard with such an incredible feel for the game. Ian holds positional size, an all around scoring guard, and elite athletic ability. He makes all the right decisions when he posses the ball, is explosive when attacking the basket, and plays with great energy on the floor. The future North Carolina Tar Heel has been on NBA scouts radar for awhile now and should be a potential lottery pick come the 2025 NBA Draft.
The Grind Hoops by Samad Hines 