The category of 2024 is nationally a deep one in highschool basketball, led by five-star ahead Cooper Flagg, a Duke commit.
However, till Flagg re-classified this summer season, it was Dylan Harper who was the highest participant within the class of 2024. Now, Harper is essentially thought-about the second-best participant within the nation.
Flagg’s re-classification noticed him vault from being the highest participant within the nation within the 2025 class to now turning into the perfect on this class as effectively. He’s a 6-foot-9 ahead at Montverde Academy (Montverde, Florida).
When former NBA scout Matt Babcock was requested who the highest participant on this class is, he supplied a nuanced reply that was very definitive.
“As a scout and NBA draft analyst, evaluating gamers is an enormous a part of my job. Nonetheless, it’s difficult, particularly when evaluating two gamers with fully totally different types, like Harper and Flagg,” Babcock instructed USA TODAY Excessive College Sports activities.
“With Harper, you’ve got a jumbo-sized on-ball creator. And with Flagg, what’s to not like? He has glorious dimension, athleticism, and a motor that doesn’t cease. I believe each have the potential to be excellent NBA gamers. One potential separator for me is that if these guys don’t blossom into stars; as one would hope, Flagg possesses extra traits that will permit him to be an efficient complementary participant, whereas Harper wants the ball in his palms extra to be efficient. So, subsequently, there’s doubtless extra security in Flagg as a prospect — he most likely has the next flooring.”
Harper, dedicated to Rutgers, is a guard at Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, New Jersey). He’s the No. 2 total recruit within the nation in line with the 247Sports Composite.
Thought-about one of many prime expertise evaluators within the nation, Babcock is at present an NBA draft analyst and scout for Babcock Hoops.