The biggest NBA draft takeaways from the 2024 Hoophall Classic– a rite of passage pitting elite NBA prospects against each other in front of the watchful eyes of NBA decision-makers and national media. Played at Springfield College, where James Naismith invented basketball in 1891, this year’s schedule was perhaps its best ever, in no small part due to a banner crop of American prospects coming through the ranks in the next few recruiting classic
During a down year for top-shelf prospects approaching the 2024 NBA draft, it was refreshing to see some truly elite talent confirm we’re looking at just a temporary drought. Both Duke commit Cooper Flagg and Rutgers commit Airious Bailey — the clear-cut No. 1 and No. 2 prospects in the 2025 NBA Draft — showcased extraordinary ability suggesting NBA teams have much to look forward to with two potential game-changing, franchise-type players battling it out for the top spots next June.
NBA draft insider Jonathan Givony spent four days in Springfield and is here to recap what we learned at Hoophall.
Cooper Flagg | 6-foot-9 | SF/PF
Montverde Academy | 2024 | Duke
Flagg and Montverde packed the arena three times in Springfield — all wins to remain undefeated this season — giving a bevy of NBA executives ample opportunity to get eyes on the most-hyped prospect in high school basketball, many for the first time live.
Weeks removed from turning 17 years old, Flagg did not disappoint, showing significant improvement in several facets of his game while providing the trademark whirlwind defensive intensity and versatility that have long characterized his profile.
His first game Friday — a 30-point blowout of nationally ranked Oak Hill Academy, was possibly the best performance of his high school career: 25 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists, 5 blocks, and 2 steals in 26 minutes.
Flagg has put considerable work into his outside shot and is reaping the results, shooting 6-for-13 from beyond the arc at Hoophall and 42% from 3 in 16 games this season, per the DraftExpress database. It’s not just spot-up jumpers, but also running off screens, picking and popping, and rising up for difficult pull-ups out of isolation, an encouraging sign considering he’s also an 84% career free throw shooter.
While Flagg is an outstanding passer, his ballhandling and shot creation in the half court are the next steps in the equation to becoming the type of go-to wing scorer teams covet at the top of the draft. He has made strides in this area too, playing pick-and-rolls — mostly to his left hand — and using his size, explosiveness, and aggressiveness to draw fouls or find teammates on the move.
Continuing to improve as a one-on-one scorer, foul-drawer, and pull-up shooter will make Flagg a truly devastating two-way force, something he has plenty of time to continue to work on, considering how young he is and the myriad of other ways in which he makes an impact on the game.
Playing on the No. 1 team in high school basketball, Flagg has significant firepower surrounding him and looks more than happy to share the wealth, rarely forcing the issue, committing just one turnover in 78 minutes this past weekend (23 turnovers in 16 games this season).
Defense has long been Flagg’s calling card, and this weekend was no different. It’s hard to remember another player universally considered the No. 1 prospect in high school basketball who legitimately plays harder than any player in the country
. But his insatiable motor and competitiveness are a big part of what makes Flagg special. He plays just as hard in a tied game as he does up 25 points, covering ground seamlessly on the perimeter, putting a lid on the rim as a weakside shot-blocker, and rejecting 3-pointers with his tremendous instincts and quickness getting off his feet. He’s a devastating force off the ball, but is just as good on it, often guarding the other team’s best player, switching between guards, wings and big men.
Flagg will likely be the youngest player in college basketball next season, not turning 18 until the end of December, making him barely eligible for the 2025 NBA draft. Bailey has improved rapidly and will make his case for why he should be the No. 1 pick, but Flagg is clearly not ready to cede that mantle anytime soon with the way he has performed thus far this season.
Airious Bailey | 6-foot-9 | SG/SF
McEachern | 2024 | Rutgers
Dinged up and exhausted coming off three games in three days at the Bass Pro Shops Tournament of Champions just prior to Hoophall, Bailey wasn’t at his best in an overtime loss relative to other settings we’ve seen (for example, an incredible 40-point, 21-rebound performance at Rutgers a few weeks ago). But he still posted 23 points (on 24 shots) with 14 rebounds, 3 blocks and 4 turnovers. He showed extraordinary talent that would make him a strong No. 1-pick candidate in most draft classes, with one NBA executive in attendance calling it a “coin flip” currently for who he’d select between Bailey and Flagg.
In many ways, Bailey is exactly what every NBA team is looking for. He’s a 6-foot-9 guard with NBA range, who can pull up on a dime. He has quick acceleration, changing gears out of hesitation moves. He shows elite body control, highlight-reel-caliber explosiveness, live-dribble passing, and physicality and competitiveness as a rebounder and defender. Player comparisons range from Tracy McGrady to Paul George to Jayson Tatum, but he has plenty of room to grow as a decision-maker with his shot selection and ability to take care of the ball. He plays off his instincts and talent on both ends of the floor like many 17-year-olds in this mold often do, especially ones who have grown and improved as much as Bailey in the past year.
Heading to Rutgers to play alongside fellow top-5 recruit Dylan Harper for no-nonsense coach Steve Pikiell, Bailey will be pushed hard to clean up the looser parts of his game on both ends and find more consistency with his approach. Like Flagg, Bailey will be among the younger players in college basketball next season — not turning 18 until mid-August. Bailey has unexpectedly made the conversation around the No. 1 pick a real debate with his play this season, one we expect will continue for the next 18 months if he continues along the same trajectory we’ve seen.
Cam Boozer | 6-foot-10 | PF/C
Christopher Columbus | 2026 | Undecided
Still only 16 years old, Boozer wowed onlookers with his versatility and feel for the game, posting 40 points, 20 rebounds, 9 assists and 9 blocks over two wins against two of the best teams in high school basketball (Paul VI and Long Island Lutheran).
He continues to grow in stature and frame, en route to standing 6-foot-10 if he’s not there already, after measuring under 6-foot-8 less than two years ago.
You don’t find many 16-year-old bigs who can push the ball off the glass, create their own shots from the perimeter, make live-dribble passes with either hand or touch passes out of short rolls, and show polish, body control and footwork as a pick-and-roll finisher.
Boozer continues expanding his game while showing real confidence handling the pick-and-roll, finding teammates on the move, pulling up versus unders, and confidently stepping into open shots, even off movement. He’s also shooting 40% from 3 this season over 4.5 attempts per game (and 85% from the free throw line) and isn’t afraid to use his size inside the paint.
As impressive as his offense is, he’s even further ahead on defense due to his elite timing and feel for the game. He shows great technique closing out on the perimeter, never bites on fakes inside, rotates seamlessly to block jumpers or protect the rim, and brings outstanding timing and energy crashing the glass.
Not NBA draft-eligible until 2026, Boozer’s maturity, approach and instincts on both ends of the floor are as good as you’ll find from a recruit his age, but his lack of elite-level explosiveness means he’ll have to continue expanding his game as the level of competition rises, which he seems to be doing successfully.
Jalil Bethea | 6-foot-5 | PG/SG
Archbishop Wood | 2024 | Miami
We highlighted Bethea as a candidate to rise even further up recruiting rankings after watching him in October at USA Basketball’s minicamp, and that looks all but certain to happen after the incredible show he put on at Hoophall — scoring 40 points on just 23 field goal attempts in a win over Corona Centennial (CA).
Bethea put on an impressive shot-making display — coming off screens, ducking behind handoffs, rising up off jab-steps, side-steps, step-backs, pulling up sharply in mid-range spots, or spotting up from NBA range with perfect mechanics. Shouldering significant ballhandling responsibility, it was impressive to see him play turnover-free while showing some real creativity driving, kicking and moving the ball ahead unselfishly in transition. Scouts will want to see if Bethea can continue to evolve as a playmaker at Miami next year — his decision-making and body language can look questionable at times.
Still coming into his own physically — he appears to have grown and filled out even from last October — it will be interesting to see how Bethea’s explosiveness while operating in traffic evolves as his body continues to fill out. He’s smooth, but not all that powerful when changing gears to beat opponents off the dribble. He lacks a degree of strength as a finisher, which makes it difficult for him to be efficient on nights when his shots aren’t falling. His intensity wavers at times defensively, especially off the ball, but he has a competitive streak that allows him to get in a stance and make things difficult one-on-one. Bethea should play an important role for an up-tempo, offensive-minded Miami coaching staff that isn’t afraid to empower guards in Bethea’s mold. He should have a significant platform for the 2025 NBA draft.
Liam McNeeley | 6-foot-7 | SG/SF
Montverde Academy | 2024 | Indiana
In a Prolific Prep-Montverde game featuring two of the most talented teams in high school basketball, including three prospects ranked No. 1 in their class — it was McNeeley who stole the show and looked like the best player on the floor. Pull-up 3s in transition, the ability to shoot running off screens, getting downhill and going left or right for emphatic dunks or off-hand scoop finishes, and making smart passes out of the pick-and-roll, McNeeley showed a complete offensive arsenal while also locking down defensively.
NBA teams love McNeeley’s ability to make shots dynamically while also keeping defenses honest when attacking closeouts. They also appreciate how he makes the extra pass and keeps mistakes to a minimum. He’s shooting an incredible 47-for-92 (52%) from 3 through 16 games with a sparkling 2-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio, while bringing toughness, versatility and awareness defensively within Montverde’s switching schemes.
Joining one of the worst outside shooting teams in college basketball in Indiana next season, McNeeley should have a tailor-made role for the Hoosiers with his ability to stretch the floor, but he’s showing he can do more than that for Montverde, making a strong case as a top-10 prospect in the 2024 class.
A.J. Dybantsa | 6-foot-9 | SG/SF
Prolific Prep | 2025 | Undecided
The 16-year-old No. 1-ranked prospect in 2025 showed what makes him so highly regarded in a narrow loss to Montverde, posting 21 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists. He attacked Flagg fearlessly all game, showing long strides and tremendous pace when getting to his spots one-on-one or out of pick-and-roll. He initiated contact, drawing fouls and finishing with supreme creativity in the lane. He also made some strong reads finding teammates on the move, and showed his shot-making prowess by hitting tough jumpers with a hand in his face.
At 6-foot-9, Dybantsa is a complete offensive player with the confidence and shot-creation ability to potentially carry an NBA team with his scoring down the road. He plays with an edge, bringing toughness on both ends of the floor, but he’s still learning to harness his talent and become a more consistently impactful decision-maker and defender. The game moves a little fast for him at times, resulting in turnovers and missed assignments off the ball.
V.J. Edgecombe | 6-foot-5 | SG/SF
Long Island Lutheran | 2024 | Baylor
Fresh off announcing his commitment to Baylor, Edgecombe had two underwhelming performances by his high standards, shooting 10-for-28 from the field at Hoophall with three assists and five turnovers in a pair of losses.
The 6-foot-5 wing doesn’t have elite length or bulk, but is arguably the most explosive athlete in this class, moving at a different speed from most players in high school. He’s a blur in the open floor, getting downhill to his left hand and finishing above the rim in highlight-reel fashion while looking like a candidate to win an NBA slam dunk contest at some point in his career.
