NBA Scouts take on Cooper Flagg, Ace Bailey, and other top prospects from the McDonald’s All-American game
The McDonald’s All-American game took place this year in Houston, Texas. Twenty-four of the top players in the country participated in the week of activities and seminars. But they also had multiple practices, scrimmages, and the game to compete. NBA scouts from every team were in attendance, and so were select pre-approved media.
The competition level was what stood out the most in these closed practices. Like every year, you get to see the natural leaders as well as the body language and the competitive nature of many of the participants.
“I loved the way these guys competed,” One NBA Scout told On3. “You saw some real leaders out there, Cooper Flagg, Boogie Fland, Liam McNeeley, they were all vocal. They all led throughout practice.”
Coming off last year’s high school senior class (the current group of players being evaluated for the 2024 NBA Draft), this group of players at the McDonald’s All-American was noted by many NBA Scouts as a breath of fresh air.
“This (high school) class is so much better than last year’s,” an NBA Scout said. “There is some real NBA talent here. After watching what last year’s (high school) class did this season, I’m like a kid in a candy shop watching these guys.”
Coming into the 2024 McDonald’s All-American one of the most talked about storylines was Cooper Flagg and Ace Bailey and their race for the No. 1 player in the 2024 class.
The two were put on opposite teams, meaning they only went head-to-head in the game and the scrimmages. But there was no denying that many of the eyes in attendance were glued to the performance of On3’s No. 1 and No. 2 ranked players in the 2024 class.
“I honestly think there is a greater than good chance that if Cooper and Ace were to come out in this 2024 draft, they would go No. 1,” one NBA scout said.
“Cooper or Ace would go No. 1 in this year’s draft,” another NBA Scout told On3.
Five-Star Plus+ SF Cooper Flagg (Duke)
Cooper Flagg is currently the No. 1 ranked player in the 2024 On3 150 and the No. 1 overall player in the 2024 On3 Industry Ranking. The 6-foot-8 forward just completed a 30-0 regular season at Montverde (FL) Montverde Academy and will start Chipoltle National Championships this week with the No. 1 seed.
“Cooper is the safest bet in this class,” an NBA Scout said. “I think he has a ceiling as a No. 2 on a good team. He passes it and there is defensive upside. The jump shot does have questions, but he does everything else at such a high level. There is no concern for me to him being a good pro.”
Flagg, who ultimately signed with Duke over UConn during the early signing period, had NBA Scouts talking. He joined future Duke teammate Isaiah Evans in the 2024 McDonald’s All-American game. While most acknowledged he had things to work on, NBA Scouts also talked about his winning traits.
“I think he’s a real connector,” one NBA Scout said. “He does have limited upside, but he won’t hurt you. He competes. What really impresses me is his shot-blocking. He can get out there and change shots, consistently. I think he can move the ball, and do some things in the pick-and-roll. With him, you’re betting on if you can get the shot right. But I see his role as a third or fourth guy who connects everything.”
The shooting was something that multiple NBA scouts questioned with Flagg throughout the week.
“Cooper’s weaknesses are his perimeter shooting and his strength. He needs to get stronger,” another NBA Scout stated.
While things were not always going Flagg’s way throughout the week, he still found ways to affect each setting he played.
“No matter what, Cooper just goes out there and does Cooper things,” an NBA Scout said.
Cooper finished the game with eight points, six rebounds, three assists, zero turnovers, a steal, and a block. He was 3-9 from the field and 1-4 from three.
This leads us to the play of Ace Bailey.
“I worry about Cooper’s long-term upside,” one NBA Scout said. “But he is a safer bet than Ace is. But, Ace could be an all-star.”
Five-Star Plus+ F Ace Bailey (Rutgers)
Ace Bailey is the No. 2 ranked player in the 2024 On3 150 and the No. 2 overall player in the 2024 On3 Industry Ranking. Bailey earned Georgia’s Gatorade State Player of the Year honors this season after averaging 33.4 points, 15.5 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 2.1 blocks.
“Ace has the highest ceiling in the class,” an NBA Scout said. “He takes tough shots, but he also makes tough shots. He’s not there yet, but he’s the guy I’m taking No. 1 in this class. Cooper is probably safer, but I’m swinging for the fences.”
Another NBA Scout added, “When he is making shots, it looks similar to what we see in our league.”
Bailey committed to Rutgers in January of 2023 and instantly became the highest-ranked prospect ever to commit to the program. He joined future teammate Dylan Harper in the 2024 McDonald’s All-American game. Scouts spoke highly about Bailey’s upside.
“I’m not sure about Ace, to be honest,” an NBA Scout said. “His flashes are impressive, but his consistency has not been. I do think he has the highest upside of any player in this class. He has the size we look for, the length, and the athleticism. He can create space to get open shots and his range extends well beyond the high school and college three-point lines.”
Bailey was up and down on the week. He would have some very impressive stretches of shot-making followed by stretches of little production.
“His body language isn’t great,” one NBA Scout said. “Neither is his shot selection. There is no denying the talent though. Next year will be big for him. Can he clean up the bad habits?”
Bailey finished the game with six points, five rebounds, two assists, and five turnovers. He had zero blocks and steals and was 2-7 from the field and 0-3 from three.
NBA Scouts Weigh in on Other Top Players in the McDonald’s All-American Game
Five Star Plus+ CG Dylan Harper (Rutgers)
“Dylan Harper I think is as sure of a bet, him and Cooper (Flagg), as anyone in this class. His body is improved, he looks like a big guard now physically. And his passing, people around him always play better with him. He’s one you have to watch multiple times to get a full feel. He’s not going to dunk on you or do many flashy things on the floor, but he is going to do everything to impact a win.”
“I’m putting the ball in his hands. For me, he is the best decision-maker in this class. He has a Jalen Brunson pathway. He won’t wow you with his athleticism, but he’ll get to his spots and make plays. Love his passing. He is more athletic than he gets credit, and some of that may be because of his feel. He’s always at the right spot. He is starting to make shots. He’s a big guard and I want the ball in his hands.”
Five-Star Plus+ CG VJ Edgecombe (Baylor)
“VJ Edgecombe really grew on me this week. His passing. He is going to have to be a combo in the league because he does not have the size to be a straight two, but he has handled it well and made the right reads. The jump shot is coming around, if he can get that consistent, he has a chance. I like him as a two-way guy in our league.”
“He is a two-way guy. He handled the ball well. Not many people have the quickness and pop that he has.”
4-star PF Donnie Freeman (Syracuse)
“He might be the biggest sleeper in this class. I look at Noah Clowney and think Freeman is already further along than him.”
“Donnie Freeman is a name that I wasn’t familiar with coming in. He’s got that player profile that our league is looking for now. A versatile defender, with length, and can make shots.
4-star PG Trent Perry (uncommitted)
“Trent Perry is someone you have to keep watching. He is not there yet, but he has good size and can shoot it, and his teams have continued winning.”
Five-Star Plus+ SG Tre Johnson (Texas)
“Tre Johnson is the best pure shooter in this class.”
Five-Star Plus+ C Jayden Quaintance (Kentucky)
“Jayden Quaintance has all the physical tools and simply does things naturally that you cannot teach. He is young, so it will be interesting to see if Cal (Kentucky head coach John Calipari) can get his mental maturity up. He has as much upside as any big in this class. I’m not sure if he should have reclassed that year, he’s so young. It could go either way for him.”
5-star SF Liam McNeeley (uncommitted)
“If Liam McNeeley is going to make it, it has to be as a shooter. He can make shots, and that will take him a long way. When he gets to the league, you could possibly do some things with him as a four. I wonder about the athleticism, he is a little stiff, but he can make shots, and our league values that.”
Five-Star Plus+ SG Jalil Bethea (Miami)
“I see a little CJ McCollum in Jalil Bethea.“