Cooper Flagg Holds on to No. 1 Ranking in 2024 On3 150 Update

On3 released its most recent update of the 2024 On3 150 rankings on Monday, and Cooper Flagg remains at the top of the list. Flagg reclassified from the 2025 class to 2024 in August. He was immediately named the No. 1 player in the class, where he has remained. 

The 6-foot-8 wing is one of ten Five-Star Plus+ players in the 2024 class. The Five-Star Plus+ is an indicator that the player is a five-star prospect across all four major recruiting websites. This is the second update of the 2024 On3 150 that Flagg has been in the No. 1 overall position.

The choice to Keep Flagg No. 1 became a little more of a discussion with this update, as Ace Bailey has entered the conversation. While both players carry high ceilings, at the end of the day, we decided that Flagg’s high floor along with his consistent outputs in every setting over the past two years was too much to ignore at this point in the cycle. 

Our goal is to assess a prospect’s long-term. Potential, ultimately manifested by the NBA Draft. The goal of the ranking is not to assess who had the best high school career or who will be the best college player. This is why we shoot to end each cycle having 14 five-star prospects, following the lead of the NBA Draft Lottery. Ideally, the vision is on draft night; the player we have at No. 1 has the highest odds of being the top overall pick. 

Let’s discuss the thought process behind making Cooper Flagg On3’s No. 1 player at this point of the 2024 cycle. 

Flagg Carries a High Floor

So many times in the recruiting world we talk about the cailing of the player. How good can the player be if everything breaks right? However, many times, we tend to look away from what happens if the player does not develop to his potential. In the realm of potential outcomes for a player, this is what we call their floor. Some player floors can get coaches fired if they bet on their potential, and some floors remain productive players. Cooper Flagg carries a high floor. 

What makes Flagg’s floor high? His defense gives him a translatable skill that he can hang his hat on. The 6-foot-8 forward is a versatile defender, able to move his feet as well as protect the rim. 

His basketball IQ is also very high. Flagg is able to make reads with the ball in his hands. Not only does he properly weighted passes all over the floor, but he also makes the correct reads. The trait that Flagg has that might sit above all is his competitive fire. Flagg competes every time he steps on the floor, from the opening tip to the final buzzer. As a high-major coaching friend of mine says, competitiveness travels.

Cooper Flagg is a Premier Defender

Cooper Flagg popped onto the national scene during his freshman season at Newport (ME) Nokomis Regional when he earned Maine’s Gatorade Player of the Year. However, he really engrained his ability at the top of this class during the 2022 FIBA World Cup. It was there that Flagg led the team in rebounds, steals, and blocks despite being the second youngest player on the team. 

That event, as a 15-year-old, Flagg finished second in the entire U17 Division in blocks (2.9), third in rebounds (10.0), and fourth in steals (2.4). After his performance in the gold medal-winning championship game where Flagg had 17 rebounds, 8 steals, and 4 blocks against Spain, we called the rising sophomore the best prospect in high school basketball.

Since that performance, Flagg has done nothing but maintain his defensive dominance in each setting. Last season, for top-five ranked Montverde (FL) Montverde Academy, Flagg led the team in steals (1.6) and blocks (2.2) while finishing third in rebounds (5.2), as a sophomore. 

He went on to the Nike EYBL E16 Circuit where he led all age groups of Nike EYBL in blocked shots (4.5) and was second in rebounds (11.9). Flagg has fluid athleticism, which helps him find correct angles and slide his feet. Where he is at his best on the defensive end is when he is roaming. Not necessarily attached to stopping any one player, but when he is asked to clean up things that are around him. 

Flagg has natural length, excellent timing, and that natural competitive fire that we talked about previously. They all play a role in his defensive excellence up to this point in his career. 

Even with all the success he has experienced, both international and domestic, Flagg might have stepped his game up another level this season. This year’s Montverde Academy/FL team has nine players who are being recruited by or have signed with high major schools. And their schedule has been beefed up, playing the best programs on the biggest stages across the country. Flagg is leading the way in rebounds (7.9), steals (1.5), and blocks (3.0). 

His Offensive Game Continues to Develop

Cooper Flagg has always had a basketball feel. He has been comfortable on the ball, initiating some offense, especially in the pick-and-roll or as a secondary ball-handler. He makes quick reads, and delivers targeted passes with both hands, from different levels, and properly weighted. 

Flagg has increased his shooting this season. When his feet are set he has become a reliable spot shooter. The balance is set and his shot load is repeatable as the ball swings around to him. He will need to continue working on his shooting mechanics off movement. There is a lot of movement and motion getting the ball from his live dribble or where he receives the pass to his shooting window, which is to the right of his face and above his head. 

Flagg can be a weapon in the mid-post, especially when he is posting up from different spots on the floor. Playing off of a pivot he is capable of creating separation using footwork and counters. Using his touch and high release to get his shot. 

Flagg is excellent in transition, filling the lanes with a purpose and attacking the front of the rim with ill intentions. He is a fluid athlete and has solid acceleration and deceleration when moving at full speed. He is a good vertical athlete as well. 

Flagg will need to continue working on his handle. Right now he does not have the blow-by-type first step you want from a wing. He can get caught up in traffic without counters off the bounce. The jump shot has improved, he is shooting 37.1 percent on 3.2 attempts this season. But, getting to his shot pocket more smoothly off the dribble and movement would be a next step for him. 

Without a doubt, Flagg is dangerous with the ball in his hands. His passing ability keeps the ball moving and finds open teammates when the defense collapses. He is also scoring the ball at a 54 percent clip this high school season, raising his scoring average from 9.8 to 16.8 per game. 

Already called the top prospect in high school basketball leading into his sophomore season, he has continued to get better.