Hot topic questions from the 2024 On3 150 ranking update

On Monday, On3 released an updated 2024 On3 150 ranking. The previous ranking update for this class was in March. In the time since high school season playoffs have ended, USA Basketball and other elite camp-type settings have happened, and we have gone through two April live evaluation periods.

This update brought us a new No. 1 player as Dylan Harper and Tre Johnson flipped spots up top. We had 19 new players enter the On3 150 in the new update. There have also been multiple players classify from the 2024 to the 2023 recruiting classes. Two such players were previous five-star prospects Yves Missi (Baylor) and Elliot Cadeau (UNC). On3 maintained the 2024 five-star line at 12 from the last update, introducing two new faces, Aiden Sherrell and Annor Boateng.

On3’s rankings use a baseline of first projecting for the NBA Draft, with a career in the league being a secondary projection tool. Our goal is to assess a prospect’s long-term potential, ultimately manifested by the NBA Draft. We look at a player’s career developmental arc and how each of their games projects moving forward.

Final 2023 On3 150 Storylines

Here are some of the top topic questions, applied to the 2023 class, that we get after each ranking update.

How close was the race for No.1?

We made a change at the top, so anytime that happens, the decision does not come lightly. Especially since we were the first to put Tre Johnson at the top of the class, and he stayed there for us for four updates. However, at this point in the 2024 cycle, Dylan Harper was the clear decision to take the No. 1 position.

The x-factor of this class is Ace Bailey. The 6-foot-10 Powder Springs (GA) McEachern wing has a lot of natural tools that you look for projecting players forward. While Bailey’s flashes are electric, the consistency has been up and down. Harper entered the top 10 for On3 in October, and his stellar play had him in the conversation for No. 1 for the last two cycles.

Harper is in the top-15 of Nike’s EYBL Circuit in points, rebounds, and assists. His feel for the game is at a different level than his peers, which is hard to ignore in a 6-foot-6, 210-pound frame. The floor is very high, and that floor is what moved Harper to the No. 1 spot for this update. That said, this is something to continue monitoring as we move forward with this class. This race could be fluid.

Which player are you higher on than others?

This is the third cycle that Kon Knueppel has been ranked in the top 20 for On3, and it remains the only ranking to have the Milwaukee (WI) Wisconsin Lutheran shooting guard in the top 20. Knueppel can go out and get buckets, and it is as simple as that.

Ranked No. 16 in the 2024 On3 150 update, Knueppel is the leading scorer on Nike’s EYBL Circuit. The 6-foot-5 shooting guard is averaging 22.5 points on 46.7 percent shooting from three. The intriguing piece to Knueppel’s game is that he is also averaging 3.5 assists. He has a great feel for the game and plays with great efficiency, both in his production and in his movements.

Annor Boateng, Aiden Sherrell, Jalil Bethea, VJ Edgecombe, and Khani Rooths are some other players in the top 20 that fall into this category.

Who was the toughest player in the class to rank

Immediately when looking at this question, Carter Bryant and Derik Queen came to mind. With Bryant, the 6-foot-8 forward from Riverside (CA) Centennial High, the upside is clear. You see the frame, the athleticism, and the timing. His flashes are apparent and very loud. However, the production and consistency simply have not matched. You like the upside Bryant brings as a defensive presence, both as a weakside shot blocker and his ability to open his hips and slide his feet. The upside is clear, which puts him at No. 18.

Queen, on the other hand, is consistently very productive. The 6-foot-9 post player scores at each level with touch and with power. He was a double-digit scorer this season at Montverde (FL) Academy and has been the most dominant player on the Under Armour Next Circuit with Team Thrill. The questions with Queen come on the defensive end and how high is his ceiling? There is no doubt that he will be a productive college player, and the stats he continues to produce against the highest level competition put him in the top 20 for this 2024 On3 150 update.

Which player could you see outplaying their ranking?

A pair of Texas forwards will be interesting to monitor as we move forward in this cycle. Robert Miller, a 6-foot-10 forward from Houston (TX) Pasadena Memorial, is intriguingly fluid and skilled. He is comfortable facing the basket and has touch that extends beyond the three-point arc. His flashes are becoming more consistent in his production, and it will be interesting to see if the late-bloomer can look to steadily enforce his talent on opponents.

Nic Codie, a 6-foot-8 forward from Carrollton (TX) Newman Smith. He has a productive game from 15 feet and in, using his 7-foot-2 wing span and quick release to find angles to get his shots. The thin four-man also has a developing three-point touch and toughness on the boards.

Both Codie and Miller are late-bloomers. They each need to continue getting stronger and working on the finer points of their games (balance, footwork, angles, etc.). They also simply need game reps. Their games are unique for their size, and figuring out themselves will go a long way in their development. Continue to monitor both to see if they can continue taking steps.