Shaw's Superlatives: Top rim protectors in the 2024 class

On3 updated the 2024 On3 150 this week, and with that comes conversation. Of course, you can look through the rankings and categorize players by the numbers beside them. However, oftentimes that can be obtuse with a player’s specific skill set. I wanted to supplement the rankings while diving a little deeper and looking at a player’s skill set and talking about the best that I have seen in the class.

This week I will go through Shaw’s Superlatives. The topics will include best rim protector, best rebounder, best playmaker, most explosive, and best shooter. In this edition, we take a look at the best rim protectors.

When it comes to pure rim protection, Glendale (AZ) Dream City Christian center Emmanuel Stephen was the best I saw this summer. Here is the list of ten players who I found to be the best rim protectors in the 2024 class.

He will protect this house

Rim protection is a skill, like rebounding, that translates as you move up from level to level. It is more than simply blocking shots; there is an intimidation factor that plays into it as well as a fearlessness that goes along with all the natural timing and physical abilities.

Rim protection is an important part of today’s game and something that is necessary to have at every level.

Four-star C Emmanuel Stephen

Height/Weight: 7-0/215
School: Glendale (AZ) Dream City Christian
On3 NIL Valuation: NA
2024 On3 150: No. 94

The skinny: Emmanuel Stephen is a strong-framed and long-armed center. He really broke on the national scene at this summer’s Pangos All-American Camp and kept up the strong play throughout Peach Jam. Going back through film on Stephen from earlier in the Spring, the timing and the shot-blocking was always there. The footer had two games with five or more blocks during Peach Jam, with a game-high of ten. Throughout Nike’s EYBL Circuit play, he averaged 2.4 blocks per game, including an event-leading 3.8  during Peach Jam.

Stephen also averaged a robust 9.4 rebounds per game during Peach Jam, which was fourth in the event.

Recruitment: Stephen has set an official visit to Kansas for September 6. He has not taken or set any other visits at this time.

Other top rim protectors

*in alphabetical order

Five-Star Plus+ C Flory Bidunga

Height/Weight: 6-9/215
School: Kokomo (IN) High
On3 NIL Valuation: $530,000
2024 On3 150: No. 6

The skinny: Everything Flory Bidunga does is explosive. Whether it be his finishes around the basket, his rebounding, or sending a would be shot into the third row, Bidunga makes his presence felt. He was a force throughout his time on the Adidas 3SSB Circuit with his Indiana Elite team. The Indiana State Gatorade Player of the Year averaged 4.4 blocks and shot 82.2 percent from the field during his high school season. He followed that up this summer, averaging 3.4 blocks and shooting 63.7 percent from the field. 

Recruitment: Bidunga is down to a final four schools, with Duke, Auburn, Kansas, and Michigan on the final list. The thought is a decision is coming soon. Currently, Duke holds a lead on On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine (RPM) at 82.3 percent.

Three-star C Pape Ndiaye

Height/Weight: 7-0/195
School: Las Vegas (NV) Trinity International
On3 NIL Valuation: NA
2024 On3 150: No. 79

The skinny: It is a fluidity thing with Pape N’diaye. That athletic prowess mixed with length, size, and natural timing. Simply put, he is a rim protector. Despite his thin frame, Ndiaye is not afraid to mix things up around the basket. During the NBPA Top 100 Camp in June, Ndiaye was a constant presence around the rim, throwing back 4.2 blocks per game. His offensive game is still coming around, but he plays within himself. During his Las Vegas Knicks games on the Pro16 Circuit, he averaged 9.6 points. But he also threw in 4.3 blocks per game. As he continues adding weight, the way he moves is unique. 

Five-Star Plus+ PF Asa Newell

Height/Weight: 6-9/205
School: Montverde (FL) Academy
On3 NIL Valuation: $446,000
2024 On3 150: No. 7

The skinny: Asa Newell is a unique athlete with a quick explosion off the ground and great length. He played this summer with the 1 Family program on the Pro16 Circuit, where he averaged 2.6 blocks per game and 11.4 points. Newell also made the USA Basketball U19 team, where he was one of the youngest players on the roster playing with rising college freshmen and sophomores. He led the team in blocks at 2. 3 per game.

Recruitment: Newell has taken official visits to Indiana, Georgia, and Alabama to this point, He has a future official set with Texas. Newell has not put out any top groups or commitment dates yet.

Three-star PF Malcolm Thomas

Height/Weight: 6-8/195
School: Hyattsville (MD) Dematha Catholic
On3 NIL Valuation: NA
2024 On3 150: No. 117

The skinny: While Malcolm Thomas might be the shortest guy on the list, he plays with some violent explosion around the basket. Thomas is a quick-twitch leaper with good length and excellent timing. He is the son of former NBA center Etan Thomas. Thomas led his Team Durant team in blocks this summer on Nike’s EYBL Circuit. He had double the amount of blocks from the player who finished second despite playing half the possessions.

Recruitment: Thomas announced in July he is down to eight schools. Ole Miss, Cal, Vanderbilt, Miami, Virginia Tech, Xavier, Florida State, and Villanova made the cut. He has upcoming visits set with Florida State, Cal, Vanderbilt, Xavier, and Villanova.

Next 5 rim protectors

*in alphabetical order

Four-star C John Bol (Ole Miss)

Height/Weight: 7-2/190
School: Atlanta (GA) Overtime Elite
On3 NIL Valuation: $62,000
2024 On3 150: No. 50

Five-star SF Carter Bryant (Arizona)

Height/Weight: 6-8/225
School: Corona (CA) Centennial
On3 NIL Valuation: $314,000
2024 On3 150: No. 15

Three-star C Brandon Crawford

Height/Weight: 6-9/215
School: Atlanta (GA) Overtime Elite
On3 NIL Valuation: NA
2024 On3 150: NA

Three-star C Khaman Maker

Height/Weight: 7-1/200
School: Las Vegas (NV) Trinity Prep
On3 NIL Valuation: NA
2024 On3 150: No. 73

Five-star Plus+ C Jayden Quaintance

Height/Weight: 6-10/225
School: Raleigh (NC) Word of God
On3 NIL Valuation: $412,000
2024 On3 150: No. 5