Under Armour Elite 24: Day One Top Performers

Atlanta, Georgia – Twenty-four of the top players in the 2024 and 2025 classes came to Core4 facility in Atlanta to compete in this year’s Under Armour Elite 24 Showcase. On3 is among the selected media in attendance, joining NBA scouts on th baseline to take in the talent.

Thursday has multiple open practices, Friday will be a scrimmage, and Saturday is the game, which starts at 8:00 PM Eastern on ESPNU. Let’s discuss the top performers from day one (practices) of the Under Armour Elite 24.

On3 MVP: Four-star G Tahaad Pettiford (Auburn)

Tahaad Pettiford has an electric game. He is quick-twitch off the bounce and plays with aggressive confidence in the half-court.

This is a setting where Pettiford thrives. It is one where he can just play off instincts and react to what is given to him by the flow of the game. Pettiford made some confident shots throughout live play sessions, pulling up from anywhere within 30 feet and splashing the net. He also showed his explosion in the drills portion, finishing multiple eastbay and other acrobatic dunks. When play opens up, there is an enjoyment factor he brings to the viewers.

Pettiford is committed to Auburn.

2. Four-star SF Khani Rooths

Khani Rooths, On3’s No. 21 player in 2024, is one who simply continues to get better. When we first moved him into the top 20 last year, it was based on the flashes and potential outcomes of his trajectory. This summer, Rooths has continued to deepen his bag and show more confidence 

Rooths has always been a high-upside defensive player. He has excellent length, with a plus wing span that ties in well with good bounce and fluid lateral movement, He can slide his feet with wings and switch down to be a factor with forwards and some weak side post situations. As he continues adding weight, the defensive instincts could become substantial. However, the offensive bag is where the development has continued. There is some mid-post comfort there, and his shooting stroke from deep was balanced and consistent. 

Rooths has taken official visits to Mississippi State and Georgia to this point.

3. Five-star SF Bryson Tucker

This was another good viewing for Bryson Tucker, the 6-foot-6 wing from the Maryland side of the DMV. Tucker played last season at Bradenton (FL) IMG Academy, before leaving the school in December. He did not play travel ball this summer, showing up at NBPA Top 100 Camp where he averaged 19.2 points on 64.3 percent shooting.

Tucker showed that type of feel, the same he had at the NBPA Top 100 Camp, here. He has a great frame, standing every bit of 6-foot-6 – maybe taller – with great length and easy burst around the basket. He is comfortable on the ball and excellent in the mid-range. And while the offense was good for him, the defense might have been where he shined brightest. Tucker guarded the ball with a purpose, showing quick-twitch and strength at the point-of-attack. He moved his feet with guards and slid down to defend forwards. He competed.

Tucker has taken a single official visit so far, to Michigan State.

4. Four-star SF Sir Mohammed

Sir Mohammed, the son of former NBAer Nazr Mohammed, announced he will be committing on ESPNU Saturday during the broadcast of this game. The 6-foot-6 wing started his week in Atlanta playing motivated, and that especially shined on the defensive end. 

Mohammed was instinctive in the passing lanes, which showed both in the short-sided games and the five-on-five portion of the sessions. During drills, Mohammed also showed touch from the mid-range. This stood out, especially with this group, because not a lot of people were making shots, even against air. The footwork and the release were smooth, and the net was popping. 

Mohammed has taken official visits to Virignia Tech, Notre Dame, Villanova, Penn State, Marquette, and Stanford. Those schools are his final six in preparation for Saturday’s commitment.

5. Five-star PF Derik Queen

Derik Queen walked away from the high school season with the esteemed distinction of being Montverde (FL) Academy’s leading scorer. He followed that up by averaging a double-double on the UAA Next Circuit, 19.8 points and 10.7 rebounds. 

Queen did a good job of using his bulk to wedge space on the block. He is very smart with leverage and angles, and this showed in his head-to-head match ups against Five-Star Plus+ center Flory Bidunga. Queen was a solid area rebounder, and he finished with both hands around the basket, absorbing contact and drawing fouls. 

He has taken official visits to Maryland and Indiana. 

6. Five-Star Plus+ SF Ace Bailey (Rutgers)

Ace Bailey showed up to the morning session about 30 minutes late, but he did not waste much time making his presence felt. The immediate impact came on the defensive end. He is naturally a quick-twitch athlete, which pairs well with his length and 6-foot-9 frame. He blocked multiple jump shots with clean close outs, he also got a couple at the rim. When he locks in on the defensive end, the upside is very high. 

The offensive game was not quite on the same level as the defense. His jump shot mechanics looked smooth, but the arc was flat, and his balance was consistently off throughout the day. He was excellent in attacking the basket, good in transition and showed some powerful and crafty finishes around the basket. However, the defensive output was the takeaway here. The upside for the No. 2 player in the 2024 On3 150 remains huge.

Bailey is committed to Rutgers.

7. Five-Star Plus+ C Flory Bidunga

Flory Bidunga started the day off a little slow, still feeling things out through the drill portions of the day. Once the ball tipped and they started into small-sided and five-on-five play, the motor started running hot. 

Bidunga has an athletic package that is unique for a player in the 6-foot-8 range. He is very bursty and explosive with a lot of power packed into his lengthy frame. He is also fluid and quick-twitch with excellent kinesthetic awareness. Binduga is a vertical floor spacer and excellent as the roll man in the pick and roll. He is also a threat, which he showed multiple times in this setting, to grab and go off the boards. Bidunga has a natural feel for the game, which leads to a lot of production on both ends of the floor. He also runs the floor with a purpose.

Bidunga announced he will be committing on Saturday during this event’s game. Kansas, Auburn, Duke, and Michigan are the final four. 

Other standouts

Four-star PG Zoom Diallo played with a nice pace and the Napa (CA) Prolific Prep guard did a good job getting into the paint and making some things happen. Some nice execution in the pick and roll

Five-Star Plus+ SG Ian Jackson (UNC) plays great in transition, showing off good athleticism and pop when attacking the basket. It was a quiet day for the UNC commitment in the live five-on-five portion of the event. He seems to be someone who always has fun when he is on the court.

Four-star SG King Grace (2025) made shots during the live portion of the day. While his release and shot mechanics are unorthodox, when the lights came on, the shots fell. He also showed interesting quick-twitch athleticism.

Four-star SG Jamari Phillips (Arizona) has a reputation as a shooter, however, the shot was not falling in the drill and live portions today. He did play some on the ball which was intriguing, especially when in the pick-and-roll. As a 6-foot-2ish guard, continuing to expand his game outside of the shooting will be where his game goes from here.

Four-star Chase McCarty simply plays a solid game. There are no real holes in what he does. He is capable of dribbling, passing, and shooting in traffic. Nice day.

Four-star PG Mikel Brown (2025) is a noted shot maker. His offensive game has a lot of tools, both off the bounce and with deep range. His shot looked good in this setting, especially in the drills portion. 

Four-star C Moustapha Thiam (2025) is the tallest player in the event. The upside here is huge. He has great length and is a very fluid athlete. The true footer blocks shots well, holding his ground defensively. He is still figuring out the offense, but did knock down a couple of pick and pop jumpers. 

Four-star SF Efeosa Oliogu (2025) is the No. 10 player in the 2025 On3 150. He has a strong, compact frame, listed at 6-foot-6. The explosion and burst pop off the page immediately, but so does his balance and center of gravity. And upside defender and an absolute terror in transition. 

Four-star SG Vyctorius Miller showed capable of playing on or off the ball here, especially as the primary handler in the pick and roll. The reads were solid, and the pace on the ball was impressive. The jump shot looked good too. 

Five-star Plus+ PF Caleb Wilson (2025) has a robust offensive package, especially in the mid and high-post areas. The jump shot release is high, and he extended it out to three today. While he did not do much off the bounce, the balance and footwork got him open looks. Huge upside. 

Five-star SG Isiah Harwell (2025) is such a high-level connecting piece. He is a strong point-of-attack defender with toughness. He moves the ball well on offense and knocks down his open looks.

Four-star PF Bryson Tiller (2025) it is hard to not immediately notice the physical presence Tiller brings to the table. He plays in straight lines from the mid-post and enjoys contact around the basket.