Cooper Flagg, Ace Bailey Among Finalists for Gatorade Boys Player of the Year Award

Mike Chiari@@mikechiariFeatured Columnist IVMarch 21, 2024

Photo credit: Gatorade

Cooper Flagg, Airious “Ace” Bailey and VJ Edgecombe were named the three finalists for the 2023-24 Gatorade National Boys Basketball Player of the Year Award on Thursday.

The 17-year-old Flagg plays his high school basketball at Montverde Academy in Montverde, Florida, and he has committed to play his college basketball at Duke.

Flagg reclassified to the recruiting class of 2024, and the 6’9″ forward is rated by 247Sports as the top overall player in his class.

Bailey is a 6’8″ wing who stars at McEachern High School in Powder Springs, Georgia, and is committed to play collegiately at Rutgers.

The 17-year-old Bailey is just behind Flagg in 247Sports’ rankings as the No. 2 overall player in the 2024 class, plus he is the No. 1-rated small forward.

Edgecombe was born in the Bahamas, but he immigrated to the United States a few years ago and eventually moved to Brookville, New York, to play his high school basketball at Long Island Lutheran after initially playing in Florida.

A 6’5″ guard, Edgecombe has committed to play at Baylor, and he is the No. 4 overall player in the 2024 recruiting class by 247Sports’ composite rankings, as well as the No. 1 shooting guard.

In addition to being finalists for the 2023-24 Gatorade National Boys Basketball Player of the Year Award, Flagg, Bailey and Edgecombe were named Gatorade State Player of the Year for Florida, Georgia and New York, respectively, as well.

The Gatorade National Boys Basketball Player of the Year Award is the most prestigious honor in high school basketball, and it has been given several players who have gone on to become superstars in the NBA.

Among them are LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Jayson Tatum, Karl-Anthony Towns, Kevin Love, Stephon Marbury, Alonzo Mourning, Chris Webber and Chet Holmgren.

Either Flagg, Bailey or Edgecombe will join that illustrious list next week when the winner of the 2023-24 award is announced.