Cooper Flagg holds on to top spot in final 247Sports recruiting rankings

Duke signee Cooper Flagg, the presumptive No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA draft, beat out Rutgers’ Ace Bailey for the top spot in 247Sports’ final 2024 rankings.

247Sports released its final 2024 recruiting class rankings for men’s basketball on Wednesday, and star Duke signee Cooper Flagg maintained his grip on the top spot.

Flagg, heralded as a generational prospect by some, kept the No. 1 ranking for the entire year. He helped lead Montverde Academy to an undefeated season and a national title at Chipotle Nationals as a senior.

“He’s the surest thing in this class,” said Adam Finkelstein, who discussed the 247Sports rankings reveal. “Both at Duke and beyond.”

Rutgers signee Ace Bailey, who finished second in the final rankings, pushed Flagg until the end, however. In an article discussing the rankings, Finkelstein said he thought Flagg had the higher floor but Bailey’s developmental pace is impressive.

“(Flagg)’s going to be a winning and highly versatile two-way player and is one of the early favorites to be a top pick in the 2025 NBA draft,” Finkelstein wrote. “Is he an offensive alpha at the highest level? That’s the part that is still to be determined.”

Finkelstein also flagged Khaman Maluach, another Duke signee who finished as the fourth-ranked player in the class, as someone fans need to be patient with as he progresses.