Tag: Jordan Brand Classic

Cooper Flagg finishes senior year as number one prospect in On3’s Top 150 rankings

Cooper Flagg fends off Ace Bailey in final on3 recruiting rankings.

Cooper Flagg has had one heck of a final year in high school. It started with him reclassifying last September to rejoin his original class. Soon after, he committed to the Duke Blue Devils, his dream school and the team he’s been a fan of since he was a little kid. He would then lead Montverde Academy to a national title, and along the way, Flagg dominated and received all types of awards.

He would be named McDonald’s All-American and Jordan Brand All-American and compete in the Nike Hoop Summit. Now, he finishes the whirlwind year as On3’s number-one player in its final 2024 recruiting rankings.

Ace Bailey, the number two overall prospect, pushed Flagg all season long in. an attempt to overtake him. Still, Jamie Shaw of On3 Sports specifically cited Flagg’s ability and consistency in performing at the highest levels since entering high school as the most significant reason Flagg remained ahead of Bailey. Bailey is hyper-athletic, with great size and a great frame, and he showcased terrific shotmaking but also relied too much on his jump shot. In contrast, Flagg utilizes his ever-improving jump shot as a small part of his ability to get to the basket and be a creator and initiator in half-court, where he makes terrific reads.

The conversation will continue during the summer and through each player’s one and only college seasons at Duke and Rutgers, respectively, as each is on a crash course for the 2025 NBA Draft.

Flagg can now rest and enjoy his time off and being to prepare for the next challenge: becoming a Duke basketball player. He won’t make the trip to Durham for good until sometime in June, but based on everything we’ve seen from Flagg, this young man will not be afraid of the moment or challenge.

Duke basketball signee Isaiah Evans shares photo of him and Cooper Flagg at Jordan Brand Classic

Evans, a five-star recruit, shared a photo of him and future Duke teammate Cooper Flagg from the Jordan Brand Classic on Monday.

Isaiah Evans and Cooper Flagg played on different teams during Sunday’s Jordan Brand Classic in Brooklyn, but they’re clearly excited to play together in Durham this fall.

On Monday morning, Evans shared a photo of the two standing together during the game on social media.

Flagg scored 19 points and came down with 10 rebounds during the showcase, but Evans and Team Flight came away with the victory.

Evans and Flagg, two of the six stellar freshmen in Duke’s top-ranked 2024 recruiting class, already have plenty of experience with each other. They played on the same team at the McDonald’s All-American Game and the Nike Hoop Summit before they squared off in Sunday’s game.

In fact, during the Hoop Summit, they went viral after Flagg set Evans up for a dunk and jumped in the air as Evans threw down the jam. Evans tweeted about that moment, too.

Watch future Rutgers basketball guard Dylan Harper goes off for 30 points in the Jordan Brand Classic

Dylan Harper was sensational in the Jordan Brand Classic.

Dylan Harper had a big showing at the Jordan Brand Classic, the future Rutgers guard putting up 30 points in the Sunday night showcase.

A five-star guard who committed to Rutgers in December, Harper was named the game’s Co-MVP.

The showing from Harper follows up another recent dominant performance at the McDonald’s All-American Game. Harper shared co-MVP honors in that game as well.

A guard from Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, New Jersey), Harper is a cornerstone piece of the 2024 recruiting class for Rutgers, one that is a consensus top-10 class in the nation. Harper joins Ace Bailey as the first five-star players to ever commit to Rutgers.

ESPN ranks Harper as the third-best player in this class.

Bailey was the top-ranked player in the nation in the most recent USA TODAY High School Sports rankings.

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Check out the Sunday night highlights from Harper, who showed everything in guiding Team Flight to a win over Team Air: His dribble-drive was on display as was his range and high-end defensive abilities.

 

The game was held at the Barclays Center (New York City).

When and how to watch Duke commit Toby Fournier at the Jordan Brand Classic

Check out how to watch five-star Duke commit Toby Fournier in Sunday’s Jordan Brand Classic.

Duke basketball fans have gotten their fill of five-star commits dominating exhibitions through the spring with Cooper Flagg, but the women’s basketball team has its share of stellar future freshmen, too.

Blue Devils commit Toby Fournier, who ranks as the No. 10 prospect on espnW’s Class of 2024 rankings, will play in the Jordan Brand Classic on Sunday.

The women’s game, played at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, tips off at 4:00 p.m. Eastern time. Duke fans can watch their future star on the NBA app or through the NBA YouTube channel.

The 6-foot-2 Canadian already impressed during the Nike Hoop Summit when she scored 11 points (the second-most on the World Select team) and pulled down seven rebounds.

Fournier is one of two five-star Duke commits in the 2024 class. Arianna Roberson, espnW’s No. 17 player in the class, will join her in Durham next season. Roberson, a 6-foot-4 forward, hails from Clark High School in Texas.

When and how to watch Cooper Flagg, other Duke commits at the Jordan Brand Classic

Cooper Flagg and four other fellow Duke signees lace up their shoes for Sunday’s Jordan Brand Classic. Check out when and where you can watch here.

Duke fans can get another sneak peek of the 2024-25 Duke men’s basketball team on Sunday night.

All five U.S.-based Blue Devils signees for the incoming Class of 2024, including top-ranked prospect Cooper Flagg, are on the roster for the Jordan Brand Classic. The exhibition pits some of the best high school basketball players in the country against each other.

Flagg, Isaiah Evans, Kon Knueppel, Darren Harris, and Patrick Ngongba will all be at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn for the game. The boy’s game tips off at 6:00 p.m. Eastern time on Sunday evening, and fans can watch either through the NBA app or on the NBA YouTube channel.

Flagg already impressed scouts and fans alike at a similar showcase, the Nike Hoop Summit, last week. He put up a 19-point double-double to help Team USA to a comfortable victory.

Based on reactions to Saturday’s practice sessions, Duke fans can expect a similar performance this weekend.

Texas signee Dillon Mitchell wins Jordan Brand Classic MVP

The Longhorns signee showed out when playing among the nation’s top players.

The reasons for excitement surrounding Texas basketball signee Dillon Mitchell continue to grow.

After a strong showing in the McDonald’s All-American game, the athletic five-star forward out of basketball powerhouse Montverde Academy put on a show during Friday’s Jordan Brand Classic.

Mitchell helped lead Team Air to a 118-109 victory over Team Flight, contributing 18 points. By being invited to participate in the the illustrious Jordan Brand Classic, Mitchell became the 16th Longhorn to participate, and the first since 2017 when Mo Bamba and Matt Coleman partook in the festivities.

Mitchell’s strong performance in helping Team Air to their victory also helped him earn the team’s MVP honors.

Mitchell’s pro player comparison by 247Sports’ director of scouting Jerry Meyer is current Charlotte Hornet, Kelly Oubre. Here is what Texas is getting in Mitchell.

At 6-7 has a long and thin build. Does need to build strength but has electric athleticism. Bouncy and runs like a gazelle. One of the top athletes in the 2022 class. A lefty with a sidewinder shot. His long distance shot is his main weakness, but it is improving and solid in the midrange. Excels at attacking the rim and finishing with authority. Is a high level rebounder who can initiate the break. Handles the ball well and sees the court and has a feel for passing. Can also run the lanes at an elite level. Defense is perhaps his best attribute. Can be a shut down defender. Versatile as well. Tough to find a player he can’t guard.

Mitchell is the No. 14 ranked player in 247Sports’ composite rankings, and headlines Texas’ No. 11 ranked 2022 class in which he is joined by fellow five-star Arterio Morris, and four-star Rowan Brumbaugh.

Jordan Brand Classic canceled amid growing concerns of COVID-19

The 19th Jordan Brand Classic is among the many sporting events around the United States to be canceled or postponed.

The 19th Jordan Brand Classic set to be played on March 27 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago has been canceled due to the growing concerns of the coronavirus, Jordan Brand announced on Thursday.

Nike’s premier high school All-American game followed several other organizations around the United States in canceling events as concerns regarding COVID-19 rise across the nation.

“While we understand how disappointing this is for the athletes, their families, and the communities who were excited to participate, in everything we do, we must prioritize the health and safety of our employees, athletes and consumers,” Jordan Brand said in a statement.

The NBA announced on Wednesday night that the regular season has been suspended until further notice after Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert tested positive for the coronavirus.

On Thursday, several NCAA conference tournaments were canceled and some universities, including Duke, Louisville and others, suspended all athletic-related activities indefinitely.

Health officials have warned against events with greater than 250 people in some areas and have recommended that such activities be canceled or postponed to help slow the spread of the virus.

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