2024 Rankings Update: 3 Takeaways
The debut edition of the 2024 rankings is now live, and you can see the 20 players who made the cut here. It was a unique year to evaluate a new freshman class, and I am thankful for all the…
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Continue ReadingThe debut edition of the 2024 rankings is now live, and you can see the 20 players who made the cut here. It was a unique year to evaluate a new freshman class, and I am thankful for all the schools who found ways to live stream their events online, otherwise it would have been impossible to provide coverage all year, let alone create a comprehensive rankings. The conclusion of high school basketball and the beginning of AAU ball provides a perfect time to deep dive the new rankings. Let’s start with three general takeaways I have after completing the list.
AAU season will clarify evaluations
The players in this set of rankings were all in very different situations throughout their high school season. Neal Mosser Neal Mosser 6'2" | SG Millard North | 2024 State NE is ranked number one in the initial draft, yet he hardly played for a senior-laden, highly-talented Millard North team. Landon Pokorski Landon Pokorski 6'2" | PG Gretna | 2024 State NE , on the other hand, was the primary initiator for the Gretna Dragons from the first game to the last. Conveniently, eight of the top ten players in the class will all be playing for the same OSA Crusaders team. When the Nebraska Supreme 2024 rosters are revealed, I’m sure we will find a similar amount of ranked prospects playing for that team. This spring and summer will provide opportunities to see several of these players all on the same court, and will help the evaluation and comparison of these prospects to become more clear.
Potential three-point prowess
The early returns from this class show massive potential from distance. Neal Mosser Neal Mosser 6'2" | SG Millard North | 2024 State NE , Ayden Zikmund Ayden Zikmund 6'2" | SG Central City | 2024 State NE , and Marcus Glock Marcus Glock 6'4" | SF Wahoo | 2024 State NE are a trio of lengthy forwards who can bomb it from deep. Mosser proved it in limited minutes while Zikmund and Glock were top five in 3PM among freshman. All three have impressive range and touch, and Zikmund is a talented shooter off the dribble. Jaden Jackson Jaden Jackson 6'1" | SG Bellevue West | 2024 State #312 Nation NE , Alex Wilcoxson Alex Wilcoxson 5'11" | SG Gretna | 2024 State NE , and Carter Reisig Carter Reisig 6'3" | SG Mitchell | 2024 NE all shot above 40% from distance in spot-up roles. And I have to mention Will Cooper Will Cooper 6'6" | SF Millard South | 2024 State NE , who might be the best catch and shoot option of the bunch.
No clear #1
Sometimes there is a player who establishes themselves from the jump as the headliner of the class. I don’t see that among the 2024 bunch. The size and versatility Mosser brings to the table puts him in the top spot right now, but there a few under him who will have a say in that in the coming months and years. Players such as Jaden Jackson Jaden Jackson 6'1" | SG Bellevue West | 2024 State #312 Nation NE , Caleb Benning Caleb Benning 5'10" | CG Omaha Westside | 2024 State NE , and Landon Pokorski Landon Pokorski 6'2" | PG Gretna | 2024 State NE all have the benefit of playing a high-volume of meaningful varsity minutes this season. This summer and next high school season, more players will match their load, and will certainly have a chance to improve their stock. This class is wide open at the moment.