Last spring, Jeff Osterman foresaw the historic potential of the team that dominated high school basketball nationally, anticipating their significant impact on the 2025 NBA Draft. That opportunity is now imminent for Montverde Academy, a Florida-based private school renowned for developing elite basketball talent.
Montverde`s top-ranked 2024 squad, which achieved an undefeated record against numerous national opponents, boasted projected first-rounders including Cooper Flagg, Derik Queen, Asa Newell, and Liam McNeeley. This foursome is drawing comparisons to the school`s famously talented 2020 roster, which produced several future NBA first-round picks like Cade Cunningham, Scottie Barnes, Moses Moody, Day`Ron Sharpe, Caleb Houstan, and Dariq Whitehead.
The unique potential for this 2024 Montverde class lies in the possibility of Flagg, Queen, Newell, and McNeeley all being selected within the top 20 picks of the *same* draft. This feat would be unprecedented in the history of high school basketball programs.
“These young athletes were part of the national champions and are often celebrated as members of what many consider possibly the greatest high school team ever,” stated Osterman, who serves as Montverde`s director of development and is a former women`s college basketball coach. “If not the greatest, they certainly stand shoulder to shoulder with our 2020 team.”
With four five-star players in the starting lineup, all ranked among the top 20 prospects in the 2024 recruiting cycle by 247Sports, Montverde concluded the 2023-24 season with a flawless 33-0 record, achieving victory by 10 points or more in 30 of those contests.
According to recent mock draft projections, Derik Queen, Liam McNeeley, and Asa Newell are widely expected to be chosen in the mid-to-late first round. Notable Montverde graduates who went on to become first-round NBA picks after playing college basketball include Ben Simmons, R.J. Barrett, and Precious Achiuwa.
Cooper Flagg is frequently discussed as a candidate for the top overall pick in the upcoming draft, potentially landing with a team like the Dallas Mavericks following their lottery success. Flagg received national high school player of the year honors last season following an outstanding performance and has committed to playing college basketball at Duke.
Derik Queen, a 6-foot-10 center who played his freshman collegiate season at Maryland, earned recognition by being named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year.
Asa Newell is also projected as a first-round selection, potentially becoming the first player drafted in the opening round from the University of Georgia since Anthony Edwards was the No. 1 overall pick in 2020. Liam McNeeley, a highly-rated prospect who has committed to UConn, is another Montverde alumnus projected for the first round after a standout high school career.
Furthermore, Ryan Nembhard, a former Montverde player from the 2021 class and the brother of Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard, is also considered a potential draft pick. Osterman shared that Nembhard is hopeful of being selected in the second round. Based on current projections, Nembhard, who played for Gonzaga last season and was a leading assist provider in college basketball, could be one of the final players drafted or a sought-after undrafted free agent option.
“Is it better to choose where you want to go or get stuck?” Osterman reflected on the draft process. “Everyone runs laps and stays late in the gym to get drafted. What will be fun for us is that somewhere during the draft, we`re going to hear several names called from Montverde.”
Jasper Hawthorne