Rivals Roundtable: Biggest decisions in 2024 Rivals150 update
The Rivals150 for 2024 has been updated and released, and there were big moves made all over the list. Today, national analysts Rob Cassidy and Travis Graf put a bow on rankings week with a roundtable discussion of the refresh.
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MORE RIVALS RANKINGS WEEK: Meet the new five-stars | New Rivals150 | Top storylines in 2024 rankings | Five-Star Countdown | Biggest questions in 2024 rankings
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2023 Rankings: Rivals150 | Team | Position
2025 Rankings: Top 80
Transfer Portal: Latest news
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WHICH PLAYER THAT MOVED UP DID YOU ADVOCATE STRONGLY FOR?
“I advocated for making Liam McNeeley a five-star based on a few reasons, not the least of which is the Montverde Academy star’s remarkable consistency. Even the best prospects are prone to occasional slumps at his age, but McNeeley seems almost immune to off games in big moments. I can’t remember a time over the last year where the Texas-born prospect failed to massively impact a game I scouted in person, and his development as a passer and defender in the past few months have helped set him apart from the pack. Simply put, there are few prospects in this class that are more reliable than the 6-foot-8 junior.” - Cassidy
“He only moved up one spot - because sometimes one or two spots toward the top of the rankings is as hard as moving someone 50 spots in the back end - but Ace Bailey. The five-star forward has gotten back to full health and has had a good junior season. He has as much upside as anyone in the class and continues to make a real push for that top spot in the rankings. The Rutgers commit has the size, skill and continuously developing game that make him very intriguing in my eyes. He’s working on more guard and wing skills and has the mobility and flexibility to be one of the more unique prospects in the class if he continues to tone his floor game.” - Graf
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WHICH UNDERRECRUITED PROSPECT DO YOU THINK WILL SEE HIS OFFERS PILE UP THIS SUMMER?
“Jalil Bethea already holds a long list of offers, but it’s conceivable that a few more heavy hitters will enter the fray this summer if he doesn’t commit to UCLA or another in-place suitor before coaches get a chance to see him live. Bethea has the length, shooting stroke and court vision to flirt with five-star status if he continues on his recent trajectory, which has seen him take massive steps forward as a junior at Pennsylvania's Archbishop Wood.” – Cassidy
“I think you’ll see Kuol Atak’s recruitment continue to expand over the course of the next few months. There’s nobody else in the class that shoots it as well as he does at 6-foot-9. There’s an argument to be made that, while he’s moving in the right direction in the rankings, that we might have him too low based on the elite skill he possesses at his size. TCU, Syracuse, Northwestern, Oklahoma and Cal are some of the schools involved, and he just visited Texas unofficially last week. There’s been a lot of interest, but not many offers.” - Graf
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WHICH PLAYER IN THE RIVALS150 DO YOU THINK WE MIGHT STILL HAVE A LITTLE LOW?
“I think Jaiden Glover, who moved up significantly in this update, might be in store for another jump this summer. The 6-foot-6 wing shot the cover off the ball as a junior at the Patrick School and looks like a different player than he did a year ago at this time. He jumped into the Rivals150 in this update and currently sits at No. 62. There will be a lot of eyes on the long, skilled, versatile prospect as he plays for the NY Jayhawks on the grassroots circuit. If he shines against other top-flight prospects while developing as a defender and a ball-handler this summer, the top 50 isn't out of reach.” - Cassidy
“Trent Perry entered the rankings at No. 74 this cycle, but he’s a player that I believe will have a strong chance to be in the discussion for top 30 in the next rankings update. He was great last summer playing on both the 16U and 17U levels, and he has had a very productive high school season. Perry has the size and scoring ability - as well as the production - to be considered one of the top guards in the country. He’s a good passer and also contributes on the boards. The four-star guard also shoots well from the mid-range and outside. Perry holds offers from schools that include UCLA, USC, Stanford and Oklahoma.” - Graf