Vote: Who should be Gatorade National High School Boys Basketball Player of Year?
Cooper Flagg, Ace Bailey and VJ Edgecombe were announced as the three finalists for the Gatorade National Boys Basketball Player of the Year on Thursday morning.
The winner will be announced next week for the annual award for the top high school boys basketball in the country in the 2023-24 season.
Flagg, a Duke commit, is the nation's No. 1 rated player and the leader for Montverde Academy (Florida), the top-ranked team in the country. He's regarded as a potential top overall NBA Draft pick in 2025.
>> 20 candidates for SBLive's national boys basketball player of the year
Edgecombe, a Baylor-committed five-star shooting guard, leads No. 4 Long Island Lutheran (21-4). The third finalist is McEachern (Georgia) forward Ace Bailey, the consensus No. 2 prospect in the nation signed with Rutgers.
Scroll down and read up on the candidates and cast your vote in the poll below. Voting stays open until the winner is announced.
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GATORADE NATIONAL PLAYER OF YEAR FINALISTS
Airious "Ace" Bailey
McEachern standout Ace Bailey drives in a game during the 2023-24 season.
High school: McEachern (Georgia); Measurables: 6-foot-8, 195 pounds; College: Rutgers (signed)
Bailey is a consensus top-two prospect nationally, led McEachern to a 26-6 record and the Georgia 7A state finals, where McEachern lost to Grayson. The McDonald's All-American and Nike Hoop Summit Team USA selection is the No. 1 rated prospect in Georgia and a Rutgers commit.
VJ Edgecombe
Derik Queen of Montverde Academy goes for a rebound during the championship game of the City of Palms tournament against VJ Edgecomb of Long Island Lutheran at Suncoast Credit Union Arena in December.
Photo by Andrew West, The News-Press, USA TODAY NETWORK
High school: Long Island Lutheran (New York); Measurables: 6-foot-5, 180 pounds; College: Baylor (signed)
Edgecombe, SBLive's Junior of the Year in 2022-23, has taken yet another step as a senior. He averaged 15.7 points per game, 5.1 boards and 3.6 assists per game in 12 EYBL Scholastic games. He's led Long Island Lutheran, the No. 4 team in the country, to a 21-4 record and 4-seed in the Chipotle (formerly GEICO) Nationals.
Cooper Flagg
Cooper Flagg celebrates a dunk for Montverde Academy (Florida) during the 2023-24 season.
Photo by Robson Lopes, SBLive Sports
High school: Montverde Academy (Florida); Measurables: 6-foot-9, 195 pounds; College: Duke (signed)
The 6-foot-9 Flagg was Maine's Gatorade State Boys Basketball Player of the Year in 2021-22 has done everything for the undefeated Eagles, the top-ranked team in the country and No. 1 seed entering Chiptotle Nationals. Flagg averaged 14.3 points, 7.3 boards, 3.7 assists and 1.9 blocks in 12 EYBL Scholastic games.
-- Andy Buhler | andy@scorebooklive.com | @sblivesports
