3 finalists named for Gatorade Boys Basketball National Player of Year

Top national high school basketball award to go to either McEachern's Ace Bailey (Georgia), Long Island Lutheran's VJ Edgecombe (New York) and Montverde Academy's Cooper Flagg (Florida)

The finalists for the 2023-24 Gatorade National Boys Basketball Player of the Year Award were announced Thursday morning. The three finalists include last year's winner, Cooper Flagg of Montverde Academy, McEachern (Georgia) forward Airious 'Ace' Bailey and Long Island Lutheran (New York) guard VJ Edgecombe.

Flagg reclassified to the Class of 2024 and the talented swing player will begin his college basketball career next year at Duke University. He was recently named the Naismith Player of the Year and he is the No. 1 overall prospect in the nation.

Flagg was the Maine Gatorade Player of the Year in 2021-22 before transferring to Montverde where he has now become the two-time Florida Gatorade Player of the Year.

Bailey led McEachern to the Georgia Class 7A state championship game in his senior season, the No. 4 ranking in the final SBLive Georgia Boys Basketball Power 25, and a 26-6 record. He was a Naismith finalist and the Georgia Gatorade Player of the Year, and he is headed to Rutgers University.

Edgecombe is a senior guard from Brookville, New York and he is committed to play his college basketball at Baylor University. He is the nation's No. 4 overall rated prospect and he is now a two time New York Gatorade Player of the Year.