Already having the record for most first round draftees in the same year with four, Montverde Academy appears to be on track to match its own previous set benchmark in high school basketball development as another four alumni are trajected to be first round draft picks in the upcoming 2025 National Basketball Association (NBA) draft.
Four members from the class of 2024’s powerhouse team —Cooper Flagg, Liam McNeeley, Asa Newell, and Derik Queen—are all projected to be selected in the first round of the upcoming draft on Wednesday, June 25.
All four players were major contributors to Montverde Academy’s 33-0 record from the 2023-24 season, which culminated in the school’s eighth High School National Championship. The team finished as the consensus No. 1 ranked team in the nation, while not only going undefeated, but competing against one of the toughest nationwide schedules in high school basketball. Additionally, the team won by an average margin of 34 points with 30 of the wins by double-digits.
Player Highlights:
- Cooper Flagg
Prior to his one year at Duke University, Flagg, the projected No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft, garnered the most prestigious individual awards a high school basketball player can garner. In 2023-24 he was named the Gatorade National Player of the Year, Naismith National Player of the Year, Nike EYBL Scholastic Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year, as well as McDonalds All-America and MaxPreps First Team All-America. As a sophomore, he was a Naismith Second Team All-America, Second Team All-NIBC and NIBC All-Defensive Team as well as a MaxPreps Honorable Mention before reclassifying as a senior. In two seasons he averaged 13.6 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.6 steals and 2.5 blocks per game.
- Liam McNeeley
Before his highly successful year at the University of Connecticut, McNeeley was named a 2023-24 McDonald’s All-American, Naismith Third Team All-American, Nike EYBL Scholastic Second Team member and a MaxPreps Honorable Mention. He played two seasons with the Eagles and averaged 12.4 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.6 assists. He shot 50 percent from the field (244-for-492), including 44 percent from behind the three-point line (120-for-271).
- Asa Newell
Newell, who spent two seasons with the Eagles and earned his associate’s degree in the process, was named Naismith Trophy Honorable Mention, Nike EYBL Scholastic Second Team All-Conference and All-Defensive team. In his two seasons in Montverde, he averaged 9.1 points and 4.8 rebounds.
- Derik Queen
A three-year member of the MVA basketball team, Queen started seeing extended time on the floor after coming off the bench behind fellow future NBA stars Dariq Whitehead and Jalen Hood-Schifino. During the 2023-24 season he was named McDonalds All-American, Nike EYBL Scholastic First Team All-Conference, MaxPreps Second Team All-American and Naismith Second Team All-American. In his final two years with the Eagles, Queen averaged 14.4 points behind a 66 percent shooting clip (344-for-524), while averaging 7.1 rebounds per game.
“As we look ahead to the 2025 NBA Draft, all of us at Montverde Academy are filled with pride and excitement for Cooper, Derik, Asa, and Liam. These four incredible young men have not only reached the doorstep of their basketball dreams but have also left a lasting legacy on our campus—highlighted by their unforgettable run to the 2024 National Championship,” said Head of School Jon Hopman. “We are grateful for the memories they gave us, and we’ll be cheering them on with the entire Montverde Academy family on June 25th.”
Montverde Academy has long been recognized as the nation’s leading basketball program, producing current NBA stars such as Cade Cunningham, Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett, Ben Simmons and Moses Moody. The potential for four first-round selections from a single graduating class is the first of its kind.
The 2025 NBA Draft’s first round will take place Wednesday June 26 at 8 p.m., and the second round is scheduled for Thursday June 27 at 8 p.m. Both rounds will be taking place at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. The first round will be televised on ABC and ESPN, while the second round will be televised exclusively on ESPN.
About Montverde Academy:
Montverde Academy is a private, independent college preparatory school for grades Pre-K3 through post-graduate studies, with a boarding program serving grades 7-12 representing 70+ nationalities. Our mission is to inspire students to become knowledgeable leaders with global vision and passion for learning, in a disciplined and diverse community that nurtures character development. For more information, visit us online at Montverde.org and at MVASports.com.
