Top Players

• 6-8 SR Cooper Flagg (DUKE) ... ESPN-1
• 6-9 SR Derik Queen ... ESPN-11
• 6-7 SR Liam McNeely (INDIANA) ... ESPN-12
• 6-9 SR Asa Newell (GEORGIA) ... ESPN-15
• 6-2 SR Curtis Givens (LSU) ... ESPN-40
• 6-1 SR Robert Wright III (BAYLOR) ... ESPN-47
• 6-7 JR Ace Flagg
• 6-7 SOPH Caleb Gaskins ... ESPN-10
• 6-5 SOPH Kayden Allen

Eagles At A Glance

MAXPREPS “ACADEMY TOP 10” PRESEASON RANKING: 1
BALLISLIFE “FAB 50” RANKING: 1

Coach Kevin Boyle’s juggernaut was labelled the “Team of the Decade” by USA Today after winning five national championships in the 2010s, and this experienced group – with four of ESPN’s top 15 seniors – could rival any of those as the Eagles try to win a historic sixth City of Palms banner. It starts up front with prized Duke recruit 6-8 SR Cooper Flagg (9.8 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 3 apg, 2.2 blocks), who reclassified and became the nation’s consensus No. 1 senior, and 6-9 SR Derik Queen (11.3 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 2.1 apg). But depth is what often separates MVA from the pack. Thus, Indiana-bound 6-7 SR Liam McNeely (12.4 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 2.2 apg in a team-high 19.2 minutes per contest), Georgia pledge 6-9 SR Asa Newell (6.6 ppg, 3.3 rpg), Louisiana State verbal 6-2 SR Curtis Givens (4.0 ppg, 2.2 apg) and 6-7 JR Ace Flagg, along with a trio of five-star transfers – Baylor commit 6-1 SR Robert Wright III (23.1 ppg, 4.9 apg, 4.8 rpg, 2.3 steals for Pennsylvania 4A runner-up Neumann-Goretti), 6-7 SOPH Caleb Gaskins (17.9 ppg, 9.6 rpg at Melbourne Holy Trinity FL) and 6-5 SOPH Kayden Allen (Grayson GA) – should all have a hand in the Eagles’ success. … Flagg announced himself as the marquee prospect in all of high school basketball at the Nike EYBL Peach Jam with a 38-point, six-rebound, 11-block, six-assist performance in 16U pool play. It was part of a week that saw the five-star wing showcase his rare versatility while averaging 25 points (third-best), 13 rebounds (second), 5.7 assists (second) and 6.8 blocks (second) in seven contests. … Queen pumped in a season-high 34 points in a win over Sunrise Christian midway through his junior season. … Wright had a game-high 24 points to go with 10 rebounds and six assists to lead his team to the NBPA Top 100 Camp title. At the Nike EYBL Peach Jam, he averaged 16.5 ppg in six games. … Ace Flagg averaged 14.9 points and 5.9 boards on his brother’s 16U Maine United at the Nike EYBL Peach Jam, while Allen averaged 24.3 ppg to lead all scorers, propelling the Georgia Stars into the E15 semifinals. … Boyle (311-26 at MVA, 821-158 overall) is an unprecedented 52-13 in his 18 previous City of Palms Classics and is 6-6 in COP championship games (5-1 with the Eagles), finally winning the first-place trophy in his 10th trip to Fort Myers with Elizabeth St. Patrick (N.J.), in 2010.