Cooper Flagg, Derik Queen, Asa Newell, Liam McNeeley, Cade Cunningham, Scottie Barnes and Ben Simmons.
Some might wonder what those athletes have in common with each other. It’s simple; they are all former members of the Montverde Academy (Florida) boys basketball team, and were selected in the first round of the NBA Draft between 2016 and 2025.
“I think that just shows how special Montverde Academy is as a school,” Eagles coach Steve Turner said. “With all of the landscape and what you see built and grown in all of these academies going everywhere, you have a place here that you can play high-level basketball and still get a strong education.”
Most notably, though, Simmons (2016), Cunningham (2021) and Flagg (2025) were each selected with the first overall draft pick in their respective years.
Last year’s draft, though, served as a reminder of Montverde Academy’s influence on the basketball community. With four first-round picks sharing the same high school roots, the event wasn’t just a victory for those athletes. It was also a celebration and reminder of how much the program has continued to set its standard in player development and achievements upon graduation.
“I think the landscape is changing,” Turner said. “You won’t see [four first-round draft picks] very much more, unless it’s one of the schools that are paying and buying the kids. All I know is that we’re going to keep being who we are and try to keep bringing in the right type of kids to compete and win games together.
“If it happens, then it will be a beautiful thing. But if it doesn’t happen, then I think it will still be a beautiful thing. I’m complacent and comfortable with where we are. I like seeing the guys being able to trust us and the process.”
And Turner couldn’t be happier to help support the process, especially since he replaced legendary coach Kevin Boyle, who left to coach at SPIRE Academy of Ohio in 2025. During his 15-year tenure with the Eagles, Boyle won eight national titles and developed numerous NBA players. Those are certainly some big shoes to fill, but Turner also has an impressive background.
Turner coached for the previous 26 years, with 21 of those as the head coach of Gonzaga College High School in Washington, D.C. During that period, Turner helped establish a national powerhouse, where he recorded an impressive record of 497-176.
Those moments were made possible by his philosophy, which has focused on player development, academics and holistic growth. And it’s been made clear that Turner brought that same mindset to Montverde Academy.
But those previously mentioned names weren’t the only familiar faces to compete for the Eagles and then reach the NBA in recent memory. Those other athletes were D’Angelo Russell, RJ Barrett, Joel Embiid, Dariq Whitehead, Jalen Duren and Luc Mbah a Moute.
Now, let’s fast-forward to possible future draft picks.
Entering the 2025-2026 season, Montverde Academy has multiple uncommitted senior forwards in Joe Philon III and Jayden Hodge. Those players are respectively ranked No. 46 and No. 81. Aside from them, though, Lincoln Cosby (No. 10), O’Neal Delancy (No. 41), Derek Daniels (No. 105) and Malachi Booker (No. 131) are each uncommitted juniors for the Eagles.
“We have a young guy named Malachi Booker on the team, and he’s just coming off of an ACL injury,” Philon III said. “He is a freak athlete who is a student of the game. If you talk to him, he will listen to you because he wants to get better. I think he’s going to be a great player in the upcoming years at Montverde Academy.”
Philon III, though, is the current top-ranked prospect from Montverde Academy as of Sunday night. The four-star, 6-foot-8 power forward is known for his elite defense, but especially his weak-side blocking skills. And aside from that, Philon III has excelled at finishing above the rim.
“[Philon III] is a Swiss Army Knife,” Turner said. “He’s the kid who can do everything. I think he’s the type of guy that every team in the country needs. He can win games on the defensive end, and he’s the type of guy who can defend above the rim. I think the sky is the limit for the kid.”
Those talents were showcased during the fourth day of the 2026 Hoophall Classic at Springfield College, as Montverde Academy pulled away in the second half to defeat Long Island Lutheran (New York) by a final score of 71-58.
Dhani Miller finished with a team-high 17 points and nine rebounds, while Javion Tyndale was next with 16 points, four rebounds and eight assists. Philon III, meanwhile, recorded 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting to go along with four rebounds in 18 minutes of action.
Despite being uncommitted, Philon III has reportedly narrowed his list of potential college recruitments to these five schools: Ohio State, UCLA, South Florida, UNLV and Xavier.
Though most of their futures remain questionable, Turner is excited to see what the future has in store for the program.
“This team can play with anyone in the country, and we’ve already shown it,” Turner said. “And they understand that working like a team will help us win games because not one person has to put on a cape and try to win it by themselves. If we keep doing those things, then we’ll be right there in the thick of things when it matters.”
Story by Christopher Berry, MassLive.com.
