Four SEPA Prospects for the 2024 NBA Draft

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There was a day when high school prospects were “allowed” to jump straight from graduation to the NBA Draft. Names like Lebron James, Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garnett are just a few of the players that went straight from high school to the Association.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Today we want to salute those high school ballers who bypassed college and made that leap to the NBA by suspending (hypothetically) the League's current age restriction for the Draft.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Below is a review of four players from southeastern Pennsylvania who I believe, if NBA rules still permitted it, could have been legitimate candidates to hear their name called at the 2024 NBA Draft.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jalil Bethea </strong><strong>– 6'3” / 2024 / Archbishop Wood / [program_tooltip program_id='2078709' first='Team' last='Final'] EYBL / Shooting Guard: </strong>Bethea was named the 6A State POY and the Philadelphia Catholic League POY as well as a 1st Team All-Philly Area selection and a McDonald's All-American. In his senior season this U of Miami commit averaged 23 points and 7 rebounds per game while shooting 36% from three.So, Bethea has the resume and the stat lines to grab the attention of NBA scouts. With his length, end to end speed, athleticism, hops and 3-point shooting skills, Bethea is the perfect fit for today's NBA game. His dribble drive game is vastly underrated too. Defensively, Bethea is a plus player who knifes through passing lanes for steals and rebounds well. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1153953' first='Luke' last='Bevilacqua'] </strong><strong>– 6'11” / 2025 / George School / Team Durant / Center: </strong>The No. 8 ranked prospect in our 2025 rankings is a reclassed 2024, so back in the day (prior to 2006) he would have qualified for the 2024 NBA Draft. Bevilacqua is a talented stretch-5 prospect with a solid 230-pound frame. He can dominate on the interior via quick post ups, his smooth face up game or by working the offensive glass. Bevilacqua can also produce points in the mid-range via pick-n-roll action, 15-to-18-foot jumpers or by attacking the rim from the elbows. He will also drag opposing bigs out to the 3-point line and shoot over them or blow past his man with a few dribbles. Bevilacqua already holds a pile of DI offers that includes Virginia Tech, Penn State and Virginia.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2235863' first='Matt' last='Gilhool'] </strong><strong>– 6'10″ / 2025 / Penn Charter / [program_tooltip program_id='2078709' first='Team' last='Final'] EYBL / Power Forward: </strong>This stretch-4 prospect reclassed into the 2025 graduate year, so he is another prospect who under the old NBA rules for the Draft, would have been eligible to be selected last night. Gilhool was the 2023-24 Inter-AC POY after he posted 14.8 points per contest last season. He used his versatile inside / outside threat skill set to dominate the spring EYBL circuit. Earlier the month, Gilhool averaged 17.3 points to go along with 8 rebounds per game at the Pangos AA Camp and was selected for “Top 30 Cream of the Crop” all-star game. Gilhool was an NBA Players Association Top 100 Camp invitee and holds over a dozen DI offers.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1865248' first='Will' last='Riley'] </strong><strong>– 6'9″ / 2024-25 / Phelps School / UPlay Canada / Wing:</strong> Last week the former No. 1 rated prospect in our Class of 2025 rankings, announced that was reclassifying into the 2024 graduate year and heading to the University of Illinois early. But I have been saying for two years now that Riley's polished offensive skills and off the charts IQ make him the most NBA ready player in Pennsylvania. During his junior campaign at Phelps School, he averaged 26.5 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists per game while shooting 40% from deep. In late February, Riley posted 25 points to go along with 6 rebounds in the PAISAA state tournament semifinal game. Prior to that outburst, Riley dropped 42 points on national powerhouse The Patrick School (NJ). On the spring EYBL circuit Riley averaged 21.9 points and 2.5 dimes per game. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->