The best HS boys Track and Field recruits in the class of 2024

College track and field is so competitive that it is basically professional level. That is why the best teams take recruiting incredibly seriously. Grant Holloway won the NCAA championship in the hurdles both indoors and outdoors as a freshman, before becoming a three time World Champion. Recruiting an athlete like him can be the difference between winning a national championship and losing it. So it is important to know who is really are the best recruits in the nation. However, simply watching the leaderboards for each event on a website like MileSplit can be misleading if you don’t take other factors into consideration.

So this is a list of the top 10 boys recruits for the entire high school class of 2024. They are not the only 5 star recruits on the SCA Recruiting national list, but they are clearly the best heading into this season.

10 Daniel Simmons, Utah, Distance, 5 star, Score 95 (BYU)

Daniel Simmons is from the state of Utah and is committed to run for BYU. He’s ranked 95 on the SCA scale because he was the national leader in the 3K and cracked the top 10 of the 1500.

10 Joseph (Jojo) Jourdon, Utah, Distance, 5 star, Score 95 (Wake Forest)

Joseph “Jojo” Jourdon is also out of Utah. He earned his 95 rating by by going number 6 and number 5 in the 3K and 1500 meter runs respectively. However, unlike Daniel he is committed to compete for Wake Forest. That makes him the leader of what might be the most underrated recruiting class in the nation.

10 Ethan Hogan, Illinois, Distance, 5 star, Score 95 (UNC)

Ethan Hogan from Illinois ties with both of them for 10th overall. He’s committed to UNC and banked his 95 score by going 3rd on the national list in the 1500 and 8th in the 3K.

9 Jordan Washington, California, Sprints, 5 star, Score 96 (Arizona* Football)

Jordan Washington is a sprinter out of California. He is a 96 rated recruit because he went top 5 in the nation in the 100 and 200 meter dashes. But he is also a football player committed to the Arizona Wildcats. As a result it is uncertain whether or not he will ever compete for them on the track.

8 Brayden Platt, Washington, Throws, 5 star, Score 97 (Oregon* Football) 

Brayden Platt is one of the most intriguing recruits both in football and as a thrower. Competing out of Washington he earned a 97 to become arguably the best thrower in the nation. His versatility is key as the national leader in the javelin and still top 5. In the shot put. But he is also committed to play football for the Oregon Ducks with an opportunity to compete in both sports.

7 Anthony Waterman, Maryland, Hurdles, 5 star, Score 97 (Kentucky) 

Anthony Waterman who is a talented hurdler out of Maryland. He’s a 97 on the SCA scale and committed to Kentucky. Between the 110 and 300 hurdles he clearly has the talent to take over the NCAA, and Kentucky knows how to coach hurdlers. Daniel Roberts is proof of that! 

6 Benjamin Smith, Wisconsin, Throws, 5 star, Score 97 (Oregon) 

The number 6 spot goes to another future Oregon Duck. Benjamin Smith is technically the top thrower in the nation on the SCA scale out of Wisconsin. He seems to have no future plans to play football either. He finished 1st and 2nd in the nation in the shot put and the discus. Oregon is adding him and Brayden Platt, making them the best throws recruiting class in the nation by a lot. In fact, they are the only 2 throwers on this entire list!

5 Gatlin Bair, Idaho, Sprints, 5 star, Score 97 (Uncommitted “Michigan leading” * Football)

Gatlin Bair is a sprinter out of Idaho and a 97 overall on the SCA scale. But he’s also a football player who committed to play for Boise State before decommitting in December 2023. He finished number 2 in the nation for the class of 2024 in the 100 and is the fastest boy in the 200 meter dash.

4 Christian Miller, Florida, Sprints, 5 star, Score 97 (Georgia)

The boy who beat out Gatlin as the fastest 100 meter runner was right behind him in the 200. That is why Christian Miller out of Florida is the number 4 recruit, and a 97 overall. He’s committed to compete for the Georgia Bulldogs, and that is a very big deal because they have more recruits than anyone inside the nation’s top 10.

3 Xai Ricks, California, Sprints, 5 star, Score 98 (Georgia)

The next 3 names stand out because they are the only ones to be ranked in the top 25 of the nation in 3 events last season. Which is why Xai Ricks from California earned a 98 overall and the number 3 spot on this list. Like Christian he is committed to compete for the Georgia Bulldogs! He can run anything from the 400 to the 800 or even the 200, so it remains to be seen what they do with him going forward. Which is a good problem to have if you are one of their coaches. 

2 Jayden Keys, Texas, Hurdles/Jumps, 5 star, Score 98 (Georgia)

Barely beating out Xai is Jayden Keys from Texas as the number 2 recruit on this list. He will also be joining Christian and Xai to compete for the Georgia Bulldogs! That gives them 3 of the nation’s top 10. He was the best hurdler in the nation for his class in the 110 hurdles and second in the 300 hurdles, with the ability to long jump at an elite level. The Bulldogs have a habit of grabbing the top prospect in Texas. They did it before with Matthew Boling, but this recruiting class they just brought in is the real deal!

1 Nicolas Crosswhite, Georgia, Jumps, 5 star, Score 99 (Florida)

The number 1 spot on this list, has to go to Nicolas Crosswhite who is from the state of Georgia but will be competing for the Florida Gators. He’s the only 99 overall on this list and he earned it by being the best high jumper, and long jumper in the nation hands down for his class. But he’s also top 10 in the triple jump. Simply put he gets the top spot, because that’s what he has been doing in almost any meet he enters up until this point. He generally finishes in first place. 

The Bottom Line

Division 1 track and field is highly competitive and that is why getting recruited to compete in it is so hard to do. The boys on this list are the best right now, but remember that rankings don’t mean anything after the gun goes off. College is a reset button on your high school career anyway. So all that matters is what you do when you get there. But making a ranking list like this sets incredibly high expectations whenever you do get on campus. Which is fine because all of these athletes have the talent to back it up.

VIEW THE SCA NATIONAL LIST

A definitive recruiting list including the top 300 Track & Field recruits, regardless of event.