The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word STANDOUT
S
T
A
N
D
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T
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "someone of exceptional quality" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case someone of exceptional quality = standout.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does STANDOUT mean?
STANDOUT noun- An exceptional or noteworthy person or thing.
- Exceptional; noteworthy