24" x 24" x 24" isn't going to be long enough for an adult Ball Python. As others have already suggested, I would go with pvc board and I would make it 48" (length) x 24" (depth) x 12" (height). Pvc board is around $80.00 a sheet, but it's really the the best option for enclosures, in my opinion. Melamine would also be fine and it's less than half the price of pvc board ($30.00 a sheet), but it's very heavy and not the greatest choice for this type of enclosure. I would also design the enclosure with a removable partition down the center and keep it in until your Ball outgrows the 24" x 24" x 12" space or you will likely have feeding and defensive issues. There are nice pvc enclosures on the market this size that only cost around $160.00. By the time you add up all of the material and hardware and the time and trouble involved in building one, you really are almost better off just buying one.