1) Cooper Flagg—Duke, Freshman, Forward
The crown jewel of the 2025 Draft Class. Flagg isn't just the best freshman in the country. He's the best player in the country, favored to win the National Player of the Year. He's that special.
Coming into the season with an extraordinary amount of hype, many thought it would be hard for the 18-year-old kid from Newport, Maine, to live up to. Think again. The Duke freshman phenomenon has been everything college basketball anticipated and then some.
Flagg is an all-around Swiss Army knife on the court with loads of versatility. This season, he's averaging 19.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game on 48% from the field.
He broke the ACC freshman single-game record earlier this season against Notre Dame, scoring 42 points on 11-of-14 from the field and 4-of-6 from three. It was a masterclass of efficiency as he scored in various ways, displaying his NBA superstar potential.
Flagg's incredible play and consistency has some, such as Wake Forest coach Steve Forbes, calling him a "generational" talent after Duke defeated Wake Forest 63-56 on the road.
Steve Forbes calls Cooper Flagg a “generational” talent.
— Josh Graham (@JoshGrahamShow) January 26, 2025
You’ll want to hear the players Forbes associated Flagg with — including Kawhi Leonard and Kevin Durant — and his stories facing them. pic.twitter.com/1mkH6ZCAO0
Flagg's unique blend of size, skill, and motor on both ends, as well as an improved off-the-bounce scorer, is what gives him perennial All-Star potential. Whoever lands the first overall pick this season will be a lucky franchise to land a potential pillar for the next generation of the NBA.