Coming into the college basketball season, Duke forward Cooper Flagg was considered the consensus pick to be selected first in the 2025 NBA Draft. The number-one recruit from 2024, Flagg was coming off of two stellar high school seasons, and a summer in which he shined for the USA select team in scrimmages against the Olympic team.
This season, Flagg has showcased his all around game, averaging 16 points per game, nine rebounds, and four assists. He is also averaging almost two steals per game and a block. His IQ and poise have been very impressive to see. However, despite Flagg’s encouraging year so far, he has not been the best freshman in college basketball.
Rutgers guard Dylan Harper has been one of the best all around guards in college basketball
Harper has showcased elite guard skills so far this season. He is averaging 23 PPG, five rebounds, and four assists on elite efficiency. He is shooting 52 percent from the field, 37 percent from three-point range and has a true shooting percentage of 62 percent.
Harper has shown a great ability at navigating in tough spaces and against double teams as well. On a middling Rutgers team with a lack of floor spacers and self-creators, Harper has a huge offensive role, as his usage percentage is almost 30 percent. However, despite that, he only averages two turnovers per game.
Harper cannot be sped up or slowed down and has an offensive game that is reminiscent of Cade Cunnigham and we know how good he was in college. Cunningham also ended up being the number one pick and is well on his way to his first All-Star selection this season.
Going back to Flagg, his offensive game is not nearly as complete, albeit he plays a different position. Flagg’s jump-shooting has been a major concern, as he is only knocking down 25 percent of his threes. While his handle has improved, it has looked a bit shaky to start the year as well.
However, Flagg has shown good strength at the rim, controlled aggression, and high offensive IQ for someone his size. With his 6’9” frame, Flagg has a very high ceiling offensively with a little bit of polishing.
What separates Flagg from Harper though is his defensive acumen, as he is one of the better rim protectors in college basketball. Flagg is also very good at playing passing lanes and always seems to be in the right spot defensively. His ability to guard multiple positions is impressive.
Three months ago, it was not a debate about who the number one pick would be in the 2025 NBA draft. However, after Harper’s impressive start, the answer is not as clear-cut anymore.