Category: 2025 NBA Draft

Chet Holmgren gives Cooper Flagg praise for scrimmaging against USA Basketball

Thunder forward Chet Holmgren praised Duke commit Cooper Flagg for taking on the challenge of scrimmaging against USA Basketball last month.

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren praised Duke commit Cooper Flagg for taking on the challenge of scrimmaging against USA Basketball last month.

Flagg, the consensus top recruit in the class of 2024, participated with the select team in a run against the senior roster ahead of the Olympics. He was the first collegian to participate with the select team since Doug McDermott and Marcus Smart in 2013.

He went viral after some highlights surfaced on social media and earned high praise from Kevin Durant and team director Grant Hill. He also earned respect from Holmgren on “Podcast P” with Paul George for wanting to compete against the likes of LeBron James, Durant and others.

It is impressive not only because you can see some of the different skills he has in his skill set, but also just understanding the situation. He is 17 and hasn’t played in a college game and is coming in hooping against the highest level of basketball players pretty much in the world. I respect him for that, and I feel like I can understand where he is coming from. I’m trying to go hoop against the best wherever it might be, and I can see that with how he moves.

Flagg, who turns 18 in December, dazzled in spurts in the scrimmage. From splashing 3-pointers in front of Anthony Davis, to drawing defenders such as Jrue Holiday, Flagg put on a show against a roster that won its fifth straight gold medal.

The 6-foot-9 forward was the Maine Gatorade Player of the Year while playing for Nokomis Regional High School. He played last season at the Montverde Academy in Florida and chose coach Jon Scheyer and the Blue Devils over UConn and Kansas.

Flagg is the overwhelming favorite to be the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA draft, ahead of Ace Bailey, VJ Edgecombe, Dylan Harper, Tre Johnson and Dink Pate, among others.

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Bam Adebayo leads USA Basketball to quarterfinals of Olympics with win over South Sudan

Led by a balanced scoring attack, USA Basketball stamped its ticket to the quarterfinals of the Olympics with a victory over South Sudan.

Led by a balanced scoring attack, USA Basketball stamped its ticket to the quarterfinals of the 2024 Olympic Games with a victory over South Sudan on Wednesday in Lille, France.

Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo produced a team-high 18 points and seven rebounds, Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant scored 14 points and Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards had 13 points in the 103-86 victory to improve to 2-0 and stay atop Group C.

After beating South Sudan by one point in an exhibition game on July 20, the United States was in control for the entirety of the contest, leading by as many as 22 points. The team, which shot 52.9% from the field, scored 26 points off 19 turnovers and held a 66-14 advantage in bench points.

With Adebayo, Durant and Edwards leading the way, the U.S. also got strong contributions from Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James scored (12 points), Suns guard Devin Booker (10 points, six assists) and Boston Celtics guard Derrick White (10 points).

Nuni Omot paced South Sudan with a game-high 24 points, while Carlik Jones scored 18 points and Bul Kuol added 16 points. The team dropped to 1-1 with one game left to play in the group phase on Saturday against Serbia. The winner will advance to the quarterfinals.

After clinching Group C, the Americans will wrap up the preliminary round on Saturday against Puerto Rico, who is 0-2. They open as 31.5-point favorites in that contest.

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Grant Hill believes Cooper Flagg has ‘all of the tools’ to be a great player

Hall of Famer Grant Hill recently commended Duke commit Cooper Flagg and believes the 17-year-old has a bright future ahead.

Hall of Famer Grant Hill recently commended Duke commit Cooper Flagg, and the former Blue Devil believes the 17-year-old has a bright future ahead in college and the professional level.

Flagg, the consensus top recruit in the class of 2024, recently scrimmaged with the USA Basketball select team against the senior roster ahead of the Olympics. He was the first collegian to participate with the select team since Doug McDermott and Marcus Smart in 2013.

He went viral after some highlights surfaced on social media and earned high praise from Kevin Durant. The showing by Flagg also impressed Hill, the managing director of USA Basketball.

“I think he is great,” Hill said on the “Dan Patrick Show” on Friday. “He’ll be a great college player. I think his game may even resonate and translate better on the NBA stage. He is young. He is 17, so he is still learning. Sometimes when you’re young, you have no fear. You don’t even know you’re supposed to be scared. But he has all of the tools. He has got the mental make up, too. He has some nasty in him. He isn’t afraid.”

Flagg, who turns 18 in December, dazzled in spurts in the scrimmage. From splashing 3-pointers in front of Anthony Davis, to drawing defenders such as Jrue Holiday, Flagg put on a show against a roster competing for its fifth straight gold medal.

The 6-foot-9 forward was the Maine Gatorade Player of the Year while playing for Nokomis Regional High School. He played last season at the Montverde Academy in Florida and chose coach Jon Scheyer and the Blue Devils over UConn and Kansas.

Flagg is the overwhelming favorite to be the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA draft, ahead of Ace Bailey, VJ Edgecombe, Dylan Harper, Tre Johnson and Dink Pate, among others.

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Carlik Jones, Marial Shayok lead South Sudan to historic Olympic victory

South Sudan overcame a first-half deficit to complete a historic 90-79 win over Puerto Rico on Sunday to open the 2024 Olympic Games.

Led by veteran Carlik Jones, South Sudan overcame a first-half deficit to complete a historic 90-79 win over Puerto Rico in Group C on Sunday to open the 2024 Olympic Games in Lille, France.

Jones produced 19 points, seven rebounds and six assists, Marial Shayok had 15 points and Nuni Omot added 12 points and six rebounds to lead South Sudan to its first-ever victory in the Olympics. Peter Jok had 11 points, while Wenyen Gabriel and JT Thor both had six points.

Puerto Rico, who was led by José Alvarado, was up by nine points in the first quarter and carried a six-point advantage to halftime. South Sudan responded by outscoring its opponent 42-25 in the second half to take control of the game. Alvarado finished with a game-high 26 points.

South Sudan, whose president is former 15-year NBA veteran Luol Deng, claimed its first Olympic berth last year by finishing as the top African team in the FIBA Basketball World Cup, its first international tournament after becoming a sovereign state from Sudan in July 2011.

The team also made history when Khaman Maluach became the third-youngest player in the event at 16 years old. Maluach, now 17, made South Sudan’s 12-man roster for the Olympics and has been with the team throughout its training camp. He had two points on Sunday.

After defeating Puerto Rico, South Sudan will return to action on Wednesday against the United States (3 p.m. EDT). The contest is a rematch of an exhibition game on July 20, in which the U.S. defeated South Sudan 101-100 in London.

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Duke commit Khaman Maluach named to South Sudan’s 12-man roster for Olympics

Duke commit Khaman Maluach was among the players named to South Sudan’s 12-man roster for the 2024 Olympic Games.

Duke commit Khaman Maluach was among the players named to South Sudan’s 12-man roster for the 2024 Olympic Games, which begin on Friday in Paris, France.

Maluach last year became the third-youngest player to suit up in the FIBA Basketball World Cup with the team. He totaled eight points, 15 rebounds and three blocks in four games to help South Sudan claim its first Olympic berth.

The 17-year-old has been with the team in training camp since earning a place on its preliminary roster in June. He will be joined on the final roster by several notable players, including Wenyen Gabriel, Peter Jok, Carlik Jones, Marial Shayok and JT Thor.

South Sudan, whose president and assistant coach is former 15-year NBA veteran Luol Deng, finished 2-2 in its exhibition schedule, including a one-point loss to the United States on July 20. Maluach recorded seven points and three rebounds in that contest.

The 7-footer is considered a potential top-five pick in the 2025 NBA draft as an international prospect born in 2006. He is highly touted for his size and versatility as a player who can shoot and defend, with his reported 7-foot, 4 1/2-inch wingspan and 9-foot, 8-inch standing reach.

South Sudan will open the Olympics in Group C against Puerto Rico on Sunday. The team will then face the U.S. on July 31 before wrapping up the group phase against Serbia on Aug. 3.

The group has the ninth-best odds of claiming the gold medal.

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2025 NBA draft prospect Malique Lewis to sign with SE Melbourne in NBL

Malique Lewis, who played in the G League last season, will reportedly sign with the Southeast Melbourne Phoenix in the NBL.

Malique Lewis, who played in the G League last season, will reportedly sign with the Southeast Melbourne Phoenix in the NBL, according to Jonathan Givony of ESPN.

Lewis, who was born in Trinidad and Tobago, averaged 8.4 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.1 blocks on 35.1% shooting from 3-point range in 50 games with Mexico City Capitanes. He produced three 20-point games, including a season-high 23 points on Dec. 3.

The 19-year-old will now join the Phoenix as part of the Next Stars program, a plan introduced by the NBL to give top prospects a way to play professionally. The program has helped the likes of Alex Sarr, AJ Johnson, LaMelo Ball and Josh Giddey, among others.

Lewis tested the predraft process this year and competed in the G League Elite Camp in May in Chicago, Illinois. He averaged seven points, four rebounds and 1.5 blocks in two scrimmage games and recorded a 34-inch max vertical.

The 6-foot-8 forward eventually withdrew from the draft to improve his stock ahead of next year. He is the fifth player to join the Next Stars program, joining the likes of Izan Almansa (Perth Wildcats) and Alex Toohey (Sydney Kings).

Lewis will have the opportunity to compete in one of the top leagues in the world and improve his overall skill set on the court. He will look to prove himself as a potential draft pick next year.

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Dink Pate to play for Mexico City Capitanes after Ignite shutdown

Former five-star prospect Dink Pate, who played with the Ignite this year, will join Mexico City Capitanes for next season.

Former five-star prospect Dink Pate, who last played with the G League Ignite, will join Mexico City Capitanes for the 2024-25 season, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

Pate signed with the Ignite in April 2023, becoming the youngest American-born professional basketball player in history. He signed a two-year contract with the team because, at 17 years old, he wouldn’t be draft-eligible until 2025.

The 6-foot-8 guard was forced to find a new team for next season after the NBA opted to shut down the Ignite amid the “changing basketball landscape.” He will now play with Capitanes, who joined the G League in the 2021-22 season.

Pate missed the start of last season due to a foot injury. He was eventually cleared and debuted on Dec. 28, logging four minutes in a loss to Rio Grande Valley. He averaged eight points, 3.8 assists and 2.9 rebounds in 31 appearances.

Prior to joining the Ignite, Pate reclassified to the class of 2023 and graduated early from L.G. Pinkston High School in Dallas, Texas. He was named the 2022-23 District 13-4A Most Valuable Player after averaging 20.3 points per game. He was also on the all-state team.

He was heavily recruited at the collegiate level, receiving over 30 offers from Division I programs. He ultimately chose to sign with the Ignite over  Alabama, Arkansas, Memphis and UCF, among others.

Pate is considered a potential first-round pick in the 2025 NBA draft.

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Cooper Flagg earns high praise from Kevin Durant at Team USA camp

17-year-old Cooper Flagg dazzled in scrimmages against the U.S. senior roster this week in training camp in Las Vegas.

USA Basketball mainstay Kevin Durant wasn’t on the court to face Cooper Flagg and the select team, but the future Hall of Famer could still see the talent level and maturity the 17-year-old showed going up against the best the U.S. has to offer.

Flagg, the consensus top recruit in the class of 2024 who will play at Duke, was the lone collegiate player invited to training camp in Las Vegas, Nevada. He is the first collegian to participate with the select team since Doug McDermott and Marcus Smart in 2013.

He was among the players who competed against the senior roster ahead of the 2024 Olympic Games, which also featured LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Anthony Davis, among others. He earned high praise from several players, including Durant, who is limited by a sore calf.

“From watching him on the sideline, he looked like a hell of a player,” Durant said, via Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. “He is somebody that is only going to get better with more experience. He is 17 years old, coming in here playing like he is a vet, almost. No emotion. Just out there doing his job. That is a good sign.”

Flagg, who will turn 18 in December, dazzled in a portion of the scrimmage open to the media. From splashing 3-pointers in front of Davis, to drawing defenders such as Jrue Holiday, Flagg put on a show against a roster gearing up to compete for its fifth straight gold medal.

The 6-foot-9 forward was the Maine Gatorade Player of the Year while playing for Nokomis Regional High School before arriving at the Montverde Academy in Florida. He chose Jon Scheyer and the Blue Devils over established programs like UConn and Kansas.

Flagg is the overwhelming favorite to be the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA draft, ahead of Ace Bailey, VJ Edgecombe, Dylan Harper, Tre Johnson and Dink Pate, among others.

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VJ Edgecombe nears double-double to help Bahamas to Olympic qualifying finals

A pair of double-doubles helped the Bahamas defeat Lebanon to advance to the finals of the Olympic qualifying tournament.

A pair of double-double performances by its star players helped the Bahamas defeat Lebanon to advance to the finals of the Olympic qualifying tournament in València, Spain.

Deandre Ayton produced 24 points and 15 rebounds and Buddy Hield had 19 points and 10 assists in their 89-72 victory on Saturday. Eric Gordon contributed 13 points and VJ Edgecombe chipped in 13 points, eight assists, six rebounds and three steals.

The Bahamas led by as many as 20 points in the first half before Lebanon cut the deficit to five points early in the fourth quarter. However, the group outscored its opponent 22-10 the rest of the way to inch closer to securing its first appearance in the Olympic Games.

Edgecombe, who will play next season at Baylor, is one of six collegiate players on the roster and is representing the Bahamas for the first time at the senior level. He has emerged as one of their top players, averaging 18 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists and two steals.

After beating Lebanon, the Bahamas (3-0) remained perfect in the qualifying tournament. The team will face either Spain (2-0) or Finland (1-1) in the final on Sunday (2 p.m. EDT), which will determine one of the four remaining spots in the 2024 Olympic Games.

The team that wins on Sunday will be placed in Group A to start the Olympics, along with Australia, Canada and the country that wins the qualifying tournament in Greece.

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Baylor commit VJ Edgecombe leads Bahamas to semifinals of Olympic qualifying tournament

Edgecombe produced another sensational outing on Wednesday to lead the Bahamas to a win over Poland in the Olympic qualifying tournament.

After scoring 20 points on Tuesday, Baylor commit VJ Edgecombe produced another sensational outing on Wednesday to lead the Bahamas to a win over Poland in the Olympic qualifying tournament in València, Spain.

Edgecombe scored a team-high 21 points and six rebounds, and Buddy Hield had 17 points, 10 assists and six rebounds in the 90-81 victory, which will send the Bahamas to the semifinals of the tournament after finishing as the top team in Group B.

The Bahamas, who also received 18 points and nine rebounds from Deandre Ayton and 12 points from Eric Gordon, did not trail in the contest and led by as many as 19 points. The team shot 51.7% from the field, including 44.8% from behind the arc.

Edgecombe, the No. 5 prospect in the class of 2024, is one of six collegiate players on the roster and is representing the Bahamas for the first time at the senior level. He has emerged as one of their top players and is tied with Hield in total scoring through two games (41 points).

After defeating Poland, the Bahamas will play next on Saturday in the semifinals against the second-ranked team from Group A, which features Angola, Lebanon and Spain. The game will tip off at either 11:30 a.m. or 2:30 p.m. EDT.

The winner of the qualifying tournament will claim one of the four remaining spots in the 2024 Olympic Games. That country will be placed in Group A to start the Olympics, along with Australia, Canada and another team from a qualifying tournament.

The Bahamas are seeking its first appearance in the Olympic Games.

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