Five-star phenom [autotag]Cooper Flagg[/autotag] makes his Duke basketball debut at the Countdown to Craziness on Friday night, but everyone who knows the Maine native already has an eye on the 2025 NBA draft.
ESPN draft analyst Jonathan Givony wrote about the upcoming draft class on Wednesday, and while some other first-year stars remain viable options for the No. 1 overall pick, Givony gave Flagg a 51% chance to be the first name off the board.
Flagg, initially a Class of 2025 prospect who reclassified, led Montverde Academy to an undefeated season last year before going to Team USA Olympic training camp as a member of the Select Team. He went viral for a sequence of consecutive baskets while scrimmaging against the Olympic roster, prompting some national analysts to say NBA teams should intentionally tank for the future Blue Devil.
“An explosive athlete, Flagg does everything on both ends of the floor,” Givony wrote. “Offensively, he is a much-improved 3-point shooter and an outstanding passer. He is impactful on defense, playing with intensity while covering ground, making plays at the rim and guarding on the perimeter.”
At 6-foot-9, Flagg’s athleticism shines on tape consistently. The Blue Devils have only been practicing in Cameron Indoor Stadium for a little more than a week, and the social media team has already shared multiple dunks from the first-year star. He said on The Brotherhood Podcast earlier this offseason that he takes pride in doing the little things correctly, and his defensive effort in high-school exhibitions and scrimmages shows that’s not a performative sentiment.
The scariest part of Flagg’s game is his ability to blend forward size with perimeter skills. He can use post moves to create space for himself inside, but he has the lateral quickness and basketball IQ to keep up with guards near the 3-point line.
With three games against the Kentucky Wildcats, Arizona Wildcats, and Kansas Jayhawks in November, expect to know whether Flagg will go No. 1 overall quickly.