Cooper Flagg nearly achieved a feat comparable to Anthony Davis.
What does “pulling an Anthony Davis” mean? It refers to a top high school recruit attending college, winning a national championship and national player of the year honors, then being selected as the first overall pick in the NBA Draft. Davis accomplished all this during the 2011-12 season at Kentucky. Flagg came very close to replicating this at Duke this season.
However, their run was stopped by Houston.
In the national semifinals, the Cougars made a strong comeback, completely turning the game around and ending Flagg`s college journey two wins shy of Davis`s ultimate college achievement. Thus, the 18-year-old will not have a national championship title from college. Nevertheless, he was the top player in his high school class and earned the National Player of the Year award as a freshman. Now, he is also projected to be the first overall selection in the 2025 NBA Draft.
There is little doubt about this outcome. Regardless of which team secures the top pick, they are expected to select Flagg. Whether he will lead a championship-winning franchise is uncertain and a high expectation. However, all signs point to him being a highly talented player. Flagg will discover which team he joins for the start of his professional career after the draft lottery order is finalized on May 12.
Round 1 Mock Draft
| Pick | Player | Position | College / Info | Stats | Projected Team | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cooper Flagg | SF | Duke • Fr • 6`9″ / 205 lbs |
PPG: 19.2 • RPG: 7.5 • APG: 4.2 • 3P%: 38.5%
Flagg surpassed expectations at Duke, leading the team to their 18th Final Four. He is projected as the clear No. 1 pick and should be the first player selected, regardless of the lottery results, after leading Duke in all five main statistical categories as a freshman.
|
Utah | Prospect: 1st, Pos: 1st |
| 2 | Dylan Harper | PG | Rutgers • Fr • 6`6″ / 215 lbs |
PPG: 19.4 • RPG: 4.6 • APG: 4 • 3P%: 33.3%
Dylan Harper`s freshman season might seem disappointing due to his team`s losing record (15-17). However, his performance as a lead guard did not diminish his standing as an elite prospect. He is considered a strong candidate for a top-three pick, assuming no significant issues arise during the pre-draft evaluation.
|
Washington | Prospect: 2nd, Pos: 1st |
| 3 | Tre Johnson | SG | Texas • Fr • 6`6″ / 190 lbs |
PPG: 19.9 • RPG: 3.1 • APG: 2.7 • 3P%: 39.7%
Tre Johnson is a scoring guard with good size for his position. In his single season at Texas, he shot 39.7% from three-point range on high volume (6.8 attempts per game). He finished the season strongly, averaging 21.6 points in his last 10 games, and is expected to be a high-level shooter and scorer in the NBA.
|
Charlotte | Prospect: 6th, Pos: 2nd |
| 4 | VJ Edgecombe | SG | Baylor • Fr • 6`5″ / 180 lbs |
PPG: 15 • RPG: 5.6 • APG: 3.2 • 3P%: 34%
VJ Edgecombe is an outstanding athlete known for spectacular plays in transition. He represents a low-risk prospect with significant potential, having contributed to Baylor`s sixth consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
|
New Orleans | Prospect: 5th, Pos: 1st |
| 5 | Ace Bailey | SF | Rutgers • Fr • 6`10″ / 200 lbs |
PPG: 17.6 • RPG: 7.2 • APG: 1.3 • 3P%: 34.6%
The fact that Rutgers finished with a losing record despite having two projected top-five picks suggests the team should have performed better. Ace Bailey possesses immense potential as an explosive shot-creator and scorer. His development hinges on becoming more consistent in all aspects of his game and expanding his skillset beyond just scoring.
|
Philadelphia | Prospect: 3rd, Pos: 2nd |
| 6 | Kon Knueppel | SF | … |
Stats not available in provided text for Kon Knueppel
Analysis not available in provided text for Kon Knueppel
|
Brooklyn | Rank not available in provided text for Kon Knueppel |
Jasper Hawthorne