2025 NBA Draft Big Board: Does Cooper Flagg have competitors for No. 1 spot?

Now that Feast Week has handed and a lot of the finest faculty basketball gamers within the nation have performed actual video games towards important competitors, it’s time to launch a 2025 NBA Draft Big Board.

This yr’s Top 100 has been fairly troublesome to formulate early within the course of. There aren’t many positive issues exterior of the highest group of expertise, and there’s extra expertise returning to school basketball than in recent times due to the arrival of identify, picture and likeness rights. However, a lot of that expertise has been evaluated already, and NBA scouts don’t have fairly as a lot curiosity in lots of these gamers as what their market calls for in faculty hoops.

And but, it’s time to cobble collectively a place to begin. Throughout the season, you’ll be able to anticipate some important turnover as gamers rise and fall. We’re coping with small collegiate pattern sizes up to now, which makes it troublesome to formulate precisely the place these gamers sit.

As all the time, right here’s the way in which the Big Board works:

• The Big Board doesn’t take staff match under consideration. It goes with out saying that the Boston Celtics’ board will look totally different from the Phoenix Suns’ board primarily based on the schemes they run and the positions wherein they want depth. I do give a little bit of a bump to gamers who I believe shall be profitable in a number of schemes. I additionally have a tendency to present a bump to guys who appear to be profitable gamers who can defend a number of positions, play nicely inside a staff defensive idea, knock down photographs and play with nice processing velocity. The latter high quality is crucial one for non-stars to have for NBA playoff success.

• I get enter and knowledge from NBA executives, faculty coaches, brokers, scouts and different evaluators through the means of slotting gamers. Sometimes, these exchanges are a couple of prospect’s background and off-court habits. Sometimes, they’re about his work ethic. Other occasions, they’re simply conversations about whether or not we predict a man can play or whom they could evaluate to within the NBA. These conversations occur every day, however on the finish of the day, that is my rating. While it’s reflective of the final tenor of NBA groups, it’s not a consensus board both.

• At this stage of the method, as is true yearly, I don’t embrace freshmen who’d be ranked exterior of the highest 50. It’s very early for that to happen, and realistically, freshmen whom I’ve ranked exterior of the highest 50 ought to most likely simply return to highschool.

• Ages on the board are as of the projected draft day in 2025 (June 25); heights listed are per official staff and faculty web sites.

Cooper Flagg | 6-9 freshman wing | Duke | No. 1

Flagg has been terrific for Duke as far as the Blue Devils have performed a tricky schedule early, together with video games towards a robust Kentucky staff and No. 1 Kansas. At simply 17 years outdated, Flagg is averaging practically 16 factors, eight rebounds and 4 assists whereas posting 1.4 steals and 1.3 blocks per recreation. It’s an absurd stat line for somebody this younger, and a variety of the tape matches that.

Where Flagg has been most spectacular is in his shot creation from the midrange. NBA scouts know Flagg is a terrific defender with great instincts on that finish. They know he’s wildly aggressive and keen to play in no matter method he must win. They additionally know he’s a sneaky sharp passer and an elite transition participant. The actual query for them getting into the draft cycle was merely what his position could be in half-court settings. To this level, he’s performed way more on the ball than off it and has significantly been requested to do quite a bit in isolation off mismatch conditions. The outcomes have been blended. He’s had a number of moments which have flashed actual potential to scouts. I broke down intimately the Kentucky loss, when it appeared like Duke’s total technique was predicated upon getting Flagg into mismatch conditions and permitting him to assault in a straight line.

That concerned optimistic and detrimental moments. He had spectacular finishes on the inside the place he beat his man to the basket utilizing his athleticism. He had some extremely impactful pull-up moments. The similar may be mentioned for his different video games up to now this yr.

But undeniably, Flagg additionally seems like a 17-year-old on the market typically. His deal with is stable, however he’s not fairly inventive off the bounce but. Mostly, he’s utilizing his bodily instruments and measurement to get to his spots. He can get a bit free on occasion with the ball, which has resulted in a couple of end-of-game conditions that weren’t ultimate as groups collapse round him. The Blue Devils are 5-2 as an alternative of 7-0 largely as a result of they’ve struggled to execute end-of-game conditions. Also, scouts would like to see Flagg’s jumper proceed to take strides all year long. Becoming a participant who can play each on and off the ball on offense feels important to his highest-end translations as a participant. So far, he’s hit simply 26.9 % from 3, and the wonky mechanics on his 3-point jumper he confirmed in highschool are nonetheless there.

But I nonetheless don’t see a prospect on the market who has hit Flagg’s stage but. He’s not the very best participant within the nation, however he’s actually the very best mixture of two-way play at his age. Flagg is the best participant to guess on being superior on this draft class. As I wrote within the preseason and have talked about at size, I don’t see him in fairly the identical class as a prospect as Victor Wembanyama or somebody like that. But he’s a terrific participant with important all-star upside, particularly given a few of his development as a shot-creator this season.

Egor Demin’s passing has been spectacular for BYU. (Orlando Ramirez / Getty Images)

Egor Demin | 6-9 freshman guard | BYU | No. 2

Demin is one other participant who has stood out immensely. Right now, if I have been taking bets on the participant who might supplant Flagg at No. 1, Demin could be my choose. Why? His passing and processing means isn’t simply excessive stage; it’s elite. It’s totally different. He sees the sport with the type of extremely clear understanding that comes from the league’s elite passers. His imaginative and prescient is unbelievable and appears fairly just like somebody like Josh Giddey on the market at that measurement making unbelievable reads throughout the courtroom.

The factor that makes Demin a bit extra harmful than Giddey (whom I had as extra of a late lottery-level prospect in 2021) is his athleticism. He is a bit smoother as an athlete. But he additionally executes his passes at an elite stage. He places actual velocity on the ball when vital and likewise can throw them along with his proper or left hand off a reside dribble from wherever on the courtroom. He has contact when the time requires it. But most significantly, the ball all the time appears to be immediately in his teammates’ taking pictures pockets. His accuracy from troublesome angles doesn’t actually falter. So far, Demin is averaging over six assists per recreation with practically a three-to-one assist-to-turnover ratio.

Why wasn’t he seen as fairly this stage of prospect at Real Madrid earlier than his dedication to BYU? His offensive bundle of expertise has been opened up drastically by an improved jumper. He’s made substantial mechanical adjustments, together with along with his wrist positioning on the shot. He used to essentially bend his wrist considerably on the shot and flick it ahead, resulting in an inconsistent trajectory on the shot. Now, the wrist doesn’t flex fairly as a lot, and he’s in a position to preserve significantly better management of the ball popping out of his hand due to it. His base seems higher, as does his shot prep. I broke all of this down on this video, wherein I focus on what makes Demin such a very particular prospect.

Because he’s made changes to the jumper, groups now need to account for that when he brings the ball up the courtroom, takes a ball display screen or catches in spot-ups alongside the perimeter. The strain that he places on defenses there has helped to open up driving lanes and passing angles for him in a major method. He’s averaging over 14 factors and virtually 5 rebounds per recreation whereas taking pictures 57 % from the sphere and 44 % from 3. The taking pictures from distance will come down finally, however I do see him as a critical playmaker and scorer who’s deserving of top-five consideration. With NBA groups continually looking out for potential No. 1 or No. 2 choices, he feels just like the most definitely participant to take action due to his means to suppose the sport at a excessive stage, get paint touches and hopefully knock down photographs effectively. We all need to see if it will maintain up in Big 12 play, and finally, that’ll inform the story of the place Demin will get picked. But if it does, anticipate the Demin Hype Train to go away the station.

Ace Bailey | 6-10 freshman wing | Rutgers | No. 4

As I wrote within the preseason, there isn’t any greater swing prospect than Bailey on this class. Some NBA scouts will reply his identify whenever you ask who’s most definitely to problem Flagg at No. 1. Others aren’t significantly excessive on him. Some see him as a critical potential shot-creator within the Brandon Miller mould with actual All-Star upside. Others see him extra as a Michael Porter Jr. kind participant who’s an elite shot-maker and could possibly be extremely helpful in the correct state of affairs. And but, others fear Bailey might find yourself being a bit worse than that if he doesn’t lower out a number of the robust midrange stuff, learn to create simpler photographs for himself or play off the ball.

I get an extremely wide selection of opinion on Bailey from sources contained in the NBA, and it’s straightforward to see why primarily based on his first few collegiate video games. So far, he’s averaging 18.8 factors and 5.8 rebounds per recreation whereas hitting 38 % from 3. Also, he’s dished out solely 4 assists in six video games and has gotten misplaced a bit extra usually on protection than you’d prefer to see. He additionally reveals actual hustle performs, too, on that finish. His efficiency towards Alabama, significantly, showcased a major variety of spectacular on-ball defensive moments in addition to sharp switchability. But all the pieces on offense is on his phrases when he’s concerned. He not often swings the ball shortly, usually catching and holding to see if there’s a play obtainable. Rutgers not often appears to take care of benefits when he catches; as an alternative, he has to self-create all the pieces. He’s glorious at self-creating pull-up jumpers from the midrange however has actually struggled to get all the way in which to the rim.

Ace Bailey is a polarizing prospect for scouts. (Vincent Carchietta / Imagn Images)

There’s a wild vary of outcomes on a possession-by-possession foundation, largely as a result of Bailey takes an immense variety of robust photographs. When the photographs are falling, he seems just like the No. 1 choose within the draft. When they’re not, he seems like a run-of-the-mill upside swing within the first spherical. I’ve him at No. 4 proper now, however I’d be mendacity if I mentioned I knew the place he results in June.

If you went purely off a three-minute spotlight reel by way of making your choose for No. 1, I might guess on Bailey profitable that race by a mile. His elite tape passes the attention check higher than anybody else’s. But the total video games present only a bit much less substance. The key for Bailey will revolve round persevering with to indicate development as an general decision-maker. Porter was equally an elite-level shot-creator and shot-maker from the midrange however not often appeared to get as many straightforward photographs on the rim as you’d hoped for as a result of his free deal with couldn’t fairly create drives to the rim. Bailey performs very upright, and the ball tends to get dislodged on his forays towards the basket, which is why it seems like he tends to settle within the midrange. But if he could make fast reads, get the ball out of his arms faster when he doesn’t have a bonus or just drive in a straight line and play with higher bend when he does, there’s immense upside in his recreation.

Jase Richardson | 6-3 freshman guard | Michigan State | No. 15

Richardson is a fast riser up the board this yr, an environment friendly playmaker who has showcased the power to play with the ball in his arms at decrease ranges in addition to play nicely off the ball this season at Michigan State. The son of former Michigan State star and NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion Jason Richardson, Jase isn’t fairly the athlete his father was. Rather, he’s efficient via sharp decision-making and fast processing of what’s occurring round him on the courtroom. He’s not a nasty athlete, however he’s sturdy and appears to have actual size. And greater than something, he’s taken and run with each single alternative he’s gotten up to now. Every time he hits the courtroom, good issues occur both with offensive circulate or defensive playmaking.

Richardson’s numbers on their face look a bit pedestrian, as he’s averaging 10.4 factors, 2.9 rebounds and two assists per recreation. But regardless of a troublesome schedule that has included video games on the Maui Invitational in addition to towards Kansas within the Champions Classic, Richardson continues to make an influence along with his presence off the bench. There’s a really actual case he’s been Michigan State’s finest participant. Richardson is a type of guards who simply is aware of how you can get to his spots. He’s a lefty who performs off two ft and persistently will get himself into harmful areas of the courtroom. Sometimes, it’s through attacking closeouts. Sometimes, it’s through the ball display screen. Sometimes he cuts and finds an open shot that method. He’s making over 70 % of his 2-point photographs regardless of not being overly vertical, largely as a result of he’s additionally great at discerning when creases are literally obtainable. That additionally stands for his passing too; he boasts a seven-to-one assist-to-turnover ratio.

As a lot as Richardson is aware of when to shoot, he is aware of when to not shoot. As a lot as he is aware of when to cross, he is aware of when to not cross. He’s continually on-balance and doesn’t put himself in harmful spots the place he could make a mistake. He additionally does an excellent job defending on the level of assault and has usually executed an important job of stepping into passing lanes and rotating throughout the courtroom. Richardson’s final draft inventory shall be swung by how his taking pictures holds up over the course of the season. Scouts would like to see him in that 38 to 40 % vary given his measurement. But I’ve seen few freshmen this yr are available in and genuinely influence profitable basketball in the way in which that he does. There are some translation questions provided that Richardson might be going to return in at round 6-2 with out footwear and isn’t a monster athlete. He additionally hasn’t performed on the ball a ton but in his profession, having performed at Columbus (Fla.) High School final yr with the Boozer twins. But in a Miles McBride-style method, Richardson simply impacts profitable basketball.

Other notes

• Right now, I’ve a gaggle of three gamers in my high tier in Flagg, Demin and Dylan Harper. I’ve Bailey in a tier by himself titled “????” after which the group from No. 5 right down to No. 9 fairly tightly bundled collectively.

• I really feel good that the highest 13 names will probably be chosen within the first spherical. Beyond that, it undoubtedly seems like a free-for-all proper now, with scouts questioning a bit how deep this draft will really be. That’s to not say the gamers under that stage aren’t gifted. They are. But there’s simply extra inconsistency to their efficiency. Or in some instances, they’ve important deficiencies that may’t be modified. For occasion, Boogie Fland has been unbelievable up to now for Arkansas, however he’ll most likely are available in measuring proper round 6-feet with out footwear. We’ll see the place all of it settles on the finish. After these high 13 names, there’s actual room for any variety of gamers to rise into that first-round combine.

• In that vein, I used to be speaking not too long ago to my good pal and The Athletic colleague John Hollinger, and he introduced me this query: Who is the non-freshman faculty participant who shall be taken within the high 20? I didn’t have an important reply, so I requested my buddies across the league. To say there was zero consensus to this query could be an understatement. The returning class of collegiate gamers simply doesn’t have an immense variety of names that scouts are significantly enthused about.

• The identify I at present have highest as a school returnee is Collin Murray-Boyles, a big-bodied ahead for South Carolina who defends nicely. But his general offensive recreation doesn’t precisely scream that it suits within the NBA. Connecticut wing Alex Karaban is a man whom I really feel fairly assured is a rotation participant within the NBA, however he can’t actually create off the bounce in any respect. Adou Thiero has began nicely at Arkansas, however scouts have actual questions on the place his taking pictures will fall into place. Marquette’s Kam Jones has been excellent up to now, and he’s about as environment friendly a scoring guard as you’ll discover. His passing additionally has continued to make strides since he took over as Marquette’s major playmaker after Tyler Kolek went out late final yr with an harm. Any of these 4 appear to be the very best guess proper now.

• Two off-the-radar gamers who might find yourself stepping into this dialog are Saint Joseph’s ahead Rasheer Fleming and Washington State wing Cedric Coward. Coward declared for the draft final yr and impressed NBA groups in exercises however returned to highschool and transferred to Washington State to play for his former coach at Eastern Washington, David Riley. Coward is a type of guys who simply does slightly little bit of all the pieces at 6-6 with a 7-foot wingspan. He shoots it nicely, passes nicely and defends at a stable stage. Fleming is the wilder card of the 2. Scouts aren’t even satisfied but what his major NBA place shall be. He’s about 6-8 with a large wingspan nicely over 7-feet lengthy, plus has important athleticism. He slides his ft nicely, has critical explosiveness off the bounce and has coordination. From an athletic perspective, he seems not dissimilar from somebody like OG Anunoby. However, he doesn’t actually deal with the ball nicely proper now and hasn’t proven a lot by way of automated really feel for the sport but. There are flashes however not consistency. He would possibly find yourself as extra of an influence ahead/heart model participant positionally versus an influence ahead/small ahead. The latter could be way more helpful.

• Just a few different gamers I’ve beloved watching this season: Marquette wing Chase Ross has been a demon on protection, as disruptive as I’ve seen any participant this season. Houston’s JoJo Tugler is comparable on that finish of the courtroom as a giant. This might be an aggressive rating for him inside the highest 40 proper now given the place his offensive recreation is, however his bodily instruments give him an immense quantity of margin for error. Maryland’s Derik Queen can also be shaping as much as be fairly polarizing, as he has immense offensive expertise however appears to be within the 6-9 vary on the heart place and doesn’t have a ton of athleticism to compensate for it. Still, his passing and shot making have been terrific up to now.

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(Illustration: Dan Goldfarb / The Athletic; high photographs:  Brian Rothmuller / Icon Sportswire, Robin Alam / ISI Photos, Adam Ruff / Icon Sportswire)