Duke basketball sensation Cooper Flagg has officially declared for the 2025 NBA Draft, capping off one of the most remarkable freshman seasons in college basketball history. Flagg, who averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.4 blocks per game, led Duke in every major statistical category and swept the nation’s top individual awards, including the Naismith, Wooden, and AP Player of the Year honors. His historic campaign also saw him set a new ACC freshman scoring record with a 42-point performance against Notre Dame and guide the Blue Devils to the NCAA Final Four, where he continued to deliver standout performances.
Flagg’s decision to enter the draft comes as little surprise to analysts and fans alike, as he has been the projected No. 1 overall pick in every major mock draft since the start of his college career. Standing 6-foot-9 with elite two-way skills, Flagg’s versatility, basketball IQ, and defensive instincts have drawn comparisons to recent top picks like Anthony Davis and Zion Williamson. His development as a perimeter shooter—finishing the season at 38.5% from three-point range—further solidified his status as a generational prospect, capable of impacting the game as both a primary scorer and a playmaker.
With the NBA Draft lottery set for May 12, the Utah Jazz, Washington Wizards, and Charlotte Hornets currently share the best odds to secure the coveted first pick and the right to select Flagg. Should he be chosen first overall, Flagg would become the sixth Duke player to achieve this distinction, more than any other school in modern NBA history. As the basketball world awaits the lottery results, Flagg’s leap to the NBA marks the beginning of a highly anticipated professional journey for one of the sport’s brightest young stars.
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(Source: CBS Sports | CNN)
