2025 NBA Draft: Cooper Flagg's Coronation and the Global Future of the League

All eyes are on New York this week as the 2025 NBA Draft approaches, promising a pivotal night for franchises and a new generation of talent. At the forefront of this class is Duke sensation Cooper Flagg, whose journey from Florida's Montverde Academy to national acclaim has culminated in his near-certain selection as the No. 1 overall pick. Flagg's exceptional basketball acumen, impressive on-court intelligence, and remarkable maturity have cemented his status as the consensus top prospect, leaving analysts and scouts alike struggling to temper expectations for his NBA future. As ESPN NCAA and NBA analyst Jay Bilas succinctly put it, Flagg is "kind of like a queen on a chessboard because he can guard multiple positions, he’s super athletic, he’s long, got a really good second jump, he’s got court awareness." Bilas suggests, "You can talk about reasonable expectations, but with this guy, I don’t know why you have to be reasonable."

This meteoric rise for Flagg, hailing from Maine, comes despite a playful "scandal" involving his high school teammate Liam McNeeley, who playfully crashed a press conference to quiz Flagg on his lobster preferences. The pride of the Pine Tree State conceded that lobster isn't his "favorite," though he appreciates a good Maine lobster roll – a seemingly small detail that speaks to his people-pleasing nature.

gg's destiny appears set for Dallas, with the Mavericks defying 1.8% odds (the fourth-lowest in lottery era history) to secure the coveted No. 1 pick. This bodes incredibly well for a Mavericks team famously constructed to win now, led by GM Nico Harrison and centered around Luka Dončić. Flagg is set to join a talented and deep frontcourt featuring Anthony Davis, Daniel Gafford, Dereck Lively II, and PJ Washington. This depth should provide Flagg with both reduced pressure to immediately carry the load and ample opportunities to flourish in various roles within a winning structure. His selection would mark Duke's fifth No. 1 pick in the last 30 years, extending the Blue Devils' remarkable legacy in the draft, joining names like Elton Brand (1999), future teammate Kyrie Irving (2011), Zion Williamson (2019), and Paolo Banchero (2022).

"He competes at the highest level," lauded college teammate Kon Knueppel, also a projected lottery pick. "At the end of the day, he’s just a great guy, too. And that can be more important than anything about being a good basketball player."

As the draft unfolds, here are four additional key storylines to follow:

1. The Montverde Four: A High School Powerhouse

Cooper Flagg and Liam McNeeley aren't the only Montverde Academy alums making waves in this draft class. They are joined by former high school teammates Derik Queen (Maryland) and Asa Newell (Georgia), both promising bigs who could hear their names called in the first round, potentially even joining Flagg in the lottery's top 14 spots.

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Flagg expressed his excitement about sharing this momentous experience: “It’s crazy,” he said. “I think having the four guys from Montverde, my three teammates from there, and my teammates from Duke [Kon Kneuppel and Khaman Maluach], I have seven people in the green room I know and played with personally. It’s incredible to go through this experience with them.” The bond among the Montverde quartet is evident, with the word 'brother' frequently exchanged. And like any siblings with shared passions, competitive rivalries were a hallmark of their time together.

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“Everybody wanted to beat everybody,” Queen stated. “Everybody wanted to fight everybody. Everybody wanted to win, so it was very competitive. Everybody was trash talking, trying to get under each other’s skin. It was pretty fun.”

Under the guidance of coach Kevin Boyle, Montverde Academy has become a veritable "Factory" for NBA talent. Flagg's likely No. 1 overall selection would be the third recent alum to achieve this feat (Ben Simmons in 2016, Cade Cunningham in 2021), further cementing Montverde's reputation alongside other top-five picks like Joel Embiid (No. 3, 2014) and Scottie Barnes (No. 4, 2021). "It prepares NBA players. On that team, everybody had their own role, and that’s something that helped me prepare to play with really good players; that’s how it’s going to be in the NBA,” Newell affirmed.

2. Rutgers Will Be Well-Represented

Beyond the Montverde contingent, Rutgers University is set to have a significant presence in the draft. Guard Dylan Harper, son of five-time NBA champion Ron Harper, is widely considered the second-best talent in this draft class, effectively occupying his own tier between Flagg and the rest of the field. His impressive collegiate season, where he averaged 19.4 points per game on 48.4% shooting (including 33.3% from 3-point range on 150 attempts), earned him AP All-America Honorable Mention honors, All-Big Ten Third Team recognition, and a spot among the Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award Top 10 candidates.

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"Dylan Harper is a clear choice after Flagg for the Spurs, and I believe that’s what’s going to happen,” Bilas commented. “I don’t think you can undervalue how important length and athleticism are in the NBA. Harper is so good in pick-and-roll situations, getting into the lane and creating for himself. He’s strong, has a great court sense. I happen to feel he’s going to have a great NBA career as long as he stays healthy.” Despite Rutgers' 15-17 overall record (8-10 in conference) and missing the NCAA Tournament, ESPN NBA analyst Bobby Marks views this as a positive reflection of Harper’s character, highlighting his ability to deliver and improve within a challenging team environment. Harper's journey was also shared with fellow top prospect Airious “Ace” Bailey, who is projected as a lottery selection and could rise as high as No. 3. Bailey, a 6-foot-8 forward, averaged 17.6 points and 7.6 rebounds, demonstrating his range by hitting 34.6% of his 3-pointers. The bond between Harper and Bailey is palpable. "Ace, that’s like my best friend,” Harper shared. "Me and him have been tight for like four or five years. So to be on the same court with him, I’ll miss it, but that was special.”

3. International Depth Continues to Shine

Following two consecutive seasons with an international player going No. 1 overall, this year's draft presents a different, yet equally compelling, international landscape. "You could see seven or eight guys in that 9-to-30 range,” Marks projected. “There’s probably more quantity – you’re not getting a Victor [Wembanyama] at 1, or even Zaccharie Risacher or Alex Sarr [like 2024]. It’s not top-heavy, but that doesn’t mean it’s a bad draft for international players.”

Notable international prospects expected to be in the first-round mix include Joan Beringer (France), Noa Essengue (France), Hugo González (Spain), Noah Penda (France), Ben Saraf (Israel), and Nolan Traoré (France). A growing trend sees several international talents opting for American college basketball, drawn by the opportunity for a smoother transition to the NBA and lucrative Name, Image & Likeness (NIL) opportunities. This group includes BYU’s Egor Demin (Russia), Baylor’s VJ Edgecombe (Bahamas), Illinois’ Kasparas Jakučionis (Lithuania) and Will Riley (Canada), Duke’s Khaman Maluach (South Sudan), and Stanford’s Maxime Raynaud (France). While numerous countries are expected to be represented once again (with 10 international players drafted every year since 2000), France is particularly poised to further strengthen its NBA presence, solidifying the notion that this influx of French talent is becoming an annual tradition. “French players are playing great right now,” Traoré asserted. “We have a lot of attention on us. It’s well deserved.” Beringer added, “It’s a pride. It is a dream of everybody, every basketball player on this planet. I’m just blessed to be here, to have this chance.”

4. Nets Set for a Haul in Draft Host City

The Brooklyn Nets, serving as the draft hosts, are poised for a significant night that will undoubtedly keep the home fans energized. They enter the week with a league-high four first-round picks (Nos. 8, 19, 26, 27) and could potentially acquire a fifth. Marks refers to this as "the Bingo Board" for the Nets, emphasizing the strategic flexibility it provides. “That controls the offseason, just because of the sheer volume of your options following Wednesday night, and they’re really one of the few teams that have salary cap space and can go outside for free agents, take back contracts – however they want to go about reshaping the roster.” Beyond Brooklyn, several other teams enter the draft with multiple first-round selections, including the Spurs (2, 14), Jazz (5, 21), Wizards (6, 18), Pelicans (7, 23), and Thunder (15, 24), setting the stage for a dynamic night of roster reshaping across the league.

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