Early 2025 NBA Mock Draft: Cooper Flagg carries Zion-like hype, however he faces huge battle to go No. 1 total

1 Cooper Flagg, Duke — The highest-ranked prospect within the nationwide highschool class of 2024 is arguably essentially the most anticipated school freshman since Zion Williamson. Flagg is a 6-foot-9 native of Maine who reclassified up final summer time, basically skipping a grade of highschool, and would not even be eligible for subsequent 12 months’s draft if he had been born ten days later. As an alternative, he enters school basketball with the early expectations of being the highest total decide. He is an distinctive defensive participant, and probably the greatest non-seven-foot shot-blockers I’ve ever evaluated. Offensively, he is an distinctive passer with some level ahead kind potential, however the extent to which he’s ready and prepared to step right into a signature function offensively can be one variable scouts observe subsequent 12 months. 2 Ace Bailey, Rutgers — Bailey might not but have the nationwide notoriety that Flagg does, however he made a fast cost up the highschool rankings final 12 months and ended up being a really actual contender for Flagg’s No. 1 rating. Bailey is an enormous wing with completely explosive athleticism and hard shot-making skill on prime of that. He is nowhere close to as polished as Flagg, nor as ready to constantly influence profitable, however when he will get it going, his highest-level flashes will be paying homage to Tracy McGrady and so there’s an argument to be made that he has the very best upside in school. 3 Nolan Traore, France — The most recent up-and-coming prospect from France, Nolan Traore is a 6-foot-5 level guard who simply turned 18 final month. He confirmed properly on the prestigious Nike Hoop Summit occasion this spring, after which went off for 45 factors within the EuroLeague’s Adidas Subsequent Technology Event Finals final month. He’ll play in his residence nation of France subsequent season after spurning among the most prestigious school basketball applications in addition to different skilled choices. 4 Dylan Harper, Rutgers — Harper was as soon as the top-ranked prospect in his highschool class earlier than ending within the prime 5 at No. 3 total. The son of long-time NBA participant Ron Harper, Dylan has trended in direction of an enormous lead guard in recent times. He has nice positional dimension, lengthy arms, a robust physique, and a terrific really feel for the sport. He is not fairly as naturally explosive as some others within the class, so the consistency of his taking pictures is a vital variable to watch within the coming 12 months. 5 Khaman Maluach, Duke — The South Sudanese native got here to Duke by the use of NBA Academy Africa. Standing at 7-foot-2 with a measured 7-foot-2 wingspan and 9-foot-6 standing attain, he’s completely huge. His dedication to Duke was met with fast hypothesis in regards to the Blue Devils potential to generate the highest two picks in subsequent 12 months’s draft, however a few of that dissipated after a pedestrian efficiency on the Nike Hoop Summit. What is evident is that Maluch has important long-term upside along with his dimension, size, mobility, athleticism, and even creating face-up talent. 6 VJ Edgecombe, Baylor — One other top-five highschool prospect within the nationwide class of 2024, Edgecombe was a favourite of NBA scouts throughout the post-season all-star occasions, and on the McDonald’s All-American Sport specifically. He’s a 6-foot-5 wing and actually explosive athlete, who’s proven he is able to being a prolific scorer, but additionally prepared to tackle a smaller function with a purpose to drive profitable. At Baylor, he is anticipated to step proper into Ja’Kobe Walter’s function, the place there can be important one-and-done expectations. The important thing variable to look at is the development of his guard abilities. 7 Tre Johnson, Texas — Johnson is a throwback two-guard who performs the sport with a definite scoring mentality. He was one of the crucial prolific robust shot-makers in highschool basketball this 12 months, specializing in pull-ups off the dribble. Johnson has NBA caliber dimension and size at his place, has actually constructed up his physique within the final 12 months, and concurrently advanced some athletically. Scouts can be monitoring his total consistency and effectivity subsequent 12 months, as he is anticipated to play an enormous function at Texas. 8 Liam McNeeley, Connecticut — McNeeley was a semi-polarizing prospect in highschool, albeit all the time one of the crucial productive gamers. Our perception in his skill has been well-documented for properly over a 12 months now, and so we would not be in any respect stunned to see him play his approach into the one-and-done dialog. He is extremely expert, equally good, and the Huskies’ intricate offense system needs to be well-suited to showcase the totality of what he brings to the ground on that finish. 9 Hugo Gonzalez, Spain — After Traore, Hugo Gonzalez would be the identify we hear essentially the most among the many worldwide prospects who’ve elected to not play school basketball subsequent season. He is helped Spain to silver medals in each the 2023 FIBA U18 European Championships and the 2022 FIBA U17 World Cup. A 6-foot-7 wing with some guard abilities, Gonzalez must develop into a extra dependable shooter, however is well known for his versatility and constant productiveness with Actual Madrid. * Choose from Atlanta 10 Egor Demin, BYU — Gonzalez’ former teammate with Actual Madrid, Demin gave new BYU head coach Kevin Younger an early recruiting coup when he joined his inaugural 2024 recruiting class in late Could. Scouts rave about his pure expertise, together with his perimeter dimension at 6-foot-9, skill to make performs for himself and others, in addition to his taking pictures, however warning about his total inconsistency and lack of physicality. Billed as a possible prime ten decide, the way in which his inventory evolves at BYU may have implications on different draft hopefuls contemplating a 12 months in school basketball. 11 Kwame Evans, Oregon — A jumbo southpaw wing who covers the courtroom effortlessly with excessive fluidity, Evans might by no means be an alpha kind scorer or playmaker however he is a projectable shooter, just about ambidextrous, and has defensive upside. He may need had some actual NBA intrigue this 12 months however opted to return to Oregon for his sophomore season. 12 Jalil Bethea, Miami — Bethea is a prolific shot-maker with explosive athleticism that bloomed late into his highschool profession. At 6-foot-5, he has a knack for making pictures off the catch and pull whereas having proven promising flashes as a playmaker. 13 Collin Murray-Boyles, South Carolina — Collin Murray-Boyles had an impressive freshman marketing campaign at South Carolina and is primed for a monster sophomore season. He is a flexible energy ahead who defends a number of positions, rebounds on each ends, can rating off the dribble however does have to show himself as a shooter in 12 months No. 2. *Choose by way of Sacramento 14 Caleb Foster, Duke — Caleb Foster is an enormous guard who competed for minutes in 12 months one at Duke however will get a great deal of alternative as a sophomore. The 6-foot-5 guard can actually shoot the ball but additionally has extra to his sport than he confirmed as a scorer off the dribble and a playmaker in ball-screens. 15 Michael Ruzic, Croatia — A 6-foot-10 ahead from Croatia who performs for Joventut, Ruzic is one other worldwide prospect that NBA entrance workplaces are already monitoring due to his early dimension, energy, and early two-way sport. 16 Isaiah Evans, Duke — Scratching the 6-foot-7 mark, Evans is a flexible wing with an explosive scoring bundle, significantly because of his shot. He is a fearless competitor with limitless confidence on the courtroom and if you happen to let him see the ball fall via one time, it may shortly flip right into a collection of buckets. 17 Elliot Cadeau, North Carolina — Elliot Cadeau had an underwhelming 12 months as a freshman however that is develop into anticipated out of prospects who reclassify. The Tar Heel is a fast and heady pass-first level guard however we’d count on we see an enchancment in his scoring as a sophomore. *Choose by way of Cleveland 18 JT Toppin, Texas Tech — JT Toppin took the Mountain West by storm as a freshman and is transferring on to show himself at Texas Tech. He is a 6-foot-9 ahead with has size and athleticism. He excels as a rebounder and defender but additionally has a budding offensive sport. *Choose by way of Miami 19 Kanaan Carlyle, Indiana — Kanaan Carlyle is a hot-and-cold shooter, however when he is locked in — or higher but, when he is taking part in extra effectively — then he profiles as an especially versatile scoring menace. *Choose by way of Los Angeles Clippers 20 Aaron Bradshaw, Ohio State — Whereas there’s sadly now a sample of underachieving, as Bradshaw strikes on from Kentucky to Ohio State, what stays simple is that Bradshaw’s ceiling stays excessive if he ever absolutely commits himself to maximizing his potential. There simply aren’t many seven-footers who can area the ground vertically and with their taking pictures whereas concurrently having the ability to defend the rim and transfer their ft laterally. *Choose by way of Phoenix 21 Jaxson Robinson, Kentucky Robinson is a sizey wing who drills pictures from past the arc. Each NBA group is aware of he can shoot the ball from three however subsequent season they wish to see improved energy, toughness and proof Robinson can influence the sport past taking pictures jumpers. 22 Mackenzie Mgbako, Indiana — In highschool, Mgbako’s shot-making from behind the arc was his greatest asset. His taking pictures, interval, was a energy. That didn’t translate as a freshman at Indiana, the place he shot 39% from the sector and 32% from three-point vary. Can he enhance? *Choose by way of Los Angeles Lakers 23 Alex Karaban, Connecticut — A two-time nationwide champ, Karaban is a high-floor ahead who can plug into any system. He has dimension and is a knockdown shooter from three who performs the best approach, retains the ball transferring, units screens and performs throughout the move amongst higher gamers. 24 Jackson Shelstad, Oregon — Shelstad is a potent scorer out of Oregon who can fill it up in a rush. He lacks dimension for a scorer at simply 6-foot-1 however he has plenty of sport and if he proves himself as a playmaker, he may develop into a family identify in school basketball. 25 Milan Momcilovic, Iowa State — A talented ahead who can actually rating the basketball from mid-range and from three, Momcilovic drills pictures off the catch however may also take you into the mid-post and create his personal bucket with a little bit of an previous man sport. *Choose by way of Milwaukee 26 Hunter Sallis, Wake Forest — Sallis took his sport to new heights at his new residence at Wake Forest after starting his profession at Gonzaga. He is an explosive guard that scores from all three ranges and by persevering with to show himself as a shooter and rising as a playmaker he may climb the board. *Choose by way of New York 27 Izan Almansa, Spain — Almansa is a flexible huge man who is among the most efficient gamers in European historical past on the youth degree. He has the dimensions, body and athleticism, excelling as a rebounder however his half-court skillset, significantly taking pictures the ball, are areas for improvement. Almansa performed the 2023-24 season with the now-defunct G League Ignite. *Choose by way of Minnesota 28 Ian Jackson, North Carolina Jackson is an athletic two-way guard who excelled as a scorer all through his highschool profession. No second has ever been too huge for the New Yorker, profitable and shining below among the brightest lights in grassroots and can absolutely make his influence felt as a Tar Heel. 29 Derrion Reid, Alabama — Reid is a flexible ahead with dimension, size, athleticism and flexibility on each ends of the courtroom. He’s at his greatest as a slasher, defender and rebounder however has additionally proven promising flashes as a playmaker and has grown as a shooter getting into school. *Choose by way of Denver 30 Kon Knueppel, Duke — There are some huge names getting into Duke subsequent season however Kon Knueppel is to not be slept on. He is as expert, good and hard as they arrive and has a skillset that can instantly translate for the Blue Devils. He can rating, drill pictures, cross and rebound as a 6-foot-5 small ahead.