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Fox Sports
3 days ago
- Sport
- Fox Sports
2025 NBA Mock Draft: Flagg at No. 1 and first-round shakeup after 50 withdrawals
The Oklahoma City Thunder have made it to the NBA Finals, while the Indiana Pacers lead the New York Knicks 3-2 in the East. But on June 25th, all 30 teams will be looking to improve their roster through the 2025 NBA Draft. While Cooper Flagg is nearly a lock to be the first overall pick, there are still several questions as to how the rest of the first round will play out. Several notable prospects have withdrawn their names to return to college, such as Yaxel Lendeborg, Tahaad Pettiford, Milos Uzan, Otega Oweh, and Alex Condon to name a few. Expect to see a lot of surprises in the first round with so many entrants having withdrawn their name. As of May 30th, a total 50 of the early entry candidates have withdrawn their name from the draft. With that in mind, let's dive into FOX Sports Research's first NBA mock draft. 1. Dallas Mavericks: Cooper Flagg, F, Duke Flagg odds to be first overall pick: -100000 The freshman sensation might be the most heralded prospect to enter the draft in over a decade. There is almost no chance the Mavericks pass on him, as he's a game-changer on both ends of the floor. Flagg is one of four freshman in the last 25 years to average 20 points per game on 50% shooting from the field and 40% shooting from three in conference play— joining Michael Beasley, CJ McCollum, and Kevin Durant. 2. San Antonio Spurs: Dylan Harper, G, Rutgers Harper odds to be second overall pick: -5000 Harper is a bonafied scorer who will be an incredible edition to a San Antonio team that already has a prolific young core anchored by Victor Wembanyama. Against Notre Dame, he became the first Division-I freshman with at least 35 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists in a game since Oklahoma's Trae Young in 2018. He also became the first Division-I freshman to score 35+ points in consecutive games over the last 15 seasons. 3. Philadelphia 76ers: Ace Bailey, F, Rutgers Bailey odds to be third overall pick: +100 Averaging 17.6 points per game along with 7.2 rebounds, Bailey is a high-ceiling player with the tools to excel both offensively and defensively. Playing with Harper at Rutgers was also great preparation for the NBA. Early in the season, they became he second freshman duo in 15 years to both score 35+ points in a game. The last freshman duo to do that was Malik Monk and De'Aaron Fox. 4. Charlotte Hornets: VJ Edgecombe, G, Baylor Just like Ja'Kobe Walter last season, Edgecombe is another Baylor true freshman that can score in multiple ways and has elite athleticism. He and LaMelo Ball should be an exciting backcourt for Charlotte to continue to build off. 5. Utah Jazz: Jeremiah Fears, G, Oklahoma Fears is a combo guard that can help any team with his offensive skill-set. The Jazz can go in several different ways here, but he is the safest option and should immediately help them. One thing he'll need to improve on is his three-point shooting, as he only shot 28% beyond the arc. 6. Washington Wizards: Khaman Maluach, C, Duke With a 7-6 wingspan and high level experience at both Duke and the international level with South Sudan, Maluach has one of the highest ceilings in this draft given his freakish athleticism and the tenacity he's exhibited thus far. 7. New Orleans Pelicans: Kon Knueppel, F, Duke Knueppel's stock really rose after an impressive NCAA Tournament, where he posted two 20-point games and shot 10-of-18 from three. He is one of the two best shooters in this draft and also is a surprising playmaker. 8. Brooklyn Nets: Tre Johnson, G, Texas Tre Johnson is arguably the best distance shooter in this draft, and the Texas guard had the numbers to prove it. He averaged 19.9 points per game and led all freshman in Division-I in scoring– and yes, that includes Cooper Flagg. More importantly, he shot a whopping 39.7% from three on 6.8 attempts per contest. 9. Toronto Raptors: Derik Queen, C, Maryland No one can forget his iconic buzzer-beater against Colorado State in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, but Queen has been a stud since the jump. At 6'10, 250 pounds, he has an incredible touch for a big man and isn't afraid to get his hands dirty in the paint. 10. Houston Rockets: Kasparas Jakucionis, G, Illinois Easily the best true point guard in the draft, Jakucionis is an elite playmaker who can shoot it from three as well. With an aging Fred VanVleet, he would be the perfect fit for a Rockets team that was so close to taking down the Warriors in the playoffs. 11. Portland Trail Blazers: Collin Murray-Boyles, F, South Carolina At 6'7, 245 pounds, Murray-Boyles is one of the more athletic players in this draft, and would be a nice compliment to DeAndre Ayton and Donovan Clingan. He plays defense at an above-average level and has a top-notch motor. He'll need to improve his shooting, as he only shot 26.5% from three. 12. Chicago Bulls: Egor Demin, G, BYU Another player whose stock really rose after a Sweet 16 run in the NCAA Tournament, Demin is an intriguing prospect— as the Moscow-born player is a 6'9 point forward. He also has experience at the international club level, having played for the Real Madrid B team. He's also another player who needs to improve his shooting, hitting just 27.3% of his shots from three. 13. Atlanta Hawks (from Sacramento): Noa Essengue, F, France France continues to produce top-tier prospects after boasting the likes of Wemby and Zaccharie Risacher to name a few, and Essengue could be the next one in line. A 6'9 forward whose just 18 years old, he took a huge jump for Bundesliga club Ulm in the 2024-25 campagin— averaging 12.4 points per game 5.3 in Euro Cup play. 14. San Antonio Spurs (from Atlanta): Thomas Sorber, F, Georgetown Sorber only played in 24 games this season due to a foot injury, but that was enough to guarantee him first round status. He averaged 14.5 points along 8.5 rebounds and demonstrated his ability to be a prolific rim protector with 2.0 blocks per game and 1.5 steals. 15. OKC Thunder (from Miami via LA Clippers): Will Riley, G, Illinois At 6'8 with a decent shooting stroke, Riley fits exactly what OKC likes— long and athletic wings who will play hard defense and run the floor. He has strong instincts with the ball in his hands and should continue to develop at a fast rate in the NBA. 16. Orlando Magic: Jase Richardson, G, Michigan State Richardson has everything you want from a combo guard— the abiltiy to penetrate the lane, find the open man, and knock down jumpers. But measuring at just over six feet at the combine, he falls just outside of the lottery. If he was 6'3 or 6'4, he'd be a top-10 pick. 17. Minnesota Timberwolves (from Detroit via New York, Oklahoma City, and Houston): Carter Bryant, F, Arizona Bryant has shot up draft boards after his combine performance, measuring at 6'6 barefoot with a 6'11 wingspan and 39.5 inch vertical. While he played a supporting role in Tuscon, he has the upside to be a strong two-way player for any team. He also 37.1% from three. 18. Washington Wizards (from Memphis): Liam McNeeley, G, UConn McNeeley could feasibly go much higher than this, as any team could use his services. Measuring at just under 6'7 at the combine, he was forced to be a playmaker at UConn this past season and did a great job. He's also a knockdown shooter and continues to improve on the defensive end of the floor. 19. Brooklyn Nets (form Milwaukee via New York, Detroit, Portland, and New Orleans): Joan Beringer, C, France Another French product here, the 18-year old 6'11 big man for Cedevita Olimpija (Slovenian league) is a project player that would benefit greatly from the tutlege of Nic Claxton in Brooklyn. 20. Miami Heat (from Golden State): Asa Newell, F/C, Georgia A five-star prospect who was ranked the fourth-best power forward in his class and 16th best player overall (247Sports), Newell flew under the radar this year due to playing for a Georgia team that went 8-10 in SEC play. Still, he measured at 6'9 barefoot at the combine and averaged 15.4 points per game with 6.9 rebounds in his lone season in Athens. 21. Utah Jazz (from Minnesota): Danny Wolf, F/C, Michigan Wolf is maybe the best passing big man in this draft class, but sometimes it gets him in trouble— as he averaged 3.2 turnovers per game this year. Still, he is one of the most exciting players in the draft— with the ability to post up, shoot the long ball, pass, and rebound. He'll need to improve on the defensive end of the floor. 22. Atlanta Hawks (from LA Lakers via New Orleans): Nolan Traore, G, France Yup, another French player. Traore just turned 19 a few days ago and was one of the better young guards in the French league this past year. He posted 11.6 points per game along with 5.1 assists. 23. Indiana Pacers: Nique Clifford, G, Colorado State Nique Clifford was just a machine for Colorado State, being one of just two players in all of Division-I to average 18 points, nine rebounds and four assists per game (Doctor Bradley— Arkansas Pine Bluff). He plays like a power forward despite being a 6'6 guard. He has potential to be the steal of the draft. 24. OKC Thunder (from LA Clippers): Cedric Coward, F, Washington State Coward played at Eastern Washington for two seasons before transferring to Washington State, where he only played six games due to a shoulder injury. Still, he's a 6'6 guard with a shocking 7'2 wingspan. And in those six games, he averaged 17.7 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game. 25. Orlando Magic (from Denver): Maxime Raynaud, C, Stanford The 7'1 Frenchman out of Stanford was the only player in Division-I to average 20 points and 10 rebounds per game this year. He also shot 34.7% from three on 5.5 attempts per contest, making his size and ability to stretch the floor extemely valuable to any team. 26. Brooklyn Nets (from New York): Drake Powell, G, North Carolina Powell's numbers weren't gaudy in his lone season at North Carolina, but he has the size to be a productive wing and also shot 37.4% from the three-point line. His upside is definitely there, as he was the 11th ranked player in his class and second-ranked small forward (247Sports). 27. Brooklyn Nets (from Houston): Noah Penda, G/F, France Penda comes in at 6'8, 225 pounds and has nearly a seven-foot wingspan. He's only 20 years old and has great instincts on the defensive end of the floor. Another French product, he has the chance to be an incredible role player. 28. Boston Celtics: Ryan Kalkbrenner, C, Creighton Kalkbrenner could easily go in the top 20 given he's over seven-feet tall and shoots 34.4% from three. He won Big East Defensive Player of the Year four times and has the makings of a Boston Celtic written all over him. 29. Phoenix Suns (from Cleveland via Utah): Walter Clayton, PG, Florida The star of the NCAA Tournament this year, Clayton provides Phoenix with both playmaking and scoring ability. He became the first player with a 30-point game in the Elite 8 and National Semifinals of the same NCAA Tournament since Indiana State's Larry Bird in 1979. 30. LA Clippers (from OKC): Johni Broome, F/C, Auburn The SEC Player of the Year and winner of the Karl Malone Award (given to the country's top power forward), Broome shows up when it matters. Against Michigan State in the Elite 8, he bcame the first player with 25 points and 10 rebounds on 75% shooting to send his team to the Final Four since Houston's Hakeem Olajuwon in 1984. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account , and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! recommended Get more from National Basketball Association Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
New York Times
09-03-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
The case for Cooper Flagg as college basketball's player of the year
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — It may have taken 31 games, but we finally found something that can slow down Cooper Flagg: A healthy whistle. And a deserved one, at that. Because for the first time this season, against rival North Carolina on Saturday, Flagg was called for three first-half personal fouls — the latter two being offensive, including a blatant charge against standstill UNC forward Jae'Lyn Withers for his third. That sent Flagg to the pine for the final 3:18 of the first half … at which point UNC promptly rattled off a 10-2 run, which dropped a double-digit margin down to one measly point at the break. Advertisement 'We ran out of a little bit of gas at the end of the first half there without Cooper,' Duke coach Jon Scheyer said. 'We were buying as much time as possible, and we have good confidence with the guys who were in, but … we've got to make sure he only has two fouls going into the half.' Obviously. Here's the thing, though: Those three first-half fouls only slowed Flagg down. But as for their material impact on the game, one Duke eventually won 82-69? Nada. Zip. If anything, that foul trouble just meant that Flagg had to cram a game's worth of production into 20 second-half minutes. So … he did. Ho hum. In the latest evidence of why Flagg — Duke's freshman superstar, and the expected No. 1 pick in this summer's NBA Draft — should win NCAA basketball's Player of the Year award, consider the final stat line from his 'down' game against the Tar Heels: 15 points, nine rebounds, six assists, four blocks and one made 3-pointer. 'When Cooper's aggressive like that,' Duke guard Sion James said, 'there's no one in the country that can do anything with him.' Per Stathead, he's now only the fourth Division-I player in the last 15 seasons to post a line like that in under 30 minutes. And that's one of his 'bad' games? 'For me it's Cooper,' Scheyer said when asked postgame about Flagg's NPOY chances. 'That's not knocking anybody — I mean, we played (Auburn big Johni) Broome, he's a great player — but Cooper, the way he impacts every aspect of the game, I don't think we've seen in college for a long time.' Let's build out the argument, then, shall we? Flagg entered Saturday as KenPom's clear favorite to win the award, and leading Duke to its 19th ACC win and the outright conference title did little to shift those odds. That's because Flagg isn't just KenPom's clear favorite to take home the trophy; he currently has the highest KenPom Player of the Year rating ever in the analytics site's history, which dates back to 2011. That surpasses the likes of Russ Smith in 2013, Frank Kaminsky in 2015, and even Zach Edey last season. And as if Flagg needed further analytical support, he's also EvanMiya's top-ranked player this season. Advertisement Beyond that, Flagg is on pace to be the first freshman in Division-I history to lead his team in every major statistical category — points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks — and to the Big Dance. (Ben Simmons had the stats at LSU, but no postseason appearance to show for them.) Earlier this season, Flagg became the only 17-year-old in NCAA history to have multiple 20-point double-doubles in a season, and despite turning 18 in December, he's still regularly rewriting record books as the second-youngest player in the sport this season. His 42 points against Notre Dame in January were an ACC single-game freshman record, not to mention the 15th-most by any freshman in the last 20 seasons. (Among the other freshman greats in Flagg's company are Simmons, Trae Young and Malik Monk.) But winning player of the year, which only three freshmen — Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis and Zion Williamson — have ever done, is about more than just excellence at a young age. It's about overall effectiveness. And Flagg checks that box, too, as unequivocally the best player on the best team in college basketball, one poised to ascend to No. 1 after Auburn's two losses this week. The 6-foot-9 wing leads the nation in win shares per 40 minutes and box plus/minus, while also being second in defensive win shares and fifth in offensive win shares — all of which surpass his primary competition, Broome. About that comparison: Now, has Broome played in a tougher conference? Without question. The SEC is conceivably the best high-major league we've ever seen, on pace to break the all-time single-season bids record from one conference. The ACC, on the other hand, is … not. Instead, it's on pace to earn its fewest NCAA Tournament invites (3) since 1999. Have Flagg's numbers been inflated somewhat by the ACC's overall, uh, quality? Absolutely. Advertisement But it's foolish to punish Flagg for beating up on the teams on Duke's schedule or to ignore his excellence in the team's marquee matchups. In Duke's four top-25 matchups this season — against Kentucky, Kansas, Arizona and Auburn — Flagg averaged 21.3 points, 8.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.8 blocks and 1.3 steals per game. If only we had some way to compare Flagg and Broome head to head, mano a mano … Oh, what's this? Did they play in early December? Well, surely Flagg struggled against the sort of elite competition the SEC provides, right? Or … he had one of the best games of his season: 22 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, three steals, two blocks and no turnovers. Broome was also good — 20 points, 12 rebounds, three assists, one block and three turnovers — but he fouled out. And his team lost. Shouldn't that also count for something in this conversation? 'There's a good chance he's going to be player of the year,' UNC coach Hubert Davis said. 'I mean, he's an elite player.' Maybe the scariest thing of all about Flagg? He's still getting better. Consider his and Broome's numbers over their last five contests before Saturday's rivalry games: Flagg: 19.7 points, 7.8 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.4 steals, 1.2 blocks, 41.7 percent from 3 and 90.9 percent FT. Broome: 17.6 points, 9.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists, .8 blocks, .6 steals, 20 percent from 3 and 66.7 percent FT. Broome's got the glass … and Flagg's got everything else. In any other season, either Flagg or Broome would be the easy, hands-down choice for player of the year. And make no mistake: both are undoubtedly deserving. But in a direct comparison, the choice is easy. No comparison, really. It's the younger, more productive, history-making star who the NBA sees as a borderline generational prospect — the one who regularly draws comparisons to Anthony Davis, Durant and even Victor Wembanyama. All due respect to the former three-star recruit who has more than maximized his talent, but five years into his college career, Broome should be productive. Advertisement What Flagg's doing, though? It's one of one. And it deserves to be recognized accordingly. 'That's not what Cooper plays for. That's not what we play for,' Scheyer said. 'But obviously, recognition, you always appreciate.' (Photo of Cooper Flagg reacting after a dunk against the Tar Heels: Jared C. Tilton / Getty Images)
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Longtime Nebraska volleyball coach John Cook retires after 25 seasons
John Cook is calling it a career in Lincoln. The longtime Nebraska women's volleyball coach, who won four national championships with the Cornhuskers and picked up more wins than any other Division-I volleyball coach this century, is set to retire. What a ride it's you and farewell, @jcook2. — Nebraska Volleyball (@HuskerVB) January 29, 2025 'I've been here for 25 years. That's a long time to do something,' Cook said in a statement, in part. 'It's been a great run … For me personally, the greatest accomplishment in coaching is seeing former players go into coaching or other careers and taking the lessons they've learned from being a Nebraska volleyball player and applying it to their everyday lives. There is no greater reward in coaching than that. Lastly and most importantly, I want to thank the fans for always supporting Nebraska volleyball. I've always said to 'Dream Big', and we've dreamed bigger than any volleyball program in the history of the world.' Cook took over at Nebraska in 2000 after a seven-year run at Wisconsin. He quickly turned the program into a powerhouse in the sport. They won 14 conference titles under his watch, reached the NCAA semifinals 12 times and won four national championships. They reached the national championship match twice in the last four seasons, too, but lost both times. The Huskers went 33-3 last season, though they were knocked out in the semifinals of the tournament by eventual national champion Penn State. In total, Cook finished with a career 883-176 record, which is the fifth-best winning percentage all-time in the sport. He was a three-time Coach of the Year, most recently in 2023. The school will now start searching for a replacement. 'John Cook leaves a legacy of excellence that places him alongside a very small group of coaches who can be considered the greatest in college athletics history, regardless of sport,' Nebraska athletic director Troy Dannen said. 'John took over one of the nation's best programs a quarter century ago and elevated it to another level. The national championships, Final Four appearances, conference championships, All-Americans and Olympians speak for themselves, but John's impact goes beyond the on-court accolades. Behind his vision, Nebraska volleyball has become arguably the most successful women's program in the country which has helped the sport of volleyball reach a popularity level it has never seen before.'
