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Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
2025 NBA Draft: Cooper Flagg headlines rookies who could matter for fantasy basketball this season
The 2025 NBA Draft is just under a month away, and with the combine wrapped up, Yahoo Sports NBA Senior Analyst Kevin O'Connor dropped his latest mock draft last week. The 2025 draft class is deeper and more talented than last year's rookies, so I want to highlight the prospects whose projected landing spots in KOC's mock could become interesting for fantasy basketball leagues next season. I can't say enough how much I like Flagg's opportunity to contribute immediately. With his defense, athleticism and scoring efficiency, he projects as a multi-category fantasy asset. The 3s are the question mark, but there's a sneaky playmaking upside, too. Cooper Flagg showing off the significant gains he's made mechanically over the past year in the NBA draft combine shooting drills. Off the dribble, on the move or with his feet set, with crisp footwork and a picture perfect 61% of his aggregate attempts. — Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) May 14, 2025 I'm warming up to targeting him around the sixth or seventh rounds of drafts next season. Landing with the Hornets is a gift and a curse. It's a losing franchise with exciting players who can't stay healthy. That said, they need a two-guard, and Edgecombe is a bucket and a disruptive defender. He also flies, so sharing a backcourt with LaMelo Ball has its perks. 🎙️ VJ Edgecombe: "Most rookies, they be like, can't guard... I want to change that dynamic, change that for sure. Just want to go out there and guard, and impact the floor.""I know Charlotte Hornets. I know about the team, the roster, everything that's going on over there." — r/CharlotteHornets on Reddit (@HornetsReddit) May 14, 2025 Edgecombe reminds me of Victor Oladipo. He could be one of the top scorers of his class with the bonus of some steals. If he ends up in Charlotte, he may become a fantasy option outside the top 100 picks. If Knueppel falls to the Jazz, feel good about it. There's more to his game than being an elite motion shooter. He is the modern Mr. Fundamental — a smart hooper who can facilitate, cut and make the right basketball play more often than not. Kon Knueppel was ELITE for the Blue Devils tonight 🙌😈 21 PTS | 5 REB | 5 AST | 3 STLHe helped lead @DukeMBB to a #MFinalFour berth 👏 #MarchMadness — NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 30, 2025 The Jazz need that after being in the bottom 10 in offensive rating and having the highest turnover rate in the league. He'd already be their best shooter as a rookie, but it will come down to his defense to get consistent minutes. I like the Chris Mullin comps. The freshman out of Texas fills a couple of needs for the Wizards: shooting and playmaking. Tre Johnson — P&R playmaking + scoring tapeAn elite multi-level shotmaking/scoring talent that leverages his gravity with high-level spatial awareness and understanding of screens. A much better passer than given credit for (1.5 AST/TO + 16.5% AST).#6 on my '25 board. — Mohamed (@mcfdraft) April 24, 2025 I'm not sold on the defense yet, but I like the guards Washington's assembled, with Johnson slotting in as arguably one of their best 3-point shooters. There's a path for minutes, but he's more of a dynasty option than a target in redraft leagues in this scenario. Queen's outlook would take a massive leap in Chicago if the Bulls finally move Nikola Vučević. I understand the knocks on his poor combine, defense, lack of explosiveness and questionable outside shooting. However, he's one of only a few offensive hubs available at his size (6-foot-10 and 246 pounds). Why Derik Queen is a top 5 prospect...1. True 1of1 on ball craft as a 5 - handle, vision, magnet hands, touch, intuition.2. The concerns are fixable + have already seen flashes of you overthink fixable concerns, you will get burned by the skill set.🐢 — Ryan Hammer🔨 (@ryanhammer09) May 26, 2025 He's got nice touch and is a willing playmaker who could put up numbers in limited minutes if he cracks the rotation. Should Clint Capela bounce, Newell's rim-running and relentless motor would be worthy additions to a thin Atlanta frontcourt. Jalen Johnson's been banged up the past two seasons, so getting another talented big man with the quickness to defend on the perimeter is a strong fit with their growing, scrappy identity. I love this defense from Asa Newell. This is the type of stuff we saw from him more at Montverde. Even if he doesn't end up as more of a 5, I think he has all the tools to be a really versatile and switchable defender. — Tyler Metcalf (@tmetcalf11) March 13, 2025 Being the recipient of Trae Young's lobs with shot-blocking and rebounding upside, Newell could be one of those late-round bigs that make an impact in fantasy on a per-minute basis. If the Wolves can't afford to keep Nickeil Alexander-Walker, selecting Coward would be one of my favorite draft night moves. Cedric Coward is EASILY one of the biggest winners of the combineHe's shot well in drills, has a freaky 7'2' wing span at 6'5' and tested great athletically too with a 38.5' max vertHe's a career 38.6% 3PT shooter in college and there's a big chance he stays in the draft now — Point Made Basketball (@pointmadebball) May 13, 2025 He's a late bloomer with a damn-near-perfect shot and a large wingspan who prides himself on the defensive end. It may sound like gas, but he gives me Kawhi Leonard vibes. The backcourt in Los Angeles is aging, and injuries are known saboteurs. Pettiford is the ideal match as a Brandon Jennings-lite with the speed, scoring, hops and creation that would ignite the team's bench. Most rookies with his profile tend to be inefficient, but he can still light it up in a reserve role. It's too early for consideration in redraft leagues, but dynasty managers should take notice.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
2025 NBA Draft: Cooper Flagg headlines rookies who could matter for fantasy basketball this season
The 2025 NBA Draft is just under a month away, and with the combine wrapped up, Yahoo Sports NBA Senior Analyst Kevin O'Connor dropped his latest mock draft last week. The 2025 draft class is deeper and more talented than last year's rookies, so I want to highlight the prospects whose projected landing spots in KOC's mock could become interesting for fantasy basketball leagues next season. I can't say enough how much I like Flagg's opportunity to contribute immediately. With his defense, athleticism and scoring efficiency, he projects as a multi-category fantasy asset. The 3s are the question mark, but there's a sneaky playmaking upside, too. Cooper Flagg showing off the significant gains he's made mechanically over the past year in the NBA draft combine shooting drills. Off the dribble, on the move or with his feet set, with crisp footwork and a picture perfect 61% of his aggregate attempts. — Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) May 14, 2025 I'm warming up to targeting him around the sixth or seventh rounds of drafts next season. Landing with the Hornets is a gift and a curse. It's a losing franchise with exciting players who can't stay healthy. That said, they need a two-guard, and Edgecombe is a bucket and a disruptive defender. He also flies, so sharing a backcourt with LaMelo Ball has its perks. 🎙️ VJ Edgecombe: "Most rookies, they be like, can't guard... I want to change that dynamic, change that for sure. Just want to go out there and guard, and impact the floor.""I know Charlotte Hornets. I know about the team, the roster, everything that's going on over there." — r/CharlotteHornets on Reddit (@HornetsReddit) May 14, 2025 Edgecombe reminds me of Victor Oladipo. He could be one of the top scorers of his class with the bonus of some steals. If he ends up in Charlotte, he may become a fantasy option outside the top 100 picks. If Knueppel falls to the Jazz, feel good about it. There's more to his game than being an elite motion shooter. He is the modern Mr. Fundamental — a smart hooper who can facilitate, cut and make the right basketball play more often than not. Kon Knueppel was ELITE for the Blue Devils tonight 🙌😈 21 PTS | 5 REB | 5 AST | 3 STLHe helped lead @DukeMBB to a #MFinalFour berth 👏 #MarchMadness — NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 30, 2025 The Jazz need that after being in the bottom 10 in offensive rating and having the highest turnover rate in the league. He'd already be their best shooter as a rookie, but it will come down to his defense to get consistent minutes. I like the Chris Mullin comps. The freshman out of Texas fills a couple of needs for the Wizards: shooting and playmaking. Tre Johnson — P&R playmaking + scoring tapeAn elite multi-level shotmaking/scoring talent that leverages his gravity with high-level spatial awareness and understanding of screens. A much better passer than given credit for (1.5 AST/TO + 16.5% AST).#6 on my '25 board. — Mohamed (@mcfdraft) April 24, 2025 I'm not sold on the defense yet, but I like the guards Washington's assembled, with Johnson slotting in as arguably one of their best 3-point shooters. There's a path for minutes, but he's more of a dynasty option than a target in redraft leagues in this scenario. Queen's outlook would take a massive leap in Chicago if the Bulls finally move Nikola Vučević. I understand the knocks on his poor combine, defense, lack of explosiveness and questionable outside shooting. However, he's one of only a few offensive hubs available at his size (6-foot-10 and 246 pounds). Why Derik Queen is a top 5 prospect...1. True 1of1 on ball craft as a 5 - handle, vision, magnet hands, touch, intuition.2. The concerns are fixable + have already seen flashes of you overthink fixable concerns, you will get burned by the skill set.🐢 — Ryan Hammer🔨 (@ryanhammer09) May 26, 2025 He's got nice touch and is a willing playmaker who could put up numbers in limited minutes if he cracks the rotation. Should Clint Capela bounce, Newell's rim-running and relentless motor would be worthy additions to a thin Atlanta frontcourt. Jalen Johnson's been banged up the past two seasons, so getting another talented big man with the quickness to defend on the perimeter is a strong fit with their growing, scrappy identity. I love this defense from Asa Newell. This is the type of stuff we saw from him more at Montverde. Even if he doesn't end up as more of a 5, I think he has all the tools to be a really versatile and switchable defender. — Tyler Metcalf (@tmetcalf11) March 13, 2025 Being the recipient of Trae Young's lobs with shot-blocking and rebounding upside, Newell could be one of those late-round bigs that make an impact in fantasy on a per-minute basis. If the Wolves can't afford to keep Nickeil Alexander-Walker, selecting Coward would be one of my favorite draft night moves. Cedric Coward is EASILY one of the biggest winners of the combineHe's shot well in drills, has a freaky 7'2' wing span at 6'5' and tested great athletically too with a 38.5' max vertHe's a career 38.6% 3PT shooter in college and there's a big chance he stays in the draft now — Point Made Basketball (@pointmadebball) May 13, 2025 He's a late bloomer with a damn-near-perfect shot and a large wingspan who prides himself on the defensive end. It may sound like gas, but he gives me Kawhi Leonard vibes. The backcourt in Los Angeles is aging, and injuries are known saboteurs. Pettiford is the ideal match as a Brandon Jennings-lite with the speed, scoring, hops and creation that would ignite the team's bench. Most rookies with his profile tend to be inefficient, but he can still light it up in a reserve role. It's too early for consideration in redraft leagues, but dynasty managers should take notice.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
WNBA Rookie Paige Bueckers Reveals Her Pre-Game Ritual
As Paige Bueckers prepares to take her first steps onto a WNBA court, fans are learning more about what keeps the No. 1 overall pick centered before the spotlight shines. The Dallas Wings rookie recently shared her pre-game ritual, offering a glimpse into how she balances faith, focus and music on game day. Advertisement 'I read a couple of my devotionals. 'God X Basketball' is one of the books that I read,' Buckers shared with Bustle's inaugural Game Changers Issue. 'I pray. And then listen to some music.' The simple but powerful routine reflects Bueckers' calm and collected approach to the game. It's a tradition that helped guide her through a decorated college career at UConn and now into her new chapter with the Wings. Paige Bueckers at the 2025 WNBA Draft at The Shed at Hudson Carchietta-Imagn Images Bueckers, 23, will make her highly anticipated WNBA debut on May 16 against the Minnesota Lynx—her favorite team growing up. The matchup holds even deeper meaning, as her hometown of Hopkins, Minnesota, has officially renamed itself 'Paige Bueckers, Minnesota' for the day in her honor. The announcement was shared by NCAA March Madness on X. At UConn, Bueckers overcame injuries and setbacks to lead the Huskies to their record 12th national championship. Last season, she averaged 19.8 points, 4.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game. Advertisement The Wings selected Bueckers first overall in the 2025 WNBA Draft earlier this month. She is expected to make an immediate impact, especially after the team parted ways with veteran Satou Sabally during the offseason. Fans will get their first official look at the new rookie class during the team's introductory press conference on Wednesday. Until then, Bueckers is sticking to her game day rhythm—faith, prayer and music—as she readies to write the next chapter in her already impressive basketball story. Related: UConn's First Post After Paige Bueckers Was Drafted Into the WNBA
USA Today
14-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
College basketball analyst ranks UNC just outside Top 25 of his offseason rankings
College basketball analyst ranks UNC just outside Top 25 of his offseason rankings Will the Tar Heels surpass expectations for their upcoming college basketball season? 🚨 NEW #Power37 from @TheAndyKatz 📋 1. Purdue 2. Houston 3. St. John's 4. UConn 5. Duke 6. Kentucky 7. Texas Tech 8. Michigan 9. Florida 10. Louisville — NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) May 12, 2025 Thanks to a massive recruiting victory in landing 5-star power forward Caleb Wilson, plus an extremely active transfer portal which saw them land commitment from projected starters, the North Carolina Tar Heels carry tons of excitement into their 2025-2026 basketball season. UNC's greatest portal addition is undoubtedly Henri Veesaar, the 7-foot center who comes over from the Arizona Wildcats. North Carolina also added its likely starting point guard in Colorado State's Kyan Evans, a possible starter in Chapel Hill native Jarin Stevenson (who stands 6'11"), plus a pair of shooting guards in West Virginia transfer Jonathan Powell and Virginia Tech's Jaydon Young. His decision isn't praised enough, but Seth Trimble will return to the Tar Heels for one final year, stepping into a leadership role previously occupied by RJ Davis. UNC looks great on paper, but they'll have plenty to prove after a disappointing end to their 2024-2025 campaign. In Andy Katz' new (May 12) Power 37 rankings, North Carolina slots in at 27th. The Tar Heels are a spot behind Maryland – which advanced to the Sweet 16 in March – and a spot ahead of Indiana. UNC made the 2025 NCAA Tournament, much to the chagrin of college basketball analysts across the nation, but quickly proved they belonged. North Carolina dismantled San Diego State in the First Four, 95-68, then nearly staged a comeback for the ages against Ole Miss. The Tar Heels dug themselves in too deep a hole against the Rebels, trailing by 18 at halftime, en route to a 71-64 defeat. UNC is still awaiting decisions from small forward Drake Powell, who currently is in the NBA Draft Pool – and center Ven-Allen Lubin, who intends to return despite currently being in the transfer portal. Once North Carolina knows decisions from those two, it can start making final preparations for its upcoming season. Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Inside Pope Leo XIV's surprising sports fandom: What we know about new pope's support of Villanova basketball, Chicago White Sox
Catholic cardinals elected a new pope Thursday — the first American pope ever — and he's a sports fan. Robert Francis Prevost, a Chicago native, was selected to be the 267th pope. He'll go by Pope Leo XIV. It's not a new or unique thing for a pope to be a sports fan. Pope Francis was a supporter of San Lorenzo, one of the oldest clubs in the Argentine Football Association. Pope Francis was born in Argentina and remained a fan during his papacy. The team even visited the Vatican twice during Pope Francis' tenure as pope. So, with Prevost being the first pope from the United States, it's only natural to wonder whether we could see any of his favorite teams make the trip to Vatican City. The most likely pick would be Villanova basketball. Prevost got his Bachelor's degree from Villanova and retweeted a celebratory post after the men's basketball team won the national championship in 2016. The NCAA was very quick to make sure everyone knew Prevost's connection to Villanova. Villanova officially has representation in Vatican City 🇻🇦⛪️ — NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) May 8, 2025 Another person who was excited about that development was director and notorious New York Knicks fan Spike Lee, who believes his team is in for a "holy blessing" since multiple former Villanova basketball players, including Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart and Donte DiVincenzo. (All but DiVincenzo currently play for the Knicks). As for Prevost's other sports fandoms, many have speculated about his hometown allegiances. Is he a fan of the Chicago Bears? Which Chicago-based baseball team does he support? Prevost has apparently never tweeted about any professional sports team in Chicago. And while it was mentioned on ABC that Prevost roots for the Cubs even though he's from the South Side of Chicago, his brother told WGN News that he "was never, ever a Cubs fan," and "always a Sox fan." His brother said that their mother was a Cubs fan, and their father was a Cardinals fan. Obviously the biggest question surrounding Chicago native Robert Prevost now that he is Pope Leo XIV: Cubs or White Sox? His brother gave the definitive answer to @WGNNews' @DanaRebikWGN — Josh Frydman (@Josh_Frydman) May 8, 2025 Prevost is a supporter of St. Rita — a high school on the Southwest Side of Chicago. He retweeted a post about the team's appearance in the Illinois state championship in 2014, and served as a substitute physics teacher at the school in the past, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. IL State Championship this eve between and @StRitaBaseball and @CelticProvy - All Augustinian Final! Go Celtics and Mustangs!! #proud — Midwest Augustinians (@mwaugustinians) June 14, 2014 No matter which baseball team he supports, people will likely be curious about his thoughts on the Chicago Bears and quarterback Caleb Williams. Either way, he knows something about compassion, and that should serve him well in his new role.
