John Fanta
University basketball issuer and journalist
As he sat on the sidelines on the Madison Square Garden on Saturday night and taking a look at Cooper Flagg on the nice stage in New York City whereas Duke beat Ilinois 110-67, he grew to become abundantly clear that we’re witnessing a really particular expertise. It is unbelievable to see how simple the sport reaches the 6 -foot and 9 serial quantity, which had solely a Field Goal within the first half, however when the ultimate cyclino performed, he closed with 16 factors, seven rebounds and 5 assists in a dominant victory.
During the historical past of college basketball, now we have by no means seen a serial quantity lead their group in all the principle statistical classes and attain the NCAA event. At this second, exterior of Auburn (+325), Duke has the second finest chance of decreasing nets in San Antonio, listed at +425. Flagg, which presently has a median of 19.4 factors, 7.6 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.5 stolen and 1.1 blocks per recreation, is monitoring to do far more than to do dance.
This group of Blue Devils is so spherical, with one other potential chosen from the highest 5 in Khaman Maluach as Protector of the Cerchione, a dynamic lead guard in Tyrese Proctor, an ultra-compliant top-10 selection in Kon Knueppel, a guard of Bulldog in Sion James and extra. It seems to be like Duke’s finest shot to win a title in a decade and declare their place on the throne in school basketball. But we return consideration to Flagg, which, in all respects, would be the selection n. 1
“It’s actually, actually good. What I like most about him is that he’s a group boy,” a common supervisor of the NBA instructed Fox Sports. “Epitomizes the concept of a profitable participant and does what his group wants that recreation. Cooper is somebody with whom you want to play, and performs each possession arduous. Heaven is the restrict for him which explains why Duke is my favourite to win every little thing.”
An ACC coach who confronted Flagg this 12 months shared the same feeling, congratulating the aggressive spirit of Flagg:
“Cooper is the ultimate competitor with each set of man -known abilities. The capacity that has talked about essentially the most is its aggressive nature. After just a few years extra of rejecting its bounce shot, it will likely be a excessive -end NBA all through the star. At a college stage, it’s the massif.
Where is the Flagg among the many finest NBA prospects in historical past? The consent of the ten scouts with which I spoke is that it’s the finest perspective from Sion Williamson in 2019. Williamson, the final serial quantity to win the nationwide participant of the 12 months and solely the third participant to do it always (Anthony Davis, Kevin Durant), has scored on common 23 factors, 9 rebounds, two assistants and two blocks for recreation throughout his season of Freshman in Duke. Williamson’s group, RJ Barrett, Cam ReviDto & Co. has reached Eight Eight. Flagg has the chance to beat everybody – even Davis – profitable a title.
With this, right here is my final draft NBA:
1. Washington Wizards: Cooper Flagg, Duke
The magicians are 10-48 and Flagg alone is not going to be the Savior, however it’s a must to begin someplace. As a evaluator instructed me, Flagg is an choice n. 2 assured in a group and may very well be an elite n. 1 with rise. It will probably be among the finest defenders of the NBA, which boasts a wingspan of over 7 ft and to have the ability to defend all 5 positions very effectively for an eighteen 12 months outdated.
2. Utah Jazz: Dylan Harper, Rutgers
Jazz has the second offensive effectivity rating within the NBA and their wants are plentiful, however I’d go together with an distinctive guard and a participant who’s wired to be a shot and director at Harper. It has a median of 19/4/4 per recreation, one thing that isn’t simple to do within the bodily alloy which is Big Ten. With its development and sensation of 6 feet-6 for the sport, it controls many containers.
3. Pelicani of New Orleans: Ace Bailey, Rutgers
The 6-10 Bailey performs like a guard and has a median of 18 factors and 7 rebounds per race whereas displaying the potential for taking video games with a trio of over 30 main factors of the 12 months. While there are some slight issues about its capacity to handle the ball, the essence of a excessive -level shot at its measurement with a lot defensive benefit as a result of its measures makes it a most selection.
4. Charlotte Hornets: Three Johnson, Texas
Texas serial quantity 6-6 was an absolute bucket for the Longhorns, with a median of over 20 factors per recreation with three rebounds and three assists. It is so refined for a serial quantity, displaying a continuing capacity to create one’s photographs and get to the factors he must thrive. In an offense that always makes use of isolation, Johnson is capturing 44% from the ground and 37% from 3. His expertise for the rating, mixed with the truth that he’s 18 years outdated, makes him a improbable fashionable participant on this League with area additionally for development.
5. Toronto Raptors: Derik Queen, Maryland
“I feel Derik Queen is the best reserve of this 12 months’s draft of this 12 months,” a scout instructed me.
“He has an understanding of the sport that goes far past his years and that is what leads me to imagine that he’s worthy of the primary 10,” mentioned a supervisor of the NBA entrance.
The Raptors may use an enormous man and whereas there’s additionally a debate with Duke’s Khan Maluach, I used to be in a position to see the queen being the selection. It may very well be stunning for some, however his capacity to shoot and physicality give him a very robust potential. On common 16 factors, 9 rebounds and two assists per recreation, Queen not too long ago obtained 53 factors mixed in consecutive victories on Rutgers and Nebraska. He has a little bit of Moses Malone in him with the fashion he performs with. It is a return to the overall previous.
6. Philadelphia 76ers: VJ edgecombe, Baylor
While the Sixers can have Tyrese Maxey and Jared McCain to steer the retrowcourt subsequent 12 months, the Edgecombe 6-5 is an outstanding athlete and a very robust defensive participant for a nineteen 12 months outdated. From an offensive standpoint, the Beatrinkle of the Bears can supply an offense with its driving capability, with a median of 15 factors, 5 rebounds and three assists per recreation. While his perimeter shot should enhance, his athleticism to search out a bonus in opposition to a defender makes him a perspective that would simply go fourth or fifth.
7. Brooklyn Reti: Jeremia, Oklahola
A 3-level marker with a powerful capacity to alter rhythm and play play for his teammates, the 6-4 fears are solely 18 years outdated and has the benefit of being an actual darkish horse on this 12 months’s draft. To be on common 16 factors, 4 rebounds and 4 assists with the workload it has in a group of Saoners that’s positioned within the center half of the century has been very spectacular.
8. Chicago Bulls: Khaman Maluach, Duke
The serial quantity 7-2 strikes away a lot from its opponents defensively. His Elite safety abilities on the rim and instincts to that finish of the ground give him the primary benefit. For a group of Bulls who has greater than an important man in Nikola Vucevic, who shouldn’t be actually the lengthy -term response within the central place, Maluach may very well be the franchise response.
9. San Antonio Spurs: Kaspar Jakucionis, Illinois
Jakucionis may go as much as quantity 3, or it may go all the way down to quantity 9. It is a 6-6 mixed guard who has an impression on the sport in so some ways together with his set of distinctive abilities and Qi, with a median of 15 factors, six rebounds and 5 assists per recreation whereas capturing 47% from the ground. My concern about why it may fall is because of the turnover issues that he needed to face college stage, giving the ball 4 occasions per recreation. Having mentioned that, he would check out so many containers within the pick-and-rock with Victor Wembanyama. There might not be a greater answer for a company in addition to flag to n. 1 of how a lot Jakucionis goes to the Spurs, however we are going to see how issues evolve.
10. Portland Trail blazer: Liam McNeley, Uconn
Blazer’s entrance workplace definitely is aware of Dan Hurley and his workers after bringing Donovan Clingan with the seventh general selection final June. In Portland’s reconstruction efforts, perimeter photographs are nonetheless a necessity that’s clear because the day. The blazers are within the decrease a part of the NBA as a share of three factors, and McNeley may give a push to that regardless of being a strong two -way wing that performs over his years. His latest efficiency of 38 factors and 10 rebounds to load the Connecticut past Creighton to Omaha on 11 February was a complete efficiency of his capacity to take video games. McNeley has damaged the document of Uconn single-game scores for a serial quantity in a Big East match, set by Rip Hamilton throughout the 1996-97 season. His 6-7 body, mixed together with his capacity to be educated and instincts provides him the potential among the many first 10.
11. San Antonio Spurs (by way of hawks): ASA NEWELL, Georgia
12. Houston Rockets (by way of Suns): Kon KnueppelDuke
13. Atlanta Hawks (by way of Kings): Egor deminByu
14. Miami Heat (Via Warriors): Noa Essengue, Raiopharm Ulm
15. Oklahoma City Thunder (by way of warmth): Will RileyIllinois
16. Orlando Magic: Ben Saraf, Ratiopharm Ulm
17. Utah Jazz (by way of Timberwolves): Carter Bryant, Arizona
18. Dallas Mavericks: Nolan traore, Saint-Sharp
19. Minnesota timberwolves (Via pistons): Rasheer FlemingSan Joseph’s
20. Oklahoma City Thunder (Via Clippers): Noah Penda, Le Mans
21. Brooklyn Reti (by way of Bucks): BOOGIE LANDArkansa
22. Indiana Pacers: Thomas Sorber, Georgetown
23. Brooklyn Reti (Via Rockets): Nique cliffordState of the Colorado
24. Atlanta Hawks (Via Lakers): Donnie Freeman, Syracuse
25. Washington Wizards (by way of Grizzlies): Danny Wolf, Michigan
26. Brooklyn Reti (by way of knicks): Collin Murray-Boyles, South Carolina
27. Orlando Magic (by means of Nuggets): Jaland LowePittsburgh
28. Boston Celtics: Ian Jackson, North Carolina
29. Los Angeles Clippers (Via Thunder): Kanon CatchingsByu
30. Phoenix Suns (by way of Cavaliers): JT Toppin, Texas Tech
John Fanta is a National College basketball station and author for Fox Sports. He covers sport in a wide range of capability, from name video games on FS1 to function the principle host on the Big East digital community to supply feedback on the sector of 68 media networks. Follow him to @John_fanta.
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