The projected first overall pick in the 2025 NBA draft, Cooper Flagg, has recently announced his commitment to Duke University.
Cooper Flagg, the projected No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA draft, announced he's committed to Duke. The 6'9, 16-year old averaged 26.8points, 12.4rebounds, 5.2 blocks and 4.7 assists, shooting 37% for 3, in the Nike EYBL 16U for Maine United this summer. pic.twitter.com/gwzt9JgqqA
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) October 30, 2023
Flagg is a basketball unicorn, as the 6'9" 16-year old reclassified from the high school graduating Class of 2025 to the Class of 2024, and given that, will play college basketball next year, and thus become eligible for the 2025 NBA Draft after turning 18 in the winter of 2024.
Widely considered the best prospect of any age group in the world, Flagg has an unreal skillset combining offensive and defensive prowess, as the 6'9" ultra-lengthy forward can guard 1-5 and averaged a comical 5.2 blocks per game against the top AAU competition in the nation.
Flagg's commitment to Duke is significant, as he finds himself in the best college basketball program in the world that possesses a system that has developed countless of the top draft prospects the sport has seen.
In terms of how this impacts USC, their National Championship odds in 2025 take a nosedive. Teams with the top prospect have greatly boosted odds, and a player like Flagg who can impact the game at every level make already-great programs nearly impossible to take down.
USC is yet to sign a 5-star recruit for the Class of 2024, but in order to stay competitive, expect a ramp-up in recruiting efforts, including a major push to pick up Class of 2025's top recruit, AJ Dybantsa.
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