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Why Cooper Flagg headlines top five prospects in the 2025 NBA Draft class
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- Why Cooper Flagg headlines top five prospects in the 2025 NBA Draft class
Despite having numerous promising prospects, some people believe the 2024 NBA Draft had one of the weaker rookie classes in recent memory.
The same can't be said for next year's group, though. From Duke's Cooper Flagg to Rutgers' duo of Airious "Ace" Bailey and Dylan Harper, the 2025 NBA Draft figures to have a strong rookie class filled with star power.
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Here are the top five prospects who are expected to be in 2025 NBA Draft.
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Top five 2025 NBA Draft prospects
5. VJ Edgecombe, SG, Baylor
Edgecombe averaged 17.3 points, six rebounds and 2.3 steals per game as a senior at Long Island Lutheran High in New York. The five-star prospect, rated No. 5 in the 2024 recruiting class by 247Sports, chose Baylor over Duke and Kentucky.
Edgecombe is a 6-5, 180-pound guard with the physical tools to thrive in the NBA. He's a superb athlete who gets good lift on his jumpers, and he has an impressive level of body control when soaring through the air for a finish around the rim. Edgecombe thrives on defense as well, using his strength and motor to be impactful.
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Edgecombe has gradually improved his 3-point shot, although he'll have to continue to work on it. The straight-line driver would also benefit from improving his handles.
If Edgecombe can check off those boxes, he'll certainly be one of the more coveted prospects in his class.
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4. Nolan Traore, PG, France
Four French-born players got selected in the first round of the 2024 draft, and Traore can continue that trend in 2025.
The 6-3, 185-pound guard averaged 10.3 points and 5.4 assists this past season with Saint-Quentin, a team in France's LNB Pro A. It's the same league that produced Atlanta 's Zaccharie Risacher and Charlotte's Tidjane Salaun, who went No. 1 and No. 6 in the 2024 draft, respectively.
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Traore is a smooth guard who thrives in the pick-and-roll both as both a scorer and a playmaker. He has a soft touch around the rim, a smooth shooting stroke from deep and good passing vision.
Traore isn't a strong defender due to his physical and athletic limitations, but he still uses his 6-foot-6 wingspan and strong motor to avoid being a liability. There's a lot to like about Traore, who hails from a country that has produced a wave of NBA talent recently.
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3. Dylan Harper, SG, Rutgers
Harper averaged 22.4 points and 5.7 rebounds as a senior with Don Bosco Prep in New Jersey. The five-star prospect, rated No. 3 in his class, chose Rutgers over Duke, Kansas, Indiana and Auburn.
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Harper is a 6-6, 210-pound guard who can play either on or off the ball. He plays with great pace, uses his strength to finish around the rim and remains active on the glass.
Harper is an OK 3-point shooter, although there's room for growth in that department. He also struggles at times to defend quicker guards.
But if Harper can get his 3s to fall at a higher rate and become a fundamentally-sound defender, he'll be the oversized guard every team in the NBA is looking for.
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2. Airious "Ace" Bailey, SF, Rutgers
Bailey averaged 33.4 points and 15.5 rebounds as a senior at McEachern High in Georgia. The five-star prospect, rated as the No. 2 player in his class, chose Rutgers over programs such as Kentucky, Kansas and Texas.
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Bailey is a 6-8, 195-pound forward who has a deadly combination of size and skills. The freak athlete electrifies crowds with his high-flying dunks and emphatic blocks, but he also has a good-looking shooting stroke from deep and an underestimated playmaking ability.
Bailey has to fill out more and improve as a shot creator. It'll also be interesting to see how he fares against better competition in college.
Still, Bailey has the potential to be a star in the NBA, and he's the clear-cut No. 2 prospect on this list.
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1. Cooper Flagg, PF, Duke
Flagg averaged 16.5 points and 7.5 rebounds as a senior at Montverde Academy in Florida. The five-star prospect, ranked No. 1 in his class, chose Duke over UConn and Kansas.
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Flagg is a 6-9, 195-pound forward with superstar potential. The fiery competitor elevates his game against better competition, knocking down shots from everywhere on the floor and racking up blocks as an elite off-ball defender.
Flagg also continues to improve as a playmaker for others. And while he's already able to handle physicality well, he'll only become more dangerous once he fills out more.
The 2025 NBA Draft is expected to have one of the best rookie classes in recent memory, and Flagg is the prized prospect every tanking team hopes to land.
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This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Top prospects in the 2025 NBA Draft class: Cooper Flagg headlines list
