The lasting image of Cooper Flagg is a crushing one: riding on the back of a golf cart, a blank stare, his mind undoubtedly revisiting the foul-line jumper in the closing seconds of the Final Four semifinals that came up just short. Soon that will be replaced by a fresh image: a smiling Flagg walking onto a stage as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA draft.
Across the league, team executives are in agreement: This is one of the deepest drafts in years. Flagg is a consensus No. 1, a springy forward with unlimited potential. But he may not be the only franchise player in the draft. Rutgers will send a pair of highly touted prospects in what is one of the strongest pools of American-based talent in years.
