While the 2025 NBA Draft isn't thought to have a next-level superstar like the 2023 class did with Victor Wembanyama, it's also not believed to be as wide-open to interpretation as the 2020 class, which produced Anthony Edwards, Tyrese Haliburton, Tyrese Maxey, LaMelo Ball and little else.
However, one college basketball powerhouse is ripe with stars in this year's upcoming draft as the Duke Blue Devils feature five players in the latest NBA mock draft from The Athletic's Sam Vecenie.
Cooper Flagg, a rising household name, leads the charge for Duke. The ACC Player of the Year and consensus first-team All-American is the No. 1 overall pick by the Utah Jazz.
Newest 2025 NBA Mock Draft is up at @TheAthletic. A look at where NBA teams are heading into the NCAA Tournament.
There are just a TON of polarizing prospects this year for evaluators, which isn't a surprise with how young the class projects to be.https://t.co/JmMzbAXODCpic.twitter.com/9imDDxeugL
— Sam Vecenie (@Sam_Vecenie) March 19, 2025
Joining Flagg are Kon Knueppel at No. 6 by the Philadelphia 76ers, Khaman Maluach at No. 14 to the Atlanta Hawks, Tyrese Proctor at No. 38 to the Sacramento Kings and Sion James at No. 58 overall to the Houston Rockets.
Over 32 games this season, Flagg averaged 18.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.3 blocks and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 48.8/83.0/36.8 from the field. He led the Blue Devils in every category.
Knueppel was Duke's second-leading scorer (14.4) followed by Proctor (12.0).
Vecenie notes that Knueppel likely boosted his draft stock in Flagg's absence during the ACC Tournament.
"In the team's three ACC tournament games, he averaged 21 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.7 assists. He showed executives he can be both a strong off-ball scorer and a potentially interesting on-ball player who can dribble, pass and shoot," wrote Vecenie.
Maluach, an 18-year-old from South Sudan, is a high-upside, developmental player who began playing in 2019 and is still learning the game.
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This story was originally published March 20, 2025 at 1:53 PM.