Cooper Flagg declares for NBA Draft

[ad_1] Duke Blue Devils ahead Cooper Flagg, the long-presumed No. 1 total choose, introduced Monday that he'll declare for the NBA Draft.

Flagg, 18, averaged 19.2 factors, 7.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists for the Blue Devils in his freshman season, serving to lead the workforce to a Ultimate 4 look.

“It was an unimaginable 12 months, in all probability the most effective 12 months of my life,” Flagg stated in a video posted to Instagram. “I've a lot gratitude. I really feel so blessed for all of the alternatives that I used to be given. Duke has all the time been a dream for me, however I’m excited to announce that I’ll be getting into my title into the 2025 NBA Draft. At this time’s only the start, however I've the brotherhood with me for all times.”

Flagg was a extremely touted prospect earlier than his lone 12 months at Duke, ending his highschool profession in 2024 because the consensus high recruit of his class. That summer season, Flagg was additionally invited to be part of the USA Choose Workforce, working towards in opposition to the boys’s nationwide basketball workforce forward of the Paris Olympics.

Along with serving to lead the Blue Devils to the Ultimate 4, Flagg gained the John R. Picket Award for faculty basketball’s most excellent participant, changing into solely the fourth freshman to ever accomplish that.

Flagg beforehand hinted at a potential return to Duke for one more season, telling The Athletic in February, “I wish to come again subsequent 12 months. I nonetheless really feel like a child. That is the one manner I’ve ever identified school.”

As a substitute, Flagg will head to the NBA.

The league’s draft is scheduled for June 25, when most anticipate Flagg to be chosen first total. The three groups with the most effective odds to win the draft lottery and choose Flagg are the Utah Jazz, the Washington Wizards and the Charlotte Hornets, with every having a 14% likelihood of successful the primary choose.