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| Cooper Flagg, Duke |
1. Cooper Flagg, F, Duke
NBA Comparison / Ceiling: Kevin Garnett with better defense
Bust Potential: Low
The McGowanMania Take: Cooper Flagg has been a big name among basketball junkies going back years now, back to the high school days in Maine and his eventual move to Montverde Academy. Now he's a household name after a dominant one season at Duke, where he earned National Player of the Year honors and solidified himself as the no-doubt top selection in the 2025 NBA Draft. As an NBA prospect, he does seem to check just about all the boxes - an elite athlete with the versatility to fit in just about any system in the pros. But one thing that has always stood out to me is his competitive drive. He went out and gave it his all every second of every game at Duke, whether it was against North Carolina in a major rival game or an early-season tune-up at Cameron Indoor. Flagg has the right head on his shoulders to deal with the pressures of not just being a No. 1 pick, but one of the most hyped prospects of the modern era. Dallas lucked themselves into a franchise-altering pick and there's no question Flagg stands alone atop this big board.
2. Ace Bailey, G/F, Rutgers
NBA Comparison / Ceiling: Jimmy Butler
Bust Potential: Moderate
The McGowanMania Take: There's an interesting split among NBA folks on Rutgers wing Ace Bailey. It feels like people even love him, or hate him, with no in-between. I lean more in the love him camp, with a major caveat - he absolutely needs to clean up his shot selection. You see the physical gifts and offensive ability when he plays. He was listed at 6'10" at Rutgers but measured in closer to 6'8" at the NBA Draft Combine, but either way possesses the ideal frame to overpower defenders at the next level. Despite the size, he's deceptively quick with the ball in his hands and has a smooth jumper, even if he's inconsistent. If Bailey can land in the right spot and with an organization that is able to clean up the weaker parts of his game, he has the looks of a guy who is going to be a top-tier scorer and regular All-Star. But, more so than others near the top of this Draft, Bailey's success is very dependent on where he lands, which throws an interesting wrinkle into his future prospects.
3. Dylan Harper, PG, Rutgers
NBA Comparison / Ceiling: Jalen Brunson
Bust Potential: Low
The McGowanMania Take: The second part of the Rutgers pair set to both be off the board early come late June, Dylan Harper has been projected to San Antonio at No. 2 for some time now. You can imagine the fear from the Western Conference at the thought of Victor Wembanyma teaming up with a player like Harper, who has a surprisingly mature offensive game for his age. He can score at all three levels, but is a smart basketball player who looked the part as the lead guard for the Scarlet Knights, even during a lost 2024-25 campaign for the program. I'm not sure if Harper is going to be a player that goes out and wins a scoring title, but instead is a very effective floor general who does all the little things well. Obviously there's a lot of value in that, and I love the potential fit with the Spurs. If Chris Paul does stick around, which is completely up in the air at this point, it could be the perfect mentor opportunity for both as the future Hall-of-Famer wraps up his career.
4. Kon Knueppel, G/F, Duke
