Top NBA prospects in 2025 NCAA Tournament: Analysis, players to watch in March Madness including Cooper Flagg

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For a lot of NBA fans, the NCAA Tournament is when they start seriously scouting for the NBA Draft.

It’s the opposite for NBA teams, who have most of their work done already (they care more about interviews at the NBA Draft Combine and individual workouts than what happens in March). NBA teams have their draft boards relatively far along.

If you’re an NBA guy with a college hoops eye this week, what players should you watch? Here are 12 names to keep an eye on, starting with three Duke players expected to go in the top 10.

Duke’s top-10 trio

Duke’s plays at 2:50 p.m. ET, Friday, March 21, vs. the winner of St. Mary’s vs. American University first four game (CBS)

Duke is more than just Cooper Flagg. Make no mistake, Flagg is the clear and away the No. 1 pick in this draft whether or not he sets foot on the court for a second in the NCAA tournament because of a sprained ankle (he is expected to play, maybe limited minutes in the opener, but by Sunday expect a lot of Flagg). As one scout put it to me, he could have “really screwed up his knee,” and it would not have changed the draft order. That said, Duke is more than a one-man show; they have three guys expected to go in the top 10.

Cooper Flagg

Flagg came into this season as the likely No. 1 pick — particularly after a stand-out performance with the USA Select team over the summer — but with questions. He has answered them. Everyone knew he was a high-motor, competitive defender with serious rim protection. The question was could he create his own shot — he has shown improved handles, shot creation, and has averaged 18.9 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.1 assists a game.

The Duke game to watch would be Sunday, especially if Baylor advances and Flagg faces off against another top-four player in this draft in VJ Edgecombe.

Khaman Maluach

There’s a market and a role in the NBA for old-school centers who can protect the rim and are a vertical threat on pick-and-rolls (Jarrett Allen, Rudy Gobert, Zach Eddy), and Maluach can be one of those guys. He is 7’2″ with a 7’6″ wingspan, moves his feet well…

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Publish date : 2025-03-18 12:00:00

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