Cooper Flagg, Duke’s standout freshman forward and the widely projected No. 1 pick, officially declared for the 2025 NBA Draft on Monday. The 18-year-old capped off a dominant debut season with the Blue Devils, averaging 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists while leading the team to a Final Four appearance.

In a video shared on Instagram, Flagg reflected on the season, calling it “the best year of my life,” and expressed gratitude for his time at Duke, where he had long dreamed of playing. “I’m excited to announce that I’ll be entering my name into the 2025 NBA Draft,” he said. “Today’s just the beginning.”

 

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A top prospect since high school, Flagg entered Duke as the consensus No. 1 recruit and lived up to expectations, winning the prestigious John R. Wooden Award as the nation’s best college player—only the fourth freshman ever to do so. He also trained with the USA Select Team ahead of the upcoming Paris Olympics.

Despite previously suggesting he might return to college, telling The Athletic he “still felt like a kid,” Flagg will instead head to the pros, where he’s expected to go first overall on June 25. The Utah Jazz, Washington Wizards, and Charlotte Hornets each hold a 14% chance of landing the top pick in the upcoming draft.