Cooper Flagg, the projected No. 1 overall pick, has officially declared for the 2025 NBA Draft following a historic freshman campaign at Duke.
The announcement came Monday afternoon through a video posted on Flagg’s Instagram, where the 18-year-old forward expressed gratitude to his teammates, fans, and the Duke program.
“Duke fans, my teammates, the brotherhood, everybody that was alive for this journey. It was an incredible year. Probably the best year of my life,” Flagg said in the video. “I’m excited to announce that I’ll be entering my name into the 2020-25 NBA draft.”
His decision ends months of speculation surrounding his future after he led Duke to an ACC title and a Final Four berth.
Flagg, a native of Newport, Maine, became the first freshman in program history to win the John R. Wooden Award.
He averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists in 30.6 minutes per game, while shooting efficiently from all areas of the floor.
In a season filled with accolades, Flagg also took home ACC Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year honors.
Among his standout performances, he scored 42 points against Notre Dame on January 12, setting ACC and Duke freshman records.
During Duke’s tournament run, he dropped 30 points in a Sweet 16 win over Arizona and added 27 points in the Final Four loss to Houston.
Flagg also became the first ACC player in over two decades to post more than 500 points, 100 assists, and 30 blocks in a regular season.
His freshman season concluded with Duke finishing 19-1 in conference play and earning a No. 1 seed in the East Region.
With his official declaration, Flagg joins a short list of Duke freshmen to leave after one season with multiple conference honors, following the likes of Zion Williamson and Marvin Bagley III.
The five-star recruit from Montverde Academy entered college with immense hype and leaves as one of the most polished NBA-ready prospects in recent memory.
His strong two-way play, basketball IQ, and versatility have positioned him as the consensus top pick heading into June’s draft.
The 2025 NBA Draft Lottery will take place on May 12, determining which team will have the chance to select Flagg.
The lottery includes the 14 teams that missed the playoffs, with the Utah Jazz, Washington Wizards, and Charlotte Hornets each holding a 14% chance to land the top pick.
The NBA Draft is scheduled for June 25-26 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
