The top two players selected in last year’s NBA draft and four of the top five picks in 2023 had never played in an NCAA Tournament before beginning their pro careers.
That trend figures to end this year with Duke forward Cooper Flagg.
kAmu=288 DAC2:?65 9:D 2?<=6 😕 sF<6’D @A6?:?8 82>6 2E E96 pE=2?E:4 r@2DE r@?76C6?46 %@FC?2>6?E 2?5 5:5?’E A=2J E96 C6DE @7 E96 H66<] sF<6 92D :?5:42E65 u=288 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^?422\E@FC?2>6?E\4@@A6C\7=288\de`65f546eecha227gae4ec6_cf_gcceQmH:== 36 2G2:=23=6k^2m 7@C |2C49 |25?6DD] pD E96 }@] ` D665 😕 E96 t2DE #68:@?[ sF<6 Wb`\bX A=2JD :ED 7:CDE E@FC?2>6?E 82>6 uC:52J]k^Am
kAmx7 u=288 😀 962=E9J 6?@F89 E@ A=2J[ 32D<6E32== 72?D H:== 36 23=6 E@ H2E49 E96 =:<6=J }@] ` A:4< 😕 E96 FA4@>:?8 5C27E 2E E9:D J62C’D }rpp %@FC?2>6?E] %92E’D D@>6E9:?8 E96J H6C6?’E 23=6 E@ 6IA6C:6?46 E96 =2DE 4@FA=6 @7 J62CD]k^Am
kAm%96 7:CDE EH@ A:4<D 😕 =2DE J62C’D 5C27E H6C6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^?32\5C27E\a_ac\A:4<D\5_4a`bg337_cff5`bchffd43ehffd_5fQm+24492C:6 #:D2496Ck^2m 2?5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^?32\5C27E\a_ac\H2D9:?8E@?\H:K2C5D\2=6I\D2CC\423_2g4`667dd`3f`gh3`_`aba2ged33Qmp=6I $2CC[k^2m :?E6C?2E:@?2= AC@DA64ED H9@ 5:5?’E A=2J 4@==686 32D<6E32==] %96 @?=J 4@==686 A=2J6C E2<6? 2>@?8 E96 7:CDE 7:G6 D6=64E:@?D 😕 E96 a_ab 5C27E 962565 3J $2? p?E@?:@ $AFCD DE2C k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^?32\5C27E\a_ab\H6>32?J2>2\3bcch5`2d7f2f56dh_e33`hfh773a2aeRiOiE6IEl}t(Ta_*~#zTa_Wp!XTa_TtaTg_ThcTa_’:4E@C[>JTa_=:76TarTtaTg_ThsTa_(6>32?J2>2Ta_D2:5]Qm’:4E@C (6>32?J2>2k^2m H2D p=232>2’D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^?32\5C27E\492C=@EE6\9@C?6ED\3C2?5@?\>:==6C\765b765`5g4e7`hcacfhg_2de_hed2fbQmqC2?5@? |:==6C[k^2m H9@ H6?E D64@?5 @G6C2== E@ E96 r92C=@EE6 w@C?6ED]k^Am
kAm%96 =2DE }@] ` A:4< H:E9 }rpp %@FC?2>6?E 6IA6C:6?46 H2D !2@=@ q2?496C@[ H9@ =65 sF<6 E@ E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^>2C49\>25?6DD\?@CE9\42C@=:?2\E2C\966=D\>6?D\32D<6E32==\5F<6\3=F6\56G:=D\>6?D\32D<6E32==\DA@CED\>:<6\<CKJK6HD<:\fe36`_hh2__h24f4ahhb4be2a632__2gQma_aa u:?2= u@FCk^2m 367@C6 E96 ~C=2?5@ |28:4 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^@C=2?5@\>28:4\?32\DA@CED\252>\D:=G6C\he2`dg2eee2`5a2_b5accegeg3h7f2e`QmD6=64E65 9:> 7:CDEk^2m @G6C2==]k^Am
kAmu=288 2=C625J H2D 4@?D:56C65 E96 =:<6=J }@] ` A:4< 6G6? 367@C6 E96 e\7@@E\h DH:?8>2? 324<65 FA E96 244=2:> 244@>A2?J:?8 9:D 2CC:G2= @? 42>AFD 3J 6>6C8:?8 2D 2 ?2E:@?2= A=2J6C @7 E96 J62C 7C@?E\CF??6C 9:D 7C6D9>2? D62D@?] u=288 😀 2G6C28:?8 `g]h A@:?ED[ f]d C63@F?5D[ c]` 2DD:DED[ `]d DE62=D 2?5 `]b 3=@4<D]k^Am
kAm(9:=6 u=288 😀 @?6 @7 E96 9625=:?6 2EEC24E:@?D 😕 E9:D J62C’D }rpp %@FC?2>6?E[ EH@ @E96C =:<6=J E@A\7:G6 A:4<D H@?’E 36 A2CE:4:A2E:?8 😕 |2C49 |25?6DD 56DA:E6 A=2J:?8 4@==686 32D<6E32== E9:D D62D@?] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^3:8\E6?\FD4\CFE86CD\D4@C6\e5`hb`c7dg74“3dg6dah`44ch5chd2bQm#FE86CD H6?E ;FDE `d\`fk^2m E9:D D62D@? 56DA:E6 92G:?8 p46 q2:=6J 2?5 sJ=2? w2CA6C[ H9@ 4@F=5 6?5 FA 36:?8 E96 ?6IE EH@ A:4<D 😕 E96 5C27E 369:?5 u=288]k^Am
kAmtG6? D@[ E9:D J62C’D E@FC?2>6?E 7:6=5 762EFC6D A=6?EJ @7 }qp AC@DA64ED 36J@?5 u=288ik^Am
k9am’y t5864@>36[ v[ q2J=@Ck^9am
kAm~A6?:?8 82>6i uC:52J GD] |:DD:DD:AA: $E2E6 2E #2=6:89[ }@CE9 r2C@=:?2]k^Am
kAm}@E6Di p 8F2C5 7C@> q2J=@C W`h\`aX 92D 366? D6=64E65 😕 E96 7:CDE C@F?5 @7 E9C66 @7 E96 7:CDE 7@FC 5C27ED[ H:E9 s2G:@? |:E496== 8@:?8 ?:?E9 😕 a_a`[ z6J@?E6 v6@C86 `eE9 😕 a_ab 2?5 y2’z@36 (2=E6C `hE9 =2DE J62C] t5864@>36 7:8FC6D E@ 4@?E:?F6 E92E EC6?5] %96 e\d 8F2C5 7C@> E96 q292>2D H2D ?2>65 E96 q:8 `a 7C6D9>2? @7 E96 J62C 3J E96 =628F6’D 4@2496D] w6 2G6C286D `d A@:?ED[ d]e C63@F?5D 2?5 b]b 2DD:DED]k^Am
k9amz2DA2C2D y2<F4:@?:D[ v[ x==:?@:Dk^9am
kAm~A6?:?8 82>6i uC:52J GD] %6I2D @C )2G:6C 2E |:=H2F<66]k^Am
kAm%9:D e\e 7C6D9>2? 7C@> {:E9F2?:2 D4@C65 2E =62DE a_ A@:?ED 😕 D:I DEC2:89E 82>6D 62C=:6C E9:D D62D@?[ 2 DEC6E49 E92E :?4=F565 >2E49FAD H:E9 }rpp %@FC?2>6?E E62>D pC<2?D2D[ (:D4@?D:?[ %6??6DD66 2?5 |:DD@FC:] y2<F4:@?:D’ D4@C:?8 92D =6G6=65 @77 2 3:E D:?46 E96?[ 3FE 96 DE:== 92D 366? 2 DE2E DEF776C H:E9 `d A@:?ED[ d]e C63@F?5D 2?5 c]e 2DD:DED A6C 82>6 7@C x==:?@:D Wa`\`aX]k^Am
k9am%C6 y@9?D@?[ v[ %6I2Dk^9am
kAm~A6?:?8 82>6i (65?6D52J GD] )2G:6C 2E s2JE@?[ ~9:@]k^Am
kAm}@E6Di y@9?D@? 62C?65 7:CDE\E62> k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^2A\D64\2H2C5D\2F3FC?\;@9?:\3C@@>6\3CF46\A62C=\_gc3d7__2h2e6g3h5d`75526_c_e466`QmpDD@4:2E65 !C6DD 2==\$@FE962DE6C? r@?76C6?46k^2m 9@?@CD 2?5 H2D ?2>65 E96 4@?76C6?46’D ?6H4@>6C @7 E96 J62C E9:D D62D@?] w6 92D }qp D:K6 2E e\e 2?5 4=62C=J 92D D4@C:?8 23:=:EJ] w6 92D 2G6C2865 `h]g A@:?ED 7@C %6I2D W`h\`dX 2D 2 7C6D9>2? H9:=6 A=2J:?8 😕 E96 ?2E:@?’D E@F896DE 4@?76C6?46] w6 92D D9@E bh]aT 7C@> b\A@:?E C2?86 H9:=6 >2<:?8 a]f b\A@:?E6CD A6C 82>6] w6 925 2 bh\A@:?E A6C7@C>2?46 😕 2? @G6CE:>6 =@DD 2E pC<2?D2D 2?5 D4@C65 ba 😕 2 G:4E@CJ @G6C z6?EF4<J]k^Am
k9am{:2> |4}66=6J[ u[ &r@??k^9am
kAm~A6?:?8 82>6i uC:52J GD] ~<=29@>2 2E #2=6:89[ }@CE9 r2C@=:?2]k^Am
kAm}@E6D %96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^2A\2==\3:8\62DE\32D<6E32==\E62>\e6cc6h6g3eg3`7___54gh6c5__hg36h5Qmp! q:8 t2DE ?6H4@>6C @7 E96 J62Ck^2m 925 `g A@:?ED 2?5 “ C63@F?5D 282:?DE $E] y@9?’D 2?5 bg A@:?ED 2?5 `_ C63@F?5D 2E rC6:89E@? 😕 324<\E@\324< 82>6D =2DE >@?E9] %96 e\f 7@CH2C5 😀 2G6C28:?8 `c]d A@:?ED[ e]` C63@F?5D 2?5 a]b 2DD:DED 😕 9:D 7C6D9>2? D62D@? H:E9 &r@?? Wab\`_X] |4}66=6J H:== 6?E6C E96 }rpp %@FC?2>6?E =@@<:?8 E@ 6?5 2 3:E @7 2 D=F>A[ 2D 96 92D D9@E `d @7 da @G6C2== 2?5 c @7 `h 7C@> b\A@:?E C2?86 @G6C 9:D =2DE 7@FC 82>6D]k^Am
k9ams6C:< “F66?[ r[ |2CJ=2?5k^9am
kAm~A6?:?8 82>6i uC:52J GD] vC2?5 r2?J@? 😕 $62EE=6]k^Am
kAm}@E6Di %96 e\`_ 7C6D9>2? 😀 2 EC25:E:@?2= A@DE A=2J6C H9@ 5@6D?’E 92G6 2 b\A@:?E D9@E 2E E9:D A@:?E – 96’D ;FDE a @7 ac 7C@> 36J@?5 E96 2C4 E9:D D62D@? – 3FE 96’D 5@?6 8C62E H@C< 2C@F?5 E96 32D<6E] “F66? 😀 2G6C28:?8 `e]b A@:?ED 2?5 h C63@F?5D 7@C |2CJ=2?5 Wad\gX] w6 6?E6CD E96 }rpp %@FC?2>6?E H:E9 6:89E 5@F3=6\5@F3=6D 😕 9:D =2DE `_ 82>6D] w6’D 4@>:?8 @77 2 b`\A@:?E A6C7@C>2?46 😕 2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^3:8\E6?\E@FC?2>6?E\>2C49\>25?6DD\c5g_337dadg426_b4b65h54675gchf6fQmq:8 %6? %@FC?2>6?E D6>:7:?2= =@DDk^2m E@ |:49:82?]k^Am
k9amy2D6 #:492C5D@?[ v[ |:49:82? $E2E6k^9am
kAm~A6?:?8 82>6i uC:52J GD] qCJ2?E 2E r=6G6=2?5]k^Am
kAm}@E6Di k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^;2D6\C:492C5D@?\>:49:82?\DE2E6\37dg6dhb_efc`h`3cg2fd443ff62`_d7Qm#:492C5D@?k^2m 😀 E96 D@? @7 y2D@? #:492C5D@?[ H9@ H2D A2CE @7 |:49:82? $E2E6’D `hhh\a___ ?2E:@?2= 492>A:@?D9:A E62> 2?5 A=2J65 `b D62D@?D 😕 E96 }qp] %96 e\b 7C6D9>2? 92D >256 2? :>AC6DD:@? 3J D9@@E:?8 d`]aT @G6C2== 2?5 c`]aT 7C@> b\A@:?E C2?86] w6’D @?=J DE2CE65 “ @7 ba 82>6D 7@C |:49:82? $E2E6 Waf\eX H9:=6 2G6C28:?8 `a A@:?ED[ 3FE 96’D 4@>6 @? DEC@?8 =2E6=J] #:492C5D@? 😀 2G6C28:?8 `h]d A@:?ED @G6C 9:D =2DE 7@FC 82>6D 2?5 92D D4@C65 2E =62DE `f 😕 6249 @7 E96>]k^Am
k9C ^m
kAmv6E A@== 2=6CED 2?5 FA52E6D @? E96 p! %@A ad 2== D62D@?] $:8? FA k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]2A?6HD]4@>^?6HD=6EE6CDQm96C6k^2m] p! 4@==686 32D<6E32==i k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^9F3^2A\E@A\ad\4@==686\32D<6E32==\A@==Qm9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^9F3^2A\E@A\ad\4@==686\32D<6E32==\A@==k^2m 2?5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^9F3^4@==686\32D<6E32==Qm9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^9F3^4@==686\32D<6E32==k^2mk^Am
Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
