Cooper Flagg’s highlight reel is tantalizing. He’s not just the consensus No. 1 pick in the upcoming 2025 NBA Draft; he’s considered one of the best prospects to arrive in years.
While there’s no doubt that he’s the consensus top prospect, one NBA assistant coach thinks another prospect in the 2025 NBA draft can be as good as Flagg.
NBA Assistant Coach Names 2025 Prospect Who Can Be as Good as Cooper Flagg
Cooper is all set to be drafted by the Dallas Mavericks after they shockingly won the NBA Draft lottery, with just a 1.8% chance. The San Antonio Spurs, who have widely been projected to select Dylan Harper, are picking second.
An aggregate NBA mock draft from HoopsHype also projected Harper going second overall to the Spurs. One assistant coach told the outlet Harper, a combo guard from Rutgers, could end up being just as good as Flagg.
“I don’t think he has a higher ceiling than Cooper Flagg, but I believe he can be just as good. He has that slow-fast style that Jalen Brunson possesses, which I think is one of the most interesting things about him. The way he can dictate the game is impressive.”
Harper stands at 6-foot-6, and that size at the guard spot has proven valuable in today’s NBA, especially for players who can create their shots, which Harper can.
“At 6’6″, he has great size for his position and can play either shooting guard or point guard,” the assistant coach added. “From what I’ve seen of him at Rutgers, he does a good job of attacking smaller defenders. Granted, most of the defenders he faces are smaller than him, but I thought he showcased his ability to go at them effectively.”
Harper put up substantial numbers as a freshman at Rutgers, averaging 19.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game. He shot 48.4% from the field but just 33% from three-point range, so he’ll likely lean on his athleticism early in his career.
At 6-foot-6, Dylan Harper has excellent size for a point guard, with a combination of shot-creation prowess, passing creativity, finishing skill and overall scoring instincts that have drawn comparisons in NBA circles to a young James Harden. https://t.co/H1XZO6C7ds pic.twitter.com/PxjmE1nKp9
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress)
Harper might have been the clear No. 1 pick in a draft without Flagg. But the Duke star is sitting at the top across nearly every board. PFSN’s latest mock draft by Brandon Austin also has Flagg going first to the Mavericks, with Harper headed to San Antonio.
“At 6’6” with an NBA-ready frame, he is a big guard who doesn’t shy away from contact and already knows how to absorb and finish through it,” Austin wrote. “Even more impressive than his scoring is Harper’s command of the game. He’s already an elite pick-and-roll initiator with exceptional passing skills and strong decision-making.
“A core of Victor Wembanyama, Fox, Castle, and Harper provides a promising future for Spurs fans to look forward to.”