Why Dylan Harper should get the No. 1 pick over Cooper Flagg

Duke Basketball’s Cooper Flagg has been college basketball’s preseason hype magnet, and for good reason. The 17-year-old’s basketball IQ is well above most players his age on both ends of the floor, but Rutgers basketball superstar Dylan Harper is quick to show why he should be mentioned in the same breath.

Flagg still has the edge because of his defensive prowess, but Harper’s scoring and playmaking were exceptional, as USA Today’s Mike D. Sykes II points out.

“He is the only freshman in the last 20 years of NCAA men’s hoops to score 35 points in consecutive games after scoring 37 and 36 points in the Player’s Era Tournament.
As a freshman, he is third nationally in scoring.
“He’s also averaged 5.8 assists with just 1.8 turnovers in his last five games,” Sykes said.

“A 6-foot-2 guard with a 6-foot wingspan and an elite creator, he is exactly the type of player NBA teams want to develop.”

Flagg was less productive offensively, averaging 15.9 points per game on 44.4% shooting and 4.1 assists, including 26 and 24 points against No. 19 Kentucky and No. 17 Arizona, respectively.

Although it’s still early, it will be difficult to keep Harper away from the top spot in the 2025 NBA Draft if he improves defensively while maintaining this winning streak.

Dylan Harper is a Swiss army knife offensively

Harper’s best attribute so far has by far been his ability to score, as he is averaging 24.6 points per game on 55% shooting heading into the Scarlet Knights’ clash with No. 20 Texas A&M on Saturday afternoon. However, the New Jersey native could overtake Flagg if he continues to shine as a playmaker thanks to Locked On NBA Big Board’s James Barlowe.

“Yes, I think there is a chance. Not because Cooper Flagg isn’t nice… (But) Dylan Harper does so many things… You’re talking 6-foot-5, 215 (pounds), depending on what he ate the day before…” Barlowe said. “I think he’s a great athlete. You can be a great athlete without basketball. Body control, we saw him share the pick-and-roll and the dunk. Even then, he has plays where he can maintain his rise… he’s cold.”

Unlike Flagg, Harper also has the benefit of playing alongside star rookie Ace Bailey, who may be the third-best prospect in the upcoming draft class.

“Beyond that, with Ace Bailey coming back, I think he’s learning how to balance scoring and playmaking so you get 36 points and six assists? Yeah, I think he can really challenge…It’s clearly a two-man race for the top two prospects in the draft.”

There’s no telling where Flagg or Harper will end up in the NBA’s all-time rankings, as both players are still in their early stages. However, Harper is currently statistically outperforming the Blue Devils star and should be considered the best prospect in the country for the time being.