The NBA draft combine is full in swing at Wintrust Arena, and while teams are scouting all the quality talent this week, most are focused on all-but-confirmed top pick Cooper Flagg.
The 18-year-old forward from Duke blitzed through drills with ease on the first day Tuesday, showing his agility and speed. Given his 6-foot-9 frame, this is one of many reasons why he is seen as a generational talent. And the Wooden Award winner as the nation’s best player hit 35½ inches in the vertical leap. For comparison, Blake Griffin, one of the most prolific dunkers in NBA history, jumped the same height at the 2009 combine.
The capture the Flagg sweepstakes have been a hot topic, and the prodigy has handled the pressure well. How does he deal with the high expectations of being a potential game-changing NBA prospect?
“I think having a tight circle, you know, having a tight family group of supporters and people around me,” Flagg said. “Those are the opinions that I’ll pull from and lean on when I need feedback and opinions.”
The NBA draft lottery on Monday was “crazy.” The three teams with the best odds at the No.1 pick all landed outside the top three, while the Dallas Mavericks — with the fourth-worst odds at 1.8% — won the top spot. It will be a what-if for the Chicago Bulls, who stayed put at No. 12 after a coin flip gave the Mavs an added 0.1% odds. Flagg’s immediate reaction to the Mavs winning the lottery was subdued, but he obviously had interest in how the pingpong balls landed.
“I didn’t really think about where I was going to land beforehand at all,” Flagg said. “I knew it was out of my control, and I just kind of went into the whole process with an open mind. I saw the teams like everybody else, but I think it was a crazy sequence of events. They’re all really great teams on the board.”
Flagg will be a franchise building block wherever he lands — likely Dallas. And he is ready to get started.
“Wherever I end up, my role will be what it is, and I’m just going to try and be myself all the time,” Flagg said. “I know what I can bring to the table, so I’m just going to try and do that to the best of my ability.”
Flagg was the star, but the Blue Devils were loaded with freshman talent. Center Khaman Maluach is seeing his draft stock rise, while guard/forward Kon Knueppel is garnering scouts’ attention as well. Being on a stacked Duke team only helped Knueppel improve.
“(On) NBA teams, you’re going to have a role because there’s going to be a bunch of good players around you,” Knueppel said. “Being at Duke, (all) of our starting five is here at the combine, so obviously they’re great players, and I’m going to be surrounded by great players moving forward.”
Duke’s season ended with a heartbreaking loss to Houston in the Final Four. The Cougars defense smothered the Blue Devils, who scored just one field goal in the final 10 minutes, 30 seconds. Knueppel learned plenty from the loss that will help him ready for the NBA.
“It was a tough loss, a tough end to a great season, but it’s motivation to get better.” Knueppel said.
Duke’s Final Four run was expected, but Rutgers’ absence from March Madness was not, especially with the stellar backcourt of Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey. They are looking to be the first pair of college teammates in six years to be drafted in the top five. Duke’s Zion Williamson and RJ Barrett went Nos. 1 and 3 in 2019.
Harper’s father, Ron, was a part of the Bulls’ second three-peat from 1996-98, and the Harper reputation remains unscathed in the Windy City.
“We get a lot of free food.” the younger Harper said.
The guard averaged 19.4 points on 48.4% shooting in his lone season at Rutgers. He is widely expected to be the No. 2 pick by the San Antonio Spurs, and he will use some fatherly advice as he takes his game to the next level, potentially playing alongside Victor Wembanyama, the 2023 No. 1 pick.
“(He said) just go out there and work every day,” Harper said. “It’s crazy and a privilege to even be in this position. Victor is just a freak of nature. I mean, everything he does is crazy.”
Bailey showed no shortage of great play, averaging 17.6 points while leading Rutgers with 38 blocks. He knows what he will bring to his NBA team.
“(They’ll get) a very energetic guy,” Bailey said. “(I’ll be) coming in with great energy, great teammate, uplifting, very humble, wholesome person, down to earth (and) a winner.”
Baylor’s V.J. Edgecombe Jr. also has flashed at the draft combine. The guard is known as a great defender, but he thinks his play on the other side of the ball is underrated — he averaged 15 points on 43.6% shooting last season.
“I feel like everyone looks at me as a defensive person, just someone that dunks,” Edgecombe said. “I know I can provide more than that for sure.”
When his name gets called on draft night on June 23 — likely in the top 10 — he knows who he is going to first.
“I’m going to hug my momma for sure,” Edgecombe said. “Her name is Brenda, love her with all my heart.”
Among local NBA hopefuls at the combine, Jeremiah Fears led Oklahoma to its first NCAA Tournament in four years, scoring 17.1 points per game. The combine has been a full-circle moment for Fears, who is from Joliet.
“I’m back at home where it all started,” Fears said. “(I’m) enjoying the process and enjoying the moment, and this is something I’ll remember for a long time.”
