Duke Blue Devils forward Cooper Flagg (2) drives to the basket between Auburn Tigers guard Tahaad Pettiford (0) and center Johni Broome (4) during the second half at Cameron Indoor Stadium. The Blue Devils won 84-78. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-Imagn Images A quartet of No. 1 seeds converge on San Antonio this weekend as a Cinderella-free March bracket funnels into a star-studded Final Four.
NBA Draft destinies can be forged in the fire of the Big Dance just as pro teams post their final records.
With Big Boards as volatile as the stock market, Duke, Houston, Auburn and Florida all feature up-and-comers eager to stake their claim for NBA legitimacy in pursuit of tournament glory.
Kemba Walker (UConn) turned the 2011 NCAA Tournament into his personal “One Shining Moment” highlight reel and emerged as a champion and top 10 draft pick (ninth overall, Charlotte).
Donte DiVincenzo (Villanova) leapfrogged much of the field in 2018, eliciting first-round interest off the back of his 31-point offensive onslaught in the National Championship game. He went 17th overall to the Milwaukee Bucks.
And while there are suitors aligned to capture the rights to the No. 1 overall pick — essentially a ticket to Cooper Flagg — the 2025 Final Four could serve as a stage for several prospects who are a standout performance away from rising up the ranks and elevating their standing in the collective NBA consciousness.
Cooper Flagg (6-9, Forward, Freshman, Duke)
The surefire top pick that has NBA bottom-dwellers salivating, Flagg’s March showing has been nothing but reassuring. A rangy combo forward with sharp playmaking instincts as well as a multi-positional ball hawk defensively, “capture the Flagg” is in full swing as front offices continue to pray to the lottery Gods.
Khaman Maluach (7-2, Center, Freshman, Duke)
A 17-year old Olympian with South Sudan in 2024, Maluach is a physically imposing rim presence reminiscent of his Blue Devil predecessor Mark Williams. The value proposition is clear as day — a vertical spacer out of screen and rolls and a backline eraser defensively. Maluach appears a shoo-in for the top 10, but a rim protection clinic in the Final Four could see him flirting with the top 5.
Kon Knueppel (6-7, Guard, Freshman, Duke)
Look no further than Knueppel’s 3-point percentage (41) and 91.2 percent free-throw percentage as the baseline for what teams will love about him in the NBA. Knueppel is a tailor-made off-guard who flourishes stationary as a catch-and-shoot option and can also thrive as a movement shooter off of flare screens and other secondary actions. Knueppel is a capable straight-line driver where the circumstances demand and can seamlessly coexist with high touch time creators while opening up the middle of the floor. He competes defensively despite exhibiting subpar footspeed for his position. With shooting at a premium, Knueppel has mid-lottery written all over him.
Walter Clayton Jr. (6-2, Guard, Senior, Florida)
Perhaps the biggest riser of the 2025 NCAA Tournament thus far, Clayton Jr. has vaulted himself into a new realm of conversation.
His shiftiness off the bounce and shot-making capacity at all three levels has certainly turned heads and drawn Devin Booker comps.
His 30-point eruption to put away Texas Tech in the Elite Eight, punctuated by an off-balance 3-point dagger with a minute remaining, served as the perfect exclamation point and upramped attention on his pro prospects.
Clayton Jr.’s draft profile depends on the eye of the beholder. At 22 years old, his age could be viewed as a demerit or an advantage. Plenty of organizations will covet a more seasoned rookie with more to offer in the immediate term. Walter should receive first-round consideration after entering March a late second-round afterthought.
Johni Broome (6-10, Forward, Senior, Auburn)
A fifth year college player, Broome is riding momentum after a combined 47 points and 30 rebounds in the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight. While his availability for the Final Four is impacted by a shoulder injury, he currently projects around the fringes of the late first or early second round. Broome turns 23 in July. Accordingly, he will be critiqued for being closer to a finished product than a fledgling star. Despite an iffy 3-point stroke, Broome has flaunted his craft and footwork down-low as a potential off-the-bench 4 or 5 who can knock down an open shot or work with his back to the basket. His defensive execution and tools measure up, but finding a spot in the first round might be a stretch.
Honorable Mentions: Alex Condon (Florida), Milos Uzan (Houston), Tyrese Proctor (Duke), Tahaad Pettiford (Auburn)
–Ethan Ward, Field Level Media
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