“I want to come back next year.” That one line from Cooper Flagg earlier this year had Duke fans buzzing. Hopes rose. Fans even tried raising money on FanDuel to keep him in college. After all, Flagg just had one of the wildest freshman seasons ever. He led Duke in all five major statistical categories. He became one of the only few freshmen to win the National Player of the Year award. But even with all that, he couldn’t take them all the way. Duke fell just two wins short of the title. So naturally, some thought– maybe, just maybe, the Maine Event would run it back. But those hopes have now been crushed!

It’s not often a player lives up to sky-high expectations. But Cooper Flagg did just that. One can argue he even exceeded those expectations. Before even suiting up for Duke, the hype was unreal. Yet the 6’9” freshman delivered a season for the ages. He led the team in points (709), rebounds (277), assists (156), steals (52), and blocks per game (1.4).

What was even more impressive is that he ranked in the ACC’s top 10 in four of those five categories. Third in scoring. Ninth in rebounds. Eighth in assists. Sixth in blocks. And he also made history when it came to weekly honors. Flagg became the first player ever to win both ACC Player and Rookie of the Week in the same week — five times. No one had ever done it more than twice. Flagg’s college year will go down in history books, and the worst fear among the Duke fans became reality. Cooper Flagg is heading to the league!

The Duke Men’s Basketball social media team has delivered the news the basketball world was waiting for. Cooper Flagg is officially headed to the NBA. The projected number 1 overall pick is declaring for the draft, bringing his Duke chapter to a close after just one unforgettable season.

If Flagg is picked as the number 1 pick, which should be the case, he’ll become the sixth Duke player ever to be taken with the top pick. The list? Paolo Banchero (2022), Zion Williamson (2019), Kyrie Irving (2011), Elton Brand (1999), and Art Heyman (1963). Elite company, no doubt. What’s even more interesting is that he will be the first player coached by Jon Scheyer to become the first pick.

Excitement is off the charts. Everyone wants to know– where will Cooper Flagg land? The NBA Draft Lottery will soon give us that answer. But until then, let’s break down the teams with the best shot at drafting him.

Where will Cooper Flagg land?

First things first –yes, Flagg has officially declared for the NBA Draft. But it’s not a done deal yet! He’s got until May 28 to withdraw his name if he chooses to do so! The NBA gives prospects the flexibility to test the waters. They can go through the combine, see how teams view them, and then decide. If they don’t like their projected spot or simply want another year in college, they can return! Although it doesn’t look like Flagg will change his mind after declaring.

So, who might land Cooper Flagg? Well, it all comes down to the lottery. The 14 teams that missed the playoffs will be watching closely– each one dreaming of that number 1 pick. But three teams stand out from the rest. They’ve got the best odds at the top spot. A 14% chance each. The Utah Jazz. The Washington Wizards. The Charlotte Hornets.

If there was no lottery, the Utah Jazz would be picking first. They finished with the worst record in the league this year.But thanks to the lottery system, it’s not that simple. Now, they’ve got just as much of a chance as the Wizards and Hornets — 14% each. So who’s it gonna be? Will one of the bottom three get lucky? Or will a team from the shadows sneak up and steal the top pick? Stay tuned. Things are about to get wild.