Visene said Flagg is a top talent that every team wants

Cooper Flagg was considered an elite young talent before he even played for Duke, and his performance this season has not only confirmed that, but has taken his reputation to the next level.

"The intelligence on Flagg is one of the top scouting reports I've ever read," Sam Vecenie of The Athletic reported on Tuesday.

"Flag is the ideal player that teams at the top of the draft are looking for," said Vesani. "He may not be a 'can't miss' supernova like Victor Wembanyama, but he is clearly a top talent that every team desires. His presence has caused the NBA's 'tanking' competition to start earlier than usual, such as the Brooklyn Nets trading away some of their core players before 2025, and the Washington Wizards fearlessly starting young players all season. With the exception of Dylan Harper, I have reservations about whether most other players in this draft can meet the expectations of teams."

Flagg currently averages 19.2 points per game, shooting 48.8% from the field, 8.1 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.2 blocks per game. He scored 42 points against Notre Dame on January 11, breaking the ACC (Atlantic Coast Conference) freshman single-game scoring record and helping the team win 86-78.

Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report has Flagg as the favorite to go No. 1 in his latest mock draft, writing that the 6-foot-9 forward continues to "hold a firm position at No. 1" on various draft boards.