2025 NBA draft: 5 teams with most talented prospects ft. Cooper Flagg's Duke
The 2025 NBA draft is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated in recent memory. With talented players emerging across the college basketball landscape, some teams stand out as having the most impressive pipeline of NBA-level talent.
The Duke Blue Devils are expected to excel in the draft, led by highly touted Cooper Flagg. Similarly, other teams—North Carolina, Rutgers, Illinois, Arkansas and Arizona—are also boasting lineups filled with future NBA stars.
Here is a closer look at the five college programs with the most talented prospects.
5 college basketball teams with top prospects for 2025 NBA Draft
#5. UConn Huskies
- Top prospects: Liam McNeeley (No. 10), Alex Karaban (No. 30), Jaylin Stewart (No. 33)
UConn had four players picked in this year's NBA draft — two were even top 10 picks: Stephone Castle and Donovan Clingan.
The Huskies could be poised for an encore in 2025 with a trio of rising stars. Liam McNeeley, a five-star forward, is garnering lottery buzz, while Alex Karaban and Jaylin Stewart are also expected to be early-round selections.
#4. UNC Tar Heels
- Top prospects: Drake Powell (No. 7), Ian Jackson (No. 27)
After having three selected in the past two NBA drafts, North Carolina is once again loaded with NBA talents. Drake Powell, a 6-foot-6 freshman, is projected as a potential top-10 pick in the next year's draft, per ESPN.
#3. Arizona Wildcats
- Top prospects: Carter Bryant (No. 13), Motiejus Krivas (No. 17), KJ Lewis (No. 34), Jaden Bradley (No. 55)
Tommy Lloyd's Arizona program has three top 50 picks in the 2025 crop, led by four-star recruit Carter Bryant and the European big man Motiejus Krivas.
Meanwhile, sophomore guard KJ Lewis is another player to watch emerge as a high-level prospect.
#2. Rutgers Scarlet Knights
- Top prospects: Ace Bailey (No. 2), Dylan Harper (No. 3)
Rutgers has two big-time recruits, Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper, who will don the Scarlet Knights uniform this coming season.
Both Bailey and Harper are considered potential lottery picks in 2025. With such impressive talents on board, Steve Pikiell's team could dominate the Big Ten and make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament.
#1. Duke Blue Devils
- Top prospects: Cooper Flagg (No. 1), Kon Knueppel (No. 6), Khaman Maluach (No. 8), Tyrese Proctor (No. 28), Caleb Foster (No. 44), Isaiah Evans (No. 49)
Duke has never lacked NBA-caliber talent, and the 2025 draft is no exception. The Blue Devils could potentially have five to six players picked next year. Cooper Flagg, the top recruit in the nation, is projected as the No. 1 overall pick.