Top 5 men's NCAAB players to consider for the 2028 USA Olympics team ft. Cooper Flagg
While the USA Men's Olympic basketball team won the gold medal over France, much of that team is on their last international legs. LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant have done great service for USA basketball, but all will probably be finished with competitive basketball by 2028. Who steps up in their place? Here are some collegiate possibilities.
5 men's college basketball players to consider for the 2028 USA Olympics Team
1. Cooper Flagg, Duke
Flagg won the national high school Player of the Year award in 2024 and projects as the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. The 6-foot-9 forward is a standout at both ends of the floor. He can play inside and outside and has impressed with his high motor.
Flagg is also well-connected with USA basketball. He won gold with the Under-17 team at the 2022 World Cup. Flagg was part of a team that scrimmaged with the 2024 team to prepare it for the Olympic Games. Flagg drew praise from the veterans for his skills. He'll likely end up on the 2028 USA team.
2. Ace Bailey, Rutgers
A forward listed between 6-foot-8 and 6-foot-10, Bailey is another athletic forward. He might not be quite the all-around player that Flagg is, but he's an outstanding scorer. Bailey topped 33 points per game in his senior season of high school. Bailey was a top-five recruit on most ranking lists.
Bailey also played for the Under-17 USA World Cup team with Flagg. His game is compared with Kevin Durant and Dominique Wilkins. He could easily end up on Team USA.
3. Dylan Harper, Rutgers
Harper will join Bailey at Rutgers in 2024-25. A 6-foot-6 guard, Harper is the son of former Chicago Bull Ron Harper. Harper can play either guard spot and was the MVP of both the McDonald's All-American Game and the Jordan Brand Classic.
Harper played for Team USA at the 2023 Under-19 World Cup. His versatility and size make him an ideal international player, and if he continues to shine on the biggest stages, he's a likely pick for Team USA.
4. Liam McNeeley, UConn
The past few years have yielded one certain conclusion: Dan Hurley maximizes basketball talent. McNeeley is the freshman phenom that Hurley picked up for the 2024-25 Huskies. Standing 6-foot-8, he's an athletic wing forward. He's also athletic enough to defend a big guard but tall enough to stick with some power forwards.
McNeeley played for the USA's Under-16 team at the 2021 FIBA Americas Championship. Under Hurley's leadership at UConn, he will gain experience and mature into an excellent team player.
5. RJ Davis, North Carolina
The team might need a veteran touch, and Davis could be a player like Curry, who blossoms into a great NBA scorer. In four years at UNC, Davis has scored 2,088 points and hit 274 3-pointers. Yes, he's only 6-foot-1, but he's an explosive perimeter scorer. With the right breaks, Davis could end up representing Team USA.
Which college players do you think could be on the 2028 Team USA? Share your thoughts below in our comments section!