When will Duke’s freshman Cooper Flagg be NBA draft eligible?
Cooper Flagg, the unanimous No. 1 player in the 2024 class, has also been projected to be a top pick in the 2025 NBA draft, despite not yet playing a single minute of college basketball.
The Newport, Maine, native spent two seasons at Montverde Academy, Florida, before joining the Duke Blue Devils this summer. He will make his college debut against Maine on Monday at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
Many hoop fans are still in confusion how a 17-year-old can be draft eligible next year, so let's take a deeper look.
When is Cooper Flagg eligible for the NBA draft?
Cooper Flagg, a 6-foot-9 Duke phenom, will be eligible for the NBA draft following the completion of the 2024-25 season, as he will complete a season of college basketball.
Flagg will meet the age requirement for the draft with just 11 days to spare.
According to the NBA CBA, "the player (A) is or will be at least nineteen (19) years of age during the calendar year in which the draft is held, and (B) ... at least one (1) NBA Season has elapsed since the player’s graduation from high school."
Since Cooper Flagg was born on Dec. 21, he will turn 19 by next year, the same calendar year as the 2025 NBA draft, making him eligible. If he had been born just two weeks later, he would have had to wait an extra year.
Secondly, the CBA states that a player must be "attending or previously attended a four-year college or university in the United States."
Flagg earned his high school graduation in three years. He was initially a 2025 alum but later reclassified to 2024. He should meet the requirements after attending a season at Duke University.
Duke coach Jon Scheyer on dealing with a 17-year-old Cooper Flagg
A 17-year-old prospect rarely garners the level of attention that Cooper Flagg has received.
He is one of the most hyped freshman players in recent memory, drawing comparisons to Anthony Davis' freshman year in 2011 with Kansas and to LeBron James' high school dominance.
"I haven't gone through this yet with a 17-year-old in this way," Duke coach Scheyer told ESPN. "We've had 18-year-olds, we've had 19-year-olds. But being 17, a year early -- it's going to be a process."
Along with Cooper Flagg, several other Duke players — Khaman Maluach, Kon Knueppel and Tyrese Proctor — are also viewed as potential first-round picks in next year's NBA draft.