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“Another Mock NBA Draft Has Three Blue Devils In The Top Six Picks”
Another Mock NBA Draft Has Three Blue Devils in the Top Six Picks
DURHAM, N.C. — For a program that has long been synonymous with excellence, the Duke Blue Devils are once again dominating headlines — not for their tournament success or coaching carousel, but for their overwhelming presence at the top of NBA draft boards. In a newly released mock draft from one of the most respected NBA analysts, three Duke players are projected to be selected in the top six picks of the 2025 NBA Draft.
This marks yet another reminder that while titles are often the most coveted measure of success in college basketball, NBA talent development continues to be a cornerstone of Duke’s storied legacy. Led by head coach Jon Scheyer in his third season, the Blue Devils have not only recruited elite-level talent — they’ve developed it into professional-ready production.
Here’s a deeper look at the three Blue Devils projected to be top-six picks, how they got here, and what this could mean for Duke’s standing in college basketball and the NBA pipeline.
Cooper Flagg, the consensus No. 1 recruit coming out of high school, has lived up to the hype — and then some. The 6-foot-9 forward from Newport, Maine, arrived in Durham with sky-high expectations, and if anything, he’s exceeded them.
Averaging 19.8 points, 8.5 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 2.1 blocks per game, Flagg has showcased a rare combination of defensive instincts, three-level scoring, and unteachable leadership qualities. His performance in both the regular season and postseason earned him ACC Freshman of the Year and a unanimous First-Team All-American nod. Beyond the numbers, NBA scouts are raving about his motor, maturity, and high basketball IQ.
Detroit, holding the top pick for the second time in four years, is rumored to be enamored with Flagg’s ability to complement Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey. Flagg’s elite defense and versatility make him a potential franchise-changer in a league trending toward positionless basketball.
“Cooper Flagg is the type of player that alters the DNA of your franchise,” one NBA scout told ESPN. “He’s got Luka Doncic’s maturity, Evan Mobley’s defensive range, and Paul George’s fluidity. He’s a walking No. 1 pick.”
Jared McCain might have the most charisma of any player in this draft class, and his basketball game is just as magnetic. The 6-foot-3 guard has evolved into Duke’s most consistent perimeter scorer, averaging 17.2 points per game on 47% shooting from the field and a blistering 42.6% from beyond the arc.
After a freshman season where he found his footing late, McCain came back with a vengeance in his sophomore campaign. His ability to create his own shot, combined with a killer step-back three and an underrated midrange pull-up, makes him an offensive force. But it’s not just his shooting that has scouts intrigued — it’s his poise in crunch time and flair for the dramatic.
In the ACC Tournament, McCain dropped 29 points on North Carolina in a nail-biting win that sealed his place as a future NBA star. His ball-handling, shot-making, and vocal leadership have drawn comparisons to Jalen Brunson and Tyrese Maxey.
Charlotte, in desperate need of offensive stability and floor spacing to complement LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller, would be a dream fit. A McCain-Miller backcourt pairing could become one of the league’s most exciting young duos.
Often overlooked in the shadow of bigger names, Caleb Foster has steadily built his NBA resume with consistency, tenacity, and all-around excellence. The 6-foot-5 sophomore guard has quietly become one of the best two-way guards in the country. He averaged 14.1 points, 6.2 assists, and 1.9 steals while shooting 45% from the floor and 38% from deep.
What makes Foster special is his basketball IQ. He reads the game at an elite level, often acting as Duke’s primary playmaker while guarding the opposing team’s best perimeter threat. His combination of size, wingspan, and defensive awareness gives him a high floor as a professional.
NBA teams covet guards who can control tempo, hit open shots, and stay in front of quick guards defensively. Foster checks all those boxes — and his fit with a young Portland team looking to rebuild around Scoot Henderson could make him a centerpiece of their next era.
“Caleb Foster may not have the flash of Flagg or McCain, but he’s a plug-and-play pro,” said an NBA general manager. “He reminds me a lot of Jrue Holiday — calm, efficient, and lethal when needed.”
If these projections hold true, it would mark the first time in over a decade that a single program has landed three players in the top six of an NBA Draft. The last time Duke pulled this off, they sent Zion Williamson, RJ Barrett, and Cam Reddish to the league in 2019 — all first-rounders, with two in the top three.
The current trio of Flagg, McCain, and Foster showcases a different mold — not just athleticism and skill, but leadership, versatility, and complete two-way play. Scheyer has recruited with a keen eye not only for talent but for NBA translation.
This also speaks volumes about Duke’s development program. While raw talent gets you noticed, turning that talent into efficient, polished NBA-ready players requires coaching, structure, and mentorship. Jon Scheyer’s bench leadership — assisted by a seasoned staff and legendary Duke infrastructure — is proving just as influential as Coach K’s heyday.
With this level of NBA Draft success, Duke’s recruiting pitch becomes even more powerful. For five-star high schoolers weighing their options, few programs can compete with the Blue Devils’ pipeline to the pros.
And while one-and-done culture is often criticized for disrupting continuity, Duke has embraced the trend and balanced it with strong player development. Flagg, McCain, and Foster each embody a slightly different path — from Flagg’s one-and-done ascension to Foster’s two-year growth and McCain’s branding-savvy journey.
The NIL era has also played a role. Duke has maximized its brand power, helping players like McCain become household names even before entering the league. With a steady stream of endorsement deals, social media attention, and high-visibility matchups, Duke players enter the NBA with not only game-ready skill sets but pre-built marketability.
While the Blue Devils dominate the top of the mock draft, they are not alone in producing elite talent. USC’s Isaiah Collier, UConn’s Stephon Castle, and Kentucky’s DJ Wagner are all vying for spots in the top 10. But having three players potentially go in the top six puts Duke in a category of its own.
This also adds intrigue to the lottery. Teams like the Pistons, Hornets, and Trail Blazers now have legitimate franchise-altering options in a class that was initially considered “top-light” outside of Flagg. With three Blue Devils rising, scouts and GMs are rethinking the strength of this year’s class.
Additionally, the strong showing from Duke may dissuade some teams from going international or G-League routes in this draft, reinforcing the value of elite college programs in developing NBA-ready players.
From Grant Hill to Shane Battier, Kyrie Irving to Jayson Tatum, and Zion Williamson to Paolo Banchero — Duke’s NBA legacy continues to grow. If Flagg, McCain, and Foster go in the top six as projected, it will serve as another major chapter in the Blue Devils’ professional impact story.
Jon Scheyer may still be relatively new in his head coaching tenure, but the early returns are staggering. If he continues to recruit, develop, and launch talent at this pace, he could carve his own legacy that complements — and maybe someday rivals — that of Mike Krzyzewski.
The NBA is a league of stars, and Durham is once again proving to be a breeding ground for the next generation of them. Whether it’s the fearless Cooper Flagg, the showman Jared McCain, or the stoic assassin Caleb Foster, this trio represents everything modern NBA teams are looking for: skill, swagger, and adaptability.
For the Duke faithful, the 2024–25 season may have ended short of a national title — but when three of your players are preparing to shake the commissioner’s hand as top-six picks, the season is far from a failure.
The NBA world should take note: the road to basketball greatness still runs through Cameron Indoor Stadium.
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