5 elite NBA prospects to watch during college basketball season

The Cooper Flagg hype train has been running for the better part of a couple of years. He's looked every bit the part of a future NBA star, but he's not the only one who could soon make his mark at the next level.

There are a few “one and done” prospects this season that are projected to stand out above the rest, and we’ll get you better acquainted with these potential future NBA stars.

Of course, the crown jewel of the 2025 NBA Draft class is Flagg, who is taking college basketball by storm this year. Sporting News’ Mike Decourcy wrote a piece in early November 2024 about Flagg’s readiness for this opportunity. He maintains that Flagg is the best American prospect in a decade.

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NBA Draft Room wrote about Flagg, “He’s one of the most instinctual and dominant defenders I’ve ever seen at the high school level, or at any level.” It’s an important callout, as many young players seek to make their mark on the offensive side of the floor only. Flagg seems to be the full package, which speaks to his mindset of wanting to shut down opponents.

Flagg has already rubbed elbows with some of the best players in the NBA. According to Team USA’s website, he was the first college player in over 10 years to be asked to join the USA Select Team, which practiced against the 2024 Olympic team. Fox Sports wrote in July 2024 that he “wowed” against some of the best players on the planet.

College basketball fans are becoming very familiar with the uber-talented Bailey this season. Forbes called him a “bucket getter” who “can get off shots basically however and whenever he wants, even difficult ones that look off-balance.”

ESPN’s Jonathan Givony wrote, “How quickly Bailey can get up to speed with his shot selection, his decision-making, his off-ball defensive awareness and the demanding nature of the college game will determine whether he can become a potential number one pick challenger, but NBA scouts are not ruling him out because of his immense long-term upside.”

Given his natural ability to score, Forbes gave Bailey a huge compliment. They wrote Bailey’s floor is “outrageously high”.  Fans will want to see if the other aspects of his game develop for the Scarlet Knights during his freshman season.

We’ll say one thing for Edgecombe; he probably went to the right school. Baylor has had a strong recent history of developing talented guards, and Edgecombe has been added to the list. Edgecombe told ESPN, “Baylor has a winning culture, a great staff and head coach. Coach Drew is a genuine person; he has built an incredible program.”

Sports Illustrated wrote, “Although he has a slight frame and won’t be a tall guard relative to modern NBA players, Edgecombe makes up for it with explosiveness and quickness. He has the makings of an NBA superstar if everything comes together and he continues to develop both physically and with his skillset on the court.”

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Edgecombe is a native of the Bahamas, and even suited up for them during Olympic qualifying. He has a deep-rooted commitment to his native country. Forbes reported in May 2024 that Edgecombe plans to use his NIL earnings to fund scholarships for educational opportunities in the Bahamas.

The Tar Heels didn’t have to look far to find their next freshman sensation. Powell went to high school 30 minutes from UNC’s campus, so the program has been very familiar with what he brings to the table. According to The Daily Tar Heel, Powell has been singing the school’s fight song ever since he was two years old, so this seems like a perfect match.

Sports Illustrated pointed out Powell’s supreme talents on the defensive end of the floor. They wrote, “His athletic tools allow him to be all over the place and make plays on and off the ball. He is quick, boasts length and is very smart as a defender.” They believe he is one of the best defensive players in his class.

However, Sports Illustrated also conceded that Powell is going to be a work in progress on offense. They posit that he’s not a creator at this point in his career, and that he will be best utilized off the ball. With that said, they did laud his cutting ability, and willingness to move without the basketball.

Rutgers has a recruiting class for the ages, having landed both Bailey and Harper ahead of the 2024-2025 season. Harper doesn’t focus on the future; he focuses on the here and now. He told 24-7 Sports, “Me and him don’t look at it at all. We’re focused on the team, we’re focused on what we gotta do every day. Just grind it out and be our best selves.”

NBA Draft Room describes Harper in a similar way to Bailey as offensive players. They write, “he has range on his jumper and is becoming a knock-down shooter and is a cold-blooded shot-maker. Perhaps Harper is a bit ahead of Bailey in the facilitating realm, as NBA Draft Room compliments his high-level passing ability.

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Dylan Harper is not the first member of his family to play for Rutgers. His brother, Ron Harper Jr., played for the Scarlet Knights for four seasons from 2018-2022. Their father, Ron Harper Sr., was best known for his time in the NBA, playing alongside Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls. He also won two titles with the Los Angeles Lakers.