Fantasy Basketball Dynasty Weekly: Cooper Flagg leads a talented 2025 draft class

Time flies when you’re having fun. We’re about three months away from the end of the regular season, and while some NBA teams have already focused on the draft, many dynasty managers have been keeping an eye on this class for years. This is a loaded class that is headlined by Cooper Flagg, but there is plenty of depth here as well. Luckily, you don’t have to be an expert in the class just yet. Even if your dynasty team is struggling mightily, whether by design or not, there’s still plenty of time to get familiar with next year’s rookies. Here’s a quick look at five prospects who will be selected in the June lottery.

Cooper Flagg, F, Duke

Flagg is the crown jewel of this class, and whichever team wins the lottery will make him the top overall pick. He has passed the eye test and has been unreal on the scoreboard, especially of late. In his most recent game, he dropped 42 points against Notre Dame to help Duke win its 10th straight game. Flagg leads Duke in points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks as a freshman. His 15.9 sacks plus/minus and 7.5 defensive sacks plus/minus are currently third in the nation and are some of the best marks by a freshman.

He is one of the best draft prospects in recent history and will have just as much of an impact in fantasy basketball as he will in real life. He’s shown he can be a force on both ends of the floor, and he’s shown it on the scoreboard. The only problem has been turnovers, including some untimely ones late in games. However, Flagg has been effective in every other category in 9-cat leagues, and should be one of the best rookies in fantasy next season. Not many 18-year-olds can step in and shine like Flagg will. After a weaker 2024 class, this is a player worth playing for.

Dylan Harper, G, Rutgers

Harper will have plenty of suitors who will be happy to have him as a consolation prize if they miss out on Flagg. Harper has had incredible performances this season, including back-to-back games with at least 35 points in November and a triple-double in December. He is a tall and crafty left-footer who has shown creativity as both a goalscorer and playmaker. Defensive production hasn’t been his strength, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t a good defender. Actions don’t always translate directly from college to the pros, so that doesn’t mean there’s no hope for Harper, but his strength in fantasy hoops will be points, rebounds and assists keeping the efficiency

Ace Bailey, F, Rutgers

There won’t be a more polarizing prospect in this class than Bailey. For one thing, he’ll be 18 on draft night, and his ability to hit tough shots is reminiscent of some of the greatest scorers in NBA history. He makes it look like defenders aren’t even there at times, which allowed him to drop 39 points against Indiana earlier this month. As for his value in 9-cat leagues, he’s also been a strong rebounder and averaged a steal and a block per game this season.

Unfortunately, there is also the other side of things. That 39-point outing against Indiana? Zero assists. Strictly buckets. He has a total of 12 assists in 15 games this season and is averaging more than twice as many turnovers. Also, when a player knows he can hit hard shots, he usually has no problem hitting them. This leads to plays like the following.

There will be many heated debates about what Bailey will be. He could be anything from a perennial All-Star to a complete bust that makes us look back and wonder why we were so high on him. I think his landing spot will affect things a lot, and while the stats and defensive boards look good for 9-cat leagues, his value in both real life and fantasy hoops will be determined by his effectiveness and efficiency as a scorer. He has enough natural talent to be worth the risk for lottery teams.

Collin Murray-Boyles, F, South Carolina

Murray-Boyles had a legitimate case to be a lottery pick last season, but opted to return to South Carolina for another season. My hope was that he would step up as a 3-point shooter, and while that hasn’t happened, he’s been willing to shoot them more than he did as a rookie. Additionally, he has made improvements across the board while being the focal point of the offense on the worst team in the SEC. He’s a stocky, undersized power forward, which may raise some questions about how he’ll fit into the modern NBA. However, he moves well for his size as both a rider and a defender. For teams that just missed the playoffs and are building towards the end of the lottery, the WBC will be a popular target that can come in and make an immediate impact.

Asa Newell, F, Georgia

UGA is having its best season in a long time, and they are currently ranked 23rd in the AP poll, which is the first time they have been ranked since 2011. Newell has been a big reason for that. He leads the team in both scoring and rebounding as a freshman, and the lefty has been fun to watch on both ends of the court. He’s a versatile player who will be an excellent pickup for the team in the back half of the lottery, though he could certainly improve his draft stock with a good run. He has posted a ridiculous 16.6% offensive rebounding percentage (OREB%), which is currently the ninth best rate in the country.