When you watch the NCAA men’s basketball Final Four Saturday, you won’t just be watching some of the best players in college hoops.
You will be watching future NBA players, too.
First-rounders and potential first-rounders abound in the Florida-Auburn and Houston-Duke games in San Antonio.
Duke has three players who are projected lottery picks (Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel, Khaman Maluach); Auburn (Johni Broome) and Florida (Alex Condon) each have potential first-round picks. The Blue Devils, Gators and Cougars also have potential second-round selections (Florida’s Walter Clayton Jr.; Houston’s JoJo Tugler, Milos Uzan; Duke’s Tyrese Proctor, Sion James, Isaiah Evans).
Here is USA TODAY Sports' latest mock draft ahead of the Final Four. (Stats through games of April 2; age listed is age at time of June 25-26 draft):
1. Cooper Flagg, Duke
- Freshman, guard-forward, 6-9, 205, 18 years old
- 2024-25 stats: 18.9 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 4.2 apg, 1.4 spg, 1.3 bpg, 48.3% FG, 37.4% 3PT, 83.4% FT
The do-it-all young star leads the Blue Devils in scoring, rebounding, assists and steals. Flagg has outstanding footwork, especially in the low post. He can use either hand on shots in the paint, knows how to run plays, can hit catch-and-shoot 3s and is an active weakside defender. Flagg, who has added more muscle since the start of the year, is a physical player who initiates contact, is confident and plays with force when necessary. He is leading Duke to an impressive season, which includes the ACC regular-season title, ACC tournament title and Final Four appearance. He had 30 points, seven assists and six rebounds in a regional semifinal victory against Arizona and 16 points and nine rebounds in a regional final against Alabama.
2. Dylan Harper, Rutgers
- Freshman, guard, 6-6, 215, 19
- 2024-25 stats: 19.4 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 4.0 apg, 1.4 spg, 48.4% FG, 33.3% 3PT, 75% FT
The lefty stroke will remind some of Jalen Brunson, but Harper has far more size at 6-6 and tremendous length with a wingspan of 6-foot-10. Harper’s best asset at the next level might be his versatility to run point and play off the ball. In Rutgers' lone Big Ten tournament game, Harper had 27 points (9-for-21 shooting), eight rebounds, eight assists, two steals and two blocks in a double-overtime loss to Southern California.
3. Ace Bailey, Rutgers
- Freshman, guard-forward, 6-10, 200, 18
- 2024-25 stats: 17.6 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 1.3 apg, 1.3 bpg, 46% FG, 34.6% 3PT, 69.2% FT
Bailey is a hyper-athletic wing with length and size coming into a league that prioritizes players built exactly the way he is with exactly the skill set he has: an effortless and reliable shot and an attack-first mentality with an ability to finish at the rim. Needs to improve as a playmaker on the pass and free throws. But even when offense isn’t easy, he remains active on defense. He had 17 points, seven rebounds, three steals and one block in season-ending loss to USC.
4. VJ Edgecombe, Baylor
- Freshman, guard, 6-5, 180, 19
- 2024-25 ...
