The Cooper Flagg era at Duke ended abruptly during a 70-67 loss to No. 1 seed Houston in the national semifinals. Flagg, the projected No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, will depart college basketball as one of the best one-and-done players in the modern era after exceeding the enormous hype around his name entering the 2024-25 season.
Flagg averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds 4.2 assists and 1.4 blocks per game during his stellar freshman season. He earned CBS Sports National Player of the Year honors and finished No. 1 on his team in every major statistical category.
In the loss to Houston, Flagg had one of the best performances of his college career. Flagg finished with 27 points, seven rebounds, four assists and three blocks. Flagg became the first player to lead his team in points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks in a Final Four game since the defensive stats became official in 1986.
With Flagg very likely off to the NBA, here are the top one-and-done seasons for college players before they left for the league. Context: The NBA officially adopted the one-and-done rule in 2005, requiring prospects to play one year of college to be eligible (or be at least 19 years old) for the draft.
1. Anthony Davis, Kentucky
2011-12 stats: 14.2 PPG, 10.4 RPG, 4.7 BPG, 1.3 APG
Davis left Kentucky as arguably the greatest shot blocker in college basketball history. In his lone season with the Wildcats, Davis blocked 186 total shots as an 18-year-old and helped lead Kentucky to a national championship. During Kentucky’s run to the Final Four, Davis blocked 29 shots in six games. He was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft and is one of the greatest players in…
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