Jamal Mashburn Sparks Debate by Ranking NBA’s Cooper Flagg Outside Top 5 Current College Freshmen
A bold and controversial take from former NBA All-Star Jamal Mashburn has ignited a fierce debate across basketball circles. Despite Cooper Flagg’s sensational rookie season with the Dallas Mavericks, Mashburn declared that the 2025 No. 1 overall
On his show, Mashburn was asked to assess where Flagg, who recently set the NBA’s single-game scoring record for a teenager with a 49-point outburst, would stand in this year’s loaded NCAA class.
“I look at last year’s No.1 pick in Cooper Flagg. If I was to put him on that list, he would be sixth,” Mashburn stated. “Behind all five of them, just from a skillset and elevation level of where they can get to…Cooper Flagg.
The Unprecedented College Class of 2025-26
Mashburn’s argument hinges on the historic depth and talent of the current freshman class, widely considered one of the greatest in college basketball history. While he didn’t name all five players he’d rank above Flagg.
The fourth spot, according to Mashburn, belongs to North Carolina power forward Caleb Wilson, whom he praised effusively. “I personally think Caleb Wilson is going to take a humongous jump at the pro level, I think he has such a good pro game,” Mashburn said.
The identity of the fifth player remains unspecified, but other elite freshmen in contention include Arkansas guard Darius Acuff Jr., Houston guard Kingston Flemings, Illinois forward Keaton Wagler, and Arizona forward Koa Peat.
The Core of the Controversy: Projection vs. Production
The debate Mashburn ignited centers on a fundamental scouting conflict: evaluating a player’s current production against their projected ceiling.
- Flagg’s NBA Proof: At just 19 years old, Flagg is not just surviving in the NBA; he’s thriving. Averaging 18.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game.
- Mashburn’s “Holes” Argument: Mashburn, a former Kentucky star and NBA All-Star known for his own versatile offensive game, is evaluating based on a holistic, long-term projection.
A Clash of Perspectives
Mashburn’s co-host, former Auburn coach Bruce Pearl, immediately pushed back, asking if any of the five college freshmen could realistically score 40 points in the NBA next season.
This disagreement highlights the eternal tension in basketball analysis. Is it more valid to judge a player by what they have already accomplished on the world’s hardest stage, or by what elite scouts believe they can become based on their tools and performance against lesser competition?
