Typically, Duke and North Carolina dominate the ACC when it comes to the top NBA Draft picks. However, the Pittsburgh Panthers boasted the top player in 2024, with the Washington Wizards selecting Bub Carrington at No. 14.
This year, the Blue Devils were the headline program in all of college basketball, getting a trio of top-10 picks. Here’s a look at where they and everyone else from ACC Basketball ended up in the draft.
No. 1: Cooper Flagg (Duke Blue Devils) - Dallas Mavericks
This was a no-doubt selection for the Mavs, whose upset lottery win allowed them to get one of the best CBB players of the modern era. Flagg joins Anthony Davis and Dereck Lively to set up an elite defensive frontcourt, and his two-way should allow him to thrive as the now 3rd option on the court.
Grade: A+
No. 4: Kon Knueppel (Duke Blue Devils) - Charlotte Hornets
On one hand, Knueppel’s projected ceiling may not warrant him being picked this high. However, his elite shooting and defense should be helpful to the Hornets in being more competitive. We’ll see if this pick helps them in the win column in the East.
Grade: C
No. 23: Drake Powell (UNC Tar Heels) - Brooklyn Nets
The 6’6 guard showed flashes of being a good scorer, but still only averaged 7.4 ppg as a starter at UNC. He joins a Nets squad that features Cam Thomas, along with a case of other first-rounders. Powell will have opportunities to get minutes, but his role is definitely unclear.
Grade: C-
No. 33: Sion James (Duke Blue Devils) - Charlotte Hornets
The former Tulane guard was a highly efficient scorer in his lone year at Duke and showed that he doesn’t need the ball much to be effective. That should work well in Charlotte and its situation, allowing him to carve out a role, possibly.
No. 42: Maxime Raynaud (Stanford Cardinal) - Sacramento Kings
Raynaud averaged over 20 ppg as an efficient scoring big man, and he’s set to be the backup to Domantas Sabonis at the five-spot for the Kings. They clearly like scoring centers, and they found one of the best in the entire NBA Draft.
Grade: A
No. 43: Jamir Watkins (Florida State Seminoles) - Washington Wizards
After taking offensive players Tre Johnson and Will Riley in the first round, the Wizards went defensive with Watkins, a 6’7 versatile forward who may lack pure shooting but can do everything else. He adds more wing depth, which is now getting crowded.
Grade: C+
No. 49: Tyrese Proctor (Duke Blue Devils) - Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cavs are looking for more guard depth, and Proctor, a former first-round projection in the past, has one of the higher ceilings among the late picks. He showed at Duke that he can play both on and off the ball, making him a solid depth piece for the team.
Grade: B