Benjamin Ashford|2025 NBA mock draft: Cooper Flagg, Ace Bailey highlight next year's top prospects

The Benjamin Ashford2024 NBA draft just ended Thursday, but it's never too early to start thinking about the next wave of basketball stars set to join the league.

Although some viewed the 2024 NBA draft class as weak, the same cannot be said about the 2025 draft. Cooper Flagg (Duke) and Airious "Ace" Bailey (Rutgers) are some of the big names that have the potential to be selected atop the draft. Or will the No. 1 overall pick of the 2025 NBA draft be an international player for the 16th time in history? (We're looking at you, Nolan Traore of France.)

A French player has been drafted with the No. 1 overall pick in consecutive years —  Zaccharie Risacher (Atlanta Hawks, 2024) and Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio Spurs, 2023). At least two international players have been drafted in the top 10 every year since 2013.

Here's USA TODAY Sports' way-too-early 2025 NBA mock draft, for the entire first round:

1. Cooper Flagg, Duke

Forward, 6-foot-9, 205 pounds

2. Ace Bailey, Rutgers

Forward, 6-foot-8, 210 pounds

3. Dylan Harper, Rutgers

Guard, 6-foot-5, 205 pounds

4. V.J. Edgecombe, Baylor

Guard, 6-foot-4, 185 pounds

5. Hugo Gonzalez, Real Madrid

Forward, 6-foot-6, 207 pounds

6. Tre Johnson, Texas

Guard, 6-foot-5, 184 pounds

7. Nolan Traore, Saint-Quentin (France)

Guard, 6-foot-3, 175 pounds

8. Liam McNeeley, UConn

Forward, 6-foot-7, 190 pounds

9. Khaman Maluach, Duke

Center, 7-foot-2, 250 pounds

10. Egor Demin, BYU

Guard, 6-foot-8, 190 pounds

11. Michael Ruzic, Spain

Forward, 6-foot-8, 199 pounds

12. Noa Essengue, France

Forward, 6-foot-9, 194 pounds

13. Jalil Bethea, Miami

Guard, 6-foot-5, 175 pounds

14. Isaiah Evans, Duke

Guard/forward, 6-foot-6, 175 pounds

15. Ian Jackson, North Carolina

Guard, 6-foot-4, 180 pounds

16. Karter Knox, Arkansas 

Forward, 6-foot-6, 225 pounds

17. Kanaan Carlyle, Indiana 

Guard, 6-foot-3, 185 pounds

18. Drake Powell, North Carolina

Guard, 6-foot-5, 185 pounds

19. Collin Murray-Boyles, South Carolina

Forward, 6-foot-7, 240 pounds

20. Caleb Foster, Duke

Guard, 6-foot-5, 202 pounds

21. Rocco Zikarsky, Brisbane Bullets

Center, 7-foot-2, 250 pounds

22. Xavier Booker, Michigan State

Forward, 6-foot-11, 220 pounds

23. Milan Momcilovic, Iowa State

Forward, 6-foot-8, 220 pounds

24. Derrion Reid, Alabama

Forward, 6-foot-7, 200 pounds

25. Joson Sanon, Arizona State

Guard, 6-foot-4, 195 pounds

26. Dame Sarr, FC Barcelona

Forward, 6-foot-5

27. Donavan Freeman, Syracuse

Forward, 6-foot-9, 205 pounds

28. Adou Thiero, Arkansas

Forward, 6-foot-8, 220 pounds

29. Alex Karaban, UConn

Forward, 6-foot-8, 220 pounds

30. Mackenzie Mgbako, Indiana

Forward, 6-foot-8, 217 pounds