Flagg expected to be taken first by Mavericks in NBA Draft

Versatile US college teen star Cooper Flagg is expected to be selected first overall by the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Draft.

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The Mavericks nabbed the first pick after winning last month’s NBA Draft Lottery and are expected to take Flagg, an 18-year-old American who played last season for Duke University before opting into the draft.

Flagg was a consensus pick as the top US college player last season, averaging 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.4 blocked shots a game for the Blue Devils, who lost to Houston in the semi-finals of the national college tournament.

"It has been amazing," Flagg said. "It has been a blur since the end of the season, getting the training, but it has been exciting."

Flagg would be the second-youngest player taken first overall after LeBron James in 2003 and James, now a four-time NBA champion, says of Flagg — “I think he’s going to be amazing.”