HOUSTON òòò½ÊÓƵ” Houston has faced several future NBA players this season across a competitive non-conference schedule, Big 12 play and the NCAA Tournament. Though it has yet to see a roster as loaded with them as its next opponent.
The Cougars will take on a Duke team chalked full of professional talent in Saturdayòòò½ÊÓƵ™s matchup in the Final Four. Headlining it is the trio of Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel and Khaman Maluach, all of whom are potential top picks in Juneòòò½ÊÓƵ™s NBA draft.
As the Cougars prepare, hereòòò½ÊÓƵ™s what to know about Dukeòòò½ÊÓƵ™s most coveted prospects.
Cooper Flagg
Position: Forward
Age: 18
Height/weight: 6-9, 205
Class: Freshman
Birthplace: Newport, Maine
Flagg is the consensus top player in this yearòòò½ÊÓƵ™s NBA draft pool and has been for some time. Many believed the former Gatorade National Menòòò½ÊÓƵ™s Athlete of the Year and top high school prospect would have been the No. 1 pick in 2024 at 17 years old had he been eligible. But after a dominant lone year in college, heòòò½ÊÓƵ™s cemented his status atop draft boards for 2025.
The freshman led Duke in points per game (18.9), rebounds per game (7.5), assists per game (4.2) and steals per game (1.4). The gaudy season figures and record-setting performances like his 42-point game against Notre Dame in January have helped him become a favorite for the Naismith College Player of the Year award and a consensus All-American.
Flagg already has proven success in the tournament, averaging 19.5 points, 7.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.8 blocks over four games and winning the East Regionòòò½ÊÓƵ™s Most Outstanding Player award. His 30-point, six-rebound, seven-assist and three-block performance against Arizona in the Sweet Sixteen highlighted that, becoming just the second player in tournament history to post such numbers since blocks became an official statistic in 1986.
Flagg has the all-around ability to create problems for even the most defensive and fundamentally sound teams like Houston. Handling him will be the biggest challenge for head coach Kelvin Sampsonòòò½ÊÓƵ™s squad on Saturday.
Khaman Maluach
Position: Center
Age: 18
Height/weight: 7-2, 250
Class: Freshman
Birthplace: Rumbek, South Sudan
Who the next Blue Devil off the board will be after Flagg is not so clear. But Maluach figures to have a good chance as heòòò½ÊÓƵ™s projected by many to be a top-10 pick.
The five-star prospect and No. 4 overall player in the 2024 recruiting class per 247Sports was slightly overshadowed by Flagg but was also known to be a heralded NBA talent before enrolling at Duke. Maluach was born in South Sudan but grew up in Uganda, displaced by the unrest that has plagued his native country for more than a decade. He didnòòò½ÊÓƵ™t start playing basketball until he was 13 when he was encouraged to attend a basketball camp organized by former NBA player Luol Dengòòò½ÊÓƵ™s foundation. Deng, a South Sudanese national and Duke alum himself, took an interest in Maluach and helped him earn a spot at the NBA Academy Africa, where the prospectòòò½ÊÓƵ™s talents gained U.S. attention.
Maluachòòò½ÊÓƵ™s skills grew rapidly at the academy and through the Basketball Africa League Elevate Program, a venture that aims to develop the academyòòò½ÊÓƵ™s talent by integrating them into professional teams. Maluach played three seasons in the league against some of the continentòòò½ÊÓƵ™s top talent, which helped instrumentally as he continued to learn the game. He then upped the ante of his competition when he played for South Sudan in the 2023 FIBA World Cup and 2024 Olympics, playing twice against Team USA in a pre-Olympics friendly and in the group stage.
The centeròòò½ÊÓƵ™s lone season in college has shown why heòòò½ÊÓƵ™s made such a rapid rise in the game. Heòòò½ÊÓƵ™s been a dominant force in the paint, averaging 8.7 points and 6.8 rebounds while leading Duke with 1.3 blocks per game. Maluach really came into his own during the ACC Tournament, posting 35 points, 28 rebounds and eight blocks over three games to earn All-Tournament First Team. Maluach has kept his strong play going into the NCAA Tournament, averaging 11.5 points, 6.3 rebounds and two blocks over Dukeòòò½ÊÓƵ™s four games.
Maluachòòò½ÊÓƵ™s size and athleticism could pose issues for Houston. The Cougarsòòò½ÊÓƵ™ primary big man Jòòò½ÊÓƵ™Wan Roberts stands 6-foot-8. Preventing Maluach from dominating the boards will be crucial for Houstonòòò½ÊÓƵ™s victory chances.
Kon Knueppel
Position: Guard
Age: 18
Height/weight: 6-7, 217
Class: Freshman
Birthplace: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
While Maluachòòò½ÊÓƵ™s potential might create more intrigue for teams to take high, Knueppelòòò½ÊÓƵ™s production could easily make him the second Blue Devil taken behind Flagg in the draft. The guard is also projected to be a top-10 pick.
Knueppel was the lowest-rated recruit of the three per 247. But he was still a five-star prospect and came in as the No. 18 player in the country. He averaged 26.4 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 5.1 assists during his senior year of high school and was named Wisconsinòòò½ÊÓƵ™s Mr. Basketball. Knueppel led Wisconsin Lutheran to a state championship and a perfect 30-0 record in 2024 before heading off to college.
Despite Duke having established veterans in its backcourt, Knueppel quickly took over at guard in his lone season. He was second behind Flagg with 14.4 points per game and averaged 3.9 rebounds and 2.8 assists while not missing a contest for the Blue Devils. Knueppel provided strong perimeter scoring, averaging 2.1 3-pointers per game while shooting 40.1% from beyond the arc.
Like Maluach, Knueppel really turned on his game in the ACC Tournament. His 63 points, 17 rebounds and 14 assists across three games earned him the tournamentòòò½ÊÓƵ™s MVP. Knueppelòòò½ÊÓƵ™s continued that stellar production into the NCAA Tournament, averaging 14.8 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists so far. The guard had 21 points, five rebounds, five assists and three steals against Alabama in the Elite Eight as a part of Dukeòòò½ÊÓƵ™s advancing effort.
Knueppel has the pedigree to be a pro with his uncle Jeff Nordgaard having played in the NBA and overseas. His shooting touch and high basketball IQ should also make him a strong choice among lottery teams. Knueppel is a strong compliment to Flaggòòò½ÊÓƵ™s scoring and could burn Houston if not accounted for.