TARRYTOWN, N.Y. -- Pretty much everybody and their mother believes Duke’s Cooper Flagg will hear his name called first by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver when the NBA Draft commences on June 25 at Barclays Center.
But Rutgers coach Steve Pikiell believes there’s a solid chance that one of his stud freshmen -- Dylan Harper or Ace Bailey -- will go No. 1.
“Oh, absolutely,” Pikiell told NJ Advance Media at the 92nd annual MBWA All-Met Haggerty Awards Dinner on Thursday.
“I mean, they’re different players. It depends on what teams want. Dylan’s the best guard in the draft, and I think Ace is the most versatile player in the draft. I think he can play the 1,2, 3, and 4 at the NBA level. He’s young. I mean, he’s got a 40-inch vertical. He’s exciting.”
Pikiell says he fields multiple calls every day from NBA GMs and other personnel touching base on the duo, who are projected top-3 picks along with Flagg.
Asked if any NBA executive had told him that they would take Harper or Bailey over Flagg, Pikiell said: “No, they like those guys a lot, so it would not surprise me. And it depends on the need of the program too. You know, they’re all different positions. They all played different spots. And they’re obviously three tremendous players, but they’re different players.”
He added: “I think Cooper’s really good. I think Dylan Harper, if you want a guard that’s ready to go, and if you want the most versatile guy in the draft, that’s Ace Bailey. He could play four positions in time, maybe even a fifth, and he’s still growing, too, so tremendous. All three of them [are] tremendous players, and they’re going to play in the league for a long time.”
The NBA Draft Lottery is set for May 12 in Chicago and at that point the draft order will be set. The Washington Wizards, Utah Jazz and Charlotte Hornets each have a 14% chance at the No. 1 pick.
Pikiell attended the dinner in place of his star freshmen -- who are training for the Draft -- to accept their awards. Harper was selected Rookie of the Year, while both he and Bailey were named to The All-Met First Team.
Pikiell huddled at his table with former Villanova coach Jay Wright, who was on hand to present a a Distinguished Service Award from the Met Basketball Writers Association to Big East Commissioner Val Ackerman.
No doubt they discussed the Wild West of the transfer portal and how Pikiell must now turn over his roster every season like virtually every other coach in America. Wright retired in 2022 after winning two NCAA championships. He got out ahead of the madness associated with the portal and NIL.
Pikiell, meantime, missed the NCAA Tournament in his one-and-done season coaching two top-3 picks.
“It was such a quick year, like [Harper and Bailey] were only here for six months, seven months, you know, you just continue,” Pikiell told NJ Advance Media. “Every year you’re building a new team in this day and age. So it’s no different than the past years. And I think moving forward, this how it’s going to be in college basketball. So it’s exciting.”
Pikiell declined to address his specific roster additions but Rutgers has added George Washington transfer forward Darren Buchanan and NJIT transfer guard Tariq Francis.
“You could change your roster, and you can improve in a lot of ways, too,” Pikiell said, speaking generally. “Obviously, those two guys [Harper and Bailey] are special players and offensive guys. But I’m always excited about the future and our roster, and the potential to get a couple more guys on it, too.
“So every year’s a new year, and it’s a new challenge and it’s an exciting chance to do some good things again next year.”
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Adam Zagoria is a freelance reporter and Basketball Insider for NJ Advance Media. You may follow him on Twitter @AdamZagoria and check out his Website at ZAGSBLOG.com.