NCAA Tournament: Top Prospects In East Region

We are down to just 16 teams remaining in the NCAA Tournament. Each region currently has just four teams standing and only one team in each region will make the final four. Let’s dive into the top prospect on each team in the East Region and breakdown what makes them an enticing prospect.

Duke | Cooper Flagg

Mar 23, 2025; Raleigh, NC, USA; Duke Blue Devils forward Cooper Flagg (2) reacts after scoring a 3 pointer during the first half against the Baylor Bears in the second round of the NCAA Tournament at Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: Zachary Taft-Imagn Images | Zachary Taft-Imagn Images

The projected number-one pick in the 2025 NBA Draft still remains in the NCAA Tournament. Star forward Cooper Flagg is looking to help lead the Duke Blue Devils to a National Championship. The 6-foot-9 forward is an elite defensive forward that can effectively defend up and down a lineup. He has the ability to score in bunches while also creating open shots for teammates. Flagg is the most complete prospect in the draft and the stats back it up. He leads the Blue Devils in every major statistical category which speaks volume to his versatility. Flagg is simply a dominant two-way superstar.

Arizona | Carter Bryant

Mar 23, 2025; Seattle, WA, USA; Arizona Wildcats forward Carter Bryant (9) reacts against the Oregon Ducks in the first half at Climate Pledge Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images | Steven Bisig-Imagn Images

The 6-foot-8 forward Carter Bryant doesn’t have the most appealing stats, but he does do a great job of starring in his role and having a very positive impact on the floor. He has an impressive combination of great positional size and high-level athleticism. It helps him a ton on the defensive end, where he’s quite disruptive, as he has a 2.7 steal percentage and a 5.9 block percentage. Bryant is a great defensive playmaker. Outside of being an outstanding defender, he is a good shooter who is capable of making spot-up jumpers when he’s left open. Expect him to defend Flagg a lot of times during their matchup versus Duke.

BYU | Egor Demin

Mar 22, 2025; Denver, CO, USA; Brigham Young Cougars guard Egor Demin (3) reacts against the Wisconsin Badgers during the second half in the second round of the NCAA Tournament at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images | Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

The tallest point guard in this year’s upcoming draft is Egor Demin out of BYU. The 6-foot-9 lead guard draws a lot of comparisons to Josh Giddey due to his elite playmaking chops and positional size. Demin has great vision, passing versatility and a great feel for the game. He does a great job of creating open shots for teammates and is very fearless with the ball which can be a positive and negative thing. The shot-making flashes are there but he’s still inconsistent as an outside shooter. Nonetheless, there are not many 6-foot-9 point guards walking around, so the projected first-round pick will have a lot of eyes on him versus this athletic Alabama squad.

Alabama | Labaron Philon

Mar 23, 2025; Cleveland, OH, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide guard Labaron Philon (0) dribbles in the second half against the St. Mary's Gaels during the NCAA Tournament Second Round at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images | Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

The young freshman Labaron Philon has played a significant role on this experienced Alabama squad. The 6-foot-5 guard plays with amazing pace and control. He’s very shifty and clever with the ball, which allows him to get to his spots pretty consistently. His passing and decision-making are outstanding for a freshman. Philon also has an elite floater in the lane even though he doesn’t rely on it often, it’s almost guaranteed to go in when he gets to his right-hand floater. The talented freshman can get after it defensively when needed. Philon has a lot of untapped potential and the flashes are very enticing.

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