Evaluating Tyrese Proctor, Cooper Flagg, and VJ Edgecombe in the 2nd Round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament

March 23rd, 2025

This time around, I decided to take the time to watch Cooper Flagg and Duke take on V.J. Edgecombe and Baylor in a very competitive second round matchup of the 2025 NCAA Tournament. It was competitive early on, but Duke managed to go on a huge run to win by double digits, and they received superb shooting and strong all-around play from their junior point guard, Tyrese Proctor, who scored 25 points on 9 of 10 shooting and made 7 threes to help his team get an 89-66 win over Baylor. Here are my thoughts on how Proctor, Flagg, Edgecombe, and other various prospects fared in this game.

Tyrese Proctor scored 25 points and made 7 three-pointers to lead Duke to a 89-66 win over Baylor in the second round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament. (Photo: Stephanie Scarborough/Associated Press, via The Press Democrat)

Duke’s 6-5 junior point guard, Tyrese Proctor put forth a tremendous showing to lead his team to a double-digit win over Baylor. He gave off strong Jared McCain-vibes, as he put on a terrific shooting and scoring display, and he continued to make a barrage of shots to get his team the victory.

Proctor did an excellent job of making shots, particularly from three-point land. He has a great blend of shooting touch, footwork, and shooting form, and he was tremendous in this game. He ran quickly off ball screen to make a three early on. He was able to make a three in transition, and he can also dribble off of a screen to score on pull-up threes. He also has a very crafty pump fake to fake out his man, as he can make threes effortlessly, and he also has a nifty side-step move that he can use to knock down outside shots from beyond the arc. Plus, he also did a terrific job of making pull-up jumpers smoothly from the mid-range.

He also showed a satisfactory ability to pass the basketball. He excelled at making crisp, interior passes, and can make passes off the dribble. There was one play where he got stripped when handling the ball that led him to commit a turnover, but Proctor otherwise excelled as a playmaker on offense.

He also defended fairly well. He was active in contesting outside shots to force misses, and he would use his length and positioning to stay in front of his man. Sometimes though, he would struggle to guard quicker players, which would lead his team to commit fouls.

In general, Proctor was terrific in this game, as he did a great job of making shots, especially the three-ball, to help his team get the win over Baylor. Proctor is a very underrated prospect that has been a very solid player over the years, and he is a smart, skilled point guard that will likely be a first round pick in the 2025 draft, and he is a lottery-level talent that has the skills to be a solid player in the NBA.

Duke’s 6-9 freshman forward, Cooper Flagg scored 18 points, and had 9 rebounds and 6 assists in his team’s 89-66 win over Baylor in the second round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament.
(Photo: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images, via Bleacher Report)

Cooper Flagg had another strong performance to help elevate Duke to a blowout win over Baylor. He did virtually everything well in this game, and his play was vital to helping his team get the victory.

Flagg did a very good job of attacking the hoop to score the basketball. He showed a knack for driving hard to the hoop to draw an abundance of fouls to frequently get to the free throw line, and he also would make tough shots to score in traffic. He showed good touch as he can make shots off the dribble and out of the post, and he also used a spin move to score on a deft, turnaround mid-range jumper.

Plus, he also caught a lob off of a backdoor cut to score on a high-flying, alley-oop dunk. Flagg also is a high motor player that was able to draw free throws off of a put back. While he didn’t shoot quite as well from the outside, Flagg was able to pull up to make a smooth three-pointer.

He also showcased good playmaking skills. Flagg is an unselfish player that excelled at making passes off the dribble and making good reads to find teammates on the move to rack up plenty of assists. He would make timely passes due to possessing good court vision, and he also set a good on-ball screen to help his teammate get an open driving lane another time. On the downside, every once in a while, he would be prone to rushing, which would lead him to some commit turnovers.

Also, he did a very good job of rebounding the basketball. Flagg also defended well. He is a very athletic, rangy defender that can cover a lot of ground. He was able to tie up an opposing ball handler around the basket to get a steal. He also rotated to block a shot hard off of a drive. He also managed to contest a three to force a miss. On one play though, he guarded an opposing ball handler but got beat on a quick move to allow a score around the basket.

In summary, Cooper Flagg played very well to help his team get a big win in the 2025 NCAA Tournament, and he is a very athletic and skilled forward that will likely be the top pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, as he has the skills to be a star player in the NBA.

Baylor’s 6-5 guard, VJ Edgecombe scored 16 points and had 6 rebounds in his team’s loss to Duke.
(Photo: Getty Images, via New York Post)

V.J. Edgecombe also had a solid showing in his team’s tough loss to Duke. He is a tremendously athletic guard that excels in making hustle plays, and he would keep his team in the game for as long as they could have.

Edgecombe did a good job of scoring off the dribble. He has a blinding first step as he particularly excels at going to his left, but he also can use his off-hand to finish plays quickly at the rim. He showed the scoring touch, balance, and body control to consistently score on strong drives to the hoop. He also was able to score on a fadeaway mid-range jumper.

Plus, he showed a knack for scoring on hustle plays, and he was able to score on a quick put back while getting fouled once. He also caught a lob off of a backdoor cut to score on a high-flying, alley-oop dunk. While he struggled to consistently make shots from the outside, Edgecombe was able to make an open, smooth spot-up three off the catch once.

He also showcased decent playmaking skills. Edgecombe tended to make good passes when he would elect to do so, and he showed that he can make timely passes as well as make passes off the dribble to get the ball to his teammates. Also, he showed a satisfactory ability to rebound the basketball. He also defended fairly well, and he was able to get a steal, and he also contested a shot off of a drive to force a miss.

Overall, Edgecombe had a solid showing in his team’s loss to Duke. He is an explosively athletic guard that excels at making plays on both ends of the floor. He’ll need to continue to refine his jump shot, but he is a very athletic, skilled playmaker that has no obvious flaws in his game, and he will likely be a top 5 pick in the upcoming draft, as he has the skills to be a star player in the NBA.

Kon Knueppel played very well in his team’s win over Baylor. He excelled at scoring in a variety of ways as well as a facilitator on offense. He scored on crafty drives to the hoop, and he particularly excels at driving to his left to do so. He also excelled at making spot-up threes off the catch.

Plus, he would make timely, accurate passes off the dribble to set up scores for his teammates. There was one play where he was called for traveling when when he looked to score off the dribble once to commit a turnover, but Knueppel had a strong offensive performance in general.

He also defended fairly well. He would look to stay in front of his man and he would actively contest outside shots to force misses. On one play, he was caught ball watching, as he was late to rotate to defend an opposing ball handler, which led him to trail his man and to his team to give up the basket that time.

Overall, Knueppel had a solid showing in this game, and he is an agile, skilled swingman that can shoot and pass the basketball. He is a high IQ basketball player that has a good feel for the game, and he will likely be a lottery pick in the 2025 draft.

Khaman Maluach quietly had a solid showing in his team’s win over Baylor. He was very solid as a finisher around the basket and as a shot blocker on the defensive end, and he was very effective as a lob threat and screen setter to help his team on offense. He defended well, as he was especially effective at defending around the basket, but sometimes he would struggle to defend opponents out on the perimeter, which would lead him to allow scores. Overall, Maluach did a good job at making team plays to help his team get the win, and he will likely be a first round pick in the 2025 draft.

Norchad Omier had a decent showing in his team’s loss to Duke. He is a mobile, physical combo forward that scored the basketball in a variety of ways. He showed that he can make shots off the dribble, out of the post, on the move, and he also made an open three once. On the other hand, despite being able to score in numerous ways, he was not able to get to the free throw line in this game.

He also rebounded the ball well. Defensively, he looked to be fairly average. He would jump on loose balls to help his team get steals, and he was able to contest a shot off of a drive to force a miss. On the downside, he would play too aggressively and wind up out of position, which would lead him to commit fouls and allow scores. Late in the game, he sagged too far off his man and didn’t contest a three-point shot, which led him to give up the basket that time.

Overall, Omier played fairly well in his team’s loss to Duke, and he is a skilled combo forward that could project well into a 3 and D role at the NBA level. He is undersized to play the four at the NBA level, so he’ll need to focus on his three-point shooting at the NBA level, but over time, he could end up converting into a 3 and D type of player for the NBA.

Caleb Foster also played well in his team’s win over Baylor. He consistently scored on strong drives to the hoop, and he was able to score on a mid-range runner once. He showed good foot speed and the scoring touch to be quite effective on offense. He also showcased decent playmaking skills. Defensively, there was one time where he didn’t move his feet very well, which led him to foul an opposing ball handler. Overall, Foster is an athletic, skilled guard whose versatility, skill set, and upside could enable him to be an effective role player at the NBA level.

Other Notes:

Sion James had a decent showing in his team’s win over Baylor. He was very effective as a ball mover and defender, and while he didn’t shoot quite as well in this game, he was able to drive hard to the rim to score on a powerful dunk early on. Overall, he will need to be a more consistent shooter in games, but he is an athletic swingman whose versatility, skill set, and intangibles could enable him to be an effective role player in the NBA.

Robert Wright III didn’t play very well, as he really struggled to make shots, but he generally passed the ball well, and he was able to make some tough shots off the dribble, especially early on. However, he also took a lot of tough, contested shots that ended up hurting his shooting percentages, and he didn’t take enough threes in this game or make enough outside shots to keep his defenders honest.

Isaiah Evans didn’t play very well, and he wasn’t wholly effective when he was out there, either, but he also wasn’t in the game for very long in his team’s win over Baylor. He’s been a very skilled but inconsistent performer this season, as he has had some tremendous games, and other games where he’s seemed to be invisible out there. Unfortunately, in this game against Baylor, he was held scoreless in limited minutes.

He moved off the ball but missed a quick three, and he also missed after hosting up another three from way out. Overall, Evans projects into an athletic, movement shooter role for the NBA. He could be a second round pick if he decides to enter the 2025 draft based on some of the other games he’s played in this season, combined with his size, skill set, and upside, but he also could use more time and seasoning at Duke, which could also benefit him if he were to stay for another year in college.

Jeremy Roach didn’t have his best game, but he did make some tough shots in this game in his team’s loss to Duke. He was able to make a smooth, step-back three. He also drove around Cooper Flagg and managed to score on a smooth, crafty drive around the basket that time. Plus, he also generally excelled at making drive and kick passes. He didn’t shoot well overall, but Roach is an athletic, skilled point guard that could project into a backup point guard at the NBA level.

Langston Love played well in his team’s loss to Duke. He excelled at making threes, and he was effective at making shots off the dribble. He also defended fairly well, and he was able to help his team get stops due to good positioning. Overall, he is an agile, skilled shot maker that may have what it takes to make it to the NBA someday.

Duke’s freshman big man, Patrick Ngongba II also played well. He was effective at scoring on hustle plays, and as a defender in this game. He showed a knack for blocking shots due to possessing good length, athleticism, and timing, and he also rotated to poke a ball away to help his team get a steal. He is an emerging talent that could be a prospect to watch next year, as he could be due for a breakout sophomore season next season.

Mason Gillis played very well in limited minutes in this game in his team’s win over Baylor. He excelled as a three-point shooter, especially off the catch. He also was able to run quickly off of a ball screen to make a smooth three late in this game to showcase his ability to be a movement shooter as well as display his above average athletic gifts. Despite not putting up gaudy stats this year, Gillis is a team player that could project into a 3 and D role at the NBA level.

All in all, those are my thoughts on how Proctor, Flagg, Edgecombe, and other various prospects fared in this game. Thanks for reading.