NBA Draft Preview: Can Yang Hansheng Make the First Round? Flag Expected as No.1, Harper as No.2 Without Doubt

At 8 AM Beijing time on June 26, the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft will be held at the Barclays Center (the second round will follow at 8 AM on June 27). As things stand, Flag is expected to go first overall, with Harper as the clear No.2 pick. Chinese player Yang Hansheng is projected to be picked late in the first round or early in the second—can he push into the first round on his 20th birthday? Here are the four main storylines of the draft—

1. Can Yang Hansheng Break Into the First Round?

After participating in the Chicago joint workout, Yang Hansheng embarked on a long solo workout tour for teams, working out for 14 franchises including the Trail Blazers, Jazz, Suns, Bucks, Magic, Pacers, Nets, Celtics, Hawks, Timberwolves, Raptors, Thunder, Warriors, and Clippers. Currently, mainstream media predicts he will be selected early in the second round, but many draft experts believe Yang has a chance to crack the first round.

If Yang Hansheng is selected by any team, he will become the ninth Chinese player ever drafted into the NBA. The previous eight are Song Tao, Wang Zhizhi, Yao Ming, Xue Yuyang, Yi Jianlian, Sun Yue, Zhou Qi, and Wang Zhelin.

After two consecutive seasons with international players going first overall (last year’s lottery was dominated by French players), this draft presents a different landscape.

ESPN analyst Marks said, “You might see 7 to 8 international players picked between 9th and 30th. Maybe even more—but you won’t see players like Wembanyama, Richaud, or Sall. This draft isn’t top-heavy, but that doesn’t mean the quality of international players is lacking.”

The NBA official website predicts international players likely to be selected in the first round include Jean-Bellinger (France), Noah Essengue (France), Hugo Gonzalez (Spain), Noah Penda (France), Ben Sraf (Israel), and Nolan Traore (France).

2. Flag Leads Montverde Quartet

When Flag left Montverde Academy in Florida, he was already a strong contender for the 2025 NBA Draft’s top pick, a status reinforced by his season at Duke University. He is widely praised for his basketball skills, court IQ, and overall maturity. Notably, Flag, McNeely, Quinn, and Newell all come from Montverde Academy and could all be selected in the first round. Of course, the Mavericks choosing Flag with the first pick is considered a done deal.

“It’s crazy,” Flag said. “I think there are four players from Montverde, plus my Duke teammates Knapper and Maruachi—so I know and played with seven guys from the little green house. Going through this process with them is incredible.”

All four players consistently praise each other, frequently using the term “brothers.” Under coach Kevin Boyle, Montverde Academy has produced many NBA talents. If Flag becomes the No.1 pick, he will be the third Montverde alumnus to earn this honor recently (Ben Simmons was No.1 in 2016, Cunningham in 2021), while notable players like Embiid (3rd pick in 2014) and Scottie Barnes (4th pick in 2021) also attended the school.

3. Harper and Bailey Represent Rutgers University

Rutgers guard Dylan Harper (son of five-time NBA champion Ron Harper) is regarded as the second top prospect in this draft. After averaging 19.4 points per game with a 48.4% shooting percentage, he stands out almost as a tier below Flag. The Spurs selecting Harper with the No.2 pick is widely seen as a certainty, pairing him with Wembanyama.

Harper excels in pick-and-roll situations and can drive inside to create scoring chances. He is physically strong with excellent court awareness. Analysts believe that as long as he stays healthy, he is destined for a great NBA career.

Another hot rookie, Ace Bailey, is Harper’s college teammate. Bailey is expected to be a lottery pick, possibly rising to No.3. The forward averages 17.6 points, 7.6 rebounds per game, and shoots 34.6% from three-point range, showing sufficient shooting range.

Harper said, “Ace is like my best friend. Playing alongside him, I’ll miss those moments—it’s special.”

Bailey clearly feels the same: “He’s my brother, on and off the court, not just basketball. Many people fake friendships because they’re on the same team, but ours goes way beyond that. This journey is full of fun, joy, energy, and keeps us humble and hardworking. We’re both working hard, so I know he’ll do great.”

4. Nets’ Bountiful Draft Assets

The Nets are likely to excite their home fans—they hold the most first-round picks in the league this year (8th, 19th, 22nd, 26th, and 27th), setting an NBA record. Previously, only the 1990 Kings, 2006 Trail Blazers, and 2021 Rockets had four first-round picks in a single draft. This means the Nets are highly likely to trade up on draft night or convert at least one 2025 first-round pick into future assets. Multiple experts speculate the Nets are the most probable team to select Yang Hansheng, given their numerous opportunities.

Besides the Nets, other teams holding multiple first-round picks include the Spurs (2nd, 14th), Jazz (5th, 21st), Wizards (6th, 18th), Pelicans (7th, 23rd), and Thunder (15th, 24th).