For greater than a 12 months, there’s by no means actually been any doubt about which participant will go No. 1 within the 2025 NBA Draft. It was all the time going to be Flagg, the one-and-done star at Duke who led the Blue Devils in all 5 main particular person classes whereas changing into the youngest Picket Award winner in historical past. Excessive ceiling. Excessive flooring. It is exhausting to think about Flagg not being a high-level NBA participant for greater than a decade.

Harper is the consensus No. 2 prospect on this draft and thus needs to be the second participant chosen even when he isn’t an ideal match on a roster already that includes De’Aaron Fox and reigning Rookie of the 12 months Stephon Fortress. As others have famous, that might result in San Antonio purchasing the choose to franchises extra in want of a lead guard with good positional dimension. So regulate that. Both approach, irrespective of which franchise selects second, Harper is prone to be the choose.

Some consider Philadelphia might transfer this choose for a veteran given the place former MVP Joel Embiid is in his profession. That is comprehensible. But when the Sixers do execute the choose, they should not let the presence of gifted younger guards like Tyrese Maxey and Jared McCain on their roster steer them away from Johnson, the participant I consider is the third greatest prospect out there. The one-and-done standout from Texas led all freshmen in scoring whereas taking pictures 39.7% from 3-point vary on 6.8 makes an attempt per contest. Spectacular numbers, throughout. And most of them are the kind of numbers that ought to translate to the subsequent stage.

The Hornets went from having nearly as good of odds as anyone to land Flagg and hold him 150 miles from the place he starred at Duke to sliding to fourth on this draft. That is dangerous luck. However they will nonetheless have a chance to land a difference-maker — amongst them Edgecombe, who’s a top-shelf and explosive athlete able to creating posters in transition. He is the kind of prospect who’s each secure and crammed with upside after serving to Baylor make what was a sixth straight journey to the NCAA Event.

Extra proof that Rutgers ought to’ve been higher than it was this previous season is the truth that the Scarlet Knights completed with a shedding document regardless of having two projected top-five picks. Is it regarding that Baily is not extra well-rounded at this level in his improvement? Sure. However his upside is large on condition that he is an electrical shot-creator and shot-maker. He checks the field of the most effective prospect out there at this level within the draft and is a smart choice for a Utah franchise nonetheless rebuilding.

Fears is about to affix the comparatively brief listing of one-and-done lottery picks who had been ranked exterior of the highest 60 of their highschool lessons. His distinctive capacity to vary speeds and hold defenders off stability is an excessive amount of to disregard even when his subpar 3-point share is a supply of concern for some entrance workplaces.

Knueppel was principally glorious by Duke’s run to the Remaining 4, averaging 19.0 factors whereas taking pictures 63.6% from past the arc. He is an elite shooter, clearly, however removed from solely a shooter — and anyone labeling him as little greater than a catch-and-shoot risk is wildly underestimating Knueppel’s versatility as a participant who initiatives as a pleasant constructing block for a New Orleans franchise endlessly looking for floor-spacers to place alongside Zion Williamson.

Maluach’s in any other case nice freshman 12 months concluded horribly with a zero-rebound effort in 21 minutes throughout Duke’s season-ending loss to Houston. However that was only one sport in opposition to an older and stronger crew, and it should not bitter entrance workplaces an excessive amount of on an 18 year-old who can transfer unusually effectively for a person his dimension.

Queen is a super-interesting ahead who offsets a few of his bodily limitations with unbelievable talent and above-average smarts. He hit the buzzer-beater in opposition to Colorado State that despatched Maryland to the Candy 16, scored 27 in opposition to the eventual nationwide champion (Florida) and solidified himself within the NCAA Event as an intriguing lottery choice.

The Rockets are a 52-win franchise with most of its vital items underneath contract. They’ll afford to bundle this choose in a commerce or apply it to a high-upside prospect — and Bryant clearly represents the latter. These playoffs have reminded all people how a lot nice 3-and-D wings influence profitable within the postseason. Bryant has the instruments to develop into one and needs to be chosen accordingly no matter his restricted position as a freshman at Arizona.

Richardson did not emerge as a starter at Michigan State till midway by the season however rapidly confirmed himself to be the crew’s most dynamic scorer. He is the son of 14-year NBA veteran Jason Richardson, which is considered as a constructive amongst NBA entrance workplaces. The combo guard is a high-energy prospect with the kind of basketball IQ youngsters of gamers usually possess, and he needs to be a smart choice for a Portland franchise with promising frontcourt items already in place.

The Bulls had been a below-average defensive crew this previous season. Murray-Boyles might assist alleviate that concern. Sure, he is a non-shooting and undersized front-court piece, which makes him a considerably divisive prospect. However the two-year participant from South Carolina is impactful in a number of methods on each ends of the courtroom, and his really feel for the sport, instincts and defensive versatility have many evaluators on board with the 19 year-old being a lottery choose.

What Jakucionis lacks in explosiveness he makes up for together with his numerous skillset and excessive basketball IQ. The Lithuanian solely shot 31.8% from 3-point vary in a single season at Illinois; that should not be ignored. However Jackucionis has beforehand proven to be a extra dependable shooter than he largely demonstrated with the Illini and will turn into a pleasant piece who’s able to enjoying both behind or with Trae Younger in Atlanta.

It stays unclear if San Antonio will use each lottery picks or make transfer. As all the time, we’ll see. But when they do make this choose, McNeeley is a pleasant choice. He solely shot 31.7% from 3-point vary in his one 12 months at UConn — however scouts are largely unconcerned and nonetheless view him as a strong-shooting wing on the subsequent stage. An ankle sprain price him greater than a month of his season, however McNeeley confirmed sufficient whereas on the courtroom to persuade evaluators he is worthy of being chosen within the lottery.

Demin is a backcourt participant with large dimension — however one who turned it over 2.9 occasions per sport this season, which needs to be no less than somewhat regarding for franchises viewing him as a ball-in-his-hands guard. The three-point share can be a difficulty. So it is simple to grasp why the one-and-done fresham from Russia is a divisive prospect, however there’s nonetheless little likelihood he goes a lot decrease than the center of the primary spherical.

Clifford is older than the kind of prospects some entrance workplaces want to pick with top-20 picks — however he checks a number of different bins. Good positional dimension? Sure. Competent shooter? Sure. Versatile defender? Sure. He could possibly be the subsequent good NBA participant to emerge from the Mountain West Convention.

Wolf moved from the Ivy League to the Huge Ten and, statistically, arguably carried out even higher. The 7-footer has guard expertise and is a greater defender than some understand. He might add frontcourt versatility to a Minnesota franchise that is led by Anthony Edwards and set as much as compete within the West for the foreseeable future.

Can Newell hold the ground spaced as a legit 3-point risk? If that’s the case, he ought to go larger. If not, he ought to go decrease. Both approach, that is the swing-skill for the one-and-done prospect who carried out fairly effectively as a freshman in an SEC crammed with a lot older and stronger forwards.

Traore does sufficient good issues with the ball in his arms to safe a spot within the first spherical— however his inefficiency, and lack of taking pictures, are non-starters for some entrance workplaces. At 18, there are nonetheless a few years of improvement for the French native. Any franchise choosing him has to take action with that understanding.

Essengue is a French prospect with nice positional dimension. As one of many youngest gamers out there, he is a long-term guess. But when the shot develops, and the defensive versatility turns into plain, the 18 12 months previous could possibly be a steal at this level within the draft for a Warmth franchise seemingly at a crossroads after buying and selling Jimmy Butler and getting swept out of the playoffs by a Cavs crew that was subsequently eradicated by the Pacers in 5 video games.

Beringer is a frontcourt prospect with a 7-4 wingspan who supplies defensive versatility and the flexibility to rim-protect. Is he able to contribute within the NBA subsequent season? Most likely not. However there’s loads to love with this 18 12 months previous who could possibly be a constructing block for a Utah franchise nonetheless years away from competing for something significant.

Coward dedicated to Duke earlier than performing effectively on the mix, at which level he opted to stay within the draft. It seems to be like a clever determination for the 6-6 guard who shot 40% from 3-point vary in six appearances for Washington State and was headed for an all-conference season till a shoulder damage sidelined him in late November.

Sorber appeared forward of schedule for a one-and-done prospect earlier than struggling a season-ending left-foot damage on Feb. 15. Regardless, he did sufficient in 24 video games to indicate he’d both spend subsequent season as a Huge East Participant of the 12 months candidate or as a rookie within the NBA. The foot-injury is regarding, if solely as a result of huge males with foot accidents do not have the most effective tales. However Sorber ought to nonetheless go within the first spherical of this draft and will present frontcourt depth for an Indiana franchise within the Japanese Convention Finals for the second straight 12 months.

Saraf is one other worldwide prospect with good positional dimension. Considerations about his taking pictures and athleticism ought to hold him out of the lottery — however there’s sufficient pick-and-roll playmaking capacity already in place to make sure his title is named on this vary — whether or not it is to Oklahoma Metropolis at No. 24 or one other franchise on this neighborhood of the draft.

Gonzalez hasn’t performed or produced a lot for Actual Madrid this season, which is generally the byproduct of being a 19 year-old on a first-place crew in a legit skilled league. However the athleticism and high-motor that is made him an intriguing prospect for years nonetheless exists and can probably be sufficient to get Gonzalez chosen within the first spherical.

Riley did not get as a lot consideration as another freshmen — however he was a dependable double-digit scorer for an NCAA Event crew from begin to end. At Illinois, the long-and-lean wing confirmed playmaking capacity. However the jumper remains to be extra streaky than dependable, and he additionally wants so as to add energy.

Raynaud improved statistically in 4 straight years at Stanford — going from someone who averaged 4.5 factors as a freshman to someone who averaged 20.2 as a senior. His capacity to stretch the ground and cross at his dimension are thought of strengths and could possibly be helpful for a Brooklyn franchise that ranked twenty fifth in 3-point taking pictures this season.

The mix proved that Fleming is somewhat taller than 6-8 (barefoot) with a wingspan somewhat higher than 7-5. These measurements are nice for someone who additionally shot 39% from 3 on 4.5 makes an attempt per sport as a 20 year-old, and that is among the many causes Fleming ought to go within the lottery regardless of principally working off of the nationwide radar in three seasons at Saint Joseph’s.

Clayton was the star of Florida’s nationwide title run whereas averaging 22.3 factors on 43.5% taking pictures from past the arc in these six NCAA Event video games. There are issues about his decision-making and method to protection, however the Most Excellent Participant of the 2025 Remaining 4 is such a talented and distinctive shotmaker that he is worthy of a severe look this deep within the first spherical by a Phoenix franchise that most likely must hit the reset button.

Kalkbrenner is a four-time Huge East Defensive Participant of the 12 months. He is removed from what anyone would name a contemporary NBA heart. But when Zach Edey went within the high 10 of the 2024 NBA Draft, there is not any motive Kalkbrenner cannot go within the high 30 of the 2025 NBA Draft.