The 2025 NBA draft cycle is set to accelerate with the start of the college basketball season. Scouts have been making rounds to practices for the past few weeks after spending the summer visiting EYBL and FIBA tournaments and NBA-sanctioned camps.
Unlike last year, this year’s projected draft class is loaded with star power, and so in the NBA, the tanking has already begun. The timing of the Brooklyn Nets’ complete reset wasn’t a coincidence. The Washington Wizards trading Deni Avdija and adding three one-and-done first-rounders suggests they were in no rush to move up the standings. The Portland Trail Blazers and Chicago Bulls could potentially blow up the season and look to trade veterans for additional 2025 picks.
Duke’s Cooper Flagg is the perceived top prize, but between Rutgers’ freshmen studs, France’s top point guard prospect and other international players who will be playing in college add up to one of the more anticipated drafts of the decade. Here is how I see the first round playing out:
- Brooklyn Nets: Cooper Flagg, 6-9 freshman forward, Duke
Flagg will consistently produce, impact games and generate highlights off his athleticism, motor, IQ and defensive instincts. Scouts will deem the play-finishing, passing and shot-blocking fully translatable to the NBA, just based on his physical tools, movement and intangibles. Whether he meets the hype and becomes the runaway No. 1 prospect will come down to his ball-handling and creating, his pull-up game, and his spot-up shooting. Flagg has ultimately delivered enough flashes of ball-screen playmaking, crossovers into jumpers and more shotmaking diversity for scouts to remain optimistic about the 17-year-old’s potential to become an NBA’s team’s top option.
- Washington Wizards: Dylan Harper, 6-6 freshman guard, Rutgers
During a recent exhibition against St. John’s, Harper gave scouts and executives a taste of his creativity, tough shotmaking and ability to use his 6-6 215-pound frame on drives and finishes. The score-first wiring won’t work against his draft stock in today’s game. He’ll still have to show enough playmaking to sell scouts on his ability to run an offense, and they’re still waiting to confidently evaluate his shooting over a big sample size of games.
- Portland Trail Blazers: Ace Bailey, 6-10 freshman forward, Rutgers
NBA teams love the jumbo-wing shooter archetype, and Bailey fits that description while mirroring scoring forwards like Brandon Miller, Paul George and Tracy McGrady. Some of the jumpers he hit in Rutgers’ first exhibition looked completely uncontestable and extremely high on the difficulty scale. As long as he doesn’t set off any alarms with his ambitious shot selection and decision-making, Bailey figures to be a top-five lock and potential #1 overall candidate if Flagg struggles with his creation and shooting.
- Detroit Pistons: V.J. Edgecombe, 6-4 freshman guard, Baylor
Edgecombe will be an easy sell to NBA teams with a combination of explosiveness and shotmaking skill. That one-two punch screams easy fit and sure. Maintaining top-five buzz will call for Edgecombe to deliver enough flashes of self-creation and passing while continuing to make threes at an encouraging rate.
- Utah Jazz: Nolan Traore, 6-4 point guard, Saint-Quentin (France)
Traore became a hot name entering the 2025 draft cycle after impressive showings at the Nike Hoop Summit and U18 European Championships. He continues to ease concerns over athletic limitations by putting up numbers in France’s top division as an 18-year-old starting point guard. He’s consistently showcased the type of pick-and-roll feel and command that seem translatable. And despite some struggles exploding around the rim, he’s making pull-ups and hitting touch and scoop shots with Saint-Quentin.
- Chicago Bulls: Kon Knueppel, 6-7 freshman forward, Duke
The high school film and early tape from Duke suggests Knueppel may compete for the title of top freshman shooter in the draft class. But at 6-7, he also offers the in-between skill and instincts to score from three levels. Outside the top five, teams figure to throw Knueppel’s athletic limitations out the window and bet on his elite shooting stroke, scoring versatility and production for a 19-year-old with NBA wing size.
- Charlotte Hornets: Kasparas Jakucionis, 6-6 freshman guard, Illinois
College basketball’s list of incoming international talent should lead off with Jakucionis. There is enough tape of the 6-6 18-year-old Lithuanian either taking over games or quarterbacking an offense in different settings. The most recent was the U18 European Championship. He closed with 37 points and seven assists against France, showing continued success getting to spots off change of speed, and hitting jumpers and floaters off the dribble. Scouts will be looking to see if college basketball exposes Jakucionis’ lack of explosion or length.
- Toronto Raptors: Drake Powell, 6-5 freshman guard, North Carolina
Powell will win fans and scouts over with his defense and toughness plays. They’ll be his calling cards for a North Carolina team that already has a number of proven scorers. The flashes of shotmaking and driving have been there, and remain a part of Powell’s pitch long-term. He just might not get enough ball-handling reps this season to consistently score or improve in the short term.
- San Antonio Spurs (via Hawks): Tre Johnson, 6-6 freshman guard, Texas
Johnson should look like one of the freshmen class’ most polished shotmakers. The combination of 6’6” size, proven shooting and sharp pull-up and step-back games create a high theoretical floor at the NBA level. If scouts are to become hesitant on Johnson, it will be because of a reliance on lower-percentage shots and limited playmaking ability for a guard.
- San Antonio Spurs: Ben Saraf, 6-5 point guard, Ratiopharm Ulm (Israel)
Saraf has become a big draw after his MVP showing at the U18 European Championships. The flashes of ball-handling creativity, three-level shotmaking and passing IQ have carried over. He’s not finishing or shooting as efficiently against pros in Germany. But a 6’5” 18-year-old having Saraf’s success shaking defenders, getting to spots, setting up teammates and hitting tough shots still warrants serious attention.
- OKC Thunder (via Clippers): Collin Murray-Boyles, 6-7 sophomore forward, South Carolina
Opinions are bound to vary on Murray-Boyles’ production versus his older-school game. The textbook may say to avoid a 6’7” forward who plays in the post and doesn’t shoot. Believers will be willing to bet that the two-point scoring can translate based on how effective he is using his 235-pound frame, scoring instincts and hands around the key and basket. Throw in his obvious passing IQ and defensive feet and strength, and there should be enough here for teams to look past a lack of handle and range.
- Houston Rockets: Liam McNeeley, 6-7 freshman forward, Connecticut
While scouts may have a difficult time picturing upside in a 6’7” forward who lacks athleticism and creativity, they should see an easy fit with his shooting, driving, IQ and other intangibles. He’ll likely serve as a valuable floor-spacer who can make decisions from the top of the key or post, keep the ball moving and score without needing many dribbles.
- Atlanta Hawks (via Lakers): Khaman Maluach, 7-2 freshman center, Duke
Maluach will look raw this season, but even at his floor, he’s also going to make disruptive defensive plays and explosive finishes using his physical tools. His 7’2” size and mobility alone will draw interest. It will be the flashes of shotmaking and capable three-point range that will stretch imaginations and sway some teams to want to reach and stay patient.
- Golden State Warriors: Egor Demin, 6-9 freshman guard, BYU
Demin’s size and versatility will create an enticing archetype: A 6’9” playmaker who also has confidence in his three-points shot. BYU figures to feature him often, given the advantages he can create with that positional height and ball-handling. How well he’s received by scouts could come down to his ability to handle physicality and consistently make jumpers.
- OKC Thunder (via Heat): Noa Essengue, 6-9 forward, Ratiopharm Ulm (France)
A 17-year-old Essengue made a strong impression with 20 points, eight boards, three assists and two steals in an exhibition against the Portland Trail Blazers. He’s clearly raw offensively, but Essengue has still been productive using his physical tools and motor to create finishing chances and convert around the rim. Occasional three-point shooting and open-floor ball-handling sequences suggest there’s far more scoring versatility to unlock.
- New Orleans Pelicans: Boogie Fland, 6-2 freshman point guard, Arkansas
Historically, small guards’ shotmaking skill and/or athletic ability has to be different. Fland’s could be—the 6’2”, 175-pounder is extra shifty and dangerous with his dribble and pull-up game. He’ll have the challenge of trying to sell scouts on his point guard IQ and playmaking while sharing the ball with Johnell Davis and DJ Wagner.
- Atlanta Hawks (via Kings): Rocco Zikarsky, 7-2 center, Brisbane (Australia)
Zikarsky’s 7’2” frame and defensive presence have been on the radar for years. There was an expectation that the 18-year-old would see increased minutes this season in the NBL, but that hasn’t been the case so far. He remains limited offensively outside the paint, but there will still be interest from certain teams covetting interior size and rim protection.
- Indiana Pacers: Hugo Gonzalez, 6-9 forward, Real Madrid (Spain)
Between the years with Real Madrid, multiple ANGT tournaments and three FIBA tournaments, Gonzalez has been tracked since 16 years old. That’s important, because he’s currently riding the bench in Euroleague and ACB games. He’ll have to start playing to climb draft boards, but there is enough tape out there on Gonzalez’s athleticism, defensive motor, improving ball-handling and capable shotmaking to keep scouts interested and patient.
- Memphis Grizzlies: Derrion Reid, 6-8 freshman forward, Alabama
Reid instantly pops with 6’8” size and long arms for a wing or combo forward. He’ll make the most noise this year with athletic plays and defense, but he’ll have the chance to climb boards with regular flashes of shotmaking and passing.
- Houston Rockets (via Suns): Donnie Freeman, 6-10 freshman forward, Syracuse
Freeman’s two-way versatility should be evident on first viewing. He’s still on the raw side, but at 6’9”, he potentially checks an interesting set of boxes with perimeter skill, post offense and defensive tools
- Orlando Magic: Jalil Bethea, 6-5 freshman guard, Miami
Bethea is a natural scorer with the handle, shiftiness and shotmaking skill to generate his own offense and take over stretches of a game. Depending on how efficient he is, and whether he flashes playmaking potential will determine if scouts buy in or become hesitant.
- Utah Jazz (via Cavs): Carter Bryant, 6-8 freshman forward, Arizona
Bryant’s 6’8” size, athleticism at the rim and perimeter skill will pass the NBA eye test. Shot selection and shooting consistency will be key while having to play behind Arizona’s experienced frontcourt.
- Brooklyn Nets: Asa Newell, 6-11 freshman forward, Georgia
Newell will produce inside the paint off his 6’11” size, motor and touch around the low block. His ticket into the draft’s first round will be continuing to look comfortable shooting threes and making plays defensively.
- Dallas Mavericks: Will Riley, 6-8 freshman forward, Illinois
Riley has become a more popular name over the past year with his play in EYBL. At 6’8”, he’s a skilled scoring wing and shotmaker, but eyes will be on that 180-pound frame and how it holds up against bigger, stronger defenders.
- Orlando Magic: Michael Ruzic, 6-10 forward, Joventut (Croatia)
By the draft, Ruzic will be 18 years old with two full years of regular minutes in the ACB. At 6’10”, he projects as a stretch power forward with a clean shooting stroke and some self-creation skill, though there will likely be question marks about his athletic limitations and defensive outlook.
- Utah Jazz: Alex Toohey, 6-8 forward, Sydney Kings (Australia)
Toohey is off to a breakout start in the NBL, mostly because of his shooting turning a corner. Though he isn’t a high-level creator, scouts will see an easy fit in a 6’7” shotmaker who has excellent scoring instincts driving and attacking off the catch and in transition.
- Oklahoma City Thunder: Dink Pate, 6-8 guard, Mexico City Capitanes
Highlights of a 6’8” ball-handler will always look enticing. Teams are historically drawn to big playmakers. Pate has to improve his finishing and shooting, but there were enough flashes at 17 years old in the G League for scouts to feel optimistic about a more efficient Pate with Mexico City.
- Brooklyn Nets (via Knicks): Kanon Catchings, 6-8 freshman forward, BYU
Catchings easily pops with 6’8” size, fluid shooting skills and athleticism around the basket. Teams will detect potential and an easy fit, assuming the range he showcased at Overtime Elite carries over. He’ll move further up the board if he’s able to flash some creation and finish efficiently.
- Brooklyn Nets (via Thunder): Karter Knox, 6-8 freshman forward, Arkansas
Knox looks the part with a strong 6’8”, 220-pound frame and three-level scoring ability. Shooting consistency and decision-making will be keys to winning scouts over.
- Boston Celtics: Kwame Evans Jr., 6-9 sophomore forward, Oregon
Evans stood out last year with his defensive playmaking and flashes of inside-out offense. Improving his shooting could help scouts better picture a versatile, two-way combo forward for the next level.
