Despite a significant number of prospects electing to return to college, this year’s draft class remains very talented, especially at the top, led by Duke’s Cooper Flagg and Rutgers star freshman Dylan Harper.
The depth at wing could present some really intriguing decisions for NBA execs as this year’s crop offers home-run picks in Flagg and Rutgers star Ace Bailey, ascending prospects ready to make noise at the next level (hello, Kon Knueppel) and several enigmas with tantalizing measurables and skills but lacking production.
Below is a breakdown of the top 10 wings in the 2025 NBA Draft and which players are moving up boards and could sneak into the first round or lottery.
Cooper Flagg, 6-foot-8, Duke, Freshman
Flagg was the No. 1 recruit coming out of high school and backed it up during his one year at Duke leading the Blue Devils to a Final Four run and becoming the fourth freshman to win AP Player of the Year. Flagg stormed onto the scene last summer when he held his own against some of the top NBA talent at the USA Basketball training camp before the Olympics. He hit a turnaround jumper over Anthony Davis and took Jayson Tatum off the dribble for a 3-ball. Flagg led Duke in every major statistical category: points (19.2), rebounds (7.5), assists (4.2), steals (1.4), and blocks (1.4). “When looking at all the Duke one-and-done talent over the years, Cooper Flagg might be the most complete player out of the group just with his size and two-way versatility,” a NBA scout told Hoops HQ. “He still has some things he needs to improve on but that’s a great thing considering where he’s at all ready at such a young age.”
Ace Bailey, 6-foot-9, Rutgers, Freshman
In terms of being a pure scorer on the perimeter, Bailey has the most upside out of any player projected at the top of the draft. His size and the way he can elevate easily gives him an advantage heading into the NBA, especially now that he’s going to have to go against bigger and stronger players. Before his season at Rutgers started, Bailey and Dylan Harper got in the gym with Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo and he did not go easy on the two young stars. “I told Ace, ‘that’s who you’re going to have to guard next year,” Harper said. “It was great just being able to see how hard he works and how intentional he is about getting to his spots and just the repetition.”
Bailey struggled at times during his one year at Rutgers but he flashed tremendous upside for an NBA prospect. The spacing will allow him more room to maneuver and he plays with much more fluidity in an up-tempo offense and game. Bailey averaged 17.6 points and 7.2 rebounds while shooting 34.6 percent from 3-point range and he’s a projected top-4 pick.
Kon Knueppel, 6-foot-6, Duke, Freshman
Knueppel is one of the buzziest names heading into the draft and could soar all the way to the top 5 with how well he interviewed and performed at the combine. Knueppel was a swiss army knife during his one year at Duke and a great complimentary piece to Flagg on the perimeter. He shot lights out during two games in the NCAA Tournament where he put up 20 points against Arizona in the Sweet 16 and then followed up with 21 points against Alabama in the Elite 8. “Kon is a great teammate because he can do it all and he makes everyone else on the court better,” Flagg said of his teammate at the draft combine. “He works hard each day in practice and I think that shows on the court even now through all of this [pre draft process].”
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Carter Bryant, 6-foot-8, Arizona, Freshman
Bryant didn’t have a great year at Arizona so it might be surprising to see him projected so high in the draft. Bryant only averaged 6.5 points and 4.1 rebounds in 19.3 minutes of action this past season. It might have been the wrong fit at Arizona or the fact that he was playing behind older, experienced players and couldn’t find his rhythm when he did get minutes. But the NBA Draft process is a reset for some players. Dereck Lively didn’t have a great year at Duke and sky rocketed into the lottery. What Bryant possesses as a wing threat in the NBA is worth it for any team to consider him in the late lottery or mid-first round. His shooting mechanics are there and he has good instincts offensively if he can find the right system and coaching staff to develop under.
Liam McNeeley, 6-foot-7, Connecticut, Freshman
It takes a mentally tough player to come in as a freshman and play for Connecticut head coach Dan Hurley, and McNeeley thrived, averaging 14.5 points, 6 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game. He had one of the fastest shuttle runs at the combine (2.75 seconds) and shot the ball well during the on-court shooting drills. “A lot of people don’t know how quick I am,” McNeeley said with a smile at the combine. “I’m just here to try and show my all-around game and let the work I’ve put in since the season ended speak for itself.”
Drake Powell, 6-foot-7, North Carolina, Freshman
Like Bryant, Powell is another name shooting up draft boards late after an uninspiring freshman season. Powell averaged 7.4 points and 3.4 rebounds per game, a far cry from what he did at the high school level when he was one of the top recruits. He measured very well at the combine and has the body type and defensive versatility that NBA teams love in a young prospect. “I’m taking this process very seriously,” Powell said at the combine. “For me, I just want to show the real essence of who I am as a player. I work hard, can guard multiple positions and I’m ready to come in and show that next year for any team that gives me a chance.” Powell went from a fringe second-round pick to a late lottery, mid-first rounder throughout this pre-draft process.
Cedric Coward, 6-foot-6, Washington State, Senior
Coward had one of the most impressive showings at the combine. He measured a 7-foot-2¼ wingspan, recorded a 38½-inch max vertical leap, and made 71 percent of his aggregated attempts during all shooting drills. Coward only played seven games at Washington State after suffering a shoulder injury but is fully cleared for all on-court contact starting June 14. Coward was averaging 17.7 points, 7 rebounds and 3.7 assists and shooting 40% from three prior to his injury and is now prepared to show teams that his injury has not held him back from what he projects as an NBA perimeter player. “If you watch my film from Washington State, I was playing a lot more of the one [point guard] and it sucks that I got hurt because it was really clicking, but I’m comfortable playing wherever,” Coward said. “I can play on or off the ball. I feel like with my size, I can guard multiple positions and I’m just ready to do whatever it takes to help a team win.”
Will Riley, 6-foot-8, Illinois, Freshman
Riley is originally from Canada and chose Illinois over Arizona after exploring the professional route in Australia’s National Basketball League. He averaged 12. 6 points and 4.1 rebounds and strung together some impressive performances. In the last five games of the season, Riley averaged 17 points and 5 rebounds, scoring more than 20 three times. His consistency is what is giving teams pause. He can light up the statsheet one game and then disappear the next game. Still, with his youth, size and upside, Riley remains a projected first-round pick with how well he can develop on the perimeter both on offense and defense.
Noah Penda, 6-foot-7, Le Mans (France)
Penda had a breakout season for Le Mans and was named the MVP in the LNB All-Star Young Stars Game in January. He averaged 10.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists during the season and his shot selection continued to improve over the course of the year. Recently, we have seen young French talent creep up draft boards and this year is Penda, forward Noa Essengue and point guard Nolan Traore. Penda has the size to bury players in mismatch situations in the paint but can also step out and knock down long 3s. His size and versatility might make him one of the best value players in this draft and he’s projected as a late lottery pick.
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Koby Brea, 6-foot-7, Kentucky, Senior
Brea is one of those players who could sneak into the first round with how well his individual workouts are going. He has great size with an impressive 7-foot-3 wingspan and can guard multiple positions on the court. NBA teams covet a true 3-and-D player and Brea fits that mold after shooting 43.4 percent from behind the arc on three attempts per game this past season at Kentucky. Brea is a fifth-year senior after transferring from Dayton but would be a good pickup for any team looking for a plug-and-play guy to come in and contribute right away.
