2025 NBA Draft Big Board
Ranking the best players in the 2025 NBA Draft class.
We are less than a week away from the biggest day on the scouting communities calendar; the 2025 NBA Draft.
While only one team gets to walk away with a Cooper Flagg, there is still plenty of franchise-altering talent available in this class, and a number of really good rotational pieces.
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The Lottery | 1-14
#1- Cooper Flagg
From: Duke
Position: Small Forward
Age: 18
Height: 6’7.75”
Weight: 221 lbs
Wingspan: 7’0”
Standing Reach: 8’10.5”
Max Vertical Leap: 35.5”
Standing Vertical Leap: 29”
Player Comparison: Scottie Pippen
Analysis: As the clear prize of the 2025 NBA Draft, Cooper Flagg might just be the best defensive college prospect we’ve seen in over a decade. At 6’7.75” with an 8’10.5” standing reach, he is comedically mobile, and is able to cover a ridiculous amount of ground to contest and block shots. On the offensive side, he answered just about every question asked of him, and establishing himself as a clear number one option at the NBA level, making plays, for both himself and teammates, with and without the ball in his hands. His shooting, both off the dribble and off the catch, also made clear improvements over the year. Overall, Flagg is by far and wide the best prospect in this class in every conceivable way.
#2- Dylan Harper
From: Rutgers
Position: Point Guard
Age: 19
Height: 6’4.5”
Weight: 213.2 lbs
Wingspan: 6’10.5”
Standing Reach: 8’6”
Max Vertical Leap: 36.5”
Standing Vertical Leap: 30.5”
Player Comparison: Cade Cunningham
Analysis: Dylan Harper is a big-bodied, bucket getting guard with a physical profile similar to that of Cade Cunningham and James Harden. While his film won’t jump off the screen, his ability to put pressure on the rim from the guard position is like that of prospects like Russell Westbrook and Derrick Rose. And in a system with poor spacing, he wasn’t even able to show us his full potential in that aspect. He also possesses great playmaking instincts, which will bode well with his ability to put pressure on the rim. I am a firm believer that if you surround Harper with shooters and put the ball in his hands, you’re going to have a star. But even if he doesn’t reach his star upside, the Rutgers product has the highest floor of all the guards in this draft.
#3- Noa Essengue
From: Ratiopharm Ulm (Germany)
Position: Power Foward
Age: 18
Height: 6’10”
Weight: 198 lbs
Wingspan: 6’11”
Standing Reach: 9’3.25”
Max Vertical Leap: 35.5”
Player Comparison: Bigger Bilal Coulibaly
Analysis: Noa Essengue’s ability to hold his own at 18 years of age in one of the most competitive leagues in the world cannot be undersold. The French product looks like an NBA athlete already, with crazy length and remarkably fluid movement with-and-without the ball in his hands. His elite footwork allows him to get to the rim with ease, where he can finish strong, or draw the foul remarkably well considering his youth, . He is also adept at finishing through contact, able to connect on finishes off-balance, off-hand, and off-foot. His ability to stretch the floor has always been his main worry, but his touch has undoubtedly improved over the past few years, now knocking down over 70% of his free throws, including a game vs Alba Berlin where he went 13/13. Essengue is a versatile defender who is able to play at the point-of-attack, as a roamer, or in a zone more than adeptly. He fights well over screens, and switches well. What most excites me, however, is Essengue’s playmaking upside. He has shown terrific feel for the game, making plenty of passes that make your jaw drop. Essengue is especially potent passing and handling the ball in transition. He undoubtedly has elite secondary/tertiary playmaking upside. Essengue will surely need to add to his frame, but it isn’t a worry yet given his age and his broad build.
#4- VJ Edgecombe
From: Baylor
Position: Shooting Guard
Age: 19
Height: 6’4”
Weight: 193.2 lbs
Wingspan: 6’7.5”
Standing Reach: 8’5.5”
Max Vertical Leap: 38.5”
Standing Vertical Leap: 30”
Player Comparison: Victor Oladipo
Analysis: VJ Edgcombe is a very special prospect. At 6’4” barefoot, with broad shoulders, a 6’7.5” and wiry, boundless athleticism, he possesses every physical tool in the book to take advantage of every matchup at his position, whether its through force or speed. He puts plenty of pressure on the rim, generating plenty of highlight finishes. His swing skill will be his ability to handle the ball; if he can get that singular skill to an elite level, he is going to be a star. His shooting has raised some questions in the past, but he shot 36.3% off of catch and shoot threes this past season of Baylor, most of which were contested, which makes that far less of a worry for me. His shot mechanics are consistent, repeatable, and functional. On the other side of the ball, Edgecombe might just be the best point-of-attack defender in the top five, and has ridiculous defensive playmaking instincts that allow him to get out into transition easy and often.
#5- Khaman Maluach
From: Duke
Position: Center
Age: 19
Height: 7’0.75”
Weight: 252.8 lbs
Wingspan: 7’6.75”
Standing Reach: 9’6”
Max Vertical Leap: 30”
Standing Vertical Leap: 24”
Player Comparison: Ivica Zubac
Analysis: Khaman Maluach undoubtedly possesses the highest defensive upside of anyone in this class, including that of Cooper Flagg. His jaw-dropping mobility and ground coverage at his size, combined with his remarkable length and size make him one of my favourite prospects in recent memory. He is the kind of player you build your top-three defense around. While there are some valid concerns surrounding his rebounding, with that kind of size I am not too worried. On the other side of the ball, he excels in the pick-and-roll, throwing down dunks off of lobs consistently. While he didn’t get the chance to show it at Duke, I am still a big believer in his ability to space the floor, which was one of his main calling cards at the NBA Academy.
#6- Kon Knueppel
From: Duke
Position: Small Forward
Age: 19
Height: 6’5”
Weight: 219 lbs
Wingspan: 6’6'.25”
Standing Reach: 8’5.5”
Max Vertical Leap: 36.5”
Player Comparison: Klay Thompson
Analysis: Yes, make that three Duke Blue Devils in the top six. Kon Knueppel seems to be a Klay Thompson reborn. His combination of pure shooting ability off of both the catch and the dribble, combined with his spatial awareness and off-ball movement, make him by far and wide the best shooter in the draft. But don’t get it twisted; Knueppel is so much more than that. He is a fantastic playmaker, in particular out of the pick-and-roll and in transition. Knueppel has a chance to be one of the best secondary/tertiary playmakers in the NBA. His crafty footwork and comfort with the ball in his hands also make him a projectable ball handler at the next level. The Duke product is also a criminally underrated defender, with his combination of size, effort, and awareness, however due to his lack of athleticism its unlikely he will ever be used as a point-of-attack defender, but instead simply as a really good system defender.
#7- Noah Penda
From: Le Mans
Position: Power Forward/Small Forward
Age: 20
Height: 6’7.25”
Weight: 241.8 lbs
Wingspan: 6’11.5”
Standing Reach: 8’10.5”
Max Vertical Leap: 31”
Standing Vertical Leap: 25”
Player Comparison: Thabo Sefalosha
Analysis: Penda is the perfect connective piece to slide into a competitive team. He possesses elite passing vision and execution for a player of his size. At his floor, Penda will be a great connective passer. At his ceiling? Penda could very well be a primary initiator in certain schemes, particularly in a heavy pick-and-roll/inverted pick-and-roll offense. Either way, he won’t need the ball in his hands to create for his team; his screen setting and cutting abilities make him the perfect complimentary player. He isn’t quiet polished as a shooter yet, but attempted more than three per game for Le Mans, which shows he has confidence in his ability. On the other side of the ball, Penda is an extremely versatile defender. His combination of length, grown-man strength, motor, and lateral quickness (despite not being all that athletic), make him an excellent helpside, drop, and high/low post defender.
#8- Ace Bailey
From: Rutgers
Position: Small Forward/Power Forward
Age: 19
Height: 6’7.5”
Weight: 202.8 lbs
Wingspan: 7’0.5”
Standing Reach: 8’11”
Max Vertical Leap: 34.5”
Standing Vertical Leap: 27.5”
Player Comparison: Jonathan Bender
Analysis: I don’t remember the last time a player has fallen so quickly for me in such a short period of time. First, the way the NBA Draft Lottery fell, it looks unlikely that Ace will land somewhere that he can develop into the mega star I think he could have been. Then, at the Draft combine, he measured 2.5” shorter then his listed height at Rutgers, and recorded poor numbers in the athletic testing, with an underwhelming 34.5” maximum vertical. And to top it all off? Bailey has come away from the pre-draft proccess looking like a complete diva, refusing to work out for any teams, and cancelling pre-ordained meetings with teams in his draft range. With that said, there is still plenty to be excited about when it comes to Ace Bailey. He is a ridiculous shot maker with through-the-roof self confidence in his shot. He is an excellent rebounder and shot blocker, with all the tools in the world to become an elite defender. The thing that excites me the most about Ace Bailey? The fact that every single time I watched him play, his progression was palpable.
#9- Rasheer Fleming
From: Saint Josephs
Position: Small Forward/Center
Age: 21
Height: 6’8.25”
Weight: 232.4 lbs
Wingspan: 7’5".25”
Standing Reach: 9’1”
Max Vertical Leap: 32.5”
Standing Vertical Leap: 27”
Player Comparison: Larry Nance Jr.
Analysis: Rasheer Fleming’s physical profile genuinely comes across as something out of a video game. He is an unbelievably active defender who flies around the court with ease, making use of his mobility and freakish length. Fleming has also flashed some pretty significant offensive upside too, shooting 41% on unguarded catch-and-shoot threes this past season. Fleming is just so projectable as an instant-impact role player, that its hard to pass up on him at this spot; he moves incredibly well without the ball, sets hard screens, finishes well inside, and rebounds like his life depends on it. While he has spent most of his career at the forward position, I wouldn’t be shocked if NBA teams toyed around with him at the five, with his measurements coming out similar to plenty of star NBA center’s, such as Jarret Allen. Whoever ends up with Fleming won’t get a star, but I can almost guarantee they will get a legitimate rotation player on a championship caliber team.
#10- Tre Johnson
From: Texas
Position: Shooting Guard
Age: 19
Height: 6’4.75”
Weight: 190.4 lbs
Wingspan: 6’10.25”
Standing Reach: 8’5”
Max Vertical Leap: 37.5”
Standing Vertical Leap: 32”
Player Comparison: Nick Young
Analysis: Tre Johnson is one of the more complicated players in the Draft, and probably has the widest range of outcomes. His movement shooting ability and ability to knock down shots at all three levels, combined with his clear ‘it’ factor, make him seem like he could be a star, but his poor shot selection, defensive and playmaking deficiencies (although I am higher on his playmaking upside than most, believing that he does have secondary initiator upside) make him seem like a surefire bust. I think realistically he ends up somewhere in the middle, operating as a movement shooter off the ball, and occasionally morphing into a primary scorer/ball handler on a game-by-game team need basis.
#11- Kasparas Jakucionis
From: Illinois
Position: Point Guard/Shooting Guard
Age: 19
Height: 6’4.75”
Weight: 205.2 lbs
Wingspan: 6’7.75”
Standing Reach: 8’3.5”
Max Vertical Leap: 35”
Standing Vertical Leap: 28.5”
Player Comparison: Tyrese Haliburton
Analysis: I struggle to put Jakucionis this low; I’ve been extremely high on him all year, and don’t buy into the turnover issues the way most scouts do. He is an intelligent ball-handler, who consistently makes the right read and has flashed terrific passing execution to match his creative vision. He uses his positional size to see over the defense and find lanes that most guards aren’t able to find. He excels in the pick-and-roll, where his shooting gravity creates open looks for the roller. What excites me most about Jakucionis, however, is his offensive versatility. While he excels on the ball, he doesn’t need it in his hands to make an impact. He moves well off the ball, and is able to knock down shots off the catch. While the defense isn’t great, the Lithuanian’s effort and intensity is always there, and he has the frame to grow into a respectable defender if he can put on some weight. It’s worth noting that every bit of intel I’ve received on Jakucionis has been extremely positive; this is a guy you want in your locker room, and leading your team on the floor.
#12- Carter Bryant
From: Arizona
Position: Small Forward
Age: 19
Height: 6’6.5”
Weight: 214.8 lbs
Wingspan: 6’11.75”
Standing Reach: 8’11”
Max Vertical Leap: 39.5”
Standing Vertical Leap: 30.5”
Player Comparison: Trey Murphy III
Analysis: Carter Bryant is one of the most ‘hypothetical’ prospects I’ve ever had in my top ten. He averaged just 6.5 PPG at the college level, with little-to-no time on the ball. Yet, despite this, he probably has the best game tape of anyone in this range. Bryant is an extremely effective mover without the ball, excelling with back door cuts that lead to ferocious slams at the rim. He is extremely active in the dunkers spot, and sets good screens. All indicators point towards the fact that if you can pair Bryant with an elite ball handler, he is going to be one of the most impactful role players in the league. He possesses terrific defensive upside, with all the physical tools required (size, strength, quickness) to become an elite stopper at the next level. Bryant struggles to create his own shot, but is an effective spot-up shooter, with fluid mechanics and a high release point. However, it’s worth noting he has displayed little to no ability to knock down shots off of any form of movement, which could diminish his ability to be involved in offensive actions.
#13- Jeremiah Fears
From: Oklahoma
Position: Combo Guard
Age: 18
Height: 6’2.5”
Weight: 179.6 lbs
Wingspan: 6’5.25”
Standing Reach: 8’2.5”
Max Vertical Leap: 36.5”
Standing Vertical Leap: 32.5”
Player Comparison: Tre Mann
Analysis: Jeremiah Fears might just have the deepest offensive bag in the class, and undoubtedly has the best offensive game tape. Whilst he had an up-and-down year, it’s worth noting he reclassified up a class, and should still be in high school. A twitchy ball handler, Fears makes terrific use of change of pace to get to the rim, where he can finish in a variety of ways; with floaters (with which he shoots 50%), laying it up with either hand, off-balance finishes, and he can throw it down with force. He excels as a scorer in the pick-and -roll, and while playmaking for others isn’t his specialty, his ability to pass out of the pick-and-roll will make him far more effective than most people believe he will be. He is also able to play effectively off-the-ball, moving quiet well and knocking down 36.1% of his catch-and-shoot three point attempts. He undoubtedly has the clutch gene, too, knocking down a number of wild game-winners over the course of the year. While he desperately needs to add weight, Fears looks like he could be an NBA player for a number of years.
#14- Cedric Coward
From: Washington State
Position: Shooting Guard/Small Forward
Age: 21
Height: 6’5.25”
Weight: 213 lbs
Wingspan: 7’2.25”
Standing Reach: 8’10”
Max Vertical Leap: 38.5”
Standing Vertical Leap: 32.5”
Player Comparison: Mikal Bridges
Analysis: In the span of three years, Coward has made the jump from a Division III player, to a potential lottery pick. This late, rapid development makes him an exception to the low-upside rule we tend to project onto upperclass prospects. He will provide an instant impact on whatever team he lands on due to his projectable 3&D capabilities, but has the upside to develop into a legitimate core piece, thanks largely to his passing chops. Coward’s shooting ability alone will get him early minutes, with his combination of off-ball movement and ability to shoot threes off the catch, where he knocked down more than 40% of his attempts this past season. His lateral quickness, length, IQ and athleticism will make him an instant defensive plus at the next level.
First Round | 15-30
#15- Ryan Kalkbrenner
From: Creighton
Position: Center
Age: 23
Height: 7’1”
Weight: 257 lbs
Wingspan: 7’’6”
Standing Reach: 9’4”
Max Vertical Leap: 33”
Standing Vertical Leap: 29”
Player Comparison: Walker Kessler
#16- Adou Thiero
From: Arkansas
Position: Small Forward
Age: 20
Height: 6’6.25”
Weight: 218 lbs
Wingspan: 7’0”
Standing Reach: 8’8.5”
Player Comparison: Jimmy Butler
#17- Thomas Sorber
From: Georgetown
Position: Center
Age: 19
Height: 6’9.25”
Weight: 262.8 lbs
Wingspan: 7’6”
Standing Reach: 9’6”
Player Comparison: Trayce Jackson-Davis
#18- Drake Powell
From: UNC
Position: Shooting Guard/Small Forward
Age: 19
Height: 6’5.25”
Weight: 200 lbs
Wingspan: 7’0”
Standing Reach: 8’7”
Max Vertical Leap: 43”
Standing Vertical Leap: 37.5”
Player Comparison: Caron Butler
#19- Liam McNeeley
From: UConn
Position: Small Forward
Age: 19
Height: 6’6.75”
Weight: 214.6 lbs
Wingspan: 6’8.5”
Standing Reach: 8’3.5”
Max Vertical Leap: 36.5”
Standing Vertical Leap: 30.5”
Player Comparison: Keegan Murray
#20- Maxime Raynaud
From: Stanford
Position: Center
Age: 22
Height: 7’0.25”
Weight: 236.8 lbs
Wingspan: 7’1.25”
Standing Reach: 9’1”
Max Vertical Leap: 31.5”
Standing Vertical Leap: 28”
Player Comparison: Rasheed Wallace
#21- Micah Peavy
From: Georgetown
Position: Shooting Guard
Age: 23
Height: 6’6.25”
Weight: 211.6 lbs
Wingspan: 6’7.25”
Standing Reach: 8’5”
Max Vertical Leap: 35.5”
Standing Vertical Leap: 30.5”
Player Comparison: Justin Jackson
#22- Nique Clifford
From: Colorado State
Position: Shooting Guard
Age: 23
Height: 6’5.25”
Weight: 202 lbs
Wingspan: 6’8”
Standing Reach: 8’6.5”
Max Vertical Leap: 35.5”
Standing Vertical Leap: 31”
Player Comparison: Josh Hart
#23- Max Shulga
From: VCU
Position: Shooting Guard
Age: 23
Height: 6’4.25”
Weight: 206.4
Wingspan: 6’5.75”
Standing Reach: 8’3”
Max Vertical Leap: 34.5”
Standing Vertical Leap: 29.5”
Player Comparison: Ajay Mitchell
#24- Hunter Sallis
From: Wake Forest
Position: Shooting Guard/Small Forward
Age: 22
Height: 6’3.75”
Weight: 181.4 lbs
Wingspan: 6’10”
Standing Reach: 8’4”
Max Vertical Leap: 37.5”
Standing Vertical Leap: 31”
Player Comparison: Eric Gordon
#25- Collin Murray-Boyles
From: South Carolina
Position: Power Forward/Center
Age: 19
Height: 6’6.5”
Weight: 239.2 lbs
Wingspan: 7’.75”
Standing Reach: 8’10”
Max Vertical Leap: 34.5”
Standing Vertical Leap: 29.5”
Player Comparison: PJ Hall
#26- Walter Clayton Jr.
From: Florida
Position: Point Guard
Age: 22
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 199 lbs
Wingspan: 6’4”
Standing Reach: 8’1.5”
Max Vertical Leap: 37”
Standing Vertical Leap: 29.5”
Player Comparison: Jordan Clarkson
#27- Nolan Traore
From: Saint-Quentin (France)
Position: Point Guard
Age: 19
Height: 6’3”
Weight: 184 lbs
Wingspan: 6’8”
Standing Reach: 8’5.5”
Max Vertical Leap: 34”
Standing Vertical Leap: 28”
Player Comparison: Jalen Rose
#28- Alex Toohey
From: Sydney Kings (Australia)
Position: Small Forward
Age: 20
Height: 6’7.75”
Weight: 228.8 lbs
Wingspan: 6’10.75”
Standing Reach: 8’8.5”
Max Vertical Leap: 31.5”
Standing Vertical Leap: 26.5”
Player Comparison: Georges Niang
#29- Steve Settle III
From: Temple
Position: Power Forward
Age: 22
Height: 6’10”
Weight: 192 lbs
Player Comparison: OG Anunoby
#30- Danny Wolf
From: Michigan
Position: Center
Age: 20
Height: 6’10.5”
Weight: 251.8 lbs
Wingspan: 7’2.25”
Standing Reach: 9’1”
Max Vertical Leap: 30”
Standing Vertical Leap: 24”
Player Comparison: Sandro Mamukelashvili
#31- Chaz Lanier
From: Tennessee
Position: Point Guard/Shooting Guard
Age: 23
Height: 6’3.75”
Weight: 205.8 lbs
Wingspan: 6’9”
Standing Reach: 8’5.5”
Player Comparison: Malik Beasley
#31- Tyrese Proctor
From: Duke
Position: Shooting Guard/Point Guard
Age: 21
Height: 6’4.25”
Weight: 183 lbs
Wingspan: 6’7.25”
Standing Reach: 8’4.5”
Max Vertical Leap: 36.5”
Standing Vertical Leap: 30.5”
Player Comparison: Malcolm Brogdon
#32- Kam Jones
From: Marquette
Position: Point Guard
Age: 23
Height: 6’3.25”
Weight: 202.4 lbs
Wingspan: 6’6”
Standing Reach: 8’4”
Max Vertical Leap: 31.5”
Standing Vertical Leap: 24.5”
Player Comparison: Gerald Green
#34- Egor Demin
From: BYU
Position: PG
Age: 19
Height: 6’8.25”
Weight: 199.2 lbs
Wingspan: 6’10.25”
Standing Reach: 8’9.5”
Max Vertical Leap: 32”
Standing Vertical Leap: 26.5”
Player Comparison: Boris Diaw
#35- Will Riley
From: Illinois
Position: Small Forward
Age: 19
Height: 6’8.25”
Weight: 185.6 lbs
Wingspan: 6’8.75”
Standing Reach: 8’8”
Max Vertical Leap: 32”
Standing Vertical Leap: 27.5”
Player Comparison: Ochai Agbaji
#36- Derik Queen
From: Maryland
Position: Center
Age: 20
Height: 6’9.25”
Weight: 247.8 lbs
Wingspan: 7’0.25”
Standing Reach: 9’1.5”
Max Vertical Leap: 28”
Standing Vertical Leap: 23.5”
Player Comparison: Zach Randolph
#37- Bogoljub Markovic
From: KK Mega Basket (Serbia)
Position: Center
Age: 19
Height: 6’10.5”
Weight: 213.2 lbs
Wingspan: 6’11.5”
Standing Reach: 9’2”
Max Vertical Leap: 27.5”
Standing Vertical Leap: 24”
Player Comparison: Santi Aldama
#38- Hugo Gonzalez
From: Real Madrid (Spain)
Position: Small Forward
Age: 19
Height: 6’6.25”
Weight: 222.7 lbs
Wingspan: 6’10.75”
Standing Reach: 8’5.5”
Player Comparison: Wesley Johnson
#39- Hansen Yang
From: Quindao
Position: Center
Age: 19
Height: 7’1”
Weight: 252.6 lbs
Wingspan: 7.2.75”
Standing Reach: 9’3”
Max Vertical Leap: 30”
Standing Vertical Leap: 26”
Player Comparison: Domantas Sabonis
#40- Rocco Zikarsky
From: Brisbane Bullets (Australia)
Position: Center
Age: 18
Height: 7’3”
Weight: 257 lbs
Wingspan: 7’4.75”
Standing Reach: 9’6.5”
Max Vertical Leap: 31.5”
Standing Vertical Leap: 27.5”
Player Comparison: Dereck Lively II
#41- Johni Broome
From: Auburn
Position: Power Forward/Center
Age: 22
Height: 6’9.25”
Weight: 249.4 lbs
Wingspan: 7’0.25”
Standing Reach: 9’0.5”
Max Vertical Leap: 28”
Standing Vertical Leap: 24.5”
Player Comparison: Wendell Carter Jr.
#42- Dink Pate
From: Mexico City Capitanes (G-League)
Position: Point Guard
Age: 19
Height: 6’6.25”
Weight: 200.8 lbs
Wingspan: 6’9.75”
Standing Reach: 8’8”
Max Vertical Leap: 32.5”
Standing Vertical Leap: 24.5”
Player Comparison: Markelle Fultz
#43- Asa Newell
From: Georgia
Position: Power Forward
Age: 19
Height: 6’9”
Weight: 223.8 lbs
Wingspan: 6’11.25”
Standing Reach: 8’11.5'“
Max Vertical Leap: 36.5”
Standing Vertical Leap: 29.5”
Player Comparison: Brandon Clarke
#44- Koby Brea
From: Kentucky
Position: Shooting Guard/Small Forward
Age: 22
Height: 6’5.75”
Weight: 201.8 lbs
Wingspan: 6’5.25”
Standing Reach: 8’5.5”
Max Vertical Leap: 34”
Standing Vertical Leap: 27.5”
Player Comparison: Sam Hauser
#45- Joan Beringer
From: Cedevita Olimpija (Slovenia)
Position: Center
Age: 18
Height: 6’11”
Weight: 234.8 lbs
Wingspan: 7’4.5”
Standing Reach: 9’3”
Max Vertical Leap: 32.5”
Standing Vertical Leap: 28.5”
Player Comparison: Nerlens Noel
#46- Jamir Watkins
From: Florida State
Position: Small Forward
Age: 23
Height: 6’5”
Weight: 214.6" lbs
Wingspan: 6’11.25”
Standing Reach: 8’6.5”
Max Vertical Leap: 37”
Standing Vertical Leap: 31.5”
Player Comparison: Dalano Banton
#47- Ben Saraf
From: Ratiopharm Ulm (Germany)
Position: Point Guard
Age: 19
Height: 6’6”
Weight: 199 lbs
Wingspan: 6’8.75”
Standing Reach: 8’4”
Player Comparison: Monte Morris
#48- Jase Richardson
From: Michigan State
Position: Point Guard
Age: 19
Height: 6’0.5”
Weight: 178.4 lbs
Wingspan: 6’6”
Standing Reach: 8’2”
Max Vertical Leap: 38”
Standing Vertical Leap: 30.5”
Player Comparison: Fred VanVleet
#49- Yanic Konan Niederhauser
From: Penn State
Position: Center
Age: 22
Height: 6’11.25”
Weight: 242.6 lbs
Wingspan: 7’3.25”
Standing Reach: 9’3”
Max Vertical Leap: 37”
Standing Vertical Leap: 33.5”
Player Comparison: Mitchell Robinson
#50- Alijah Martin
From: Florida
Position: Point Guard
Age: 22
Height: 6’1.5”
Weight: 208.4 lbs
Wingspan: 6’7.5”
Standing Reach: 8’3.5”
Max Vertical Leap: 38”
Standing Vertical Leap: 29.5”
Player Comparison: De’Anthony Melton
#51- Lachlan Olbrich
From: Illawara Hawks (Australia)
Position: Power Forward
Age: 21
Height: 6’8.75”
Weight: 230.2 lbs
Wingspan: 6’11.25”
Standing Reach: 8’11.5”
Max Vertical Leap: 31”
Standing Vertical Leap: 23.5”
Player Comparison: Zach Collins
#52- RJ Luis Jr.
From: St. Johns
Position: Small Forward
Age: 22
Height: 6’5.75”
Weight: 210 lbs
Wingspan: 6’10.5”
Standing Reach: 8’7.5”
Max Vertical Leap: 38”
Standing Vertical Leap: 31.5”
Player Comparison: Josh Hart
#53- Payton Sandfort
From: Iowa
Position: Small Forward
Age: 22
Height: 6’8”
Weight: 215 lbs
Player Comparison: Sam Hauser
#54- John Tonje
From: Wisconsin
Position: Shooting Guard
Age: 24
Height: 6’4.75”
Weight: 211.8 lbs
Wingspan: 6’9”
Standing Reach: 8’6.5”
Max Vertical Leap: 37”
Standing Vertical Leap: 30”
Player Comparison: Max Strus
#55- Sion James
From: Duke
Position: Shooting Guard
Age: 22
Height: 6’4.5”
Weight: 217.6 lbs
Wingspan: 6’6.5”
Standing Reach: 8’4”
Max Vertical Leap: 39.5”
Standing Vertical Leap: 32”
Player Comparison: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
#56- Ryan Nembhard
From: Gonzaga
Position: Point Guard
Age: 22
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 175.8 lbs
Wingspan: 6’2.25”
Standing Reach: 7’10”
Max Vertical Leap: 32.5”
Standing Vertical Leap: 26.5”
Player Comparison: Tyus Jones
#57- Javon Small
From: West Virginia
Position: Point Guard
Age: 22
Height: 6’1”
Weight: 190 lbs
Wingspan: 6’4.75”
Standing Reach: 8’0”
Max Vertical Leap: 40.5”
Standing Vertical Leap: 33”
Player Comparison: Terry Rozier
#58- Eric Dixon
From: Villanova
Position: Power Forward
Age: 24
Height: 6’7.5”
Weight: 258.6 lbs
Wingspan: 6’11.5”
Standing Reach: 8’8”
Max Vertical Leap: 32.5”
Standing Vertical Leap: 28”
Player Comparison: Glen Davis
#59- Grant Nelson
From: Alabama
Position: Power Forward
Age: 23
Height: 6’10”
Weight: 229.8 lbs
Wingspan: 7’0”
Standing Reach: 9’1”
Max Vertical Leap: 30”
Standing Vertical Leap: 27”
Player Comparison: Scottie Barnes
#60- Kadary Richmond
From: St Johns
Position: Point Guard/Shooting Guard
Age: 23
Height: 6’5”
Weight: 180 lbs
Wingspan: 6’9”
Player Comparison: Anthony Black
Hey nic, love your posts. I don't really understand this mock draft at all (SECOND PART IN REPLIES)
Essengue in the top 3 is not happening. I'm extremely high on essengue, but he isn't a consistent shooter from 3, and he's a play finisher. I like his volume and willingness to shoot, but NBA teams right now are happy with letting him do that. 26.7 3P% this season (32/120) needs to climb into the low 30s fairly quickly. Figure dips to 24.7 3P% (21/85) in the German league. 72.2 FT% (197/273) is solid.
2023-24 season: 58.7 FT% (182/310) … 25.4 3P% (35/138 … 2.8 3PA, including 4.2 3PA in German Pro B)
2024 U18 Euros: 69.1 FT% (38/55) … 8.3 3P% (1/12 … 1.7 3PA)
2023 U18 Euros: 75 FT% (15/20) … 20 3P% (1/5 … 0.7 3PA)
He's improved as a shooter, but he's still not an average one, i like his development as a dribble pass and shoot guy though. His handle is loose in traffic, and he struggles to get by his man in the half court. Most of his drives come off the catch, not off the dribble, and most of his turnovers are due to his handle. He dosen't have a pull up, but probably dosen't need one. He's a good not great passer, and i felt like sometimes he felt too focused on being fouled, changing his angles a bit too much. He plays with extreme physicality which i like, but he still lacks strength and can get rushed. Struggles to score in the halfcourt. The things he does with ulm are experimental, and an NBA team won't let him do this early on in his career. He's fluid with the ball though. Defense, i have no concerns. You don't draft a player like him in the top 3.
I actually think VJ's swing skill is his finishing. His left hand is lacking, and he can switch to his right sometimes on the left side. He struggles to leverage his athleticsm at the basket. He lacks some soft touch from range, and missed some bunnies, and sometimes his elite body control worked against him, avoiding contact and struggles to finish against verticality. His tools should play a factor in this turning around, and the touch should (and needs) to get better. 53.8 FG% (91/169) at the rim this season. Goes down to 48.9% (43/88) in the half-court.
44.5% (57/128, 0.89 PPS) on lay-ups for the season, which drops to 44.2% (34/77) in the half-court.
I have questions about his shooting off the dribble, which he shot on low volume, sqaures his shoulders a bit too tight and has a pause on his stepbacks. But then again, this more for his ceiling than his floor. He's a bit too mechanical (Shot 20 3P% (6/30) on off-dribble threes and 31.8 FG% (7/22) on off-dribble twos). I would not be surprised if malauch goes above VJ, much safer pick while still having great upside (i can get into this if you ask me to.)
Ace bailey going 8 is not happening. He's 6 at worst (kon knueppel will not go before him) and at 6'9 with decent athleticism, and tough shotmaking in general, with defensive upside. A lot of development is needed, but the talent is too enticing to drop that far. The only reason he drops that far is because of the workout issues.
Noah penda at 7 (ahead of bailey) is not happening at all, either. There's questions about his gravity as a scorer at the nba level. If he makes 3s, it's on low volume, and he's not an elite athlete. As a driver, he lacks creativity unlike his passing, stays at one speed, dosen't counter, and a lot of his attempts are contested. He sometimes forces looks from distant takeoff points (28.6 eFG% on his scoring possessions as a driver this season). He's a top 20 guy, and most people in your mock draft in his range have a higher upside, and he just won't be going this high. If he shot falls off, it'll be hard for him to use the rest of his game, since defenders won't be drawn to him, and then, he won't be able to leverage his passing.
Rasheer fleming at 9 is unlikely, if not, probably not happening. He's a bit stuck between the 3 and 4, and maybe 5. He lacks any sort of handle, pull up, passing, or processing speed on offense, with no self creation. His shooting lacks a degree of versatility, but you don't draft him for these reasons. He's a 3-D that can hit shots and play great defense. However, he fouls too much, and has a tendency to dissappear, with his consitency being up and down. His shooting caliber is a swing factor, since he dosen't provide anything on offense except for that. Wouldn't be surprised if someone TAKES HIM after 11.
Tre johnson is going above rasheer, penda, and knuppel. He's not a 3 level scorer because of his lack of FTs and rim pressure, but he's a tough shotmaker from all over the floor, and the stats back it up, elite shooter with handle, and dating back to high school, he's made reads (some advanced ones) as a passer for u19 FIBA and link academy. kickouts, dump offs, some nice skips, and pocket passes in the PNR. His handle is very good, lack of burst can get him in trouble though. He offers better passing, handling, and shooting versatility and effiency, while having defensive tools that give you optimism (6'6, 6'10 wingspan).
Kaspras will probably go exactly where you said, but he's more of a volume shooter than an efficient shooter. He struggles to get to his spots in the half-court, and i feel as if he's better as an off guard rather than point guard. Him scaling up creates a number of issues, as he's EXTREMELY turnover prone as a passer (4 to 5 ATO ratio, and 25.4% turnover rate). He can get too fancy, and his accuracy as a passer can get shaky. He's not a good finisher in traffic, can't get by defenders, and is a bad defender. However, scaling down should be easier for jaku. That way, he can use his passing talents more effiectively without being exposed for his self creation weaknesses. He needs to maximize his pull up shooting for his outcome, since he won't be drafted to spot up, and he's not going to get to the rim at a high rate, so he needs to hit his OTD 3s in the PNR and agaisnt mismatches.
Croward at 14 isn't bad, but IMO i'd like to choose a more scaleable prospect with better volume. He needs to add more craft to his finishing (relied a lot on post ups, and he's going to start on the perimeter in the league, and clean up some of his drives) and tighten up his handle.
Kalkbrenner is not going in that range, at all. Prospects in that range have higher upside, and his passing is a mixed bag, sometimes he can make the simple reads, other times he plays too weak with the ball and gets overwhelmed by double teams, or throw a questionable pass, along with lacking strength. He's not switchable, but i like his 3pt. A bit too clunky and and robotic, and more effort and consitency is needed as a rebounder.
Sailis should've gone last year, but he's added a better 3 ball (it's not exactly good yet, average), but he needs to hit shots since he won't have the ball as often. His defense should be fine.
Egor demin at 34 is just crazy. Yes, his handle (needs improvement in a major way), shot, and assertiveness needs work, but he's a top 10 talent by far. He's an elite passer than can hit any read on planet earth, and he's a solid athlete that can get up with a runway. His shooting should come along, he's shot average in games before BYU. His volume was good, and despite relying on ball screens too much, he scored in them. He can be a grab and go threat, and when the shot comes along, then he can attack a closeout and make the right decision. He's not a non shooter, and there's flashes off the catch that are smooth. On defense, he can create events in the passing lanes, is big enough at 6'9.5 to not be a target on defense. Reads the floor decently. Covers some ground. Can move his feet, but somewhat upright. His defense isn't bad, but it isn't good. He's a wing whos an elite passer, feels comfortable on the ball despite the lack of handle, and can hit a shot. and he's 6'9. For reference, he's his previous shooting %'s - In 23 Liga EBA (2023-24) games: 36.3 3P% (49/135), 78 FT% (32/41) - 32% from 3 across all events (i couldn't put all of them here)
In 7 Spanish Championship (2023-24) games: 36.1 3P% (13/36), 100 FT% (12/12)
In 23 Liga EBA (2022-23) games: 40.1 3P% (61/152), 72.6 FT% (45/62)
In 6 2021-22 games with the Community of Madrid team: 36.7 3P% (11/30), 73.3 FT% (11/14)
Will riley at 35 is pushing it. He's a legit wing at 6'9 with a stop and start handle, fluid shot off catch and dribble, and a good not great passer. He can return top 10 value, and he plays physical despite his lack of strength. He's invisble on defense, worst defender in the draft, but you draft him with the future in mind. He's herky jerky, and despite his athletic limitations he can still get to the basket and finish with touch. He didn't lift weights growing up, and has not much flaws on offense. 60% FG at the rim in the half court, he's relentless and never stops going. Can chain moves together, though his lack of balance can lead him to loose on the ball sometimes. He's got deep range on his jumper, and can pull off hang dribbles, and make tough shots. His effiency was bad, but in the NBA he'll have the load off of him and can spot up or make an occosional move and score. He's fluid, and his release point, and form look smooth at his height, and he can convert in the mid range and 3 with soft touch, although the PERCENTAGES NEED TO GET BETTER. He's not an elite passer, but he's a good one. he can drive in the paint, dump it off, move it in the middle, make kickouts, and more importantly i feel like when he gets too deep that's when he starts to use his eyes to trick the defense, just whipping the ball behind him or in front for an easy layup. In the pick and roll, i'm confident in his projection. He can hit a basic pocket pass, immediately recognizes when he's being doubled and hits the open man. He's had some nice skips, too. He won't be asked to do much as a passer, so this shouldn't be too hard for him.