With Zaccharie Risacher, Alex Sarr, Donovan Clingan and the remainder of the 2024 class off to the NBA, it is time to shift our consideration to subsequent yr’s draft.
The 2025 NBA draft is 12 months away, however we have had our eyes on these gamers for fairly a while, publishing our first mock draft in February.
Over the previous few years, we have watched the most effective prospects of the category develop up in highschool, grassroots, USA Basketball and FIBA occasions, in addition to many different settings — and we are going to proceed that course of this summer time and fall.
NBA executives had been sitting subsequent to us at many of those occasions and sounded enthusiastic about this 2025 draft class, particularly on the prime the place we’re seeing fairly a little bit of star energy with headliners Cooper Flagg, Airious “Ace” Bailey and Dylan Harper.
Past these elite prospects, there will likely be others who will undoubtedly emerge within the school ranks and across the globe, the identical approach Reed Sheppard, Dalton Knecht, Nikola Matter, Devin Carter, Johnny Furphy, Bub Carrington, Kyshawn George and lots of others did in 2024. That is the enjoyable a part of draft projections as one by no means is aware of when or the place gamers will emerge, retaining NBA scouts continuously on their toes.
See the order:
2025 mock draft gamers and groups
Who would be the No. 1 draft choose in 2025?
Many have already penciled Flagg in as the highest choose, and for good purpose after an unimaginable yr through which he demolished the Nike EYBL 16U league (averaging 26.8 factors, 12.4 rebounds, 5.2 blocks and 4.7 assists per recreation), led Montverde Academy to a 30-0 document and nationwide championship after which had stellar showings on the Nike Hoop Summit and Jordan Model Traditional video games.
USA Basketball invited Flagg to observe towards Staff USA forward of the Paris Olympics.
Flagg does the whole lot on each ends of the ground, as he is an explosive athlete, a prolific scorer, a a lot improved 3-point shooter, an impressive passer and an extremely impactful defender who performs with nonstop depth masking floor, making performs on the rim and guarding on the perimeter.
After electing to reclassify and skip his ultimate yr of highschool, Flagg’s youth (he turns 18 on Dec. 21) in addition to creating his ballhandling and shot creation are the issues scouts will likely be monitoring most carefully at Duke subsequent season. Expectations and strain will likely be excessive from Day 1 for Flagg, and we nonetheless have issues to study whether or not he certainly initiatives as a No. 1 kind possibility and franchise participant such as you’d count on from a prime choice.
Flagg, who’s ranked No. 1 within the ESPN 100, has grown to 6-foot-9, including bulk and exhibiting the flexibility to go off a reside dribble and make pull-up jumpers with spectacular confidence. Demonstrating how his expertise interprets to successful video games is probably going his finest ticket to cementing himself atop the highest of the 2025 draft class.
Bailey, who will play for Rutgers in 2024-25, is seen as Flagg’s greatest rival at No. 1. A 6-foot-9 guard who’s ranked No. 2 within the ESPN 100, Bailey has excellent bodily abilities, defensive versatility, shot-making prowess and a serious-minded, aggressive method. Bailey is not anyplace close to as polished a decision-maker as Flagg however has obtained way more reps working on the ball, giving him a bonus as a one-on-one and pick-and-roll operator.
Harper, Bailey’s teammate at Rutgers, was essentially the most spectacular performer in April of anybody within the class in practices and video games on the McDonald’s All-American, Nike Hoop Summit and Jordan Model Traditional. Taking part in nearly completely at level guard — regardless of standing over 6-foot-5, 228 kilos with a 6-10 wingspan. Harper, who’s ranked No. 4 within the ESPN 100, has added muscle to his body, confirmed spectacular ballhandling potential, energy and craft utilizing and rejecting ball screens. He finishes with physicality contained in the paint, guards instinctually everywhere in the ground and might go off a reside dribble. He made a barrage of inauspicious pull-up jumpers each time we noticed him play this spring.
Some NBA groups say they’ve Harper ranked No. 1 within the 2025 class, however others are enamored with Bailey’s upside. Nonetheless, most are sticking with the established order with Flagg because the early favourite since he is clearly essentially the most completed of the group.
Those that have seen sufficient of this group (most NBA groups are at a really early stage of their evaluations) to have a agency opinion typically say any of those three prospects would have possible been drafted No. 1 within the 2024 draft. They’re excited to see how this subsequent group performs out, together with the potential of new candidates — for instance Nolan Traore or VJ Edgecombe, two prospects who spherical out our mock prime 5 — becoming a member of the dialog.
— Jonathan Givony
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See for your self why Cooper Flagg is the No. 1 basketball recruit
Take a look at the moments which have made Cooper Flagg the highest basketball prospect within the nation.
Who’re the highest returning prospects to look at?
The early iterations of ESPN’s mock drafts are likely to prioritize incoming freshmen and youthful prospects who’re greater on the draft board, and these gamers obtain early good thing about the doubt due to their youth, upside and pre-college reputations. But it is inevitable that a few of them will likely be changed within the first spherical by returning school prospects who get away in new group contexts after making developmental strides within the offseason.
We simply noticed Knecht, Carter, Zach Edey, Tristan da Silva and lots of different school returners full lengthy, spectacular climbs into the 2024 draft’s first spherical, and most of them this time a yr in the past weren’t seen as prime prospects. With a lot left to play out over the following yr, listed below are a few of the prime school gamers NBA groups will likely be carefully monitoring going into the autumn.
Krivas logged 12 minutes per recreation final season for the Wildcats, however with incumbent starter Oumar Ballo transferring to Indiana, the 7-foot-3 Lithuanian heart is poised for a breakout alternative. Krivas is offensively expert with good footwork and contact across the basket and had some productive moments this season at Arizona.
Whereas extra of a conventional heart, Krivas has the dimensions and size to be extremely impactful as a rebounder and scorer subsequent season. He does not stretch the ground, and his protection will likely be a key space for enchancment, however the items are right here for him to show right into a full-fledged prospect, with the NBA at all times intrigued by measurement and productiveness.
Collin Murray-Boyles, F, South Carolina
Murray-Boyles (6-foot-7, 231 kilos) loved considered one of school basketball’s under-the-radar breakouts, taking part in a productive position as an 18-year-old freshman for a South Carolina group that made the NCAA event. By the top of the season, he had created NBA intrigue, with a powerful really feel for the sport and a stable motor driving his success regardless of a considerably unorthodox profile as an undersized huge.
Whereas not an elite athlete, Murray-Boyles’ spectacular effectivity and talent to generate steals and blocks on the defensive finish — all at a younger age for his degree — has made him a participant groups, significantly in analytics-driven entrance places of work, are monitoring carefully.
One other Arizona participant set to step into an even bigger position, Lewis produced good moments taking part in 18 minutes per recreation as a freshman, most notably on the defensive finish. He places his energy and lateral quickness to good use guarding on the ball and has proven wonderful instincts, giving him a pathway to NBA attraction if he could make tangible strides on offense.
Lewis is not a lot of a creator on the ball, so his finest path to discovering a job is probably going by way of bettering his perimeter capturing (34.1% final yr on 1.1 makes an attempt per recreation). If he could make a convincing case together with his offensive progress, Lewis may have an excellent quantity of first-round curiosity.
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KJ Lewis someway will get the and-1 to fall
KJ Lewis someway will get the and-1 to fall.
Tyrese Proctor, G, Duke
Proctor’s two seasons at Duke have not justified the lottery-level hype he was receiving earlier in his profession, however he confirmed indicators of enchancment final season and remains to be simply 20 years previous. He’ll once more be given loads of duty on a loaded group that features a number of projected first-round picks, and NBA scouts will likely be hoping to see tangible progress from him as a shooter, playmaker and chief.
Proctor has good measurement (6-5) for some extent guard and might use it to his benefit defensively, however has struggled to attain effectively and make a constant successful affect in school. Whereas he is possible a job participant at finest in the long term, Proctor is able to placing collectively the kind of full season that may put him again within the first-round dialog, if issues fall in place for him.
Pate was left with out a direct residence for subsequent season after G League Ignite folded, however stays below contract and has a possible residence with the G League’s Mexico Metropolis Capitanes. Pate, 18, got here on towards the top of the season for Ignite, stringing collectively some good performances, however has main strides to make from an effectivity perspective (40% on 2-pointers and 21.5% from 3) irrespective of the place he performs subsequent season.
It was a steep studying curve for Pate, who has wonderful positional measurement, however wasn’t adequate to persistently affect successful on the G League degree after making the leap and skipping his senior yr of highschool. Nonetheless, Pate was exceptionally younger for that degree, and NBA groups will give him an extended look regardless to see what kind of strides he could make with a full professional season below his belt already.
Jaylin Stewart, F, UConn
Stewart logged spot minutes on UConn’s title group as a freshman final season, however appears to be like like an individual of curiosity for NBA groups, contemplating the best way coach Dan Hurley’s program has developed expertise. Set to step into an even bigger position on the wing because the Huskies goal to compete for a 3rd straight championship, Stewart has the dimensions and size (6-7, 205) to be efficient on the defensive finish and in transition and likewise provided some restricted catch-and-shoot flashes within the minutes he obtained.
He’ll be one of many youngest sophomores in school subsequent season, and together with his wonderful body and scenario, there is definitely an opportunity he pops with a bigger position. It stays to be seen precisely how he’ll match on a roster that can embrace a handful of recent faces, however the items are there for him to take the following step as a giant contributor.
Adou Thiero, G, Arkansas
Thiero had sleeper attraction at Kentucky together with his explosive athleticism, vitality and shot-blocking potential as a 6-7 ahead. Having lately turned 20, Thiero will presumably have an expanded alternative to showcase his upside after following coach John Calipari to Arkansas. He was typically undisciplined on the ground and has an extended method to go earlier than being reliable of minutes at a excessive degree, however Thiero’s leaping potential and penchant for making issues occur defensively give him an intriguing baseline if he can study to learn the sport higher and develop as a fringe shooter.
There’s a variety of growth outcomes right here, and NBA groups will likely be to see how his position would possibly change in a brand new scenario, even below the identical coach.
Alex Karaban, F, UConn
One of many 2024 draft’s true powerful stay-or-go calls, Karaban selected to stay at UConn and pursue a 3rd championship moderately than flip professional. His excellent really feel, catch-and-shoot potential and on-court intelligence makes him a pivotal participant for the Huskies, and the kind of participant who’s able to including worth without having the ball a lot. Whereas not an distinctive run-jump athlete, Karaban can also be a defender who makes use of his measurement (6-8, 220) and anticipation to his benefit.
He has quite a lot of followers already in NBA entrance places of work who will possible be occupied with drafting him in a yr and will probably be curious to see if UConn expands his position on the offensive finish.
Ryan Kalkbrenner, C, Creighton
Kalkbrenner has been considered one of school basketball’s prime rim-protectors the previous few years and opted to return to Creighton previous to the NBA mix moderately than undergo the pre-draft course of in full. At 7-2 with a 7-5 wingspan, Kalkbrenner is a cell participant contained in the paint who serves as an enormous deterrent on the school degree. He has additionally begun to flash 3-point vary, giving him a pathway to an NBA position as a type of poor man’s Brook Lopez, ought to he keep on his present observe developmentally.
Whereas not the fleetest of foot or most bodily, the 22-year-old Kalkbrenner will likely be one of many prime gamers within the Large East subsequent season and could have an opportunity to reframe the dialog round him as a fringe prospect with one other good yr, significantly if he begins to persistently house the ground.
Evans exceeded modest expectations as a freshman, exhibiting flashes of his expertise as a rangy, defensive presence whereas additionally beginning to dispel a few of the questions that surrounded his motor at occasions in highschool. Whereas nonetheless scratching the floor of what he would possibly change into, Evans has an excellent bodily profile and has began to supply within the circulate of the sport as a rebounder, finisher and versatile defender.
He is fairly restricted as a scorer in the mean time. He turns 20 getting into subsequent season, placing him on the older facet for his class. He should shoot the ball higher and reveal extra confidence with the alternatives he will get. However there’s loads of room for progress that might assist NBA groups envision a helpful frontcourt position, and his size and body at 6-9 ought to presumably proceed to fill out.
— Jeremy Woo
Will we see extra 7-footers drafted in 2025?
The 2024 draft noticed six gamers standing 7-0 or taller chosen within the first spherical and 9 in whole — essentially the most since 2016, when 13 had been drafted (eight first-rounders and 5 second-rounders).
Whereas to some extent this was a easy reflection of what expertise was obtainable on the 2024 draft board, it’s noteworthy that these gamers had been chosen fairly excessive, with Sarr, Clingan and Edey all drafted within the prime 10. NBA groups proved prepared to prioritize measurement in a approach that hadn’t occurred in fairly a while.
With gamers equivalent to Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic dominating the MVP dialog and younger gamers equivalent to Victor Wembanyama monitoring on that pathway, there stays actual matchup utility in having measurement on the ground, and groups are nonetheless clearly fairly occupied with creating these gamers.
Solely three 7-footers are at present projected within the first spherical of our 2025 mock (Khaman Maluach, Motiejus Krivas and Rocco Zikarsky), so it will take time to play out. The adage is that you could solely draft what’s obtainable. This yr, groups’ decision-making skewed massive. Subsequent yr’s draft, which is predicted to be a lot deeper, might inform whether or not the inflow of measurement is extra of a development or just a (huge) blip.
— Woo
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The highlights Dylan Harper is bringing to Rutgers
Take a look at some spotlight performs from Rutgers commit Dylan Harper, the No. 2 participant in ESPN’s 2024 rankings.
2025 Spherical 1 mock draft
1. Detroit Pistons
Cooper Flagg, SF/PF, Duke | Age: 17.5
2. Washington Wizards
Airious “Ace” Bailey, SG/SF, Rutgers | Age: 17.8
3. Charlotte Hornets
Dylan Harper, PG/SG, Rutgers | Age: 18.3
4. Portland Path Blazers
Nolan Traore, PG, Saint-Quentin (France) | Age: 18.0
5. Utah Jazz
VJ Edgecombe, SG, Baylor | Age: 18.9
6. Brooklyn Nets
Khaman Maluach, C, Duke | Age: 17.7
7. Toronto Raptors
Hugo Gonzalez, SF, Actual Madrid (Spain) | Age: 18.3
8. Chicago Bulls
Tre Johnson, SG, Texas | Age: 18.3
9. San Antonio Spurs
Egor Demin, SG/SF, BYU | Age: 18.3
10. San Antonio Spurs (by way of Hawks)
Liam McNeeley, SG/SF, UConn | Age: 18.7
11. Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder (by way of Rockets)
Drake Powell, SG/SF, North Carolina | Age: 18.8
12. Sacramento Kings
Michael Ruzic, PF, Joventut (Spain) | Age: 17.7
13. New Orleans Pelicans
Jalil Bethea, SG, Miami | Age: 18.5
14. Memphis Grizzlies
Carter Bryant, SF/PF, Arizona | Age: 18.5
15. Orlando Magic
Noa Essengue, PF, Ratiopharm Ulm (Germany) | Age: 17.5
15. Indiana Pacers
Donavan Freeman, PF, Syracuse | Age: 18.8
17. Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder (by way of Warmth)
Kon Knueppel, SG/SF, Duke | Age: 18.9
18. Utah Jazz (by way of Cavaliers)
Kasparas Jakucionis, PG, Illinois | Age: 18.0
19. LA Clippers
Motiejus Krivas, C, Arizona | Age: 19.5
20. Golden State Warriors
Rocco Zikarsky, C, Brisbane (Australia) | Age: 17.9
21. Atlanta Hawks (by way of Pelicans by way of Lakers)
Derrion Reid, SF/PF, Alabama | Age: 18.0
22. Brooklyn Nets (by way of Suns)
William Riley, SG/SF, Illinois | Age: 18.3
23. Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder (by way of 76ers)
Collin Murray-Boyles, PF/C, South Carolina | Age: 19.0
24. Dallas Mavericks
Derik Queen, C, Maryland | Age: 19.4
25. Brooklyn Nets (by way of Bucks)
Ian Jackson, SG, North Carolina | Age: 19.3
26. Utah Jazz (by way of Timberwolves)
Kanon Catchings, SF/PF, BYU | Age: 18.8
27. Brooklyn Nets (by way of Thunder)
KJ Lewis, SG, Arizona | Age: 19.8
28. Brooklyn Nets (by way of Knicks)
Tyrese Proctor, PG, Duke | Age: 20.2
29. Orlando Magic (by way of Nuggets)
Dink Pate, SG/SF, G League | Age: 18.3
30. Boston Celtics
Jaylin Stewart, SF, UConn | Age: 19.3
Remaining Large Board for the 2025 class
31. Johann Grunloh, C, Rasta Vechta (Germany) | Age: 18.8
32. Adou Thiero, SF/PF, Arkansas | Age: 20.1
33. Ryan Kalkbrenner, C, Creighton | Age: 22.4
34. Alex Karaban, PF, Connecticut | Age: 21.6
35. Kwame Evans Jr., PF, Oregon | Age: 19.9
36. Michael Ajayi, SF/PF, Gonzaga | Age: 21
37. Milan Momcilovic, SF/PF, Iowa St. | Age: 19.7
38. Kanaan Carlyle, PG/SG, Indiana | Age: 19.7
39. Caleb Foster, PG, Duke | Age: 19.9
40. Izan Almansa, PF/C | Age: 19.0
41. Zvonimir Ivisic, PF/C, Arkansas | Age: 20.8
42. Sam Walters, SF/PF, Michigan | Age: 20
43. Hunter Sallis, SG, Wake Forest | Age: 21.2
44. Sion James, SF, Duke | Age: 21.5
45. Jaden Bradley, PG, Arizona | Age: 20.7
46. Saint Thomas, F, USC | Age: 21.1
47. Elliot Cadeau, PG, North Carolina | Age: 19.8
48. Baba Miller, SF/PF, Florida Atlantic, Age: 20.3
49. Jarin Stevenson, PF, Alabama | Age: 18.7
50. Payton Sandfort, SF, Iowa | Age: 21.9
51. Jamir Watkins, SG/SF, Florida State | Age: 22.9
52. Kam Jones, SG, Marquette | Age: 22.3
53. Baye Ndongo, PF/C, Georgia Tech | Age: 21.4
54. AJ Storr, SG/SF, Kansas | Age: 20.8
55. JT Toppin, PF, Texas Tech | Age: 19
56. Kobe Johnson, SG/SF, UCLA | Age: 21.4
57. Alex Toohey, SF/PF, Sydney (Australia) | Age: 20.1
58. Hansen Yang, C, Qingdao (China) | Age: 19
