The 2024 NBA Draft ended two weeks ago. That means it’s time to settle into the 2025 NBA Draft cycle.
The good news? NBA executives are much more enthusiastic about this one than the 2024 version. Simply put, the talent at the top of this draft is drastically better. There are at least five players in this class who would have been taken No. 1 in the 2024 NBA Draft had they been eligible.
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The loaded group at the top is led by Duke incoming freshman Cooper Flagg, a two-way wing who is one of the best high school players to come through the American system in the last decade. Flagg recently turned heads in scrimmages against Team USA stars as the youngest member of the select team. Beyond him, V.J. Edgecombe, Nolan Traoré, Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper seriously excite scouts as they head into the year.
After those five, there are as many questions with this draft class as there are with any group. Will this become the deepest pool of talent to enter the NBA in a while? Much will depend on how players develop over the summer. Who becomes the next Devin Carter to spike up the board from second-round pick to lottery-level talent? Who becomes the next Bub Carrington to go from off of the radar as a one-and-done to start the year to a top-15 pick? Can someone make a jump after transferring like Dalton Knecht or Jaylon Tyson did this past cycle. There’s a lot left to sort through, but that’s why we have 50 weeks until the draft.
In that vein, this list is not meant to be read in a specific order outside of the top five. Consider it more of a watch list or a guide to peruse as we go through the start of this process. I tried to put together the kind of mix of players we might see selected on draft night, and that includes several returning prospects on top of the freshmen everyone is rightly excited about.
For instance, while I love Drake Powell at North Carolina — particularly his defensive energy and intensity — I’m curious how his offensive game will immediately translate to the college level. Derik Queen’s offensive skill set is superb, but I have questions about his defensive mobility at Maryland. Can Will Riley deal with the physicality that will be presented to him in college while at Illinois? Can Joson Sanon do anything but score? What will Carter Bryant look like at Arizona? You could even sell me on a Jackson McAndrew breakout in a perfect schematic situation at Creighton. This freshman class is loaded with potential breakout candidates.
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This board will, of course, look quite different in June 2025 than it does in July 2024. However, I’d be surprised if any of the top five slip below the level of a legitimately serious prospect once the pre-draft process ramps up next March.
(Ages listed are as of the projected June 25-26 draft date.)
1. Cooper Flagg | 6-8 forward | 18 years old | Duke
Let’s put this simply: Flagg is one of the best two-way players I’ve seen at the high school level in a long time. Largely, that’s based on his processing ability. For a teenager, he thinks the game faster than everyone else. You see that most on defense, where he imposes his will upon the game on and off the ball. He’s tremendous as a help defender, blocking a ridiculous number of shots and covering the opposite side of the floor, with serious skill for finding steals. He’s also a great offensive player who has worked his way into his skill set. His handle has improved drastically over his time in high school, and he’s capable of creating makeable pull-up jumpers, particularly from the midrange area. His 3-point shot continues to improve.
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Cooper Flagg and the small New England town that raised basketball's brightest young star
Flagg is the ultimate winner and competitor, and the exact kind of player I’d want to join my organization. He’s the first in a group of at least five players who clearly would have gone No. 1 in the 2024 NBA Draft. We’re getting to see why this week during his time with the United States Select Team that is competing against Team USA in Olympics prep scrimmages.
2. Dylan Harper | 6-5 guard | 19 years old | Rutgers
Harper is as versatile a scoring guard as you’ll find in high school basketball. His fundamentals are off-the-charts great, and he has a remarkable amount of poise for a teenager. He’s dynamic on or off the ball, which isn’t always the case for young players and is incredibly important when trying to project NBA growth and development. On the ball, he plays with effective pace and poise. He’s tremendous putting defenders in jail in ball screens and keeping them on his back hip with his size. He has a three-level scoring game that includes a polished mid-range repertoire, strong finishing in the paint and consistent shooting from 3. Off the ball, I think he’ll consistently knock down shots in addition to attacking closeouts and finding open kickouts when available after collapsing the defense.
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To top it off, I like Harper’s all-around game, too. He’s not quite the impact defender Flagg is, but is a great rebounder and uses his size and physicality effectively to stay attached to opposing offensive players while making his presence felt.
3. Nolan Traoré | 6-3 guard | 19 years old | Saint-Quentin
No 2025 draft prospect helped themselves more this spring than Traoré, a big guard out of France who will play for Saint-Quentin in the French professional league next season after spurning offers from Gonzaga, Alabama, and the NBL’s Next Stars program. Along with Harper and V.J. Edgecombe, Traoré was consistently among the three best guards on the court at April’s Nike Hoop Summit. His confidence and poise in ball screens showcased itself well throughout the week. It was difficult to stay in front of him, and once he got an advantage using a screen, he pressed it with confidence as a passer and scorer. Defensively, he knew exactly where he needed to be and consistently helped his team perform at a high level.
After returning to France to play for Saint-Quentin, he was superb in the team’s league quarterfinals series against European power ASVEL, scoring 39 points in two games while dishing out 14 assists versus only seven turnovers. In late May, he dominated the Adidas Next Generation Tournament, earning an All-Tournament berth highlighted by a monster 45-point showing against a Barcelona team that features two players in this mock draft in Dame Sarr and Kasparas Jakucionis. Traoré looks every bit the part of a top-five guard and will likely cement that status this forthcoming season in France.
4. V.J. Edgecombe | 6-3 guard | 19 years old | Baylor
Edgecombe is another one of my favorite players in the class. He’s a supremely athletic combo guard who is starting to show flashes of being able to play point guard at a high level. That’ll be necessary, as he measured a bit smaller than expected at the Hoop Summit and will likely come in at less than 6-4 without shoes. However, he makes up for his size deficiencies with electric athleticism and playmaking on the court. He is among the most functionally explosive teenage basketball players I’ve seen in a while. He can blow by just about anyone without a screen thanks to a lightning-quick first step and crossover. He’s all sorts of twitchy and can live in the paint whenever he wants. He finishes far above the rim and still seems to rise through players when they contact him despite a relatively skinny frame. Beyond that, he has incredibly balanced body control and can maneuver around traffic before and after he picks up his dribble when attacking.
I even love Edgecombe’s defensive game; he’s exceptionally competitive and seems to have superb instincts for creating action plays in addition to being available as a help defender. As long as the lead guard skills keep coming along, Edgecombe has every bit the look of a top-five player — even if his size could pose some questions.
5. Ace Bailey | 6-8 wing/forward | 18 years old | Rutgers
It’s not unfair to say that Bailey has more upside than any player in the 2025 NBA Draft class. If it all goes right for him at Rutgers next season, he may be seen as the next great big wing creator to enter the NBA. He has all of the tools you need: He’s enormous and rangy with real length, and has genuine athleticism that allows him to get downhill when he wants to finish above the rim. Off that, he passes well and finds open teammates regularly, showing strong vision for his size. His jumper looks clean and should be able to continue to mature as he gets older. Plus, at just 18 on draft day next year, he’s one of the youngest players in the class.
But there are a few concerning areas I’d like to see him clean up heading into college. He doesn’t use his athletic tools to their fullest potential all the time. He settles in the midrange far too often and can be invisible at times. Again, he’s younger than most of the players in the class, so he deserves a bit of time to continue to grow into his game. But with Harper next to him at Rutgers this year, I’ll be looking to see Bailey consistently play within the flow of the game and make an impact across all parts of the game.
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6. Hugo González | 6-6 wing/forward | 19 years old | Real Madrid
Gonzalez has been the most decorated 2006-born European player to this stage of his career. He won the MVP of the Munich regional of the Adidas Next Generation Tournament in 2023, then won MVP of the entire tournament in 2024 while leading Real Madrid to victory. Last summer, he was named to the All-Tournament team of the under-18 European championships while leading Spain to a silver medal. He’s a terrific player on both ends of the floor as a wing who processes the game quickly. Defensively, he covers the court exceptionally well and seems to constantly bait offensive players into poor decisions. Offensively, he can create off the bounce a bit and excels as a passer. NBA teams would like to see him iron out the consistency of his the jumper; he has touch, but needs to fine tune his mechanics, shot prep off the catch and release. But the feel for the game is serious, as are his tools.
7. Asa Newell | 6-9 forward/big | 19 years old | Georgia
Newell was one of the favorite players I saw during the spring circuit, as he played very well during Nike Hoop Summit practices. He does all of the little things at a really high level. Defensively, he’s an outstanding shot blocker and rim protector, especially for his size. He flies around on that side of the court and makes his presence felt. He moves well on the perimeter and did not have many issues guarding in space as a bigger player. On offense, he showed real potential as a shooter in spot-up and pick-and-pop situations, as well as the ability to rim-run. He’ll throw down big dunks and plays at speed in those circumstances, making it hard to get a body on him and stay in front. His game is a terrific fit for the modern NBA, especially as an off-ball player, and I’m betting on him as a one-and-done heading into the year.
8. Liam McNeeley | 6-6 wing | 19 years old | Connecticut
It’s hard to find a better scheme and talent fit than McNeeley heading to Connecticut. He’s a 6-foot-6 sniper from distance, arguably the best shooter in the 2024 recruiting class. After Cam Spencer and Jordan Hawkins exploded within Dan Hurley’s scheme over the last two years, it’s easy to envision McNeeley as the next person in line to be the movement shooter that thrives in UConn’s offense. McNeeley is an extremely impressive mover without the ball and has a high basketball IQ that showcases itself on both ends. He knows how to find open areas behind the 3-point line, as well as curl off of screens and find the space the defense gives him. McNeeley has every chance to be a one-and-done pick in the same vein as Gradey Dick was back in 2023.
9. Jalil Bethea | 6-3 guard | 19 years old | Miami (Fla.)
Bethea is one of the best scorers in the incoming 2024 recruiting class, a serious shooter with all sorts of wiggle in his game to get those shots off. If you leave him open off the catch, the ball is probably going in. He’ll also break down defenders off the bounce and drill 3s out of pull-up situations. His jumper is beautiful and seems to work from the midrange as well. He is the kind of player who really translates to the modern, skill-conscious NBA, where floor-spacing and shooting is at a premium every night. On some level, where Bethea goes on draft night could depend on how much skill he shows as a distributor this season. There have been some real flashes in that respect in the past. If those can become more consistently, he’ll have a very strong chance at the lottery.
10. Ian Jackson | 6-4 guard | 20 years old | North Carolina
The reports about Jackson out of North Carolina are already quite strong. The book on him in high school was that of a classic guard from New York: extremely tough and competitive with a serious appetite for playing both ends of the court. He’s aggressive and physical on defense despite being skinny, and loves to guard on the ball. On offense, everything is attack, attack, attack. He’s trying to get downhill to the rim, either in transition, in ball screens as more of a primary option or off the catch, where he’ll rip through and try to get into the paint. His overall basketball IQ will need to grow; he needs to start slowing down more and coming up with a plan for his drives. But his athleticism and aggressiveness are very high-level. I’m betting on a big year for Jackson.
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'Captain Jack' is hoping to put wind in North Carolina's sails as a freshman
11. Dink Pate | 6-6 guard | 19 years old | Mexico City Capitanes
Pate was with the G League Ignite this past season before the program shut down, and he’ll play with the Mexico City Capitanes next season. The Capitanes did a good job with prospect Malique Lewis last season, although Lewis is easier to incorporate than a player like Pate who thrives best on the ball. Pate is the kind of big, long guard prospect that every team is seeking, a 6-foot-6 player with serious ball skills and capability in screen situations. He can pass at a high level and operates well in the middle of the court in addition to scoring around the rim. Playing in the G League as a teenager wasn’t the easiest thing for Pate this past year, and that showed with his inefficiency. He shot just 34.8 percent from the field and 21.4 percent from 3. He must ultimately show the most improvement in his ability to shoot from distance.
He’s one of the bigger high-upside swings in this class. You can see a world where he turns into a player who is discussed within the same conversations as the aforementioned clear top-five tier. Or, you can see a world where the shot doesn’t take the leap and he’s more of a project. There is a lot to improve, but the ceiling is high.
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12. Donnie Freeman | 6-8 forward | 19 years old | Syracuse
Freeman took a solid skill leap during his senior year at IMG Academy and looks like a forward with the size and talent NBA teams look for from 4s. His skill set is varied, with the ability to drive in a straight line and finish at the rim as well as score from beyond the 3-point line. He has real bounce as a leaper. His handle certainly must improve, as a lot of his shots tend to be contested attempts where he’s forced to stop in the midrange areas. Still, his jumper looks extremely projectable. Defensively, he’s mobile, can slide with several different player types and rotate across the play to contest. He’s been one of the big risers within the scouting community over the last 12 months.
13. Collin Murray-Boyles | 6-7 wing/forward | 20 years old | South Carolina
Murray-Boyles was the highest-ranked player on my board this year to not declare for the 2024 NBA Draft. A 6-foot-7 wing with long arms and a powerful inside game, he was among the most productive freshmen in the country. After getting over an illness to start the season that saw him miss all of November, Murray-Boyles emerged in February as an absolute force, averaging 14.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.5 blocks and 1.3 steals over his final 13 games while shooting 64.8 percent from the field. He’s a strong defender who moves well against guards and bigs despite his larger build. He rebounds very well.
The big questions come on offense, where Murray-Boyles is largely a post and mid-post player who attacks on the block and off drives with great footwork and touch on the interior. Those around Murray-Boyles note he has shown potential as a shooter, and he made 76 percent of his free throws after emerging into a primary role for South Carolina late last season. But that will be the key swing skill. If he proves his jumper is real and maintains his elite processing ability and feel for the game, Murray-Boyles will likely be a lottery pick. If not, he might be seen as an undersized bigger wing in the vein of current Charlotte Hornets forward Grant Williams.
14. Tre Johnson | 6-5 wing | 19 years old | Texas
Johnson is one of the best bucket-getters in the 2024 recruiting class, a confident threat off the ball who consistently attacks the basket. He loves to get down the floor on the break and try to create havoc while finding downhill advantages, but he counters that with a solid pull-up jumper game. Johnson is confident scoring from all three levels and has even started knocking down shots from 3-point range. He has great length as well and showed real growth as a passer over the last 18 months.
So what’s the hold-up? Johnson isn’t an immense athlete, and I haven’t seen much high-end defensive play yet. He’s long and physical, but his leaping ability and first step are not that explosive. It’ll be interesting to see how his game shifts as he moves up levels as a scorer. It feels like he must become a dynamic shooter, and right now, he trends more toward the volume side rather than the efficient side.
15. Kasparas Jakucionis | 6-4 guard | 19 years old | Illinois
Jakucionis is a 6-4 combo guard who has thrived at every single stage of his career with Barcelona’s youth team. He won the MVP of the Zadar region of 2023’s Next Generation Tournament, then followed it with the MVP in the Belgrade section of the tournament this season while also making the overall All-Tournament team. Long one of the best passers in the age group, the Lithuanian playmaker has an innate feel out of ball screens, with the ability to find open teammates from just about any angle. His ball-screen game flows incredibly well off that skill, as he’s displayed the ability to hit 3s out of pull-up situations and drive all the way to the rim, using his strong frame to keep defenders on his hip. He’s an extremely creative guard with good footwork, good handle and high feel for the game. He could stand to tighten his handle a touch if he’s going to play on the ball long-term, but he is a strong dribble-pass-shoot bet. He’ll attend Illinois this year, where I’m expecting him to share a backcourt with Kylan Boswell. Jakucionis is my favorite among the members of Illinois’ loaded freshman class.
16. Kon Knueppel | 6-6 guard | 19 years old | Duke
This is my big call in the 2025 class. Knueppel doesn’t necessarily look the part — at around 6-foot-6 and 205 pounds, he’s more wide than he is long — but he is one of my five favorite freshmen entering college basketball next season. What he lacks in what one may refer to as “traditional” athletic tools, he more than makes up for with polish, skill and competitiveness. He led the EYBL in scoring last year, and he’s terrific from all three levels. He knocks down shots from distance with remarkable efficiency for a teenager, and the threat of his shot from the 3 and midrange areas opens up his game as a driver. His footwork is outstanding; once he gets you on his hip out of ball screens, it’s over. Defensively, he competes, using his physical frame to his advantage against bigger opponents, but he’s this high because of his work on the other side of the floor, I think he’s one of the great offensive players in this 2024 recruiting class.
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He’s the freshman I believe in most at Duke outside of Flagg.
17. Hunter Sallis | 6-5 guard | 22 years old | Wake Forest
Sallis is a former five-star recruit who had a breakout third collegiate season in Winton-Salem after two seasons off the bench with Gonzaga. He averaged 18 points, four rebounds and 2.5 assists this past season with strong shooting splits, including a marked jump in 3-point percentage up to 40.5 after a couple of years below the 26 percent mark. Ultimately, his shooting will be the key. Sallis was the top player on my board to go through the 2024 pre-draft process and decide to return to school. I had a first-round grade on him this year, and I think he would have likely been selected somewhere in the top 40. For him to consolidate that draft range and potentially even improve upon it, the combo guard will need to prove that his shooting improvement was real, as well as consistently make high-level passing reads.
18. Rocco Zikarsky | 7-3 big | 18 years old | Brisbane Bullets
Zikarsky is a giant, athletic 7-foot-3 big man who is skilled offensively, covers ground in large swaths with his strides and erases shots at the rim. Playing for the Brisbane Bullets in Australia was a bit of a challenge, as it would be for any 17-year-old adjusting to playing professionally for the first time. He did average 14 points and nine rebounds playing at the U17 World Cup as an underage player, and when he got a chance to play against players his own age again at the Albert Schweitzer Tournament in Germany, he won MVP while leading Australia to a gold medal. He needs to keep getting stronger and prove he can hang on defense in drop coverage and in space, but he possesses some real tools that could lead to a lot of success in the NBA.
19. Alex Karaban | 6-8 wing | 22 years old | Connecticut
Karaban declared for the 2024 draft went down to the wire with his decision but ultimately decided to return to Connecticut. I had a first-round grade on him had he stayed in the draft, as he’s a consummate professional who helps his teams win when he’s on the court. He’s an excellent off-ball defender with size who cuts off angles with his 7-foot wingspan and sharp anticipation. On the ball, he can guard 3s and 4s effectively. Offensively, he’s an excellent shooter who has nailed 39 percent of his 3s over his two years in college, seasons where he started 77 of 78 games for the Huskies as they won back-to-back national titles. He’s also an excellent off-ball mover and cutter. He looks like a decade-long NBA rotation player as long as his jumper continues to fall. Any growth that he shows this season with the ball in his hands would be icing on the cake.
20. Mackenzie Mgbako | 6-7 wing | 20 years old | Indiana
Mgbako was seen as a potential one-and-done entering his first season at Indiana, but he started the campaign poorly and lost a lot of steam. Few seemingly noticed the strides he took in the second half of the season. In his final 17 games, Mgbako averaged 14.7 points and 4.2 rebounds even though he shot just 39 percent from the field and 33 percent from 3. He became much more comfortable getting his 3-point shot up at volume over the back half of the campaign, and looked like the kind of post-hype sophomore five-star prospect who falls. off the radar before a big season puts them back on it. He still must get better at putting the ball on the deck, but his defensive improvement throughout his freshman season was incredibly important. Even with big-time additions like Oumar Ballo, Kanaan Carlyle and Myles Rice, Mgbako is a strong bet to be the best two-way Hoosier next season, since he’ll have a year in Mike Woodson’s system under his belt.
21. Boogie Fland | 6-1 guard | 18 years old | Arkansas
Fland is small, but has a terrific blend of competitiveness and skill that makes me believe he’ll be the impact player among Arkansas’ freshmen this season. You have to guard him from the moment he passes halfcourt, as he’s a locked-and-loaded pull-up artist who can fire from 30 feet with ease. Hopefully, new Arkansas coach John Calipari — whom Fland followed from a prior Kentucky commitment — allows him to play as the starter in the backcourt with Johnell Davis. Fland brings similarly positive high-pressure defensive attributes as D.J. Wagner, but combines it with some serious offensive pull-up gravity. He also improved as a passer during his time in high school, and I believe he can run the point effectively.
22. Kam Jones | 6-4 wing | 22 years old | Marquette
One of my favorite players in college basketball the last two years, Jones is a legitimate three-level scorer at Marquette, with superb touch at all three. He averaged 17 points and shot obscenely efficiently, making 50 percent of his attempts from the field, 39 percent from 3 and 72 percent from the line. Marquette ran him off several dribble-handoff actions to get him downhill to his left, where he showed an ability to finish around the rim with scoop shots. He made 67 percent of his attempts at the basket, per Synergy. He also has a solid runner game, then can hit pull-up and catch-and-shoot 3s.
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23. Jaland Lowe | 6-3 guard | 20 years old | Pittsburgh
The other freshman in the backcourt at Pitt this year next to Bub Carrington, Lowe is similarly terrific at playing on or off the ball. Unlike Carrington, he’s a bit small. Still, by the end of the year, Lowe had the look of a serious All-ACC threat in 2025. From Jan. 16 onward, he averaged 13.5 points, 4.2 assists and only 1.5 turnovers per game. He’s a terrific decision-maker in addition to being a spectacular passer and playmaker. The lefty has a beautiful blend of lobs, dump-off passes and kickouts, plus does it all off a live dribble. He throws them with pristine touch when necessary, as well as with real velocity with his strong left hand when required. He also drilled 39 percent of his 3s over that last 17-game sample and has a smooth lefty stroke that should continue to bloom. If I had to pick a player to lead the ACC in assists next season, it would be Lowe. I also expect him to toss in around 15 points per game and hit shots from distance.
24. K.J. Evans | 6-8 wing/forward | 19 years old | Oregon
One of college basketball’s best defensive playmakers this past season, Evans returned to school despite posting obscene block and steal numbers that illustrate his significant upside on that side of the court at the next level. Evans averaged 1.2 steals and 1.0 blocks in just 22 minutes per night while also grabbing five rebounds per game. The issues came on offense, where he was an effective finisher around the rim but made just 26.7 percent from 3. Evans has the kind of jumper that should improve long-term, and he has shown touch both at previous levels and at Oregon. He made 79.5 percent of his free throws. There’s some work to do here, but the upside is certainly that of a late first-round pick if things break right.
25. K.J. Lewis | 6-3 guard | 20 years old | Arizona
Lewis entered this year’s draft and was a stunning non-invite to the NBA Draft Combine. He had a tremendous season coming off of the bench, hitting 46 percent of his shots and 34 percent from 3 while making good passing reads and showing impressive activity levels in the backcourt. He’s a power guard who can drive through opposing players’ chests. If you give him any advantage, he’s going to keep it and use his length to finish at the rim or find interesting passing angles. Where Lewis really thrives, though, is on defense. He’s switchable across all perimeter positions because of his strength and length. His motor runs hot on that end and he creates turnovers with his willingness to get into the action and crowd opposing players. He’ll likely enter Arizona’s starting lineup this season in place of the departed Pelle Larsson, and I anticipating he will continue showing his complementary NBA skill set.
26. Isaiah Evans | 6-6 wing | 19 years old | Duke
Evans is a serious upside swing who could go several different directions this year at Duke. A back-to-back North Carolina Mr. Basketball winner, Evans has a ton of intriguing tools that should make him a high-end NBA wing at some point. The question is when. He could end up being a year away and more of a 2026 prospect as his frame continues to mature. He’s still only about 175 pounds and is quite thin. He may also get lost in the shuffle with all of Duke’s perimeter talent — not just Flagg and Knueppel, but also transfer Sion James and returning guards Tyrese Proctor and Caleb Foster. Or, he could be ready to go from the jump as a long, athletic scoring wing who is solid defensively as well. Whatever happens this year, Evans is a good bet long-term. He showed tough shot-making ability, solid passing acumen within a team concept as a drive-and-kick player and a willingness to defend with extremely long arms.
27. Motiejus Krivas | 7-2 big | 20 years old | Arizona
Krivas is a mobile big man who has tremendous coordination for his size at 7-foot-2. His feet are smooth, and he navigates the perimeter exceptionally well as a screener or dribble-handoff option. He’s a constant threat as a roller to the rim, and finds easy points with layups or dunks around the hoop. A native of Lithuania, it’s clear he has a serious number of tools at his disposal as he gets stronger around the rim. His finishing will, at times, let him down. While he only blocked 19 shots in 437 minutes, he’s a tremendous drop-coverage defender who takes up an immense amount of space on the interior. It’s hard to turn the corner on him, and he’s always available. When two-time All-Pac-12 big man Oumar Ballo transferred to Indiana, it was a pretty clear statement about the leap that is expected of Krivas. I’m anticipating a big jump.
28. Milan Momčilović | 6-8 wing/forward | 20 years old | Iowa State
Momcilovic had a rollercoaster freshman season. On the plus side, he made both the All-Freshman team in the Big 12 as well as the All-Big 12 tournament team on an excellent Iowa State squad that earned a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament. He’s a serious shooter who hit 36 percent from 3 on many difficult attempts. He tailed off over his last 17 games, making just 28.4 percent from 3 and averaging just 8.4 points per game. However, any legitimate 6-foot-8 shooter off movement will be a serious prospect in some respect. I’m expecting an offensive breakout this season that allows him to morph more into a 15-point-per-game scorer who makes the All-Big-12 team.
29. JT Toppin | 6-7 forward | 20 years old | Texas Tech
Toppin was a surprise invite to the 2024 NBA Draft Combine and impressed during pre-draft workouts. He was among the most productive freshmen in the country this past season, averaging 12 points and nine rebounds while shooting more than 62 percent from the field. He also drilled 11 3s this past season, and that’ll be the key swing skill for him as he shifts from New Mexico to Texas Tech in the Big 12. He clearly has an incredible motor and serious athleticism, but the skill piece of the game needs to come along next. If he can display a jump shot to pair with the versatility he shows defensively and his rebounding, a first-round selection could easily be in the cards. It doesn’t hurt that he has nearly a 7-foot-1 wingspan, either.
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30. Khaman Maluach | 7-1 big | 19 years old | Duke
Maluach is ranked as one of the top-five freshmen in the country this season and is expected to be a one-and-done at Duke. But after seeing him at Hoop Summit, I have some concerns about his readiness for the college level. He struggled to consistently catch and finish on the move at the higher speed of the game he faced against better competition all week in practice. On defense, it’s clear Maluach is still learning the intricacies of drop coverage, where his enormous 7-foot-1 size with a 7-foot-6 wingspan potentially make him lethal in terms of taking up space. In all the tape I’ve seen, and in seeing him up close, he seems to struggle with containing the gap between the ballhandler and big. He doesn’t have a great feel yet for how to manage that space.
It’s difficult to place him outside of the top 30, if only because his tools are what they are. He’s said to be a great kid and a very hard worker. But I wonder if Syracuse transfer Maliq Brown might become Duke’s preferred big man this season in important moments. Brown rightfully earned an ACC All-Defense team selection last season, and even if he’s more of a forward than a center, he has the strength and length when paired with Flagg’s elite rim protection to allow Duke to size down.
This is an important summer for Maluach. He needs to get up to speed with Duke’s coaching staff on some of the positioning that will allow him to become most effective next season. Still, most scouts agreed he looked more like a project than a surefire one-and-done player this spring at Hoop Summit.
Second Round
31. Xaivian Lee | 6-3 guard | Princeton
32. Adou Thiero | 6-7 wing | Arkansas
33. Egor Demin | 6-7 guard | BYU
34. Jarin Stevenson | 6-9 forward | Alabama
35. Dame Sarr | 6-8 forward | Barcelona
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36. Johni Broome | 6-10 big | Auburn
37. Tucker DeVries | 6-6 wing | West Virginia
38. Payton Sandfort | 6-7 wing | Iowa
39. Grant Nelson | 6-10 big | Alabama
40. Jaxson Robinson | 6-6 wing | Kentucky
41. Jamir Watkins | 6-7 wing | Florida State
42. Alex Toohey | 6-7 wing/forward | Sydney Kings
43. Malique Lewis | 6-7 wing/forward | Mexico City Capitanes
44. Darrion Williams | 6-6 wing | Texas Tech
45. Izan Alamansa | 6-9 big | Perth Wildcats
46. Mark Sears | 6-0 guard | Alabama
47. Ryan Kalkbrenner | 7-1 big | Creighton
48. Tyon Grant-Foster | 6-6 wing | Grand Canyon
49. Adama Bal | 6-6 wing | Santa Clara
50. Nique Clifford | 6-6 wing | Colorado State
51. Michael Ruzic | 6-8 forward | Joventut
52. Xzayvier Brown | 6-1 guard | St. Joseph’s
53. Cade Tyson | 6-7 wing | North Carolina
54. Tyrese Proctor | 6-4 guard | Duke
55. Michael Ajayi | 6-8 forward | Gonzaga
56. AJ Storr | 6-6 wing | Kansas
57. Keshon Gilbert | 6-4 guard | Iowa State
58. Walter Clayton Jr. | 6-2 guard | Florida
59. Saint Thomas | 6-6 wing | USC
(Top photos of Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper and V.J. Edgecombe: Kevin M. Cox / Associated Press; Rich Graessle / Icon Sportswire; Nicholas Muller / SOPA Images / Sipa USA; illustration by Dan Goldfarb / The Athletic)
