With just over ONE MONTH!!! to go until the 2025 NBA Draft I’ve expanded my big board to include and my thought on each of the top 70 prospects. It’s a busy time of year in draft circles with information coming fast and furious. In recent weeks we’ve had the NBA Draft lottery, the draft combine and we’ve seen a number of players withdraw from the draft and return to school.

It’s the time of year when 7-foot centers drain three pointers in workouts and we scrutinize hand size and standing reach and tend to forget about the actual game of basketball. It’s the time of year when college stars face the reality of playing against the best players in the world; some will stay in the draft and even go on to become the best players in the world while others will say ‘no thanks’ and return to the safety college basketball.

Over the past few weeks we’ve seen some big risers on draft boards, most notably Hansen Yang, Cedric Coward and possible second round pick Yanic Konan Niederhauser. The first two have moved up into the mid first round territory and Yanic is a mid second rounder on my board.

Thomas Sorber measured incredibly well at the combine and has moved up a bit. CMB had solid measurements and Rasheer Fleming impressed with his 7-5 wingspan. All three are late lottery to mid first rounders.

On the flip side, Jase Richardson game up a bit short and has slipped down the board. He’s going to be a good NBA player but it’s harder to see star upside with a height of 6-0 1/2.

Overall I like the depth of talent in the first round. There will be really good players drafted in the 20’s and even the 30’s of this draft. I’m not crazy about the depth in the mid/late second round and think it falls off pretty quickly in the mid 40’s.

I’ll have at least one more big board coming out after all of the players have made their stay/go decisions. Thanks for reading and here’s my big board:

	– SUPERSTAR – FRANCHISE CORNERSTONE
1	Flagg has been at the top of this list all season long and that’s not going to change anytime soon. He projects as an All NBA level player who can be the cornerstone of a franchise. Some scouts question is ability to carry a team offensively but I have no doubts that he will develop into a first option offensive player. Add in his generational defensive abilities and you’ve got a superstar level talent.
	– ALL-NBA LEVEL PLAYER
2	– Harper is exactly what you want in a NBA guard with his great size and strength, feel for the game, scoring prowess and ability to make plays for teammates. I think he’s as pro-ready as any guard in recent years and should put up numbers right away (even if he lands in San Antonio and plays behind Fox and Castle). He has the talent to be the best player on a championship level team but if he lands with the Spurs he’ll be an elite no.2 or no.3 behind Wemby and maybe Castle.
3	– Having Ace in Tier 2 might seem optimistic and that’s just what I am about his upside potential and his likely outcome in the NBA. While there’s a chance he’s just an oversized Andrew Wiggins I think he’s got a level of athleticism and shot-making ability that will separate him from the pack and make him a star in the league. I’m not sure if he’ll set the NBA on fire from day one but a few years from now the league better watch out.
	– ALL STAR LEVEL PLAYER
4	– I’ve had some up and down feelings about Tre Johnson but at the end of the day he’s an elite shot-maker with size and a level of confidence and competitive fire that makes the great ones great. I like his passing/play-making more than most and think that if he lands in the right situation he’ll surprise a lot of people with his passing and assist numbers. You’d like to see him finish better at the rim but that should come with continued development and gaining strength to handle contact.
5	– VJ has elite upside and his ceiling is near the top of this list but there are some things he’ll have to improve on to reach that potential. He’s one of the most explosive athletes in the draft, is naturally talented and is a very hard worker who takes his craft seriously. His ball skills are still a work in progress and he’ll have to improve his shooting consistency, develop his left hand and get better at finishing in traffic.
6	– While Kon might end up as an elite role player I see some star/All Star potential here as well. He’s a lethal off the ball player who will benefit from NBA spacing, especially if he’s playing next to a ball-dominant player. He’s one of the most fundamentally sound and heady players you’ll ever see and he does all the little things exceptionally well. He’s not a big time play-maker on defense but just knows how to play, uses his strength and size well and competes at a high level. He might not have the upside of the players just below him on this list but he’s more of a sure thing.
7	Fears is a force on the offensive end who always gives you the feeling he’s about to do something spectacular. He’s got a great combination of craftiness and athletic pop, which makes him very hard to keep out of the lane. He’s streaky and inconsistent as a 3pt shooter, which will be his big swing skill in the league. If the shot does come around and the play-making continues to develop he’s go All Star upside. There seems to be a wide draft range for Fears and it wouldn’t surprise me to see him come off the board close to the top 5 or outside the top 10.
8	Bryant just oozes potential. He wasn’t a high usage player during his one year at Arizona but every time he touched the ball he seemed to do good things. He’s a got great size and natural strength, a silky smooth jumper and great defensive instincts. He’s one of those prospects that normies might not be very high on but NBA scouts drool over. I could see him being one of the five best players from this draft when we look back at it in a decade.
9	– I see some boom or bust potential with Queen but I’d bet on the upside. He’s not a good athlete (which we already knew before the combine) but his skill level and feel for the game are so advanced for a young big man that it makes you think of players like Jokic and Sengun.
10	– It’s really hard for me to get a good read on Maluach. He’s got undeniable tools, is a hard worker who plays the game the right way and has intriguing upside. But I’m not totally bought into that upside. He’s going to be a good defender in the league, even if his shot blocking numbers don’t jump out at you, and he’s a very good play finisher. I think he’s got a solid floor as a good starting center but it remains to be seen if he can be more than that.
	– HIGH LEVEL STARTER – POSSIBLE ALL STAR
11	– Egor has his flaws but he also has rare traits that you don’t find in every draft. He’s got special passing vision and instincts in a wiry 6-9 frame. He’s at his best with the ball in his hands, using his play-making ability or taking it hard to the rim. He covers a lot of ground easily and has the size to finish through contact and over length. His outside shot is a work in progress but he’s got a good foundation and I think he’ll shoot it in time. It’s hard to imagine a talent like this falling out of the lottery.
12	– I’m conflicted here. I have this nagging suspicion that I’ll look back on this ranking in five years and kick myself for not having him in the top 10. Part of this relatively low ranking is Traore’s inconsistent play this year but some of it has to do with how many other talented prospects there are in this range.
13	– Jaku has everything you look for in a point guard with good size, excellent handles, high level passing ability and natural leadership qualities. He projects as a likely starter who could develop into an All Star if things go right. His outside shot is streaky and will have to improve if he’s going to reach that All Star level potential but he’s a safe bet to be a good NBA player for a long time.
14	– I have to admit I’m a sucker for raw, high upside, lengthy forwards with high end athleticism and untapped potential. Essengue fits that mold and has the type of tools to be one of the better players from this draft class. He has some boom or bust potential but he’s already showing the ability to produce in a very good professional league at just 18 years old. At this point he’s more of a play finisher than a play creator but he’s got plenty of time to develop all of his skills. I’d take a swing on his upside and draft him in the 11-17 range.
15	– Sorber was one of the biggest pleasant surprises of this past college season. He’s got legit center size and good athleticism to go along with excellent passing instincts. He catches everything thrown his way, has good touch in close and a solid mid range jumper. He might not be an elite defensive anchor but he’s a presence at the rim and a solid interior defender. There is a wide range of opinions about Sorber but I’m on the more bullish side.
	– STARTER – SOLID ROTATION PLAYER
16	– One thing that I don’t like about doing Tiers is that it places a theoretical limit on a players outcome. With CMB I have him in the starter level Tier but his upside is away beyond that. If things go right for him he’s got a chance to be one of the best defenders in the league and a unique offensive player with excellent passing vision and good scoring touch in a burly 6-7 frame. I see him as a likely starter but his upside is as a multiple time All Star.
17	– Newell isn’t a very flashy player but just works hard on the court, rebounds the ball well and shows some nice flashes of offensive upside. He’s a decent outside shooter who will probably be a solid floor-spacing big in a few years. Add that to his good size, athleticism and effort and he’s a probable starter in the league.
18	– McNeeley is a high-end role player type of prospect who is a great complementary piece. He’s a good floor spacer and I really believe in his jumper, even though he was inconsistent this past season at UConn. He’s got a big frame and a lot of strength and he competes at a high level. He’s a pretty bad finisher in the lane, which limits his offensive upside, although I think he’ll improve in this area over time.
19	– Beringer is a player that I have a hard time looking away from; I just want to watch more of him and to somehow fast-forward his development to see the player he’ll be in a few years. He moves like a big time NBA player and it’s clear that he’s just scratching the surface of his potential. He has a chance to develop into an elite defender, like a souped-up Joakim Noah or what Nerlens Noel could have been if he was blessed with an extra 30lbs of muscle. Beringer is still very new to the game and is a bit of an unknown but I think that the part we don’t know is going to be really fun to find out about.
20	– Yang continues to rocket up draft boards. He’s been really good for a while now but seeing him in the States on the court with legit NBA level players has confirmed the eye test – this kid is a stud. His skill level is superb for a young big and his passing instincts are off the charts. He’ll have to work on his conditioning but he looks like a guy who can be a solid bench big early in his career and could develop into a very good starter.
21	– One of the darlings of the pre-draft process Coward is flying up boards and is very likely to be a first round pick. He’s an excellent shooter with good size and great length. His 7-2 wingspan helps give him upside on the defensive end and will allow him to guard up and down the line-up. He has a bit of retro/throw-back style to his game with his ability to operate out of the post and in the mid range. He gives me Michael Redd/Khris Middleton vibes. From D3 to the first round, what a cool story!
22	– This kid was born to score the basketball. He’s got incredible touch on his jumper and shoots it with a ton of confidence. He’s also got great positional size to go along with solid athleticism. He’s not a big wingspan guy and has major work to do developing his defensive abilities but his offensive firepower is hard to ignore. I like him in the late teens to mid twenties.
23	– Part of me wants to rank Fleming much higher than this. He’s a young junior who has gotten better and better every year and is developing an impressive perimeter game to go along with his size, athleticism and freaky length. If the 3pt shot is for real, and all signs suggest that it is, he’s going to be a long time NBA player who could become a high level starter.
24	– I feel like Danny Wolf has a wide variance of outcomes. There’s a world where it all comes together for him and he becomes one of the more unique offensive forwards in the league. And there’s a world where it doesn’t translate and he’s a bench big, a journey man, a Troy Murphy. He’s a super fun player with his nifty ball-handling and passing at 6-11 and that’ll be hard for NBA teams to pass on in the 20-30 range of the draft.
	– ROTATION PLAYER – BENCH PLAYER – POSSIBLE STARTER
25	– One of the more NBA ready players in the draft, Nique looks like he could give good minutes to a competing team in year one. He’s got a well rounded game, does a bit of everything on the court and doesn’t need the ball in his hands to stay fully engaged with the game. He’s a feisty and competitive guy who will bring toughness to whichever team drafts him. There are plenty of higher upside players in this range of the draft but not many who have a floor as high as Nique Clifford.
26	– Hugo has been one of the top players in his age group for a few years but has been sort of a forgotten name in this draft cycle after not seeing much playing time for a veteran-laden Real Madrid team. I love his tools and competitive fire and think he could be one of the pleasant surprises of this draft when we look back in a few years.
27	– Versatility, toughness and strength, that’s what Penda brings to the court. He’s not a flashy player but is as strong as an ox and has some real offensive talent as well. I think he’ll stick in the league and be a good player and would draft him accordingly, in the 25-35 range.
28	– Crafty and fun to watch, Saraf is a play-maker through and through. He’s not a super quick athlete but plays with good change of pace, can really handle the rock and has a knack for hitting tough shots from difficult angles.
29	– Jase is a massively efficient and smart player who unfortunately lacks ideal size. He measured at just over 6-feet tall at the combine, although he did have a very nice 6-6 wingspan. His lack of size might limit his upside but I still think he can be a very effective NBA player, most likely a first guard off the bench type of player. He’s such a good decision maker and such a good shooter that it makes up for what he lacks physically.
30	– It’s easy to imagine Kalkbrenner playing meaningful minutes off the bench for a good NBA team early in his career and developing into a starter in a few years. He’s not a spectacular player but he’s really solid, fundamentally sound, highly efficient and plays solid D. Landing in a situation with a great point guard would do wonders for his career.
31	– I’ve been slow to come around on Walter Clayton Jr. but I’m ready to be proven completely wrong. It would be awesome to see Clayton thrive in the NBA and light it up like he did at Florida. If he lands in the right situation and gets a green light… it could get fun.
32	– I really don’t know if his game will translate to the next level but lord is he fun to watch! I’d love to see Pettiford on a team where he can come off the bench for 20 minutes a game and go get buckets. He measured a little bit better than expected at the combine and he’s got nuclear athleticism and good length, despite his 6-1 size. I hope he’s on a NBA roster next season but if he ends up in the G League he’ll average 30ppg.
33	– The biggest player in the draft and still very young, Rocco is a developmental big with special tools but a long ways to go before being NBA ready. I’d bet on his upside and draft him late first or early second. There’s a chance he goes the college route, which would be really, really fun to see.
34	– Powell is arguably the most athletic player in the draft class and has good size as well. He’s got elite defensive potential and is a solid transition player but his half court offense is a work in progress. I think he’ll benefit from NBA spacing and from being a 4th or 5th option, where he can finish plays off of cuts and crash the offensive glass. I love the frame and athleticism but think it’ll take a lot of time before he’s a contributor.
35	– Raynaud has been trending up during the draft process after a big senior season at Stanford. He’s a highly skilled and mobile 7-1 player who can handle the rock in the open court and is a high volume 3pt shooter. He plays a finesse game and isn’t a huge presence in the paint but he’s got time to get stronger and maybe find a mean-streak. The pace and space of the NBA game should be a good match for his skill-set.
36	– I see Philon as a first guard off the bench type of player who can come in and lock down the opposing team’s best perimeter player. He’s a high energy guy who has some NBA level traits but might need to work his way up through the G League before earning NBA minutes.
37	– There’s big money on the table for him to go back to school (Michigan) but if he stays in the draft he’ll be flirting with the first round. Yaxel is a unique talent who seems to always stay one step ahead of the play, showing off a level of court awareness and feel for the game that you can’t teach. He’s got good size, awesome length and strength but isn’t a super athlete. This will be an interesting decision for him.
	– BENCH PLAYER – MAYBE STICKS IN THE LEAGUE
38	– I’m a big Bogoljub fan and think this ranking could end up being too low. He’s very young, big and skilled with the ball. He gives me Nemanja Bjelica vibes and I think he could have that kind of NBA career.
39	– Thiero has been on a slow but steady upward trajectory for many years now and if he continues on this path he’ll become a solid NBA player. His calling cards are his defense and his athleticism. Becoming a knockdown catch-and-shoot player will help him get on a NBA court.
40	– A feel like Kam has sneaky upside. He got significantly better every year at Marquette and that trend could continue in the league. He’s always been a good shooter but really stepped up as a play-maker this past year. A possible second round steal.
41	– A hard-nosed big guard who is a gamer and a winner. He projects as a bench/depth player who can give good minutes to a NBA team. That should get him drafted in the early to mid second round.
42	– A productive big with natural talent and athleticism who probably isn’t yet NBA ready and would spend a good amount of time in the G League. Going back to Florida is a good option.
43	– I really like Toohey and I’m tempted to have him higher on this list. He’s the consummate role player who does a great job of spacing the floor, keeps the ball moving and can hold his own on defense. He measured really well in Chicago and seems to be a player who can guard some 4’s in the league.
44	– If things go right for Byrd he’s a first round talent thanks to his two-way play, length and ability to make plays on the defensive end. He was inconsistent with his outside shot this past year and that remains a question mark in his game. Maybe a team will fall in love with him and take him in or near the first round but I think mid forties is the right range for him.
45	– Broome was one of the most dominant players in college basketball this past season but his lack of athleticism and ideal size drop him a big on most draft boards. I like him more as a prospect than some of the past high scoring college bigs (think Drew Timme) and think he could be getting a bit underrated. If he ends up providing first round value I wouldn’t be surprised.
46	– An intriguing talent who would be well served to spend another year in school. Knox has really good size and strength and good scoring instincts. He came on strong over the second half of the season and could be a breakout star if he returns. If he stays in the draft he’ll probably be a mid second round pick and spend a lot of time in the G League.
47	– Along with Cedric Coward, Yanic has been the big riser of the pre-draft process. He’s got excellent mobility for his size and all the tools to play a rim-running back-up big role in the league. There’s a chance he goes back to Penn State for a year but with the momentum he has right now it might make sense to stay in the draft.
48	– Lanier has a shot to be a floor spacer off the bench who can play spot minutes early in his career. He’s got a mature game and seems to be more NBA ready than most in this range of the draft. He’s not a big upside swing but could provide value here.
49	– Proctor has really developed in his time at Duke and become a much more complete guard. He’s good good size and enough athleticism and projects as as solid back up point guard in the league. That could warrant a pick in the early to mid second round. If he ends up playing 10 years in the league I wouldn’t be surprised.
50	– A great scorer and overall player at the college level, it’s going to be interesting to see if Dixon’s game translates. He has a chance to stick in the league or me a star overseas.
	– G LEAGUE PLAYER OR OVERSEAS – MAYBE DEVELOPS INTO A NBA ROLE
51	– Ruzic is kind of a wildcard for me. I like him a lot higher than this but also have enough doubts that I probably wouldn’t take him until later in the second round. He measured really well at the combine, has a very nice shooting stroke and a good feel on the offensive end. He’s a developmental player and a possible draft and stash.
52	– A fun guard from down under who probably won’t do much in the league but has some upside.
53	– Oweh has a decision to make: go back to Kentucky and be one of the stars of college basketball (and earn really good money) or take a gamble on the draft, be a possible second round pick and go to the G League. He’s a good two-way player but it would be nice to see him become a more explosive scorer.
54	– A solid all around player who does have a year of eligibility left and could withdraw from the draft.
55	– A big wing with a 3pt shot – that’s the type of player that’ll get a long look from NBA teams. Mgbako is still deciding between staying in the draft or transferring to Texas A&M. He had a strong week at the combine and his stock is ticking higher.
56	– Izan is a workhorse on the block who doesn’t really shine in any one way but has some NBA level tools.
57	– A standout defender with good athleticism who could find a role on a NBA bench.
58	– A strange player… a 7-foot center who loves to handle the ball, make plays from the high post but turns the ball over way too much. Has the size and athleticism but I’m not sure his game translates.
59	– One of the smoothest jumper shooters in the draft but lacks upside.
60	– An enforcer in the paint who could play spot minutes and fill a role on a NBA bench.
61	– Really hoping he goes the college route for a year or two.
62	– A dynamic athlete with a strong compact frame who keeps improving. Lacks ideal height and isn’t a point guard but his feisty play could earn him a spot.
63	C – Reggio Emilia (Senegal) – A defensive specialist who patrols the paint and rebounds the ball. Has some upside but will take time.
64	– Has good tools and scoring instincts but doesn’t do anything spectacular.
65	– NBA teams love outside shooting and Shulga has good range and touch on his jumper. Will get a chance.
66	6-10 – PF/C – Illawarra, NBL – A fun big man who has some ball skills and gives great effort.
67	– Pate has good tools but a very unrefined game and has a few more years of work to do before being NBA ready. Will be one to monitor.
68	– He’s a fun player but lacks ideal size and is not efficient on the offensive end. There’s a weird world where it all comes together and works for him at the NBA level but I wouldn’t hold my breath for that to happen.
69	– I’m not a huge fan but have this weird feeling he’ll play in the NBA and have a few games where he goes off from 3pt land.
70	Kobe Sanders – 6-8 – SG – Nevada – Has really good positional size and can score the ball. Probably goes undrafted but will have a chance to come up through the G League.
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