Rasheer Fleming experienced a whirlwind day as the Phoenix Suns traded up to take him with the first pick of the second and final round of the 2025 NBA Draft on Thursday.
Phoenix, who missed the playoffs for the first time in five years last campaign, worked out a deal to move up the board after the Minnesota Timberwolves confirmed they were looking to trade away the 31st pick.
Minnesota still made the pick for Fleming – who averaged 14.7 points and 8.5 rebounds for Saint Joseph's last season – but the trade had already been agreed earlier in the day.
After his final destination was confirmed, the forward – one of the highest-rated prospects to miss out on a first-round selection – could not contain his joy.
"It was a long day now that I think about it," Fleming said. "Everything has happened so fast – this was a great experience.
"It's kind of a crazy feeling. Not even kind of. It's a crazy feeling."
Fleming, who stands at six-foot-eight and shot 39% on 3-point attempts last year, was rated as the NCAA's eighth-best prospect by Opta's pre-draft model.
Another of the standout selections on day two came at number 35, as the Philadelphia 76ers moved for Auburn's Johni Broome, having taken Baylor's VJ Edgecombe at third overall a day earlier.
"Being here, this is probably the most exciting moment of my life so far," Broome told reporters afterwards.
"As a kid you always want to be drafted, hear your name called, put on the hat. So actually going through the moment... I don't know, it just feels surreal."
Another trade saw the Boston Celtics take Noah Penda at number 32 then send him to the Orlando Magic in exchange for four second-round picks in total – two this year and two in future years.
Boston used their new 2025 selections on Kentucky's British-born center Amari Williams and VCU guard Max Shulha.
Orlando's president of basketball operations, Jeff Weltman, said of the Penda trade: "We were looking at him at number 25.
"He had a very good visit with us, on and off the court. And you guys know how important the person is to us. We just felt he's got Magic DNA."
The Charlotte Hornets ended up with back-to-back selections at 33 and 34, taking Sion James then acquiring Ryan Kalkbrenner via a trade involving the Toronto Raptors and Dallas Mavericks.
Jahmai Mashack was the 60th and final player to be selected in the draft, with the Tennessee guard heading to the Memphis Grizzlies after a trade with the Houston Rockets.
