With the 2024 draft and NBA free agency mostly in the rear view, NBA teams will start focusing on a 2025 draft that’s loaded with potential stars.
It starts with Duke commit Cooper Flagg, the easy No. 1 overall favorite.
The next tier includes a pair of freshmen headed to Rutgers, which will draw more scouts on a regular basis than it ever has before.
NBA teams will also continue to count on their international scouts. We could see multiple top-five picks playing in Europe and one in Australia.
Thanks in part to NIL, college basketball also saw some promising underclassmen return.
There is still a lot of guesswork with projections this early, as we’re bound to see surprise breakouts and others who disappoint. But here’s our first crack at next year’s first round after keeping tabs on high school basketball, EYBL, the Adidas circuit and international hoops.
The 2024 draft cycle didn’t have an obvious No. 1 prospect. 2025’s will. Cooper Flagg has evolved into one of the most hyped prospects of the decade with a skill level that’s starting to catch his special athleticism, passing IQ and defensive instincts.
He’ll still do the most damage next year in transition, around the basket, blocking shots and flying around at both ends. But he’s made continuous strides with his handle, creation and shotmaking.
Duke figures to use him similarly to how former coach Mike Krzyzewski used Zion Williamson, a power forward who also earned ball-screen and one-on-one opportunities.
Dylan Harper is coming off an outstanding All-Star circuit, continuing to show improvement with his shooting by combining to hit 9-of-17 threes between the McDonald’s All-American Game, Nike Hoop Summit and Jordan Brand Classic.
A skilled, cerebral lead guard, Harper gets to his spots with change of speed and craftiness over explosiveness. He creates with advanced footwork to separate into jumpers or slip through gaps. He has good size and touch for finishing and the IQ to facilitate and make passing reads.
We’ll have a better idea of where his shooting is after a year of high usage at Rutgers. But Harper should be the top-ranked ball-handler heading into 2024-25.
Ace Bailey’s 6’9″ size, shotmaking and scoring ability will instantly pop and draw comparisons to big NBA wings that can handle and shoot.
He should have a green light at Rutgers as well, though he’ll have to show self control with his creation, range and confidence, which can result in settling and low-percentage jumpers.
But thanks to pros like Tracy McGrady, Paul George and Brandon Miller, Bailey possesses a very enticing archetype. His offensive talent and NBA fit will overshadow the ambitious shot selection.
Hugo Gonzalez just had a huge Adidas Next Generation Tournament, finishing as the MVP after going for 23 points, six assists and five steals in the final.
A projected top-10 pick last October, he’s shown more on-ball development with his handle and creativity at the youth levels. And his motor, intensity and physicality continue to stand out during off-ball plays and defensive possessions.
Gonzalez’s shooting will be under scouts’ microscope, but he’s still a confident shotmaker for a 6’6″ 18-year-old, and he excels in other areas, both athletically and fundamentally, to keep NBA evaluators patient.
One of 2025’s most explosive leapers, VJ Edgecombe has also developed into a dangerous shotmaker. His scoring right now is fueled by open-floor speed, a quick first step, a confident jumper and bounce around the rim.
He’s making strides with his handle and ability to score and pass off the dribble.
Edgecombe figures to play in Ja’Kobe Walter’s role in the half-court—mostly operating out of spot-ups often while getting the occasion ball screen to make a play.
Room to improve as a creator, shooter and playmaker suggest he may be prone to inefficient games next season.
Nolan Traore is one of the hottest names in scouting circles after a strong Nike Hoop Summit, standout performances in LNB Pro A and a huge Adidas Next Generation Tournament, where he averaged 25.8 points and 6.5 assists in four games.
He has speed for the open floor, but he’s able to create and pass at slower paces in the half court. His finishing craft, touch, instincts and passing consistently show.
How high Traore rises next year will be determined by how scouts assess his shooting and athletic limitations. Still, he’s delivered enough shotmaking flashes for evaluators to remain optimistic, while less and less stock seems to be put into explosiveness and bounce when scouting ball-handlers.
Scouts have already seen plenty of Tre Johnson, one of the most proven freshman shotmakers.
Though he relies heavily on his jump shot, it’s highly advanced, with Johnson a threat from NBA range, pulling up, stepping back or falling away.
He should also be expecting a starter’s minutes and shot diet at Texas, particularly with Dillon Mitchell heading into Cincinnati.
Eyes will be on his physical, playmaking and defensive development, as Johnson’s impact can be too dependent on hitting tough shots.
Drake Powell is going to leave his mark next year by impacting games in different roles and ways. He’s extremely well-rounded, capable of making plays on and off the ball with his pull-up, passing, improved catch-and-shoot game and athleticism at the rim.
North Carolina will ultimately value his energy, defensive activity and overall versatility more than his scoring or playmaking.
At 6’10” with a live motor, Asa Newell should deliver immediate activity around the rim, easy baskets and putbacks to Georgia.
He covers a lot of ground and loves to crash the glass and sprint the floor in transition.
But it’s going to be his developing three-point stroke and post skill that help push him up draft boards in 2025. Newell shot over 41.5 percent from three during 21 Montverde games logged by Synergy Sports. There should be plenty of NBA interest in an athletic 19-year-old energy big who can stretch the floor this early.
Following John Calipari to Arkansas after originally committing to Kentucky, Karter Knox will have to stand out in an experienced rotation with decorated guards, bigs and forwards.
Still, even if his role remains limited compared to most other lottery picks, his positional strength, attacking and confident shot-making should still pop to scouts.
He’ll likely have to sell them with flashes, rather than consistent production, playing in a lineup with D.J. Wagner, Johnell Davis, Trevon Brazile, Jonas Aidoo, Adou Thiero, Zvonimir Ivisic and fellow freshman Boogie Fland. But he should be capable of impressing with those flashes of scoring versatility skill for a 6’6″, 225-pound 19-year-old wing.
The youngest Next Star in NBL history, Rocco Zikarsky stood out during his limited minutes with Brisbane, mostly in rim protection.
The 7’2″ 17-year-old blocked 12.9 percent of opponents shots, a wild number for a player his age in the NBL.
He’s light on his feet and quick off the ground around the basket, making him a big finishing weapon off cuts and around the dunker’s spot.
Zikarsky can look vulnerable guarding away from the basket, and his offense is still limited. But we continue to see NBA teams use first-round picks on centers who are interior forces at both ends.
Egor Demin averaged 18.0 points at the Adidas Next Generation Tournament and then became BYU’s biggest commitment.
He creates advantages with athletic pop and burst for slashing, transition finishing and cutting. And he’s showcased a versatile skill set that includes ball-screen driving, playmaking and diverse shotmaking. Demin can be used in a different roles on and off the ball.
How he shoots and executes on creation possessions will determine how high he climbs 2025 draft boards. Demin only shot 3-of-21 from three at ANGT.
Having played over 17 minutes per game at 17 years old in the Spanish ACB, Michael Ruzic was a main draw at Eurocamp. He delivered one of the better performances at the event—a 28-point showcase of inside-out scoring versatility with shooting range, face-up footwork and instincts around the basket.
His lack of quickness and athletic pop may cap the height of his theoretical ceiling. But to be this productive with interior tools and perimeter skill at his age, Ruzic seems on track to become an established name during the next draft cycle.
A competitive setting at the Nike Hoop Summit exposed Khaman Maluach as rawer than most of the projected 2025 lottery picks, though his 7’2″ size, 7’6″ wingspan and movement for finishing and rim protection should draw plenty of lottery interest.
Maluach isn’t likely to do much around the perimeter for Duke, but he does have confidence in his range, and it’s encouraging (long term) to see that the 17-year-old works on and is comfortable shooting the three.
Left off our 2025 projections back in October, Donnie Freeman had a big year at IMG improving his offensive skill level. For a 6’9″, rangy forward, he’s developed into a versatile scorer, capable of getting baskets in different ways—hitting threes and pull-ups, attacking closeouts and using touch around the post.
He’s still on the raw side, but Freeman clearly has an appealing skill set for a power forward, and more progress with his three-ball next season should lead to surefire NBA interest at Syracuse.
Playing at 17 years old in the G League, Dink Pate got scouts excited with ball-handling, tough finishes and playmaking flashes for a 6’8″ guard who’d normally be in high school.
Last season was all about the experience. The low field-goal and shooting percentages were ignored by scouts who were wowed by Pate’s positional size, ball skills, improvisation, production and room to improve.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported Wednesday that Pate will play for the G League’s Mexico City Capitanes next season.
Coming off three impressive EYBL sessions with UPlay (21.9 points), Will Riley committed to Illinois and reclassified to play college basketball in 2024, making himself eligible for the 2025 draft.
At 6’7″, he’s a tough scorer with crafty shotmaking and the ability to improvise or counter into difficult jumpers and floaters. Despite an underwhelming frame and limited explosion, he finds ways to get to his spots.
After some impressive moments through Nike Hoop Summit week, Riley should be on most NBA teams’ radar entering 2024-25.
It looked easy for Derrion Reid at the U18 Americans Championship. The 17-year-old forward averaged 10.3 points and 7.7 boards in just 16.5 minutes for USA, scoring effortless against inferior international opponents just using his length, touch, instincts and motor around the paint.
His passing and defensive tools are big pluses as well, and he’s made some encouraging developments with his mid-range shot and range, though improving his shooting remains an obvious priority.
Alabama is loaded with guards and bigs, but the starting lineup should have a spot for a wing like Reid who’s comfortable off the ball and can guard inside and out.
Collin Murray-Boyles didn’t bother testing the draft process this year. With more minutes and touches next season, he should be able to put together a stronger case around a polarizing game that’s predicated on interior scoring instincts.
On paper, he’s an undersized big lacking a modernized skill set. But it may also become difficult to argue with his effectiveness around the key and short corners, where he can play back to the basket or face up and attack. Production and efficiency from a 19-year-old sophomore could help teams buy into an outlier.
Even with Alex Karaban returning to Connecticut, there should be a starting role waiting for Liam McNeeley.
Advanced shooting, IQ and generally a high skill level hint at an easy fit for every level. McNeeley’s stroke stands out first, though he’s also shown the ability to attack closeouts and finish runners with both hands.
An efficient off-ball scorer and play-finisher who rarely makes unforced errors, he will earn many fans who’ll see a plug-and-play complementary role player. His game just doesn’t scream upside the way those of some of the other top prospects do.
Older, international opponents had trouble stopping Joson Sanon at Eurocamp.
After flipping from Arizona to Arizona State, he’s now walking into a featured role that will showcase his downhill driving, shotmaking and ability to facilitate.
He already told Bleacher Report that he’s one-and-done, and Sanon should have enough freedom, physical talent and scoring/playmaking skill to sell NBA teams in one year at school.
Despite being left off USA’s Nike Hoop Summit roster, Carter Bryant got to scrimmage against it in Portland, and he capitalized in front of NBA scouts and executives with his shotmaking diversity and athleticism around the basket.
He looks the part with his NBA wing size, fluidity and perimeter flashes. Whether he’s one-and-done will come down to his decision-making and efficiency. It may be difficult for Bryant to maintain rhythm in a lineup that brings back Caleb Love, KJ Lewis, Motiejus Krivas and added Jaden Bradley, Trey Townsend and Anthony Dell’Orso.
Wooga Poplar transferring to Villanova just opened the door wider for Jalil Bethea to build a stronger one-and-done case.
He’s a shifty, self-creation scorer with advanced shotmaking, which allows Bethea to take over stretches of games.
However, at 6’4″, 170 pounds, his body will need to change as he plays at higher levels, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him have trouble against physical wings in the ACC.
Jamir Watkins’ combine invite indicated NBA interest, but he didn’t do enough there to stand out or further sell himself for the 2024 draft.
One more year of improved shotmaking should do the trick. His wing size and positional strength, handle, playmaking and defensive tools create a coveted archetype. One jump as a shooter should push Watkins into the first-round discussion.
Ian Jackson has been one of the most visible and accessible prospects for scouts, having played in three FIBA tournaments, the All-Star circuit last spring and a number of games against Overtime Elite.
He’s a pure scorer who provides rim pressure, confident shotmaking and off-ball movement.
Jackson would have some adjustments to make in a starting lineup alongside Elliot Cadeau and RJ Davis. But with North Carolina bringing in sharpshooting wing Cade Tyson, Jackson may actually benefit from playing an offensive-spark role off the bench.
Kwame Evans Jr. looked like a future pro at different points of his freshman season at Oregon. But it was clear that returning to make some improvements would be necessary to enter the draft with his stock higher and game more prepared.
At 6’9″, he showed he was an effective play-finisher with touch, three-point range and defensive instincts/versatility. Getting sharper on the ball and raising his three-point percentage could help Evans enter next year’s first-round discussion.
A productive year at New Mexico earned JT Toppin an NBA combine invitation. Despite choosing to withdraw from the draft, he performed well against 2024 second-round picks by tapping into his motor, scoring instincts around the basket and capable shooting range.
He finished third among freshman last season in box plus-minus. And now with Texas Tech, Toppin should have the chance to validate last season’s success by repeating it against more credible opponents.
He’ll still be 19 years old by the 2025 draft.
Jarin Stevenson caught scouts’ attention this season, but there wasn’t enough interest to keep him in the 2024 draft.
More consistency next season could earn him a spot in the first-round discussion, given the appeal to a 6’11” forward with a three-point stroke who doesn’t turn 19 until October.
Stevenson went off in the Elite Eight, scoring 19 points on five made triples. Alabama returning Mark Sears and Grant Nelson could make it difficult for the sophomore to receive too many more reps, but he figures to be sharper and more confident with the ones he gets as a spot-up shooter, pick-and-pop big and play-finisher.
Darren Harris combined to score 56 points in two games to lead Paul VI to the Chipotle Nationals title game against Montverde.
In 33 games logged by Synergy Sports, he shot 43.9 on spot-up jumpers and 54.9 percent off screens, numbers that highlight adaptable off-ball scoring skills.
Harris’ challenge will be standing out or consistently producing in a rotation featuring returning guards Tyrese Proctor and Caleb Foster, transfer Sion James, projected No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg and freshmen Isaiah Evans and Kon Knueppel,
Even without much offensive polish, KJ Lewis made a freshman impact with his athleticism, motor, defense and passing.
There is some guesswork in projecting his 2025 draft stock, as a lot will depend on the improvement this offseason and how his shot looks as a sophomore. But Lewis excels in areas coaches can’t teach. Any skill development could be significant. He did have success with the limited ball screens he received, attacking through contact, live-dribble passing and demonstrating some improvisation with his footwork and finishing.