2025 NBA Draft Big Board 2.0
My top 75 players in the 2025 NBA Draft, ranked and tiered, as of September 1, 2024.
Basketball season is right around the corner, whether it be NBA, international, collegiate or other, and with that, the 2025 NBA Draft cycle is just about ready to kick off. That’s not to say we’ve been deprived of basketball, though, as FIBA play dominated draft junkies’ laptop screens for the last couple of months.
Some formerly lesser-known prospects became household names, while others failed to meet expectations and led scouts to re-evaluate a bit. Regardless, almost every player’s last pre-professional sample is about to kick off, and that’s what matters most when draft night rolls around next July.
Below, I will be listing off my top 75 prospects in the class as of September 1, 2024, with short write-ups on the top 25, as well as ten more sprinkled throughout the latter 50. The focus of each write-up will be providing context if the player changed position, and the reasoning for that change.
Without further adieu, here is the second edition of my 2025 NBA Draft Big Board.
Tier Zero: The Maine Event
Cooper Flagg, Duke (+0)
Almost nothing has changed since I initially put Flagg first on my board last month, but that’s not to say that he’s any less incredible. I maintain that Flagg could take many, many different pathways and still bring about All-Star value down the line. There’s not much to say about Flagg that hasn’t already been said a million times over, so I’ll leave it at that.
Tier One: Potential All-Stars
Rocco Zikarsky, Brisbane Bullets (+4)
Zikarsky is someone who I’ve recently dove into and came away extremely impressed. Specifically in his U18 tape for Australia, where he looked like a man amongst boys. At 7’3” with a 7’6” wingspan, that’s exactly what Zikarsky is, but his fluidity, short-post slashing and touch, as well as his innate defensive ability in drop coverage has caused him to rise in the second edition of my big board.
Airious “Ace” Bailey, Rutgers (-1)
Bailey’s one-spot fall comes in no relation to anything he’s done. I am still incredibly impressed by his combination of size, athleticism and shot-making. I’ve also come to appreciate his seeming appreciation for the little things of the game, namely his impact in securing possessions on the boards. Too often, I see Bailey pigeonholed as a one-trick pony with a lust for contested jumpers, but that is anything but the case.
VJ Edgecombe, Baylor (-1)
To the dismay of many draft junkies, Edgecombe’s Bahamas team did not qualify for the Olympics despite its wealth of NBA talent. Edgecombe, however, impressed greatly in qualifying play, averaging 14.3 points on 57.9% true shooting and showcasing his trademark passion and motor. The shot will be worth monitoring this year, but the improvements have been bordering on exponential.
Dylan Harper, Rutgers (+0)
Harper has officially returned from injury and has supposedly added some weight, which isn’t necessarily surprising for a six-week recovery. Still, it is a slight concern given the shape Harper played in his senior season. However, Harper’s shot-making and playmaking remain a premium, and if he can get back into the shape he was in early this Summer, I have no doubts he’ll impress and hold his stock.
Nolan Traore, Saint-Quentin (-2)
Traore didn’t have the best performance in Eurobasket by any means. While he showcased his best traits — playmaking and athleticism — the question marks and weaknesses showed their face. Traore looked overwhelmed at the rim at times, and the threat, or lack thereof, of an outside shot gives him little to counter with. Traore’s strengths are electrifying, and you can see the blueprint when you watch him, but as of now, he still has a bit of a way to go.
Tier Two: Potential high-end starters
Zacharie Perrin, Nancy (+7)
Every time I dive into Perrin’s film, I come away liking him as a prospect more and more. At 6’11”, he is legitimately one of the most fluid athletes in the class, on top of being one of its best live-dribble passers. He can post up, roll, and do all of the traditional big man things well, but his feet, mind and willingness to try something new (he shot threes in Eurobasket U20!) every time he steps into a new setting absolutely shines.
Kon Knueppel, Duke (+16)
Knueppel’s meteoric rise has a lot to do with my recent fascination with his dynamic and intricate scoring arsenal. Despite being smaller and less athletic than a lot of the other wing options in this class, he might be the best scorer among his peers. To use a cliche for players of Knueppel’s … aesthetic … he’s crafty and plays at his own pace but leverages it to its absolute greatest extent.
Noa Essengue, Ratiopharm Ulm (-1)
Essengue had some “Wow!” moments in Eurobasket alongside Nolan Traore. In his last three games, Essengue averaged 25.3 points per game on 67.6% true shooting, as well as 8.7 rebounds and 3.3 assists. His putrid three-point percentage and supposed motor concerns may scare off scouts, but his willingness and comfortability shooting from deep is intriguing, and the film just doesn’t match the rumors when it comes to Essengue’s motor.
Kasparas Jakučionis, Illinois (+28)
The fourth European player in the last five slots, Jakučionis continues to impress and produce in FIBA play. At 6’5”, he’s one of the most dynamic pick-and-roll players in the class and showcases an abundance of playmaking and shot-making craft. He’s a risky brand of playmaker and doesn’t hold the highest reputation as a shooter, but he seemingly just continues to improve and will likely be the Big Ten’s best freshman this year.
Liam McNeeley, UConn (-4)
I can’t truly explain why McNeeley is the biggest faller on the board this far outside of his peers just impressing me more recently. I still have nothing but positives to say about him. He’s the ideal wing size with a perfect jump-shooting form and underrated on-ball equity. McNeeley will be in the perfect situation to shine on a re-tooled UConn team aiming for its third consecutive National Championship.
Dink Pate, Mexico City Capitanes (-3)
Pate is unique among the “big guard” classification of prospects that has gained steam in the last few years, with athletic traits that make him more of a guard than a wing. The shot remains a concern, and the spotlight questions are relevant to how much press he’ll receive from mainstream draft outlets, but his talent is undeniable.
Asa Newell, Georgia (+2)
Newell had two things go well for him since the last big board was released. Firstly, he measured at 6’11” on Georgia’s official website, and secondly, he was lights out from three at Damian Lillard’s camp. While the former doesn’t necessarily change much about how he’ll be able to play on the court, the latter certainly does. Newell could end up being one of 2025’s best defenders regardless of how his shot develops, but if the flashes prove true, he becomes a completely new offensive prospect.
Trent Perry, UCLA (-1)
Perry was another attendee who shone at Damian Lillard’s camp recently. Perry’s added strength and has reportedly been the hardest-working player on a stacked UCLA team led me to believe he’ll have a role from the start. That, along with his knockdown shooting, poised handling and vision makes him one of the steadiest guards in this class with tons of upside in the pros.
Derik Queen, Maryland (+1)
Queen is just such a fun offensive player at the big man position. His face-up game is reminiscent of someone like Pau Gasol at times, but his burly, broad-shouldered build and passing vision make him unique at the position. He’ll have a role from the jump with the Terrapins, even if the fit between him and senior forward Julian Reese is a bit clunky on paper.
Drake Powell, North Carolina (+2)
Powell’s slight rise comes from me having made note of his growth over the last few years. His willingness to continue to try and turn his midrange pull-up into a weapon has me hopeful that one day, it will stretch beyond the arc, and give him a bevy of counters to use off the dribble even if he is a bit raw at this time.
Hugo Gonzalez, Real Madrid (-6)
Gonzalez had a couple of signature performances toward the tail end of U18 Eurobasket play after having played second fiddle to Mario Saint-Supery to start the tournament. Gonzalez just does a little bit of everything, whether it be playing in the pick-and-roll, cutting with decisiveness or locking down on defense and creating events on and off the ball.
Khaman Maluach, Duke (+1)
Maluach was featured as the youngest player in Olympic basketball this Summer for a South Sudan team that captured the hearts of viewers. Maluach’s defense was the thing that was on full display. He’s not a big you want on an island, even if you’re a quick guard. He can slide his feet, play wide and hold his space on the perimeter. The offense is raw, still, but the flashes have shown their face more than once this Summer.
Ben Henshall, Perth Wildcats (+3)
Every time I watch Henshall’s play, whether it be with the Otago Nuggets, Perth in their exhibition games or for Australia’s U20 and U18 teams, I love his game just a little bit more. At his core, Henshall is a bigger combo guard who loves to get to the rim and make plays for his bigs. However, in recent years where he’s found himself in expanded roles, he’s showcased his comfortability as a pull-up shooter with an ability to get really hot off the dribble.
Tier Three: Potential starters/elite role players
Hunter Sallis, Wake Forest (-10)
It could be just recency bias that has caused so many of the newer names to jump over Sallis, but as of late, I’ve started to consider the questions and framework laid out by Maxwell Baumbach of No Ceilings. Sallis is a talented scorer with the ability to lock up on the ball, but at 6’5” and lacking lead-guard playmaking, is he more of a small wing, an archetype that has fallen out of favor in the league? We’ll have to see what next season holds.
Will Riley, Illinois (-1)
Riley’s downhill playmaking at 6’8” remains intriguing, and the flashes of shot-making that made him one of EYBL’s highest-producing offensive players this past year are tantalizing. At Illinois, he’ll need the latter to be a premier in the context of elite guards who will be handling possessions.
John “Juni” Mobley Jr., Ohio State (-5)
The addition of Ques Glover to Ohio State’s guard room means touches will be stripped from Mobley, who could end up playing sparing minutes in his first handful of games. However, the shot-making Mobley has exhibited makes him intriguing regardless of how his collegiate tenure begins.
Jalil Bethea, Miami (FL) (-11)
Bethea could end up being one of the highest-ceiling players in the entire class with his combination of athleticism, shot-making, and flashes of playmaking. However, I’ve grown to be a skeptic of his ability to play in a high-paced offense where he can’t eat clock isolating as he did in high school. I don’t doubt he’ll hit his spot-up looks or provide highlights in transition, but the little things are a tad scary.
Mark Sears, Alabama (-3)
Sears is small, and that's been the talking point surrounding him and his NBA prospects for the last year. The fact that he’s even in this conversation after measuring 5’10” at the combine is a testament to just how good of a player he is. His shot creation, especially inside the arc, is special, and reminiscent of some of the premier small guards that highlight the NBA today.
Darren Harris, Duke (+4)
I’ve been one of the biggest advocates for Harris since he helped lead his EYBL squad to the tournament’s Championship last Summer. Harris is the most polished off-ball mover in the class and has really grown into the role of a shot-creator off the dribble in the past year. He battled an injury earlier this season but is back on the court and reportedly turning heads.
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