Final 2025 NBA Draft Big Board
Logan Adams' top 100 players in the 2025 NBA Draft, ranked and tiered, for the final time.
It’s been a turbulent cycle, but one that has taught scouts a great deal about how the NBA Draft will work moving forward. An older, tighter group of prospects is a direct result of the changing landscape of college basketball, and what the NBA will inevitably do to combat this is yet to be seen.
However, as the transfer portal and withdrawal period are now closed, and our group of guys entering the league for the first time is set, why not rank the top 100? As always, the top 25 prospects on this big board will be free to view, all with write-ups attached. Past that the remaining 50 will be paywalled, so if you would like to view it, consider subscribing for $5/month (less than your coffee order!).
Past the paywall, prospects ranked 26-50 will also have their own write-ups, making the final edition of the Prospects & Concepts big board the largest yet, with 15 more write-ups than previous editions. The top 25 players will all have a couple of NBA comparisons listed.
Without further adieu, here is my final big board of the 2025 NBA Draft cycle.
With a few international prospects’ decisions still pending, specific spots on this list are subject to change following the June 15 deadline.
1. Cooper Flagg, Duke (—)
Has there been a more complete first-year collegiate prospect than Cooper Flagg? The first name that comes to mind, with fear it’s probably a white guy thing, is Larry Bird. Some of the other names that come to mind are Anthony Davis, Zion Williamson, and Cade Cunningham, yet, none entered the class with the sheer lack of weaknesses Flagg is coming in with.
Sure, there are questions about his primacy as an on-ball creator translating, but are they genuine? The handle should continue to improve as the shot has and the defense is undeniably one of the best we’ve seen from a non-center prospect. Flagg might not be a 30-point-per-game scorer in the league, but he’s the type of player who shifts franchises, and the Mavericks’ luck (if that’s what you believe it to be) cannot be understated.
Reminds me of: Jayson Tatum, Pascal Siakam, Scottie Pippen
READ: “Signal Calling: Narratives surrounding Cooper Flagg are underbaked”
2. Dylan Harper, Rutgers (—)
Dylan Harper moves into the tier once solely held by Flagg not because I think there’s a conversation for one over the other, but because I don’t think there’s a conversation for anyone below here over Harper. He’s a genuine All-NBA guard prospect, with the look and production of a superstar. Nobody in this class is as polished of a creator off the dribble, and while his pull-up shooting isn’t the best skill in his arsenal, his ability to get to the rim, finish, and set up his teammates is polished beyond his years.
There’s a fair bit of room to grow. Harper shot 36.8 percent on catch-and-shoot three-point attempts, but just 29.2 percent on deep dribble jumpers. Given the sheer volume and attention he received as a part of Rutgers’ roster construction, I’m comfortable enough logging it under, “Somewhat concerning, but not in the slightest deterring.”
Reminds me of: Young James Harden, big Jalen Brunson
3. Collin Murray-Boyles, South Carolina (—)
Draymond Green comps, along with Nikola Jokic and Kevin Durant comps, are scary. There’s a certain intangibility to those three guys that make them more than the boxes they check. For Jokic, we’ll never see someone with his touch and vision ever again. For Durant, it’s the fluidity and flexibility of his size that weaponizes the knockdown shot he possesses to the highest degree. Green is a bit trickier, though. He has such a min-maxed physical profile with long arms and a low center of gravity, but the most important part is his brain.
Collin Murray-Boyles likely isn’t Draymond Green, as some suggest, but the combination of winning tools, despite the typical deterrents of prospects like him make Murray-Boyles such a unique player I just can’t help but bet on. An elite defender, a nifty passer, and a polished post-scorer who provides impact in any spot he’s put.
Reminds me of: Draymond Green, Jeremy Sochan, Metta World Peace
READ: “Collin Murray-Boyles: the good, the weird and the contextually intriguing”
4. Kon Knueppel, Duke (+4)
There’s an archetypical typecast we often see Knueppel pigeonholed into. It’s largely an aesthetic thing too; he’s a doughy white guy with a baby face and a burner, clearly, that’s all we need to know. He’ll shoot a lot of movement threes, do not much with the ball and kinda just hide on defense. Wrong!
The first thing you’ll see from anyone who just started watching Knueppel is typically along the lines of, “Wow, this kid can handle and he’s fierce as heck!” He’s a bulldog in a golden retriever’s coat who can also run the pick-and-roll and still does the doughy white guy stuff. Sure, he’s athletically limited, but there’s too much to like to keep him out of this range.
Reminds me of: Mini Cam Johnson, Max Strus, Michael Redd
READ: “How Kon Knueppel scores at an athletic disadvantage”
5. Tre Johnson, Texas (+6)
In my recent dive back into the tape of Tre Johnson, I’ve discovered what so many already knew made him special. He’s a one-of-a-kind shooter in this class and several preceding it, not needing a pass or a dribble to hit his shot, but rather, being able to make both at an elite rate. He’s a naturally savvy mismatch scorer who makes plays off the bounce for himself and others and was a high-effort point-of-attack defender before the offensive usage caught up to him.
Before my reevaluation, I was too hung up on my perceived concerns with his burst, his handle, and his frame. Now I look at those factors not as limitations but as potential swing skills. At his worst, Johnson’s a multi-tooled shooter who brings a capacity to hunt weak defenders and bust open a zone; at his best, he’s a an All-Star on the back of his scoring, who’s maximized his physical tools and passing repertoire.
Reminds me of: Early Devin Booker, Isaiah Joe, Allan Houston
READ: “Tre Johnson’s ceiling and the skeleton key of shooting”
6. Derik Queen, Maryland (-2)
I’m probably the captain of Derik Queen’s fandom at this point, and I’m not scared of that fact. At worst, I’m wrong and have something to learn from; at best, I’m right and can look into what I got correct in my evaluation.
The question has been posed to me, “Does Derik Queen fit in a Playoff setting?” and the answer doubters will reply with is along the lines of, “No, he’s too slow to guard forwards and too small to guard centers.” I think it’s important to flip that answer. What if Queen is too strong to be guarded by wings and forwards, and too quick to be stopped by centers? I think it’s a valid reality. In the 2025 NBA Playoffs, teams have utilized two types of players: those who can exploit mismatches and those who can effectively counter zone defenses. Queen, with his quickness and strength, is a walking mismatch, while with his passing is the perfect theoretical hub to dice up a zone.
Reminds me of: Naz Reid, Alperen Şengün
READ: “Signal Calling: Derik Queen is better than the sum of his parts”
7. V.J. Edgecombe, Baylor (-3)
Man, there’s a lot to like about Edgecombe, but just a little too much to nitpick. For one thing, he’s a freak of an athlete with cliches being the only way to describe him accurately. Poster dunks, high-flying dunks and ankle-buckling speed are all within Edgecombe’s toolkit.
His arsenal as a handler and shooter is where the nitpicking comes into play. Edgecombe, for all his burst, is a tad mechanical in his handling and doesn’t get downhill as easily as he should. He’s not coughing up the ball and has a good track record of improvement, as does his shooting, but continuing to add is going to be what causes him to stick. The base is set, and it’s impactful nonetheless.
Reminds me of: Mini-Matas with a Thompson symbiote, a wolverine
8. Noa Essengue, Ratiopharm Ulm (+8)
Everything Essengue could have done to get himself as high as possible, he’s done. Big-time performances? Check. Micro skills added? Check. Macro skills added? Also, check. A year ago, I wrote about Essengue in the frame of what he was when he won U17 MVP at ANGT Dubai — a high-energy, raw, Giannis-esque force within his age group. The current product is much easier to bet on.
He shoots it much better now, for one. His free-throw percentage is on a rocket trip into the 70s and his confidence from 3 has grown tremendously. Additionally, he’s a more stable handler with a ton of room to grow and a greatly diversified passing arsenal. Add in the athletic tools, motor and defensive versatility and it’s clear to see why Essengue’s stock won’t stop climbing.
Reminds me of: Beanpole Josh Hart, Jaden McDaniels
READ: “Noa Essengue: the best international prospect in the 2025 NBA Draft?”
9. Jase Richardson, Michigan State (+4)
When did we start to act like small guards don’t exist in the NBA anymore? It’s a question I’ve asked myself since the combined measurements on Jase Richardson came out. Standing just about 6-foot-2 in shoes isn’t ideal, but every player in the 2025 NBA Conference Finals had at least one starter 6-foot-4 or shorter, all of whom filled in unique roles. Why can’t Richardson do the same?
The shooting profile on the Michigan State one-and-done is staggering, at over 40 percent from three, with percentages well over that off the catch, off screens, and in spot-up scenarios. Additionally, Richardson packs one of the best mid-range and floater games in the draft this year, while being an awesome defensive piece. He doesn’t pack enough playmaking talent to be an All-Star, by my estimation, but the combination of savvy and efficiency he showed in his role is enough to garner a lottery pick from me.
Reminds me of: Kirk Hinrich, Cam Thomas, Collin Sexton
10. Noah Penda, Le Mans (-1)
Last month, I had a controversial take on X (formerly Twitter): I said Noah Penda does a lot of things better than two of the guys ranked commonly in the top four — I’ll walk that back a bit. I’m still a huge fan of Penda (I have him top 10, duh) but my take was just a bit hyperbolic.
Penda’s skillset for a wing of his size, standing roughly 6-foot-8 and 225 pounds, pops off the page. He handles incredibly well, driving and dishing with either hand and has added a ton to his arsenal from beyond the arc. At 20 years old, he’ll only continue to grow, refining his physical shape and the shape of his game. Regardless, in his current iteration, the “3&D” mold he’s often cast in is a limiting one.
Reminds me of: Nicolas Batum, Naji Marshall, Evan Turner
11. Thomas Sorber, Georgetown (-4)
Sorber was one of the combine’s biggest winners from a measurable standpoint. It’s not often you come by kids in braces with a near plus-9 wingspan and weight to throw around on the block. He’s not complete by any means, but that makes him all the more exciting considering what he did in his first and only collegiate season. On the box score, he was a double-double machine who ranked second in blocks and top 10 in steals. On the advanced sheet, he ranked 10th among his fellow one-and-dones in box plus-minus.
Stat sheet scouts love him for his statistical profile while film reviewers love him for the way his measurable pop on the screen. Put it together, though, and I think Sorber’s even better than the parts are separate. He’s got room to grow, specifically as a scorer, but his size and touch are evident, and his ability to add value on the glass and read the floor will fill the gaps while he figures it out.
Reminds me of: Al Horford, Taj Gibson, pre-injury Jusuf Nurkic
12. Khaman Maluach, Duke (-6)
On the surface, we all know what Khaman Maluach could be. His profile is akin to the Defensive Player of the Year winners who have owned the award for decades, and his ability to move his feet on the perimeter shows there might be a unique spin on that skill set for him. He finished at 84.2 percent on half court rim attempts and showed some solid passing flashes as well; however, there’s a lot to Maluach, physically and skill-wise, that is a bit limiting.
For one, his vertical athleticism and strength combine to make him a somewhat underwhelming rim protector compared to other players of his size (of which there are few, to be fair). He doesn’t get up, and that’s doubly troubling through contact, where Maluach’s core strength kept him from swatting plenty of shots. Offensively, too, his skill set is simple, which is good, but limited, which is bad. He can shoot, but didn’t. He also never really put the ball on the floor with Duke, which gives us little to make note of for his offensive upside.
Reminds me of: Nic Claxton, Rudy Gobert, Moses Brown
READ: “Signal Calling: it’s easy to love Khaman Maluach”
13. Ace Bailey, Rutgers (+1)
I’ve previously said I don’t trust the “star upside” tag Bailey has been given as a raw, young, jump-shot-reliant wing with solid size. It’s a tricky one that's often overdrafted and slotted into roles they don’t have the tools to fill. Bailey, however, has the tools and ability to fill in many other necessary roles, it’s just about who will let him be that version of himself.
At a shade under 6-foot-9 with a solid wingspan, a good vertical and pretty spectacular straight-line speed, Bailey’s tools are locked. The door in front of him is comprised of his lust for highly-contested jump shots and a weaker handle. However, a simplified to a role where he’s shooting, attacking closeouts, and playing solid backline defense, he has just as good a chance as any of his peers to be successful.
Reminds me of: Michael Porter Jr., high-volume Dean Wade, Rudy Gay
READ: “The false philosophy of Ace Bailey”
14. Maxime Raynaud, Stanford (+18)
Raynaud’s archetype, on the surface, seems unique. However, a quick skim of the league’s rosters shows it’s a role gaining prominence and value. Spacing and pace are pushing the court to its limits, and what’s more required than ever is bigs who can make plays not just in the post or hit corner threes, but bigs who can attack from the slots and wings. Raynaud does that, along with the other points, better than any big in the class.
Standing at a shade under 7-foot-2 in shoes, Raynaud’s ability to attack a closeout, hit spot-up threes, and use his size in the post has earned him a surefire spot in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft. He dominated the ACC, he dominated combine scrimmages, and will continue to provide value at the next level.
Reminds me of: Myles Turner, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Naz Reid
15. Jeremiah Fears, Oklahoma (—)
Quick, jittery, inefficient, and fun. Jeremiah Fears is as polarizing as he is young and talented. There’s a lot to like but a lot to nitpick. Aesthetically, he just looks the part of a star. He prints out paint touches, throws some of the coolest passes you’ll see, and tries on defense. However, the tough shots he appears to make regularly are a product of massive volume, with percentages taking a downturn as a result.
The sell is the usage. Guys with as much of an offensive load as Fears tend to have a better shot due to the value of sheer repetitions. Athleticism and volume is one thing, but having the opportunity — especially at Fears’ age — to run an offense, make mistakes, and correct them, is the valuable part of his season at Oklahoma.
Reminds me of: Cole Anthony, Keyonte George
16. Cedric Coward, Washington State (N/A)
I was high on Cedric Coward early in his season with Washington State. When the injury occurred, and it seemed Duke was going to land him for 2025-26, I removed him from the big board. However, my admiration for his skill set has only grown since I first listed him on Big Board 3.0 back in December.
Coward was arguably the combine’s biggest winner. He had the measurables, with a JDub-esque freakish wingspan. The frame gets him in the door, but Coward’s always been more than just his arms. He’s a talented shot-maker who has added more off the dribble every year, and one of the more polished and versatile wing defenders in this class. He’s a true stopper, a great shooter, and has added the ancillary skills that separate him from other seniors in this year’s class.
Reminds me of: Jerami Grant, Danny Green, Devin Vassell
17. Nique Clifford, Colorado State (+8)
One of the steadier players in this year’s class. Nique Clifford is an improvement case that sells well at the highest level for older guys. If you’re a multi-year collegiate prospect, the one thing you cannot afford to do is stagnate. We’ll see many players down the board who either hit their ceiling or didn’t work to achieve it, and Clifford is neither of those.
His off-the-dribble shot-making was spectacular this season, and his catch-and-shoot percentages are not far behind. Put his ability to run the offense into that, and you have a multi-tool offensive player who is very athletic and makes a ton of plays defensively. He’s the perfect glue wing on paper and should be the same in practice.
Reminds me of: Josh Hart and OG Anunoby post-fusion dance
18. Danny Wolf, Michigan (-6)
Danny Wolf is still one of the trickiest prospects, but one of my favorites to watch. It’s hard to find a player who stands about 7-foot in shoes and handles like Wolf does as effectively as he does it. Many of the past iterations of the archetype were off-the-dribble shot-makers who lacked the passing juice Wolf has. Wolf is still more than capable of creating, but the way he blends his offensive skillset is what makes him good.
Defense and turnovers were the problems that plagued him, and it’s hard to deny those will likely rear their ugly head in the NBA. However, the size and skillset Wolf possesses brings a unique look to any lineup he may find himself in, and is more versatile and scalable than many give him credit for.
Reminds me of: Hedo Türkoğlu, Kelly Olynyk
19. Carter Bryant, Arizona (+7)
Carter Bryant’s meteoric rise has been impossible to ignore. He went from a fringe first-round pick to a potential top-10 selection with fans in the top five in a matter of weeks. What caused it? The slimming of the class itself is certainly part of it, but Bryant has the tools of an elite NBA role player. His defensive playmaking and rebounding value are translatable production skills, and while he didn’t have the highest usage with Arizona, he was effective on the touches he received.
Where I struggle with Bryant is the lack of creation for himself and others. My preference for players like Coward and Clifford in this tier is largely based on that final factor — those two were their teams’ primary offensive facet, while Bryant was fifth or sixth on any given night. The off-ball equity is there, but a lack of even simple closeout creation will likely see him have issues getting on the floor early.
Reminds me of: Jordan Walsh, Trevor Ariza, Dean Wade
20. Rasheer Fleming, St. Joe’s (+1)
There’s no doubting the tools of Rasheer Fleming. He’s a 6-foot-9 forward/big packing a 7-foot-5 wingspan, and while his vertical won’t blow you away, he was one of the more prolific dunkers in college basketball with his length and ability to get off the floor quickly. Add his spot-up shooting to that, as well as defensive playmaking within a lackluster St. Joe’s team on that end, and you have what seems, on paper, to be a complete prospect.
There are flaws to Fleming. He’s not a creator on offense, merely a play-finisher. He took zero off-the-dribble jumpers this past season and his ability to put the ball on the floor is still limited, even if his strength and strides on his limited attempts show room for growth. He’s not a savvy defender either, as someone who gathers a lot of blocks and steals, but sometimes finds himself lost in coverage. Regardless, Fleming will have his foot in the door as a first-round pick on draft night.
Reminds me of: John Collins, Matas Buzelis
21. Adou Thiero, Arkansas (+14)
I’ve grown to love Adou Thiero despite the big stain on his draft card: shooting. The junior wing in his first year as his team’s star, shot just 11-of-43 on his three-point attempts and was far from heavily contested on many of them. Despite that, there’s just too much to like to push away how fun Thiero is.
He’s a one-of-a-kind athlete in this class on the wing. He’s quick, strong, and explosive as one of the country’s best transition weapons. His style is conducive to an offense that loves utilizing corner and 45 cuts while having some equity as a closeout attacker. The question is if he’ll be able to draw those closeouts. Thiero’s defense, however, particularly on-ball and in passing lanes, is his best trait. He’s a motor-heavy player who runs hot at all times and unlocks his tools through his energy. While the shooting gets figured out, it’s what will see Thiero on the floor early.
Reminds me of: Ausar Thompson, Haywood Highsmith, Josh Jackson
22. Johni Broome, Auburn (—)
I’ve settled in with Johni Broome being a fun plug-and-play big capable of earning a rotation spot in a Playoff setting with his play-finishing, advantage extension, and defense/rebounding. He doesn’t project as a starter in any one category, but his production at the college level suggests his ability to scale down into that plug-and-play role.
I don’t love the shooting, although I think the concerns over athleticism are wildly overstated. Compare him defensively to someone like Maluach, who’s notably taller and longer, but was not near the defender at the collegiate level Broome is. He’ll produce on both ends, with a couple of handy go-to shots out of the pick-and-roll, and the ability to pass out of the roll as well.
Reminds me of: Jaylin Williams, Jusuf Nurkić
23. Walter Clayton Jr., Florida (-3)
Walter Clayton Jr., simply put, is a dynamo. One of the most dynamic players in college basketball is bound to find a spot as a rotation player in the league with his shot-making off the dribble, off-ball equity, and ability to run the occasional pick-and-roll.
Questions about size loom, but as a small-guard truther, I’m confident Clayton will be able to provide impact despite it. I don’t think he’s a diverse enough playmaker to be a star in the league, but as a bursty, bulldog-ishly confident bench guard, he fits perfectly in the roles of many guards we’ve seen throughout this year’s NBA Playoffs.
Reminds me of: Anfernee Simons, Jared Butler
24. Kasparas Jakučionis, Illinois (-14)
I’m uncomfortable with Kasparas Jakučionis. At his best, he’s a clear creator bet who has a natural flash for flashy passes and dribble jumpers. At his worst, he’s a turnover machine who is decidedly too inconsistent in any aspect of scoring and has the tendency to be a bit too passive. Maybe he’s just not a point guard, as he sees himself to be, and more of a wing in the NBA.
That said, Jakučionis’ age and shot-making upside have to be considered in his evaluation, similar to someone like Bailey several spots ahead of him. The difference between Bailey and Jakučionis from a prospective perspective, however, is Bailey’s athletic tools and absurd mid-range efficiency. Jakučionis’ best future is getting the much-needed reps and a greenlight on a struggling team willing to give him whatever he needs.
Reminds me of: Caris LeVert, Jason Williams
25. Nolan Traoré, Saint-Quentin (+25)
Traoré is maybe the most situation-dependent prospect in this whole class. There are teams he will never see the floor on and teams that will let him run wild in the pick-and-roll, reigning in through mistakes rather than putting restrictions on his natural advantages. He is the fastest guard in this class with the ball in his hands, and has vision even if the decisions aren’t always correct.
The largest issue I have with Traoré, other than the clear need to add weight, is that he sometimes plays too fast. He can get out of control around the rim, and without the ability to get up and finish above it like a young De’Aaron Fox or Malik Monk, it hampers his ability to lay the ball softly enough off the glass. However, his savvy with pull-up shooting, despite the lack of efficiency, is beyond encouraging for fans of his moving forward.
Reminds me of: Scoot Henderson, Nico Mannion
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