NBA talent evaluators for more than a year have behind closed doors believed that the megaclass of 2023 led by Victor Wembanyama would be a bridge to a weaker 2024 class that eventually connects us to Cooper Flagg and a host of other potential stars in 2025. And those in NBA circles appear to be spot on.
The 2025 class, headlined by Flagg, who looks like a borderline unassailable No. 1 prospect in the class, brings a host of talents ranging from bigs to guards and forwards to U.S.-born stars and international products. The top of the class for now appears to be a Flagg vs. the field situation -- he has separated himself early as the clear No. 1 even in a deep class -- but that says more about Flagg than about the other top prospects. V.J. Edgecombe, Ace Bailey, Dylan Harper and others are worthy lottery prospects in their own right that comprise part of a deep class that should have teams itching to look ahead to next summer.
Here's our first stab at 1.0 of a mock for 2025. You can read Gary Parrish's early lottery projections here.
NOTE: The draft order was compiled using SportsLine 2024-25 NBA projections but team needs were not factored in for the selections.
| 1 |  |
| Cooper Flagg (Duke) No college player will generate more buzz -- and highlights -- than Duke-bound Cooper Flagg. He's a do-it-all forward who is dynamic on both ends of the floor and has game-changing defensive skills. Just when it looks like his team is going to give up a bunny, he has a habit of swooping in for swats and stealing the show on a regular basis. | |
| 2 |  |
| V.J. Edgecombe (Baylor) Edgecombe starred at LuHi with his long strides and fast twitch athleticism made him appointment viewing. He's a combo guard who can get downhill in a hurry and has no fear of firing at will. In Scott Drew's system he'll instantly become one of the most fun freshmen in college basketball. | |
| 3 |  |
| Dylan Harper (Rutgers) There's a lot to like here with Harper -- one of two incoming five-star freshmen at Rutgers -- and that starts with his playmaking and poise. The son of former NBA player Ron Harper, he plays in control and has established himself a worthy lead guard with his vision, and also has the ability to play off the ball with an improved lefty shooting stroke. | |
| 4 |  |
| Ace Bailey (Rutgers) There's a chance Bailey could blossom into a top-two talent in this class if he continues to build out his skill set at Rutgers. But right now he's young, raw, relies on athleticism too much at times and tends to eat on a bad shot diet. His physical tools could scoot him into superstardom, though, and that's a bet teams will happily take on the chance he adds to his development. | |
| 5 |  |
| Tre Johnson (Texas) Johnson's size and shot-making ability are advanced beyond his years and have me buying into his potential top-five ability. He can create space in a phone booth and plays a fearless brand of flamethrowing as a scorer that could fit neatly in the NBA with a more intentional shot selection. There's nowhere on the floor he can't score and no way in which he cannot do so -- either via 3-pointers, pull-ups, drives or stepbacks. | |
| 6 |  |
| Nolan Traore (France) Yes, France is about to produce another top-10 pick. Traore plays for Saint-Quentin in LNB Elite where he has established himself as a solid pick-and-roll guard who can dish dimes and make his own offense to boot. He's a tough cover on defense even if he's not the most athletic or imposing guard, and producing at a high level as an 18-year-old pro in France should have plenty of NBA teams' attention the next year. | |
| 7 |  |
| Dink Pate (Mexico City) Pate is a big swing who could be higher than this next summer or much lower depending on how he develops. He's a finesse player who has some "wow" moments, but he has a tendency to play off one foot, relying on acrobatics and sometimes playing sped up as a result. His instincts are generally impressive, though, and the foundation of an exciting combo guard who can score and facilitate is here for Pate. | |
| 8 |  |
| Liam McNeeley (UConn) McNeeley was the third, sometimes fourth option on a star-studded Montverde team where he was asked to be a spot-up shooter and occasional creator. He did that well, showing off his shooting skills and versatility, and in the process proved himself to be a winning player who did little things like cut, screen and pass. He'll be a key cog for UConn in 2024-25, though his production path could be similar to former five-star and recent UConn one-and-done Stephon Castle. | |
| 9 | |
| Isaiah Evans (Duke) A crowded Duke roster could prevent Evans from breaking out as a freshman at Duke but NBA teams will be watching closely to see how he develops this season. He's a scoring wing with skill and a long frame and able and willing defender. He needs to fill out his slender frame and Duke may bring him along slowly. Pick acquired via trade from Hawks | |
| 10 |  |
| Asa Newell (Georgia) Newell could be the sixth top-10 pick produced at the University of Georgia in school history thanks to his big, NBA ready frame and game that looks tailored for the next level. He's a nimble forward who can space the floor, run in transition and be a factor at the rim on both ends. | |
| 11 |  |
| Jalil Bethea (Miami) Bethea is a confident, bordering-on-cocky, shooter and scorer who has limitless range and an array of tools in his bag as an offensive weapon. The Hurricanes freshman has a ton of skill and can excel shooting stepbacks and fadeaways, but his growth in not settling and taking better shots should be key for him and his prospects this season. Pick acquired via trade from Rockets | |
| 12 |  |
| JT Toppin (Texas Tech) Toppin was the Mountain West Rookie of the Year and an all-league performer last season before transferring to Texas Tech in the offseason. He was a standout at the NBA Draft Combine this summer and was a key acquisition for Grant McCasland's Red Raiders, who will feature him prominently and likely flourish as one of the best young players in the Big 12. | |
| 13 |  |
| Alex Karaban (UConn) The chance to three-peat at UConn was in part why Karaban pulled out of the draft for a second consecutive year and likely declined the chance to be a first-round pick. This might be the year he chooses to capitalize, though, after keying back-to-back title runs. He's a smooth operator with a great shooting stroke, big frame and versatile on defense that makes him a high-floor projection. | |
| 14 |  |
| Egor Demin (BYU) BYU first-year coach Kevin Young has a young star to build around in Demin, who hails from Russia. He's a silky shooter with a reliable shot who has excellent positional size and good passing vision. Pick acquired via trade from Kings | |
| 15 | |
| Ian Jackson (North Carolina) Nicknamed "Captain Jack" by his middle school coach, Jackson has pirate-like energy on the court as a scorer who should be in line for a lot of work early at UNC. Room to grow in terms of his finishing and overall consistency, but he's a quick study who could be like found gold for a team if he falls this far. Pick acquired via trade from Heat | |
| 16 |  |
| Boogie Fland (Arkansas) After originally committing to Kentucky, Fland followed John Calipari to Arkansas where he'll likely be an instant contributor because of his two-way talents. He puts immense pressure on the ball defensively and can score from anywhere on the floor. | |
| 17 |  |
| Kasparas Jakucionis (Illinois) Jakucionis is a big combo guard who is flying under the radar as one of the better additions of the offseason in the Big Ten. He's a decisive combo guard who plays downhill, can create his own shot, has good touch and a wealth of creativity. Brad Underwood and Co. are going to have fun featuring him in Champaign. | |
| 18 | |
| Hugo Gonzalez (Real Madrid) If you can look past the funky Leandro Barbosa-like shooting release, Gonzalez has the tools and potential to be a lottery talent in this class. He's a willing passer for his position and size who needs to make some mechanical tweaks but is already producing at a high level with Real Madrid. Pick acquired via trade from Pacers | |
| 19 |  |
| Drake Powell (North Carolina) Powell was a tough eval for me -- his high school team played lots of zone defense and his shot-taking burden consisted of having the greenest of lights -- but the physical tools and shooting skills are in place for him to build upon. He loves playing isolation basketball and needs to grow as a passer. His freshman year at UNC will be key for him as he is asked to play a more team-friendly brand of ball with the Tar Heels and Hubert Davis. Pick acquired via trade from Bucks | |
| 20 |  |
| Collin Murray-Boyles (South Carolina) One of the big midseason risers of last season for the Gamecocks, Murray-Boyles enters the 2024-25 season firmly planted on the radar as a first-round prospect. He's a forward with something of a throwback post game who can go back to the basket and create, and is comfortable using his leverage and positioning on offense to outwit opponents. Showing he can hit shots from deep will be a huge part of his development this season. | |
| 21 | |
| Khaman Maluach (Duke) South Sudan put a scare into Team USA on the friendly Olympic circuit earlier this month with Maluach flashing skill by knocking down face-up jumpers on both Joel Embiid and Anthony Davis. He's a huge big with fluid movement skills and craftiness in the post but may be a work-in-progress as he adjusts at Duke this season. Pick acquired via trade from Lakers | |
| 22 |  |
| Hunter Sallis (Wake Forest) Sallis has First Team All-American potential after busting out with Wake last year as an All-ACC performer and earning NBA Draft buzz before returning to school. He's made big strides with his jumper and 3-point shot in particular and has added playmaking to his all-around skill set. Pick acquired via trade from Suns | |
| 23 | |
| Milan Momcilovic (Iowa State) Six-foot-eight forwards who can hit 36% from 3-point-range are instantly interesting as NBA prospects -- and Momcilovic did that as a freshman at Iowa State. He's a versatile shooter who has excellent touch on shots inside the arc, too. Pick acquired via trade from Cavaliers | |
| 24 |  |
| Derik Queen (Maryland) One of the many pieces of Montverde's "super team," Queen was the anchor inside who now heads to Maryland as a potential one-and-done. He's an aggressive post player who has some surprising wiggle to his game -- he can put the ball on the floor and run the break and is comfortable dishing out passes, for instance -- but how his defense translates to the next level will likely determine his ceiling in next year's draft. | |
| 25 | |
| Izan Almansa (Perth) Almansa spent last season with G League Ignite and now heads to the NBL to play for Perth where there's hope he can reclaim his first-round prospects. He struggled at the NBA Draft Combine this summer and withdrew from the draft, but he's a versatile forward who can score and facilitate at 6-10 who I'm still keeping the light on for. Pick acquired via trade from 76ers | |
| 26 | |
| Nique Clifford (Colorado State) This is a bit of a flag plant for me at No. 26. Clifford made the transition from Colorado to Colorado State last season look effortless in becoming an All-Mountain West performer. He has a great frame, an improved shot and a role-player profile -- he was in the 97th percentile as a spot-up shooter last season -- that suggests he could be a 3-and-D type at the NBA level. | |
| 27 | |
| Rocco Zikarsky (NBL) The appeal in Zikarsky lies in his size -- he's a 7-3 big who can run the floor and cover space -- but there's a lot of kinks to work out. He needs to improve his feel for the game and his passing ability in particular, and adding some strength to his big frame should be a priority this season in the NBL. Pick acquired via trade from Nuggets | |
| 28 | |
| Trevon Brazile (Arkansas) Coming off a torn ACL, Brazile last season understandably took a step back for the Hogs and his NBA prospects as a byproduct were damaged. But now another year removed from the injury and in a John Calipari system that should accentuate his skills, Brazile could be in line for a bounce back into first round territory. Pick acquired via trade from Timberwolves | |
| 29 | |
| Donnie Freeman (Syracuse) Freeman is a long and fluid combo forward who could be in line for a big workload early at Syracuse because of his scoring acumen. He has a lean frame and needs to tighten up his handle a bit but he checks a number of boxes for what you look for in a modern-day power forward. Pick acquired via trade from Thunder | |
| 30 |  |
| Jaland Lowe (Pitt) Bub Carrington's stellar freshman year overshadowed a bit just how good Lowe himself was as a freshman for Pitt last season. He's an advanced playmaker in line for a major role promotion with Carrington off to the NBA. | |
