2024-25 Big 12 Conference Preview
The No Ceilings crew continues their NCAA Conference Preview round tables for the 2024-25 season with the Big 12.
The college season is right about to kick into gear, and the NBA season has just gotten underway. While many of the rookies from the 2024 NBA Draft are starting to find their way, the 2024-2025 NCAA season will show prospect evaluators who might be the next young stars determining the NBA’s future.
Before the college season gets underway, we’ve gathered the No Ceilings collective for a roundtable to discuss some of the top prospects and players who might be primed to break out and establish themselves on the draft scene. Today, we continue those conference previews with the Big 12.
1. Ignore “consensus” boards and Twitter groupthink. Who is the best NBA prospect in this conference?
Jam: At this point, can you truly select anyone other than V.J. Edgecombe? He’s equipped with explosive two-way traits and has already shown us that he can thrive in a pro setting with his outstanding Olympic qualifiers run. Edgecombe feels like a true high-floor, high-ceiling prospect who’s all but guaranteed to be drafted in the top five come April.
Rucker: Wait. So…(double checks that the Big 12 now is basically the PAC-12) okay, well, this conference preview just got WAY more intense. Personally, at least this answer is easy. Baylor freshman V.J. Edgecombe has had a sensational process heading into his freshman season. He impressed during his showing at Nike Hoop Summit before turning some heads with his play in the Olympic qualifiers for the Bahamas. Edgecombe has the goods to be a two-way beast. He’s a cobra on defense who looks to posterize opponents into another dimension whenever he gets downhill. If the offensive game takes a step this year, as well as his playmaking, we’re going to have a BAD dude developing in Waco.
Albert: A small part of me wanted to go against the consensus and not list V.J. Edgecombe. As much as I wanted to be different, there really is no point in fighting the obvious. Edgecombe is by no means a perfect prospect. However, he has too much going on for him not to believe in his ceiling. Edgecombe is on the smaller side for an off-guard in terms of height and frame. However, you have to take the bet on the person and his god-given ability. VJ Edgecombe is a relentless worker and an incredible athlete, and he has grown year after year as an offensive player. I believe in the long-term outlook of his outside jumper and his intensity on the defensive end of the court will always give his coaches a reason to stay on the floor.
Austin: I won’t waste any more of your time. V.J. Edgecombe is the best prospect in the conference and the second best prospect in the nation on my board. An explosively athletic guard with a versatile offensive skill set and what seems to be a plus-defender floor? He’s incredible, and he continues to improve.
Rowan: If you’ve seen my Ouija Board already, this one shouldn’t shock you. I’ve got V.J. Edgecombe over both Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper right now, sitting just behind Cooper Flagg, and I still feel comfortable with that take. There simply aren’t many guard athletes built like Edgecombe, which when combined with his ball skills and shooting creation talent, makes him a potential leading scorer at the next level. Even with other talented players at the top of this class, that’s a rare skill.
Nick: Baylor didn’t move conferences this offseason, so…V.J. Edgecombe is in this conference? Yeah, I’m going to go with V.J. Edgecombe then. He’s a tantalizing combo guard prospect with exceptional athleticism, and he often looked like the best player on his team during his Olympic qualifiers performance for the Bahamas–on a team with NBA vets Deandre Ayton, Buddy Hield, and Eric Gordon. I’m irrationally excited for what Edgecombe can do this season; then again, given the heater he’s been on for the last few months, I’m not sure my excitement even qualifies as irrational.
Metcalf: I hate to potentially say the same name for these but also, let’s not overthink it: it’s V.J. Edgecombe. I have some concerns over Edgecombe’s combination of size and lack of playmaking, but it is astounding how much he continues to improve month over month. You won’t find anyone with a bad word to say about him, and his work ethic is really impressive. His defense, off-ball shooting, and intangibles are exactly what you look for in a young prospect. Oh, and he’s a freak athlete.
Corey: As things stand today? The answer is V.J. Edgecombe, a guy who I’ve gotten the opportunity to see develop up close in my backyard on Long Island over the last couple of years. The kid is explosive and gives maniacal effort. For those reasons, part of me believes that if he can tighten his handle and continue to develop his playmaking, then he can propel himself into a Westbrook type of role at the next level. Also, the fact that he can shoot it off the catch and is accustomed to getting loose off movement already bodes well for a more adaptable role than Russ played. Still, these things are always fluid, and it’s entirely possible that a player like Egor Demin at BYU—who brings the ever-enticing intersection of size and feel—could certainly leapfrog V.J. if the shooting proves to be consistent this year.
2. Admittedly, one of the most satisfying parts of analyzing the draft is being able to look back and say “psh, about time you guys took notice of him. I’ve been hyping him up for ages.” Who is the prospect that you are irrationally high on?
Jam: With some excellent names already mentioned, I’ll try to dig a little deeper into the bag with new UCF wing Keyshawn Hall. I enjoyed watching Hall’s breakout season up close last season at George Mason. His mix of versatility, feel, defensive tools, and positional size give him the ingredients of a draftable prospect. Adding to his appeal, he’s a body transformation guy, and I love what that signals about his work ethic. He’s roughly lost 60 pounds, dropping from 295 pounds as a high school senior to his current listing at 6’7” and 235 pounds.
Rucker: Arizona Wildcats sophomore KJ Lewis. I find myself standing on the roof of a skyscraper with a bat signal during the night sometimes, but instead it’s just a picture of KJ Lewis. KJ is a scrappy combo guard with athleticism and is a pitbull on defense. He knows how to make winning plays at a high level and has the tools to be a legit sophomore breakout candidate. The offensive side of the ball needs to continue to develop, but there’s a lot to already like with his game.
Albert: Montiejus Krivas is on my radar. After a quiet Freshman season, I’m excited to see what he can offer in year two. With a bigger role and more responsibility, I’m excited to see if Krivas can step up and deliver. Given his size and talent, it would not shock me if he took a big step forward as Arizona’s man in the middle. The skill he has at that size is extremely enticing, and there are reports out there that he’s grown to close to 7’3” now. If Krivas really is that big, it’ll be hard for NBA teams to ignore his ability combined with the god-given size.
Rowan: I won’t claim that I’m the only one hyping up a former Top 10 recruit like Flory Bidunga, but much of his draft shine has faded since Hunter Dickinson decided to return to Kansas. That’ll certainly change the equation for Bidunga, but I’m still hoping his freshman season will surprise many. He’s a monster vertical athlete, shot blocker, and finisher, which gives him a clear role at the next level. Bidunga also has a lot of room to grow, and if something like his passing, ball-handling, or shooting takes off soon, he’d be a major steal that we should’ve seen coming.
Austin: Arizona State’s Joson Sanon is an all-around combo guard guy who I think could surprise people by jumping into lottery considerations later on in the year. Sanon has great court vision and plays with a nice comfortable sense of pace. He worked out at Damian Lillard’s camp this summer, but his three-point shot didn’t even need it—he should hit them at a nice clip this year. The one thing that will elevate him into true lottery talk is his defense, where he hasn’t proven he can make a real impact yet.
Nick: I thought that I would have to find a way to fit JT Toppin into the first round of my Board for the 2024 NBA Draft before he decided to return to college and enter the transfer portal. With him now suiting up for Texas Tech, I’m hoping that Toppin can convert his flashes of stellar play into more consistent success–if his shot takes a step forward this year and he irons out his consistency, he could climb his way into the lottery conversation sooner rather than later.
Metcalf: JT Toppin was tremendously fun for New Mexico last season. His athleticism, scoring efficiency, defensive versatility, defensive playmaking, and rebounding numbers were outlandish. The problem is that he didn’t really shoot at all. Not ideal. Now that he’s transferred to Texas Tech, we’ll get to see how real his tools are, him against better competition more regularly, and if he’s taken that jump we’re hoping for. Toppin could be one of those sneaky all-around productive wings who continues to rise throughout the year.
Corey: I’ve long been a fan of Amani Hansberry since his high school days and believe that his transfer to West Virginia from Illinois can open up the opportunity to play his way onto the draft radar. Hansberry is listed at 6’8” 240 and looks to bring enough length to allow him to swing between the four and five for West Virginia. Hansberry has always flashed intriguing passing flashes, and he’s shown great touch around the hoop with both hands. The shot was a question in high school, but he smoothly walked into a pick-and-pop three in West Virginia’s exhibition last week. If the shooting has expanded and the minutes continue to be there, Hansberry becomes a very interesting frontcourt bet as a toolsy two-way big with high-level feel.
3. Unfortunately, there are two sides to that coin, and they do not have equal probabilities. Which prospect do you like but think has the most likely chance of failing to meet expectations?
Jam: This will always be a tough question for me. I’ll go with AJ Storr. He was one of the top transfers in the portal, and I’m still very much in on his intersection of physical tools and shot-making. However, transitioning into both a new environment and role at a top-tier program like Kansas could be a tough adjustment. With plenty of other pro prospects on the roster, I wouldn’t expect his usage to be enough to replicate similar numbers as last season with Wisconsin and have the impact many are expecting, at least in the short term.
Rucker: There was a lot of preseason buzz surrounding Joson Sanon, especially when it was announced he would be heading to play for the Arizona Wildcats. Sanon eventually pivoted and decided to commit to Arizona State instead. He’s going to be a name to keep an eye on throughout the year, as he can be a tough shot-maker on the perimeter. I’m in wait-and-see mode for Sanon, as I’m not convinced he’s going to be a one-and-done prospect. There are some tools to work with for sure, but I think the rest of the versatility still needs time to come together.
Albert: I’m going to take another Arizona guy here. Heading into the season, there is a lot of smoke around Jaden Bradley taking on a larger role for the Arizona Wildcats. I’m not doubting his ability; I just want to see it first. He played well coming off the bench last season; I just want to see if the production plays up with more opportunity and responsibility. Thankfully, he still has Caleb Love next to him for another year.
Rowan: I’ve liked Coleman Hawkins in the past two draft classes, but I might be out on him for reasons outside his control this season. The Kansas State roster is a massive refresh, emphasizing massive, given their additions of Achor Achor, Baye Fall, and Ugonna Onyenso alongside Hawkins. All four bigs could reasonably start for the Wildcats, but it’s hard to argue that any could start with each other and be effective. Even though Hawkins is the best passer of the bunch, he doesn’t have a clear best fit next to him on this roster, and with some of the guards also having real shooting concerns, Hawkins might not have a chance to show what he does best on the inside anymore.
Nick: I’m concerned about Joson Sanon and Arizona State as a whole heading into the season. The preseason for the Sun Devils has been…not great, and I’m worried that Sanon’s shot creation will lead to him being left to bail them out of a lot of late shot clock grenade passes and broken plays. He has the potential to meet the challenge, but I’m worried that it’s going to be a strange situation for everyone involved.
Metcalf: To be clear, I really like Carter Bryant and think he is and will be a very good player. My only hesitations with him this year are whether or not he’s going to be a one-and-done prospect. Bryant has a ton of tools, a great work ethic, and very real two-way versatility. I’m just not 100% confident that his game doesn’t need multiple years in college before making the NBA leap. With that said, I still have a first round grade on him entering the season. Yay, contradictions!
Corey: I’m in agreement with Metcalf on this one. I, too, like Carter Bryant—I’m just a little skeptical that he’s a Top 20 player heading into the year. When the gang saw him as part of the Portland Generals two years ago at the Nike Hoop Summit, we all loved the tools and specifically the work ethic. First one in the gym, last one out kind of kid. Still, I think he’s a little raw from a skills perspective and we need to exercise some patience with his development. He’s certainly a kid I’m rooting for to prove me wrong, though.
4. The shiny new thing is always the most enticing to go after, but there is always a ton of value in older prospects. Based on their previous college seasons, which returning player are you most excited to watch and has the best NBA potential?
Jam: For me, this is absolutely Milan Momcilovic. I gave him a late first round grade last cycle, and he’ll start this season there. A laser shooter with shooting versatility, tough shot-making ability, functional ball skills, and positional size that will compete defensively? Yeah, sign me up every time.
Rucker: I’ll give a quick shout-out to a couple of names with this one. Rylan Griffen (Kansas) and Tamin Lipsey (Iowa State) are going to be fun ones. But let’s have some fun. I’m pretty stoked to see what Kansas transfer Zeke Mayo can do this year. If you’re looking for lightning in a bottle out of the backcourt, Zeke can be your guy. He’s a gifted scorer who put up some eye-opening performances at South Dakota State over the years. Now at Kansas, with some more firepower surrounding him, I won’t be surprised if Zeke can make some noise.
Albert: Rylan Griffen could have a big year for Kansas. After a solid couple of seasons for Alabama, Griffen will be coming into this Kansas squad with the expectation that he’ll offer a ton of outside shooting and solid defense on the perimeter. If Griffen can continue to offer solid play on both ends of the floor and more on the ball creation, he could push his name higher up in the draft conversation. 6’5” guards with his skillset are always going to be in demand.
Rowan: I was an early fan last year, which means I’m already seated and ready to watch what Milan Momcilovic can do with another offseason at Iowa State. He’s a deadly shooter for a player his size, gets his shot off no matter the speed or contest, and has the quickness to put pressure on defenses off the dribble. I'm most interested in whether he can do that, be a good playmaker for others, or hold his own on defense. Momocilovic has a wide range of potential outcomes for this season, but I’m bullish on his chances to lead a great defensive team in scoring while polishing his defensive abilities.
Austin: Here’s where I’ll slide JT Toppin in. The name of the game for the Texas Tech forward this season is offensive consistency. His high-effort athleticism made him a fun player to watch last year, but if he’s able to add a dependable jump shot to his already-elite rebounding ability, this guy will solidify himself as a legit first-round talent and maybe push into the lottery.
Nick: I’m going to cheat a little bit and give two separate answers. I think that KJ Lewis has the best NBA potential of any of the returners in this conference save for JT Toppin, and that’s reflected in the first round grade I have on him heading into the season. However, the returner I’m most EXCITED to watch has to be Coleman Hawkins. I’ve always been a sucker for big men who can pass, and I’ve been holding onto my Hawkins stock for a few years now. If his shooting growth from last season is sustainable (he knocked down 37% of his triples after being sub-30% for his first three seasons), he should be able to find a home at the NBA level. Given that his three-point shooting leap was paired with a dramatic uptick in his percentage from the stripe (Hawkins shot 79.2% from the free-throw line last season after sitting below 70% in each of his first three seasons), I’m willing to buy into the notion that his shooting improvement was real.
Metcalf: I thought Rylan Griffen was draftable last season and was one of the biggest transfers this year. Griffen’s 3-and-D play style is really fun and something that consistently translates to the NBA. I don’t love how Kansas built their team with a gluttony of perimeter scorers, but by the end of the season, I think Griffen will have emerged as the most effective, consistent, and NBA-ready one of the bunch.
Corey: I’m pretty interested to see how Tucker DeVries develops this season. There is always a spot in the league for big shooters with high feel, and DeVries brings both of those to the table. He’s listed at 6’7” and 220 pounds, has shot 36% on 12 3PA per 100 over his career, and averaged nearly four assists per game with a positive assist-to-turnover ratio last season. He looks to be in better shape this season, and hopefully, that allows him to slide on the perimeter a bit more fluidly. I’m not all in on the Tuck Train quite yet, but I’ve bought my ticket.
5. Whether it’s Anthony Edwards dropping 37 points against Michigan State, or Austin Rivers ripping the heart out of UNC fans, or De’Aaron Fox vs. Lonzo Ball, fans are provided with mesmerizing matchups and performances every season. Which matchup, whether team vs. team, player vs. player, or player vs. team, are you most looking forward to watching?
Jam: BYU at UCF on February 1st. BYU, led by top prospects Egor Demin and Kanon Catchings, against an intriguing collection of talent at UCF in Keyshawn Hall, Mikey Williams, JJ Taylor, Jaylin Sellers, Benny Williams, Dior Johnson, and Rokas Jocius. This could end up being one of the better under-the-radar prospect games in the conference.
Rucker: It’s going to be BYU at Arizona on February 22nd for me. A prospect showdown right before March Madness? What’s better than that? Incoming BYU freshman Egor Demin has the goods and will be a popular name in Draft circles. BYU should be an exciting team this year and has a potential diamond in the rough to monitor in Kanon Catchings. Going up against an Arizona Wildcats team that has a bundle of prospects as well, that should be a great showdown.
Albert: Kansas at BYU on February 18th should be fun. BYU will be one of the most entertaining teams to watch in the conference, and seeing them go up against a tough Kansas team should be a ton of fun.
Rowan: I’m not trying to zig where others zag with this pick, but the obsessive in me looks forward to BYU squaring off against Arizona State. Each team boasts two star freshman duos, with the Cougars of Egor Demin and Kanon Catchings matching up against Joson Sanon and Jayden Quiantance. While Quaintance won’t be eligible to be drafted until next year, he could be the best player, even when Demin is currently ranked in my lottery. As a fan of young potential stars, what more could I want from a matchup?
Austin: I somehow haven’t mentioned BYU guard Egor Demin yet, so I’ll submit January 28th’s BYU-Baylor matchup as my pick. I’m looking forward to seeing how much of an impact the Demon (can we get that to catch on?) will have on defense against V.J. Edgecombe (no nickname required).
Nick: I’m going with BYU at Arizona as well–between KJ Lewis leading the charge for the Wildcats and star freshmen Egor Demin and Kanon Catchings for BYU, this game should be an awesome mix of intriguing prospects and excellent basketball.
Metcalf: Kansas vs Arizona on March 8th to end the season. Prospects, program traditions, a new and weird conference matchup, and two teams with title hopes. What else could you ask for?
Corey: Give me Baylor vs BYU, man. I simply want to see the two top prospects in the conference in V.J. Edgecombe and Egor Demin duke it out.