2024-25 Mid-Major Conferences Preview
The No Ceilings crew concludes their NCAA Conference Preview round tables for the 2024-25 season with some highlights from mid-major conference programs.
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 conclude our conference previews with some mid-major conference highlights.
1. Ignore “consensus” boards and Twitter groupthink. Who is the best NBA prospect in this conference?
Rowan: My board doesn’t quite reflect this yet, but I think that Xaivian Lee has a legitimate argument for this spot. He plays outside of the spotlight at Princeton, but there were few guards in college basketball last year who played with the same flash and speed that Lee did. He has a lanky wingspan that helps him on both ends, has improved as a shooter over his two years with the Tigers, and has a nose for getting to the rim that you can’t teach. I can’t wait to see what he’ll do with another year at the helm for Princeton, as I think he deserves some real first round consideration.
Rucker: Nique Clifford continues to be one of my favorite returners for this upcoming cycle. I was a little surprised there wasn’t more public buzz about Clifford, although there were plenty of fans in NBA front offices. Clifford was having a strong year for Colorado State, including a 13-game stretch that saw him average 15.2 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.6 steals per game while shooting 59.8/48.7/81.3. If the offensive game can take another step forward, Clifford has everything that teams are looking for in a potential 3-and-D type of talent. He’s a vicious defensive asset; if he can showcase a consistent three-point shot, he should find himself in first-round conversations.
Metcalf: Nique Clifford was a player who I thought could’ve gone in the first round last year and that hasn’t changed. Clifford’s defense was fantastic last season, and his offense continued to improve and diversify throughout the year, including a fantastic showing against Virginia in the tournament. Clifford projects as a 3-and-D wing, but his continued improvement attacking closeouts, passing, and creating for himself makes his NBA translation even more clear.
Maxwell: I wish I could zag here, but it’s my dude Nique Clifford. There’s an argument to be made that he was the best downhill attacker in college hoops last season. He posted a 60.3 eFG% on drives and routinely punished help defenders with clever, well-timed passes to open teammates. Defensively, he has the quickness and strength to guard multiple positions. His instincts allow him to make a ton of plays off the ball, too. Do I wish I was more confident in his jump shot? Yeah. But he’s a stat sheet stuffer with good tools and smarts.
Corey: Anyone who follows my work knows that I’m also a big Nique Clifford guy. Wings that flash the kind of feel, athleticism, and all-around game that Nique displayed last season are always going to be interesting to NBA evaluators. As big a fan of Clifford as I am, I’m actually going to go roll with Xaivian Lee. Last season I went to Princeton to get up close eyes on Xaivian and I couldn’t have been more impressed. The dude played with a Haliburton-esque joy and confidence that permeated through his team. Lee did more than just pass the eye test as he also had an intriguing statistical year for the Tigers. I think he has another level to get to this season and can find himself selected in the first round and potentially the Top 20.
Nick: Nique Clifford is the choice for me here as well. He’s a popular pick among the No Ceilings crowd, and for good reason–he has the kind of 3-and-D skill set that is becoming more and more popular in the NBA, and he also pairs that with more on-ball juice than the typical player of that archetype.
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?
Rowan: I may have come to the party a bit later than some, but I’m firmly planting my flag on Mt. Max Shulga for this season. Shulga has some of the better shot-making chops I’ve seen in this draft class, which is saying something with the players this year. He’s got great balance, can stop on a dime, and elevates well over defenders contesting his shots. Shulga can also snatch steals at a good rate while keeping his teammates involved, giving him extra utility to a future NBA team.
Rucker: Princeton guard Xaivian Lee was one that continued to get my attention with each film dive last cycle. He had a monster jump in production as a sophomore and will be a name to watch closely. Lee is shifty with the ball in his hands and can put up some big numbers in the box score. If his game takes another leap, he’s going to be a bad man this year.
Metcalf: Miles Rubin was someone who really popped when watching high school tape last summer, and he proceeded to be one of the best rim protectors in the country in limited minutes with the highest block rate of anyone. Defensively, there’s very little to question with Rubin as he’s a terrific shot blocker and moves well in space. That alone made me consider having a draftable grade on him last year. The big question is the offensive end. He isn’t a shooter, but if he can get more involved, improve his versatility out of the roll, and be really efficient, Rubin could be in for a big year.
Maxwell: It warms my heart to see so much Miles Rubin appreciation in here, so I’ll go with Rasheer Fleming at St. Joe’s. He’s 6’9” with a reported 7’4” wingspan. He uses his size to swat shots on defense, but he’s also nimble enough to hold his own on the perimeter. Offensively, he’s an awesome roll man, but he also has the potential to space the floor. While he needs to come along as a ball-handler and passer, it’s tough to quibble with his two-way impact. As a young junior, there’s plenty of reason to believe he can add that connective tissue in time.
Corey: Xaivian Lee isn’t the only intriguing guard in the Ivy League. I’m looking forward to seeing if John Paulakidas can continue to develop his game heading into his senior season at Yale. The 6’6” lefty guard made some waves last March when he put 28 points on Auburn’s head in the NCAA Tourney, but I also got a chance to see him cook when I went to get in person eyes on Malik Mack when Yale took on Harvard in Cambridge last season. Poulakidas is a prolific three point shooter, having knocked down over 40% of his shots on over 11 3PA per 100 possessions over the last two seasons. Add in the fact that he’s also a strong decision maker, finishing last season with a 2/1 AST/TOV ratio and that intersection of size, skill, feel, and competitiveness gives the Ivy League Luke Kennard a shot to intrigue NBA teams as a role playing floor spacer.
Nick: I’m with Metcalf here–Miles Rubin is one of the more fun defensive prospects to follow in all of college basketball. While his offensive game is limited, he is very efficient when he does end up going toward the basket. With a little bit more development in his offensive game, he could easily rocket up draft boards as the season progresses.
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?
Rowan: I also have trepidation with Tyon Grant-Foster, mostly because I thought he showed his best last year. Grant-Foster’s blend of helter-skelter athleticism, audacious shooting, and relentless effort made him a real prospect only a few years removed from a major health event. That could still sway how NBA teams feel about him. Grant-Foster also led Grand Canyon to arguably their best basketball season, which means the only place he can go is down from a winning perspective. Unless he shows a whole new side to his game, there may be some real reasons to wonder if Grant-Foster missed his window by returning to college this year.
Rucker: I thought that Tyon Grant-Foster was an electric player for GCU last year, and it’s still one of the best stories in college basketball. There’s no denying that TGF is a talented player on the court with the ability to take over games in a hurry. It’s always tough with older prospects coming off a strong year who want to double down on trying to improve their stock. We saw it happen in a big way last year with Dillon Jones, but Foster will have to become much more efficient to overlook his age (24 years old).
Metcalf: Tyon Grant-Foster is incredibly fun and talented. Like with all of these answers, I hope I’m wrong and overthinking it, but I worry that there’s a greater chance that his game plateaus rather than taking that leap forward. Grant-Foster will likely have close to free reign to do what he wants on offense, but I hope that doesn’t devolve into sloppy, inefficient play.
Maxwell: I think I’m more skeptical of Donovan Dent than a lot of folks. I don’t think he’s bad or anything. He’s quicker than a hiccup, he sees the floor really well, and he’s a great defensive playmaker. Still, he’s really skinny compared to other undersized guards who have made it work at the NBA level. Additionally, his hesitance from long range and inconsistent shooting results give me pause. I hope it clicks, because he’s a joy to watch, but I thought the cart got put a bit ahead of the horse with him last year.
Corey: There aren’t a large number of midmajor prospects who have exceedingly high expectations within the draft space. With that point in mind and knowing that I mentioned both of these guys as players I’m a fan of and believe will build on their strong seasons, I’d say that Nique Clifford and Xaivian Lee would have the most to lose from a narrative perspective given the seasons that they had last year.
Nick: Tyson Degenhart popped on draft radars in a big way during his freshman season for Boise State, when the 6’7” forward knocked down 42.5% of his triples. His offensive role has increased in scope since then, but he barely cracked the 30% mark from distance over his next two seasons. Degenhart has the ability to be a three-level scorer, especially given his remarkable efficiency inside the arc, but he needs to score at all three levels to be effective with the holes in the rest of his game. I’m willing to buy back in if he lives up to the best version of himself, but I think his greatest believers might have a disappointing year.
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?
Rowan: He’s not the flashiest player under the sun, but Yaxel Lendeborg is criminally underrated and could be one of the better-returning prospects in college basketball. He’s a terror on the defensive end, using his quickness, reflexes, and wingspan to curtail shots and envelope drives. He’s a tenacious rebounder on both ends, he has soft touch with both hands, and he can finish through defenders right at the rim. Lendeborg isn’t the archetypal versatile big man. Still, he certainly does what he does at an exceptionally high level, which, in my opinion, is high enough to do so in the NBA.
Rucker: I’m buying as much Rasheer Fleming stock as I can get my hands on. The Saint Joseph’s junior is going to be a popular “sleeper” to monitor this year. Fleming has everything you want in a potential versatile piece at the next level. He’s listed at around 6’9” and 240 pounds, and he somehow plays much bigger. If the outside shot can be consistent, Fleming has the makings of a player who can carve out a role at the next level for a long time.
Metcalf: Xaivian Lee was incredibly close to being my answer to the first question. He’s so much fun. Lee’s scoring versatility and playmaking are very real. If he has another big year while improving defensively and proving he got meaningfully stronger, I’d expect to hear his name called on draft night.
Maxwell: Yaxel Lendeborg is older, but he’s still oozing with upside because he barely played in high school. He’s 6’9”, he plays his ass off, and he has a rare level of feel for someone late to the game. He can comfortably orchestrate offense at the top of the key. I totally buy the jump shot with him. He’s all over the glass. Defensively, he can make it work in a number of different ball screen coverages. In an NBA that values size, skill, and versatility, Lendeborg should be on the radar of every scout.
Corey: I don’t think Robbie Avila has the most NBA potential, but he will certainly have an argument for most fun mid-major prospect to watch. As an offensive prospect, Avila provides just about everything you want out of a modern big. Avila can score on the block, he can step outside and stretch the floor, he can attack a closeout, and you can run offense through him, as he is a serious playmaker who makes sharp, quick decisions. It’s hard to make a strong case that he projects as a defensive deterrent at the next level, a not-so-little concern; however, his offense is good enough that a team may be willing to see how far he can stretch it.
Nick: Xaivian Lee showed enough last season to be a fascinating second round flyer, and his decision to return to college was one of the more interesting returns from the 2024 NBA Draft class. With another season like the one he put together last year, his playmaking gifts and scoring touch should earn him a spot in the 2025 NBA Draft.
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?
Rowan: Max Shulga versus Nique Clifford is a great prospect duel that comes from Colorado State’s showdown with VCU. Each player has a lot to prove after returning to college and will get lots of chances to show what they can do with the ball in their hands against good defensive teams. It doesn’t hurt that I have a first-round grade on Clifford and almost a Top 60 grade on Shulga, but this should be a fun, physical game for fans and analysts alike.
Rucker: Saint Joseph’s vs. Princeton. Give me Rasheer Fleming and Erik Reynolds against Xaivian Lee. Let’s Party.
Metcalf: Loyola Chicago vs Saint Joseph’s on January 11th. Can Miles Rubin control the paint against Rasheer Fleming and Erik Reynolds? This matchup features three very fun players who could all play their way into the draft conversation with a strong season.
Maxwell: Loyola vs. Saint Joseph’s! I’ve already made plans to go to that game in Chicago. Miles Rubin, Rasheer Fleming, Xzayvier Brown, and Erik Reynolds II all on the same floor? Sign me up.
Corey: Xaivian Lee and Princeton vs. Rutgers. Rutgers has multiple physical defenders at the guard spot, including potential Top 3 pick Dylan Harper. How Lee performs on that kind of stage can make or break his draft stock.
Nick: I’m with Rucker on this one–Saint Joseph’s vs. Princeton will be a fun matchup that could reveal a lot about where Xaivian Lee, Rasheer Fleming, and Erik Reynolds are with their respective developments.