2025 NBA Draft: Buying the Hype
The 2025 NBA Draft class is oozing with potential and firepower. It's time to buy the hype.
In life, we find ourselves buying the promotion of something better coming into our lives. This boost of attention can start to play mind games, convincing ourselves that an idea can blossom to a powerful existence of reality. Hype is a dangerous thing. It’s something that grabs our attention immediately. We gravitate towards the concept of buzz hitting home like a hammer.
What if this hype is real?
What if all of this energy that is building can deliver and change things for the better?
The NBA Draft has added a plethora of talented individuals over recent memory. In previous years, we have found ourselves spoiled with the level of ability those young players have brought forth in their young basketball careers. Even after last year's class, which drew plenty of “criticism” for the lack of star power, the immediate future of the NBA continues to shine bright.
But last year was the appetizer. Now it’s time for the main course.
Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock for the last couple of years, you should be familiar with the buzz. The 2025 NBA Draft class has been advertised as the belle of the ball. It’s been described as a juggernaut class of talent that is oozing with potential. In previous years, we’ve found ourselves constantly dealing with the same narrative for a draft class. We’ll get the “anonymous” executive or scout in December who will say that the upcoming draft looks to be a weaker class. Strangely enough, we seem to also get another “anonymous” executive who tends to hype up the class around March. But you can be sure that this year’s class is going to have Front Office members in their feelings.
I know what you’re thinking. You’re probably sitting there saying to yourself: ”Is the 2025 class THAT good? Or is it just a reflection of last year’s class?”
You might even travel deeper down the rabbit hole and start to free your mind a little bit. “Am I needing to stress caution when trying to compare it to last year?”
Well, let me answer both of those with two points:
This class is oozing with potential and depth all over the place.
It’s time to Buy the hype.
When preparing for an incoming NBA Draft class, you’ll find yourself going through countless amounts of film. From there, you’ll start to pour out all of the puzzle pieces onto the table, before trying to put together a picture of what resembles a type of Big Board. We all have our own system. Personally, mine changes each and every year. I’m constantly tinkering with how I like to build out my database heading into an upcoming cycle. But this year’s depth is ridiculous and there’s potential for it to lay a damn hammer.
PREPARE FOR THE PARTY CRASHERS
What do we know about each draft class? There’s always going to be a crop of incoming freshmen or prospects who are finally draft-eligible. These players are always going to get the preseason buzz because they are the new “shiny” objects that quickly gather our attention. But it’s also important to remember the returners. Last year, a total of 12 first round selections weren’t freshmen, including three picks in the lottery.
There’s also always going to be the “party crashers,” or players that explode throughout the year and cement themselves as legit prospects in the class. Last year, Pittsburgh freshman Carlton “Bub” Carrington was one of the biggest risers in the 2024 class before being selected by the Washington Wizards with the 14th overall pick.
That means that even with the preseason firepower that the 2025 class offers, there’s still going to be some names that rise to the occasion and make this class potentially stronger.
THE “MAINE EVENT”
Yes, you should be familiar with Cooper Flagg by now. In case you haven’t heard, let’s get you caught up to speed.
Duke freshman forward Cooper Flagg has been dubbed as the “next big thing” when it comes to prospects coming through the NBA Draft world. Flagg was a tremendous high school recruit over the years, showcasing an eye-opening display of versatility on the court. With plenty of these promoted recruits, we find ourselves asking one simple question.
Is this legit? Or is this another hype machine?
He’s worth every bit of hype, folks. Flagg is a two-way machine with dangerous defensive instincts and an impressive feel for the game. He’s got the potential to be a superstar-type of connecting piece early on, paired with All-Defensive upside at the next level. If you find yourself looking for a player who puts up jaw-dropping scoring outputs on a nightly basis, Flagg might not tickle your fancy.
Let’s not overreact to that comment, as Flagg can absolutely take over a game. He averaged 20.5 points, 10.0 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 3.7 steals, and 3.7 blocks per game as a freshman in high school. But Flagg makes his impact all over the floor and will fill up the box scores. An even more impressive note with Flagg is the fact that he reclassified to join this draft class—meaning that Flagg won’t turn 18-years-old until next month. Listed at 6’9” with a reported 7”0+ wingspan, Flagg will be worth the watch on a nightly basis.
RUTGERS DUO WILL DELIVER
Many basketball fans would find a draft class offering a “prized posession” before the drop in talent might be noticeable. But that’s not necessarily the case with the 2025 class. A pair of dangerous prospects find themselves suiting up for Rutgers this year.
Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper are going to be one of the most fascinating storylines to monitor in the 2025 class. They were considered two of the top recruits in the country, and it’s not often that we see two prospects like this taking the court together for the same team.
Let’s start with Dylan Harper. The son of former NBA legend Ron Harper, Dylan has all the tools you are looking for in a potential franchise-altering floor general. He’s got outstanding size at 6’6” and 220 pounds and plays the game like a schoolyard bully on the court. Harper understands how to use his frame to overpower opponents. But don’t let the physical frame fool you, Harper can get where he wants on the court with an assortment of impressive handles and footwork. The playmaking remains a special part of the game, and Harper has shown the ability to be a pitbull on the defensive side of the ball. If the outside shot can show some consistency, Harper will be a HECK of a get for an NBA organization.
His teammate, Ace Bailey, is going to have plenty of scouts and evaluators foaming at the mouth as well. In terms of pure potential, Bailey will offer some of the highest upside of any prospect in this class. He’s listed at around 6’10” and 200 pounds, and he is a player that will leave your head spinning with what he can do on the court. Bailey is a tough shot-making bucket machine, who is just scratching the surface of how good he can become. If you’re looking for a raw ball of clay to mold, then Bailey is going to offer a ridiculous foundation to work with. There’s plenty with his game that scouts and evaluators will want to monitor this year. Bailey is still a bit thin-framed, which is expected at this point, given his size and youth. The defense has shown tremendous flashes, but will need some consistency as well. Despite being a ridiculous shot-maker, Bailey will need to become more efficient while showcasing a tighter handle throughout the season. But in terms of raw tools and potential, Ace Bailey will have plenty of NBA executives licking their chops about his ability if everything comes together.
KEEPING UP WITH FOREIGN RELATIONS
One of the most pleasant developments with the 2025 NBA Draft class has been the wave of top international talent coming overseas. Due to the NIL, international players are now becoming even more intirgued with the idea of coming overseas to spend a year in the NCAA before trying to head to the NBA.
This could be one of the biggest years in terms of that movement taking a serious step forward with a pair of international prospects. Egor Demin (BYU) and Kasparas Jakucionis (Illinois) were buzzing overseas last year with their play and looked to be firmly on the radar for the upcoming cycle. Demin, originally from Russia, was previously playing with Real Madrid before committing to play for BYU for the upcomign 2024-25 NCAA season. Listed at 6’9”, Demin is another jumbo-sized playmaking weapon that should intrigue NBA teams with his offensive versatility. He will be a popular name to monitor, as he continues to buzz to start the draft cycle.
Lithuanian guard Kasparas Jakucionis was another name generating some attention last year with his play overseas for FC Barcelona. The 6’6” guard is another versatile asset who will be suiting up for Illinois this year. Both have the ability to be high-feel players who should turn some heads with their play this year. It’s a welcomed-development for NBA fans and scouts, as it allows for more exposure for some of the top international prospects. If both can deliver on a promising year, it could very well be a nice shift of movement for incoming talent for the future.
INTERNATIONAL BUZZ
While Kasparas Jakucionis (Illinois) and Egor Demin (BYU) have taken their talents to the NCAA for this year, that doesn’t mean that there’s not a bundle of talent overseas to monitor. Each year, the talent around the world continues to develop at an awesome rate. As we always like to say, basketball has no borders.
One of the top preseason prospects overseas is French-born guard Nolan Traore. Listed at around 6’4”, Traore was making some noise last year while playing for Saint-Quentin. After some impressive showings, Traore started to buzz even more after an impressive showing at the Nike Hoop Summit. Traore is a versatile floor general who can showcase some high feel on the court. If the consistency can come around this year, Traore should be a popular name to watch out for.
Noa Essengue and Ben Saraf have become two of the other biggest names in the international class for this season. Both players are playing for Ratiopharm Ulm this year and will be some of the biggest names to discuss in this class. Essengue is a fascinating talent with tremendous upside. He’s been with Ulm since last year, where he got plenty of time with their junior club, OrangeAcademy. Listed at around 6’9”, Essengue will still be 18 years old on draft night. He’s a player who continues to impress me with each showing, as Essengue has the tools to be a versatile piece on both sides of the ball. Patience will be required, as Essengue is still filling out and learning how to use his frame on the floor. The recent developments with his outside shot will get evaluators dreaming of a dangerous two-way piece.
One of the hottest names in this cycle so far has been Essengue’s teammate, Ben Saraf. Listed at around 6’6”, Saraf spent most of his time last year in the Israeli Basketball National League. After an impressive summer, including being named MVP of the 2024 FIBA U18 EuroBasket, Saraf found himself heating up rapidly on draft radars. That momentum has carried over into the international season, as Saraf has been impressive with Ratiopharm Ulm early on. A high-feel guard with good size and ridiculous playmaking ability, Saraf will be the name to watch. If he keeps this up, he’s only going to continue to rise.
Hugo Gonzalez (Real Madrid), Rocco Zikarsky (Brisbane), and Michael Ruzic (Joventut) are all names to monitor as well. Despite the upside being exciting with each prospect, consistent minutes and production will be something to monitor moving forward. Each of them can become risers in this class due to the tools they have to work with, but time and patience will be required.
UPSIDE GALORE
Look, I get it. You’re a fan of a team that is hoping to be picking in the Top 3 selections of the upcoming draft. But what if you’re team isn’t good enought at “tankapalooza” to find themselves picking that early?
Even worse, what if your favorite team is THAT bad, but you don’t have ANY luck on the night of the lottery?
In other years, you might find yourself heartbroken at the thought of missing out on the top prizes. Well, this year, that might be a different story. Now, don’t get me wrong, there’s a drop-off in tiers after the likes of Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper, etc. But this is the year in which I believe some of the names following the “top” could pack a serious punch.
We’ve already talked about a plethora of names above that could be in the mix. But what about some other potential standouts who reside in the States? Tre Johnson will be a serious name to monitor, as he could swing his stock in either direction in the opening months of the year. There always seems to be that one prospect that seems to lack the noticeable buzz heading into the year. It could be that, or maybe it’s just the name that some continue to struggle to buy in on. Johnson is an absolute bucket. The freshman wing has a smooth stroke from outside and can light the nets up in a hurry. Johnson hit the ground running for the Texas Longhorns in his first game, dropping 29 points.
After continuing to rise in the scouting world last year, Baylor freshman V.J. Edgecombe will be another name to watch. Edgecombe had about just of impressive of an offseason as you could hope for. He impressed throughout his time at the Nike Hoop Summit, before turning heads with his play in the Olympic qualifiers for the Bahamas. While Edgecombe has awesome ability, he could be the name that requires some patience. We’ve seen prospects before struggle to find their groove while playing for Baylor. Edgecombe is a potential two-way cobra with sensational defensive upside and a desire to make winning plays.
If you’re looking for wings with size who can quickly enter “NBA Jam” mode from downtown, then you’re in luck. A pair of freshmen will continue to generate momentum up the ranks this year in Kon Knueppel (Duke) and Liam McNeeley (UConn). Both have the ability to be some dangerous catch-and-shoot threats. Knueppel has especially started to generate some real attention with his versatility on the offensive side of the ball and playmaking ability.
TALENT IS THERE, HOW DOES IT SHOWCASE?
Fit is everything when it comes to the NBA Draft. But that statement starts well before the night of the draft takes place. There’s a BUNDLE of names that offer serious potential in this class. But a number of those names have joined some rosters that look a bit tricky when it comes to consistent minutes.
Drake Powell and Ian Jackson find themselves at North Carolina for their freshman years. Powell is a forward with size and positional versatility who can really get after it on the defensive side of the ball. Jackson is an electric guard in the backcourt who can get you on the edge of your seat with his quickness and ability in transition. Both of them have the attention of scouts moving forward, given their tools to work with and pedigree. But with North Carolina running back a roster of notable returners, time will tell if Powell and Jackson can carve out consistent minutes in the rotation.
Do you remember earlier when I mentioned that this class has some bucket-getting machines? Well, how about another couple of them? Keep an eye on Jalil Bethea (Miami) and Will Riley (Illinois). These will be two of the more interesting prospects to evaluate, especially once conference play comes around. Both Bethea and Riley are well-known wings who can gather buckets at an impressive rate. But both will have some similar questions. Both Bethea and Riley are smooth with their ability to glide around the court and get their shot off in tight windows. But both also possess thin-frames, that will need to fill out moving forward. Still, the tools are tantalizing and both will have the attention of scouts throughout the year.
The name I’m most curious to see this season is Khaman Maluach. The incoming Duke freshman big man is not small. No, seriously, he’s listed at 7’2” and 250 pounds, and he has vines for arms. Maluach is an awesome story, coming from NBA Academy Africa and looking like a center who has the potential to be a lottery pick this year. WIth Maluach, I’m stressing patience throughout the year. There will be plenty of highlights for Maluach, who isn’t afraid to try to send a rejection into the fifth row of the crowd at any moment. I’ll want to see if the rest of the game can continue to develop throughout the year. If it can, he’s only going to continue to creep up boards given his upside and defensive potential.
RETURNERS TO WATCH OUT FOR
Folks, I get it. We all love what’s new and shiny in the draft space. But time and time again, we have to remember that the returners in college basketball can take a leap in their development. Each year, we see some returners reach that next platform in their progression. That’s when they start to heat up in the scouting world and make a strong class even better.
One of the top returners this year is South Carolina sophomore forward Collin Murray-Boyles. This will be the potential swiss-army-knife of the 2025 class. After coming off the bench last year to start the season, Murray-Boyles was inserted into the starting lineup and never looked back. That included an 11-game stretch that saw him average 16.7 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1.7 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game while shooting 70.3% from the field. He’s an analytics darling, especially when it comes to his ability to be an absolute force on the defensive side of the ball. The million dollar question, can any sort of outside shot rise to the surface?
Another name to watch out for is Oregon Ducks sophomore forward Kwame Evans Jr. After some impressive moments as a freshman, Evans looks to be a potential breakout candidate this year. The 6’9”, 200-pound versatile forward is off to a good start, as he started the year off with a 23-point outing. Evans has the tools to be a heck of a piece defensively. He’s a smart defender with an intriguing set of skills on the offensive side of the ball, including a three-point shot that teases you with the idea of another level to his game.
Two more returners that deserve your attention include Alex Karaban (UConn) and Hunter Sallis (Wake Forest). Both Karaban and Sallis were coming off impressive seasons last year and you could argue that both could have been sleeper candidates to go in the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft. It’s always interesting when prospects “double down” after an impressive year. Now, it’s time to see if Karaban and Sallis can take their games to another level.
WILDCARDS
Each NBA Draft class offers some wildcards that you don’t want to forget about throughout the season. You can consider these party crashers in a way, as they can get red hot and start to make evaluators revisit their draft rankings. Arkansas freshman Boogie Fland is one to watch out for on this front. Fland has continued to buzz as an exciting guard since his U-17 FIBA days with Team USA. Fland is lightning in a bottle and can make some beautiful reads with his playmaking.
Don’t forget about Dink Pate. After spending the previous year with the G League Ignite, Pate started to really show some intriguing flashes near the end of the season. Pate will spend another year in the G League with the Mexico City Capitanes and could be a name that has a noticeable leap early on. The 6’8” weapon won’t turn 19 until March.
Keep an eye on a pair of sophomores as well, KJ Lewis (Arizona) and Jaland Lowe (Pittsburgh). Personally, these are two of my favorite leap candidates when it comes to sophomores. Lewis is a big-bodied backcourt weapon who makes an impact on both sides of the floor and does the little things. The defensive end has the potential to be a serious weapon; if the outside shot can become consistent, he’s got the makings of a player who plays a long time at the next level. While many were drooling over Bub Carrington last year at Pittsburgh, Jaland Lowe wasn’t too shabby either. The 6’2” guard is a smooth operator with the ball in his hands and has had a strong offseason. Lowe finished last year on a high note, averaging 13.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 4.5 assists in his last eleven games while posting shooting splits of 41/41/91. If the production and percentages take a leap, he’s got the goods to be a party crasher in this class.
DON’T BE SURPRISED ABOUT THE CLIMB
Let’s wrap this one up with some names that you should have circled in Sharpie on your watch lists. Each year, we find some prospects that some might be on the fence about. The talent is there. The potential is undeniable. But we find ourselves saying, is this a THIS year or NEXT year guy? Well, I believe all of these names could be risers for this year.
The one to watch out for is Derik Queen. Playing last year for high school powerhouse Montverde, it was easy to forget just how impressive Queen could be while playing alongside names like Cooper Flagg and Liam McNeeley. But Queen is a sensational talent that is going to turn some heads this year. He’s a mammoth on the court, listed at 6’10” and 246 pounds. Queen is a freshman big man at Maryland and has a tremendous set of skills in his game. He’s much more athletic than you would realize, and his playmaking is UNREAL. If Queen can showcase consistency on the defensive side of the ball, as well as a developing offensive game, he will start buzzing rapidly.
I know you’re probably reading that last paragraph and going: “Wow, that high school team had all of those guys?” Well, it gets even more ridiculous. Playing alongside McNeeley, Flagg, and Queen was one of my favorite prospects in this class. Georgia freshman big man Asa Newell is going to be an awesome evaluation this cycle. Each time I find myself watching Newell, I find another part of his game that impresses me. He’s an active rebounder with great size that plays with a relentless motor. Newell has some impressive instincts on the defensive side of the ball and an outside shot that looks like it’s going to develop into a legit weapon. Again, he will be a name that starts to cook with momentum if he can open the season with some strong performances.
Two more names that deserve your consideration are Donnie Freeman (Syracuse) and Carter Bryant (Arizona). The upside with both Freeman and Bryant is sensational. You could even say these two could be considered some “diamonds in the rough” for this class. The skill set for both Freeman and Bryant is intriguing. But patience and time are going to be required with both. Bryant continued to make a charge up the high school rankings before committing to Arizona. He’s a relentless worker who has had an impressive physical transformation in just one year. Bryant is smooth on the court, especially given his size at 6’8” and 225 pounds. Given the Wildcats roster, it might take some time before the minutes continue to climb. But once they do, buckle up.
Freeman has been a prospect that has continued to pique my interest throughout the preseason. He was ranked 6th overall in ESPN100 out of high school, and the tools are sensational. “Donnie” is listed at 6’9” and 200 pounds, and he will require some time as his frame fills out. But the defensive potential, paired with the offensive upside, is tremendous. Freeman is a gifted defensive talent who can really do some damage on that side of the floor. If that wasn’t enough, the offensive side of the ball has a fantastic foundation to work with. If the shot continues to develop at this rate, he’s going to be one of those players that you hope your team grabs in the lottery and never looks back. It seems as if it’s only a matter of time with Freeman before the ingredients start to come together and unlock a heck of a player.
By now, you’re probably saying to yourself: “Okay, Rucker, there’s no chance all of these guys are going to deliver.” My response? You’re probably right. If all of these guys immediately became incredible, this would be an all-time class. I’m simply trying to shine a light on a bigger realization here. The 2025 NBA Draft class is going to lay a hammer. Not just any type of hammer, it’s going to be a Mjölnir flying through the sky surrounded by lightning.
It’s okay to be overly excited about this class. The talent is there. The potential is outstanding. Will it live up to the buzz that continues to build with each passing day? One can only hope so.
I’m just here to tell you, it’s time to buy into the hype.