Rucker's Draft Diary: Constructing A Big Board From Scratch
The 2025 NBA Draft presents plenty of inner debates, but what if we scrap everything and build a Big Board from scratch?
Since I was a kid, I’ve found myself obsessed with everything involving the Draft. It wasn’t always just the NBA—I truly unlocked my sicko status when it came to the NFL as well.
Like all sports fans out there, I’d find myself pouring through draft magazines before structuring my own mock drafts with a pen and pad of paper. As a fan, I’d do everything in my power to position myself for what type of possible outcomes could come that night. I’d lay out potential targets to keep an eye on before scratching them off my list with each passing pick.
As time went on, I found my love of the NBA Draft growing. But that type of love blossomed with the “Draft Diary” segments on Grantland. It remains one of my favorite segments to this day when it comes to covering the NBA Draft. As part of “Grantland,” Bill Simmons would blog his thoughts while watching the NBA Draft live.
(Admit it, we all do this. We watch the NBA Draft live before recording it and going back to watch how everything panned out.)
There’s something about hearing the immediate reactions of others in the basketball world that makes the NBA Draft even more special. If a shocking pick happens, it’s always funny to go back and see what others thought of it at the same time.
For years, I’ve wanted to do something similar to the Draft Diary. But the truth is, I’m usually too locked in to live Draft coverage for our podcast and YouTube feeds.
But one day, I found myself talking to No Ceilings colleague Stephen Gillaspie about our thoughts on the 2025 NBA Draft class, as well as some potential future ideas for content moving forward.
That’s when I got an idea. What if I could spin the “Draft Diary” in a different direction?
When breaking down a Draft Class, scouts and evaluators are always putting together a Big Board of their rankings throughout the year. One of our common “jokes” thrown around here is getting to the point where we might have to just scrap our entire boards and start from scratch.
And that’s when it hit me… I could combine “Draft Diary” with that concept.
For this exercise, I’m going to do just exactly that.
I’m not going to look at ANY rankings. We’re going to build a Top 30 Big Board shooting straight from the hip.
Let’s see what happens and what kind of differences there are from my most recent rankings.
9:00 p.m PST —— There’s a chance this concept completely blows up in my face. But sometimes, with crazy ideas, you run with it and see if anything sticks. This class continues to have some awesome firepower with a lot of excitement and hype at the top.
So, let’s get some of the “easy” ones out of the way.
Cooper Flagg has been at the top of my board throughout the entire year. He’s worth the hype, ladies and gentlemen. What we’ve seen from Flagg this year in terms of his growth and ability to adapt to the role thrust upon him given his age is simply astonishing.
Flagg has the rare ability to impact the game on various levels. With so many young players struggling offensively at the NBA level early on, Flagg is the rare type of prospect that will still be able to impact the game at a high level as he gets his feet wet offensively.
—— At #1, Cooper Flagg (Duke)
9:05 p.m. —— We’ve got Cooper Flagg at 1, and just as quickly, it’s Dylan Harper at 2.
I know people are trying to draw up some buzz and speculation around the 2025 NBA Draft. Plenty have started to say “well hey… can you consider ____ at 2 instead? Is Harper really that good of a prospect?” In my eyes, this is a two-horse race. After that, it’s wide open for some serious discussion. Harper is everything you want in a potential floor general prospect. He’s a bully on the court who can get wherever he wants. He’s got takeover ability, not only with his scoring but also as a playmaker. There’s SERIOUS defensive upside. You pair all of that with the fact that he’s listed at 6’6”, 220 pounds, and you’ve got a potential floor general prospect that was built in a lab. I’m also a sucker for NBA bloodlines.
—— At #2, Dylan Harper (Rutgers)
9:10 p.m. —— Flagg at 1, Harper at 2.
This is where things will start to get interesting in NBA Draft circles. I’ve still got Ace Bailey at 3. I’ve had Bailey in my top 3 throughout the year, although the questions surrounding him will continue to get louder in the upcoming months. This is a freak-of-nature type of prospect when it comes to offensive weaponry. Bailey is listed at 6’10”, 200 pounds. He’s got the ability to become a microwave scoring machine with a high release. There’s a legit argument to be made that he has some of the highest upside of any prospect in this class—yes, that includes Mr. Flagg.
But there are also plenty of questions to be answered with Bailey. The shot selection can be worrisome at times. Bailey is extremely raw when it comes to his game maturing. What I mean by that is there’s times on tape when he needs to understand the balance between passing up a shot attempt for a better look down the road. After some confusing tape to start the year, when it came to his lack of playmaking, the light started to come on for Bailey in that regard.
Still, this is one of the youngest prospects in terms of strict development. Bailey has a long way to go, which should be taken as a positive. If he’s already showcasing these types of tools with so much game to be untapped, that’s the type of swing you want to take early in this draft.
I’ll be fascinated to see how the pre-draft process goes for Bailey. A strong process could cement him near the top 4. A questionable one could make for an interesting draft night.
—— At #3, Ace Bailey (Rutgers)
9:23 p.m. —— Right up there with the top 3 is Baylor freshman VJ Edgecombe.
This has been such a fun debate this year. Edgecombe seems to be the classic prospect where you love everything about him, but you still have other names ahead of him.
If there was an NBA version of “Draft Day” would VJ Edgecombe be a “Vontae Mack No Matter What”? I think so.
Edgecombe rocks. He’s a cobra on the defensive side of the ball and flies out of nowhere for emphatic tip slam dunks on the offensive glass. If the off-the-bounce shooting can progress, he’s got the tools to be an effective two-way force for years to come.
—— At #4, VJ Edgecombe (Baylor)
9:44 p.m. —— Alright, this is starting to get a little challenging.
I believe I’ve changed my mind on my fifth-ranked prospect about five different times over the last month.
I’m still high on a trio of names up here: Tre Johnson (Texas), Kasparas Jakucionis (Illinois), and Jeremiah Fears (Oklahoma).
I’ll lean on Johnson at #5 for now.
Look, I’ve been loving Tre Johnson throughout the year. That Texas team wasn’t the most enjoyable of watches, but Johnson has some relentless offensive weaponry that’s a bundle of lightning just waiting to be harnessed. I thought the UConn game was one of Johnson’s most impressive showings of the year. If you go back to his FIBA tape, it’ll answer a lot of questions you might have surrounding Tre’s playmaking ability.
I’m getting a little rush of Jeremiah Fears love, so I’m going to stick with my heart and put him at #6.
The Fears debate has been one of my favorites at No Ceilings this year. Some of us are in love, some of us are unsure. It’s one name I think will cause an absolute bar fight in future “War Room” mock drafts. What Fears did this year is absolutely remarkable. He reclassified before joining Oklahoma and eventually was given the keys to run the show in one of the top conferences in college basketball. After Oklahoma exploded to a 13-0 record, Fears and the Sooners struggled after reaching a gauntlet of competitive teams in their upcoming schedule. After that, Fears bounced back and finished the season on a high note.
Given his offensive tools and youth, there are just too many positives in my evaluation to not pound the table for my guy.
—— At #5, Tre Johnson (Texas)
—— At #6, Jeremiah Fears (Oklahoma)
10:01 p.m. —— Let’s do a little recap, just so we can keep everyone up to speed.
Here’s where we’re at:
Cooper Flagg (Duke)
Dylan Harper (Rutgers)
Ace Bailey (Rutgers)
VJ Edgecombe (Baylor)
Tre Johnson (Texas)
Jeremiah Fears (Oklahoma)
Off to a good start!
But this is going to get even more challenging when it comes to balancing names that pop into the head.
It’s the start of some serious inner debate.
Two names racing through my thoughts are Kasparas Jakucionis (Illinois) and Derik Queen (Maryland).
I’m going to go with those two for the next slots.
Look, I don’t feel great about those. Mainly because I think they both could have arguments to go earlier. Queen is a tremendously gifted offensive weapon. His playmaking is ten times better than what he showed this year. Yes, if you watched Maryland closely you’re probably saying “Wait, it was awesome. How is it THAT much better?” If you watched Queen in high school at Montverde, there’s some freak-ish stuff to see. I think he could go way higher than this, as teams are going to see his offensive upside and be enamored. I imagine teams will fall in love with him during interviews as well.
Kasparas Jakucionis is still a name I’m buying all of the stock in. It’s so easy to cool off on a prospect that leaves a bad taste in your mouth, but that’s why this is the most important time of the year. If you go back and watch Kasparas at the beginning of the year, you see a dominant player. He then had to deal with a forearm injury and once he returned, it looked like he was still bothered by it. The Northwestern game was one of my favorites from Jakucionis, as he was in takeover mode. He drew rave reviews from his coaching staff throughout the year with his professionalism and willingness to take instruction. He’s a gamer and a talented floor general who brings a lot to the table, even with his deficiencies.
—— At #7, Derik Queen (Maryland)
—— At #8, Kasparas Jakucionis (Illinois)
10:08 p.m. —— Kon Knueppel. Yep, this was a great “oh, hey don’t forget about him!” pull.
Kon was a name I was “cooler” on throughout the year. Then, after the season, I caught up on the tape and woooo boy… it’s fun stuff. This dude can absolutely play and he’s sensational off the ball when it comes to feel and awareness. He’s a gamer.
The funny thing about Kon is when you go back and look at his numbers throughout the year, you find yourself wondering why you were ever “cooling off.” Kon continued to be efficient, and then the game started to reach another level.
He’s going to be a heck of a get for his next NBA team, as he could be the “high floor” prospect that allows GMs to sleep well at night.
Pencil him in at #9.
Side note… Kon remains at the top of my “hey, did I spell his last name right even though I’ve checked it four times and I still don’t trust myself” list. That’s a legit nightmare I have with at least three prospects every year.
—— At #9, Kon Knueppel (Duke)
10:10 p.m. —— That’s how I feel right now. Right up there.
I couldn’t have more of an itch to look at my Big Board, but I’m a man of my word.
Alright. Collin Murray-Boyles needs to come into the picture here. He’s the joker of the 2025 NBA Draft class, folks. Going to be a complete agent of chaos. There are a LOT of NBA teams that are all over the place with CMB, so let me explain.
Teams like him and are very intrigued. But his combine process is drawing all of the attention. Teams aren’t convinced he’s going to measure at 6’7”—they’re almost sure of it. Despite that, I’m still putting Murray-Boyles at 10. I understand there’s going to be questions about his role at the next level, especially if the height question becomes a bigger deal. But I’m going off of what I’ve seen on tape the last two years. CMB is a gifted defensive prospect with slept on playmaking upside. I also think he’s just smart, knowing how to use his strength and power to get around the basket.
—— At #10, Collin Murray-Boyles (South Carolina)
10:23 p.m. —— Alright, so we’ve got ourselves a Top 10.
Let’s take a breather and do a quick recap.
Our top 10 so far:
Cooper Flagg (Duke)
Dylan Harper (Rutgers)
Ace Bailey (Rutgers)
VJ Edgecombe (Baylor)
Tre Johnson (Texas)
Jeremiah Fears (Oklahoma)
Derik Queen (Maryland)
Kasparas Jakucionis (Illinois)
Kon Knueppel (Duke)
Collin Murray-Boyles (South Carolina)
Now, we’re getting into the danger zone.
There’s always a range of every NBA Draft class in which you start to battle with your inner self.
A lot of fans might be saying Duke freshman big man Khaman Maluach should be in the picture here.
Look, there’s always one player that you “struggle” to buy into in a draft class. Maluach is that guy for me now. He’s going to be a name that I continue to butt heads with going up until the month of the draft. When I look at Maluach, I see a player I’d like to take in the 10-16 range. If my roster had the right pieces but was missing a big with his skills, then yes, my team-specific board would probably look a little different.
For now, he’s in the mix. But there are other routes to consider.
Personally, on my Big Board rankings, this is the sweet spot of my favorite evaluation battle every year. When do you start leveling out the idea of “upside vs. floor"? Depending on the team and crucial elements like roster construction, draft capital, pending free agents down the road, etc., things can switch up in a hurry.
One name I’m going to war for this year is Ratiopharm Ulm forward Noa Essengue. There have been plenty of boards with Essengue much later than this, near the late teens. I completely understand that, but I think Essengue would be a name I’d want to swing on here if everything checked out. I’ve been watching Essengue closely over the last couple of years, ever since his days with Ratiopharm Ulm’s “junior” team.
He’s seen remarkable growth with his game and I’ve loved the intel I’ve heard. Essengue at #11. Let’s get wild.
—— At #11, Noa Essengue (Ratiopharm Ulm)
10:33 p.m. —— Nique Clifford at 12. Don’t overthink it.
Clifford rocks and checks every box you’d want. If you obsess over his age + the factor of him being an upperclassmen, you’re going to miss a heck of a basketball player. It’s early for some, but Clifford is the type of pick that makes a lottery team take a step towards playoff contention.
—— At #12, Nique Clifford (Colorado State)… for now
10:36 p.m. —— I’m at a point now where I need to just start firing off names to try to place the pieces together.
We’ve got Khaman Maluach (Duke), Carter Bryant (Arizona), Nolan Traore (Saint Quentin), Jase Richardson (Michigan State), and Rasheer Fleming (Saint Joseph’s).
Alright, I’ve got some names to ponder here.
Let’s go back to the concept I just talked about—upside vs. floor. There’s still some heavy swings on the board to look at when it comes to upside. If I’m swinging for upside, then Khaman Maluach needs to be in the picture here. Even with my doubts and concerns, we are still talking about a raw, 7’2”, 250-pound big man with finishing ability and defensive potential. We all know how NBA teams feel about size, and Maluach still shouldn’t be a name that makes it out of the top 10.
We haven’t even brought up the holy grail of draft debates this year…
Mr. Egor Demin (BYU).
11:05 p.m. —— I’m driving myself insane.
11:10 p.m. —— “Sometimes you’ve got to go back to actually move forward.”
Alright, screw it. I’m going to do it.
Let’s put Khaman Maluach at #12 and Nique Clifford at #13.
I don’t love it, but this exercise is starting to help me see things with a little bit of a different mindset. As much as I’m head-over-heels for Clifford as a prospect, I still have to consider the fact that Maluach is four years younger and has a floor that could see him carve out a long NBA career.
After that, we arrive at another fascinating debate when it comes to swinging vs. looking for a specific set of skills.
Jase Richardson took over draft circles throughout the year with his efficiency off the bench for the Spartans. Once Richardson was inserted into the starting lineup, he started to get the undivided attention of NBA personnel. There are still plenty that want to see his combine measurements, but there’s no denying that Jase knows how to play the game the right way.
On the other side of the fence is a bit of an upside swing. I was extremely cool on Nolan Traore (Saint Quentin) to start the year. After catching up on his tape from the second half of the year, I’ve started to quickly pivot. Traore is a blur with some legit off-the-ball explosiveness and craftiness. Let’s go with Traore at #14 and Jase Richardson at #15…. for now.
—— At #12, Khaman Maluach (Duke)
—— At #13, Nique Clifford (Colorado State)
—— At #14, Nolan Traore (Saint Quentin)
—— At #15, Jase Richardson (Michigan State)
11:28 p.m. —— It’s time for another update, folks!
Cooper Flagg (Duke)
Dylan Harper (Rutgers)
Ace Bailey (Rutgers)
VJ Edgecombe (Baylor)
Tre Johnson (Texas)
Jeremiah Fears (Oklahoma)
Derik Queen (Maryland)
Kasparas Jakucionis (Illinois)
Kon Knueppel (Duke)
Collin Murray-Boyles (South Carolina)
Noa Essengue (Ratiopharm Ulm)
Khaman Maluach (Duke)
Nique Clifford (Colorado State)
Nolan Traore (Saint Quentin)
Jase Richardson (Michigan State)
Back to the dart board.
Let’s throw out some other names to get the juices flowing.
We mentioned Carter Bryant (Arizona), Rasheer Fleming (Saint Joseph’s), and Egor Demin (BYU).
There’s also Thomas Sorber (Georgetown), Ben Saraf (Ulm), and Hugo Gonzalez (Real Madrid).
I’m going to lean upside here. Carter Bryant (Arizona) is still one of my guys. Honestly, I could make a self-argument to have him move up the board a little here.
Bryant won’t wow you with his stats, but when you start to look at the impact he made on that Arizona team, you find yourself giddy. He’s oozing with upside and is one to watch throughout the process as he tests the waters. A strong pre-draft process could get his stock smoking. Let’s put him at #16 for now.
I have as many questions as the next person when it comes to BYU freshman Egor Demin. But the truth is, this seems low. Demin is going to be around 6’8”-6’9” and one of the most gifted natural playmakers we’ve seen in recent drafts. When we’re evaluating these prospects, scouts are trying to figure out what specific players do to warrant time on an NBA court. With Demin, it’s his playmaking, feel, and positional versatility. If you’re buying the shot (I am), then why wouldn’t you have Demin higher?
Plenty will point at Demin’s lack of creation off the bounce, or the fact that he needed a screen often to get space. I agree with those concerns, but I also push back with the fact that I’m pretty sure they screen a lot at the NBA level, too.
I’m going crazy here, but I’m once again revamping the board. Take a look.
—— At #14, Egor Demin (BYU)
—— At #15, Carter Bryant (Arizona)
—— At #16, Jase Richardson (Michigan State)
—— At #17, Nolan Traore (Saint Quentin)
I know, I’m already moving around and battling with the Jase/Traore dilemma… did I just create a future headache for the next month? Classic.
11:56 p.m. —— We’re starting to get vicious here.
Thomas Sorber is coming off the board for me next. I know I had him way higher on my personal board, which I’m sure I’ll shake my head at after this exercise, but I’m still a big believer.
Sorber will continue to be at the very top of my watch list throughout the pre-draft process. A foot injury shut his season down early, and the expectation is that Sorber won’t be able to do much on-court work for teams. So he’s becoming the ultimate wildcard in this class. When I talked to NBA teams earlier, there were a lot of fans. But gauging that range and interest moving forward will be fascinating.
If Sorber does stay in the class, he’s a name that could become a serious party-crasher. He has a great foundation of skills to groom and he throws his weight around with force. For now, let’s put him at #18.
—— At #18, Thomas Sorber (Georgetown)
Hugo Gonzalez has a LOT of fans in NBA circles. I’m also still a big buyer. Hugo was in a tough spot as the classic “he’s fun and young, but he’s on a powerhouse team with no minutes available” guy. Seriously, go look at Real Madrid’s roster and if you’re an NBA fan, you’ll laugh when you see some of the names. Let’s put Hugo at #19.
—— At #19, Hugo Gonzalez (Real Madrid)
Despite some up and down play this year, I still think Ben Saraf can be a heck of a steal at some point of the draft. Having him at #20 is fine. I’d be thrilled to get him at that point and I’d understand if a team took a flier earlier.
Rasheer Fleming is next for me. I don’t love it (I want to move him up!) but I think this is the right range for Fleming. If you’re an NBA team with multiple picks, I think adding Fleming earlier than this would be an extremely intelligent move as a sweetener. Fleming knows his strengths and he’s got the tools to have a very lengthy and successful NBA career.
Fleming at #21? Sure, mark it down.
—— At #20, Ben Saraf (Ratiopharm Ulm)
—— At #21, Rasheer Fleming (Saint Joseph’s)
12:15 a.m. —— We’re in the Endgame now.
I mean, not really. But it gets the people going.
Let’s update this bad boy.
Cooper Flagg (Duke)
Dylan Harper (Rutgers)
Ace Bailey (Rutgers)
VJ Edgecombe (Baylor)
Tre Johnson (Texas)
Jeremiah Fears (Oklahoma)
Derik Queen (Maryland)
Kasparas Jakucionis (Illinois)
Kon Knueppel (Duke)
Collin Murray-Boyles (South Carolina)
Noa Essengue (Ratiopharm Ulm)
Khaman Maluach (Duke)
Nique Clifford (Colorado State)
Egor Demin (BYU)
Carter Bryant (Arizona)
Jase Richardson (Michigan State)
Nolan Traore (Saint Quentin)
Thomas Sorber (Georgetown)
Hugo Gonzalez (Real Madrid)
Ben Saraf (Ratiopharm Ulm)
Rasheer Fleming (Saint Joseph’s)
We’ve reached the part of this diary where some heavy-hitting music is needed to keep the depths of the brain awake.
The fun part of this exercise is thinking of names you’re intrigued by, but who don’t exactly fit the next spot. Surely those names you’re thinking about are too early… but it’s also becoming a little alarming for some of the names you might be forgetting about…
The names coming to mind are Liam McNeeley (UConn), Joan Beringer (Olimpija), Walter Clayton Jr. (Florida), and Kam Jones (Marquette).
I bought some property on Joan Beringer island earlier this year. It was a home that needed to be flipped, but it’s in a fantastic location within a gated community. We’re very pleased with the purchase and the potential return on investment.
Beringer is a name that deserves some more respect in the draft community. He’s only been playing basketball for a couple of years and grew up his entire life playing soccer.
Side note. That’s always a hilarious concept to me—someone being incredibly gifted at one sport before realizing they’re going to be close to 7’0” and deciding another sport might be the way to go.
The fascinating concept with Beringer is you can see that type of foundation on the court. Despite being listed at 6’11”, he glides on the court with impressive fluidity and footwork. If you’re ever looking for a young raw big man with tremendous upside, this is about as fun of a project as you can hope for. Beringer has serious (and I mean SERIOUS) defensive potential.
Let’s go with Beringer at #22, although I still absolutely love his game and could see him going earlier than this.
—— At #22, Joan Beringer (Olimpija)
I’ve had a rollercoaster of emotions throughout the year when it comes to UConn freshman Liam McNeeley. On paper, McNeeley has everything you’d want in a potential forward to snag near the end of the lottery. He’s got good size and a smooth looking shot from outside. But the consistency just never came around for McNeeley throughout the year. He’s a name that’s next on my list to do a deep dive on, as I need to go back and get a full sample size before cementing my evaluation.
For now, I think McNeeley at #23 is a little “low”, but let’s put him there for now.
—— At #23, Liam McNeeley (UConn)
I’m starting to feel a late rush of intrigue into Marquette senior guard Kam Jones. Heading into the 2024-25 NCAA season, I thought there was going to be a serious uphill challenge for Jones. That was because he was coming off a fantastic year in terms of production and efficiency—last year, Jones averaged 17.2 points per game while shooting 50.1% from the field and 40.6% from downtown.
The problem was that Marquette lost some serious firepower last summer, with the likes of Tyler Kolek (Knicks) and Oso Ighodaro (Suns) leaving for the NBA. That meant that Jones was going to be asked to do the heavy lifting. His numbers saw massive jumps across the board, although his efficiency from deep dropped to 31.1%. When I started to catch up on Jones, I saw just how shifty he can be with the ball in his hands. I think he’s going to be a player that can make an impact early on, especially for a potential playoff-caliber team.
Let’s put him #24. I’m feeling good about that one.
—— At #24, Kam Jones (Marqutte)
Walter Clayton Jr. (Florida) was tremendous throughout the NCAA tournament during the Gators’ run to the National Championship. That resulted in me going back to evaluate Clayton’s regular season, and it was a pleasant surprise to see just how lethal he was offensively. He has some fantastic stuff as a shot creator when it comes to his ability to get his shot off from a wide range of angles and off-balance looks. Clayton will be a fun wildcard, as teams could see him as a serious addition of juice in their rotation. He’s at #25—let’s ride.
—— At #25, Walter Clayton Jr (Florida)
12:45 a.m. —— We’re at 25. Reminder, we’re going to stop at 30 for everyone’s sanity (especially my own).
But here’s where we are at:
Cooper Flagg (Duke)
Dylan Harper (Rutgers)
Ace Bailey (Rutgers)
VJ Edgecombe (Baylor)
Tre Johnson (Texas)
Jeremiah Fears (Oklahoma)
Derik Queen (Maryland)
Kasparas Jakucionis (Illinois)
Kon Knueppel (Duke)
Collin Murray-Boyles (South Carolina)
Noa Essengue (Ratiopharm Ulm)
Khaman Maluach (Duke)
Nique Clifford (Colorado State)
Egor Demin (BYU)
Carter Bryant (Arizona)
Jase Richardson (Michigan State)
Nolan Traore (Saint Quentin)
Thomas Sorber (Georgetown)
Hugo Gonzalez (Real Madrid)
Ben Saraf (Ratiopharm Ulm)
Rasheer Fleming (Saint Joseph’s)
Joan Beringer (Olimpija)
Liam McNeeley (UConn)
Kam Jones (Marquette)
Walter Clayton Jr (Florida)
Now… who in the world am I missing?
My mind is drawing a blank right now trying to think of names I’ve been buying into late, or even cooling off on.
Ah, that reminds me.
Let’s talk about Labaron Philon (Alabama). Immediately, I look at the rankings above and realize I should probably have Philon a little higher. He’s going to be near the top of my list when it comes to names I’m monitoring closely throughout the pre-draft process.
Philon is such a fascinating evaluation. When you turn on the tape, he’s special. Philon has some ridiculous feel, and his ability to change gears and set defenders up with hesitations is a joy to watch. He’s crafty getting downhill and can finish with finesse around the basket. I love the floater game and think there’s some fun tools including his playmaking and on-ball defense.
The frame is definitely something that needs work, as Philon was listed at around 6’4”, 174 pounds at one point.
Still, this is the type of prospect I love to look back on after a full season. After catching up on Philon, I found myself buying in again.
Let’s move him up. I’m going to put him at #23.
—— At #23, Labaron Philon (Alabama)
12:53 a.m. —— So we’ve got what… 26 names down?
These last four are going to be fun.
The problem is that all I’m thinking about are names I know I have in my 33-43ish range of my personal board.
Noah Penda (Le Mans) comes into the picture here, although I’ve started to cool a bit.
Let’s keep digging.
Adou Thiero (Arkansas) is still one I’m intrigued with. Tahaad Pettiford (Auburn) and Johni Broome (Auburn) are some others.
Ryan Kalkbrenner (Creighton) is probably one of the best bigs to consider. But I’m not ready to have him in my 20s.
Alex Condon (Florida) would be a name that could creep up here, but I’m still in wait-and-see mode when it comes to his pre-draft process and how much buzz he could create. Especially given that Florida roster is going to be extremely fun next year…
There are names I’m missing.
I suddenly feel like Jack Nicholson in The Shining, just throwing a tennis ball against a wall inside an abandoned hotel resort.
1:06 a.m —— The challenging part of this range is that we’ve also got some guys that would for sure be on the board if they were declaring. But they could still be on the fence.
One name that comes screaming into the picture is Yaxel Lendeborg (UAB). Throughout the year, Yaxel continued to put up ridiculous production. He will be testing the waters, but there’s also a big expectation that we see him suit up for Michigan next year.
The Early Entry deadline recently passed, and it was notable how thin the list was. I’ll be fascinated to see what that means moving forward, as it could result in a couple of factors. Teams could be eager to try to get some players to stick in… ”promise season”, anyone? With the NIL in college basketball, there’s more desire for prospects to go back to school than ever.
It’s also something that NBA teams should be fine with, as in theory, it’s just improving the likelihood that players are more “NBA-ready’ when they finally enter the draft. But with a potentially shallow early entry list, I wonder if some teams could also be even more aggressive when trying to trade up to get “their guys.”
Back to Yaxel… I love what I saw from him on tape this year. He’s a tone-setting presence on the court who can get after it on both sides of the ball. I’d love to see what he can do playing at Michigan, as the Wolverines should be a force next year with him. For now, I’d easily have him up here on my board.
—— At #27, Yaxel Lendeborg (UAB)
1:23 a.m. —— We’ve officially got three more spots remaining before we re-evaluate…
Cooper Flagg (Duke)
Dylan Harper (Rutgers)
Ace Bailey (Rutgers)
VJ Edgecombe (Baylor)
Tre Johnson (Texas)
Jeremiah Fears (Oklahoma)
Derik Queen (Maryland)
Kasparas Jakucionis (Illinois)
Kon Knueppel (Duke)
Collin Murray-Boyles (South Carolina)
Noa Essengue (Ratiopharm Ulm)
Khaman Maluach (Duke)
Nique Clifford (Colorado State)
Egor Demin (BYU)
Carter Bryant (Arizona)
Jase Richardson (Michigan State)
Nolan Traore (Saint Quentin)
Thomas Sorber (Georgetown)
Hugo Gonzalez (Real Madrid)
Ben Saraf (Ratiopharm Ulm)
Rasheer Fleming (Saint Joseph’s)
Joan Beringer (Olimpija)
Labaron Philon (Alabama)
Liam McNeeley (UConn)
Kam Jones (Marquette)
Walter Clayton Jr (Florida)
Yaxel Lendeborg (UAB)
I’m stuck. I’m officially stuck here, folks.
At this point, I’m more excited to see what names I’m forgetting in this range. So I’m going to go with my gut here.
A name that suddenly popped into my head—and who I’m annoyed I spaced out on earlier—is Asa Newell (Georgia). It’s been a bit of a frustrating year re: Newell, and I mean that in the best way possible.
I’m still a big fan of Newell, but I continue to go back and forth about where to have him on my board. He’s a top-20 player in my opinion, but I’m also wondering if this is the name that I’m starting to overthink a little bit as the cycle progresses.
Newell has a great foundation to work with. He’s productive, and you know what you’re getting from the jump. I still believe in the outside shot and I think there’s some untapped potential offensively with his game. If I was a team with a natural center on the roster, Newell would be very intriguing to add to the mix, as it would immediately give you some lineup versatility.
But the problem now is that we’ve got to find a spot for him on the board. Let’s put Asa at #18, although once again, I don’t feel great about the spot.
Another name that just came into the picture and someone who I just caught up on film wise is Will Riley (Illinois).
I was much cooler on Riley throughout the year. After catching up on the tape, man am I glad I went back and gave him a thorough look. Riley is the definition of raw when it comes to his physical development. He’s listed at around 6’8”, but I’m not sure I’m buying that—he looks gigantic to me on tape. Personally, I’m wondering if Riley will be closer to 6’10” at the combine than 6’8”. There’s a long way to go with the talented freshman wing when it comes to his game being ready from a physical perspective. But the highs are sensational. Riley has a smooth outside shot with some underrated craftiness off the bounce.
If I was a team with multiple first round selections, I’d be wanting to get my hands on Riley as an asset with awesome upside. If I was a team that could work some magic to get up into the second half of the first round, I’d do it as well. For now, let’s put Riley at #25.
—— At #18, Asa Newell (Georgia)
—— At #25, Will Riley (Illinois)
1:40 a.m. —— Oh shit.
I forgot one very big name here.
(Starts slamming head on desk)
AND I’M HUNGRY LIKE THE (DANNY) WOLF.
Alright, well here’s a fun wrinkle.
Let’s take a deep breath.
I’m not going to have Danny Wolf (Michigan) at 30… so let’s revisit what we got and try to place him in a good spot.
Cooper Flagg (Duke)
Dylan Harper (Rutgers)
Ace Bailey (Rutgers)
VJ Edgecombe (Baylor)
Tre Johnson (Texas)
Jeremiah Fears (Oklahoma)
Derik Queen (Maryland)
Kasparas Jakucionis (Illinois)
Kon Knueppel (Duke)
Collin Murray-Boyles (South Carolina)
Noa Essengue (Ratiopharm Ulm)
Khaman Maluach (Duke)
Nique Clifford (Colorado State)
Egor Demin (BYU)
Carter Bryant (Arizona)
Jase Richardson (Michigan State)
Nolan Traore (Saint Quentin)
Asa Newell (Georgia)
Thomas Sorber (Georgetown)
Hugo Gonzalez (Real Madrid)
Ben Saraf (Ratiopharm Ulm)
Rasheer Fleming (Saint Joseph’s)
Joan Beringer (Olimpija)
Labaron Philon (Alabama)
Will Riley (Illinois)
Liam McNeeley (UConn)
Kam Jones (Marquette)
Walter Clayton Jr (Florida)
Yaxel Lendeborg (UAB)
You can make an argument that Danny Wolf is the “Joker” of the 2025 NBA Draft class. What I mean by that is that Wolf is going to be an agent of chaos when it comes to the pre-draft process. So far, every NBA team you ask will have a different answer on Danny Wolf. Some love him, some would like to get him later. He could end up having the widest range before the draft, just because he’s a classic “eye of the beholder” player.
If you have a roster in place that’s looking for an interesting wrinkle, Danny Wolf could be some serious eye-candy. If Wolf hits the ground running at the next level, he would present the opportunity to give his next NBA team a dangerous weapon that gives opposing defenses headaches. Wolf has the size of a center but the skills of a guard. He can run the show offensively at the top of the key with outstanding feel and playmaking ability. Wolf also has the ability to be a pick-and-pop weapon with some serious floor spacing potential.
There’s questions defensively, especially when it comes to the lack of vertical pop. But I think Wolf does enough as a team defender where he can be a real asset if you have the pieces in place.
Let’s put Danny Wolf at 20. Why not?
—— At #20, Danny Wolf (Michigan)
1:55 a.m. —— Here’s where we ended up.
Cooper Flagg (Duke)
Dylan Harper (Rutgers)
Ace Bailey (Rutgers)
VJ Edgecombe (Baylor)
Tre Johnson (Texas)
Jeremiah Fears (Oklahoma)
Derik Queen (Maryland)
Kasparas Jakucionis (Illinois)
Kon Knueppel (Duke)
Collin Murray-Boyles (South Carolina)
Noa Essengue (Ratiopharm Ulm)
Khaman Maluach (Duke)
Nique Clifford (Colorado State)
Egor Demin (BYU)
Carter Bryant (Arizona)
Jase Richardson (Michigan State)
Nolan Traore (Saint Quentin)
Asa Newell (Georgia)
Thomas Sorber (Georgetown)
Danny Wolf (Michigan)
Hugo Gonzalez (Real Madrid)
Ben Saraf (Ratiopharm Ulm)
Rasheer Fleming (Saint Joseph’s)
Joan Beringer (Olimpija)
Labaron Philon (Alabama)
Will Riley (Illinois)
Liam McNeeley (UConn)
Kam Jones (Marquette)
Walter Clayton Jr (Florida)
Yaxel Lendeborg (UAB)
All things considered, this doesn’t look too shabby. We’re at a point in the draft cycle where there are ranges in which each evaluator starts to really grind out their order preference. That number continues to alter every passing day, but I’d say starting at around 10-20 is my true House of Pain.
For the first time during this exercise, folks, I’m going to pull up my CURRENT Personal Big Board Rankings and see where I had some differences.
(Glances at Big Board)
Okay. Well, we’ve got a lot of differences.
THE REVIEW
Top 10 was identical… so at least I feel good there
Khaman Maluach +4 from Personal Big Board (the gift that keeps giving)
Jase Richardson +3
Asa Newell +2
Thomas Sorber -4
Danny Wolf +2
Liam McNeeley -4
Rasheer Fleming -5
Names not mentioned: Maxime Raynaud (29th on personal board)
Overall, some interesting results. I actually came away more intrigued with my Big Board rankings above, and it’s resulted in some immediate personal debates. There are a number of players I continue to love. At the same time, those players are somehow slipping down my ranks.
The biggest eye-opener for me in that instance is Rasheer Fleming. I had Fleming at 18th on my Personal Big Board. That was after moving him down a bit. With Fleming, I’m just simply buying the floor being higher than others. You’re getting a floor-spacing asset with tremendous size and power that has the tools to carve out a lengthy career as a 3-and-D asset.
But there’s also the potential that I’m being a little too upbeat about that. Back to the drawing board.
The Jase Richardson ranking honestly has me feeling pretty pleased. I think that would be a good range for Richardson. Although some have high praise for Richardson, I’m curious to see his measurements at the combine. Richardson is a player that every time I’m puzzled, I turn on the tape and find myself pleased with his game. In a normal year, I’d love to get a player like Richardson as a change of pace guard with some untapped potential waiting to be unlocked. Those are the type of players that NBA teams are always trying to find. Once those teams find them, they’re gonna do everything in their power to try to keep them.
Interesting that I didn’t include Maxime Raynaud (Stanford) in this exercise. I’m a big fan of Raynaud, especially as a potential big at the end of the first. Like Danny Wolf, Raynaud has some sensational mobility on the offensive side of the ball for a player of his size.
I’m not surprised to see the Khaman Maluach difference. That’s the range I think would be my “ceiling” for Maluach right now. There’s always one prospect that every evaluator has to pick a bone with throughout the process. You find yourself doing everything in your power to try to finally “see it.” Some prospects, you can see it right away. Others require even more digging than you expect. With Maluach, I love the idea. But drafting “an idea” is one of my ultimate fears.
That just means diving deeper down the rabbit hole to try to paint the picture.
This was a lot of fun!
where is joan beringer? Essengue you've heard about...but I can guarantee you will be drafted higher. I really think most of these mocks are pretty predictable.