The 2025-2026 No Stone Unturned Sleeper Cell

Maxwell covers every past No Stone Unturned prospect with draft eligibility remaining. Scouting reports on Yaxel Lendeborg, Darrion Williams, Ryan Conwell, and more!

Oct 13, 2025

During the summer of 2022, I started a new series here at No Ceilings, titled “No Stone Unturned.” There was a multi-pronged purpose to the series. The first was to examine off-the-radar players with interesting statistical profiles just to see if anything was there. Another part of it was to improve myself as a scout. By covering players no one else was talking about, I couldn’t use consensus as a crutch or “cheat off someone else’s homework.” These were players who weren’t on any mainstream boards and didn’t receive any combine invites. It was all on me to figure out what was what, and then learn from my hits and misses free of outside influence. But ultimately, the greater purpose of the series has been to shine a light on players who could be disruptors in the draft space and get their names out there. As time has gone on and I’ve improved as a scout, my focus has shifted more toward highlighting the best off-the-radar prospects more so than those who are purely “interesting.”

This past year was a big one for the No Stone Unturned series. Going into the 2024-2025 NBA season, the series had produced three first-round picks—Dalton Knecht, Ben Sheppard, and Dillon Jones. Additionally, players like Ricky Council IV and David Jones managed to carve out spaces on the margins. Ben Sheppard went on to be the first player from the series to play NBA Finals minutes. Then, the 2025 Draft came, and the series added three more first-round picks in Cedric Coward, Walter Clayton Jr., and Danny Wolf. Additionally, six No Stone Unturned prospects heard their names called in the second round (Rasheer Fleming, Sion James, Jamir Watkins, Brooks Barnhizer, Amari Williams, and Max Shulga). Others (RJ Luis, Viktor Lakhin, Brice Williams, Chris Manon, Igor Milicic Jr., Jacksen Moni, Zeke Mayo, Norchad Omier, Steve Settle III, Augustas Marciulionis, Zach Hicks, Matt Cross, Johnny O’Neil, Zack Austin, Erik Reynolds II, and Josh Uduje) signed undrafted deals of various degrees.

This past summer, I looked at yet another sleeper group. But what about players from past editions of the series who haven’t finished school yet? I’m glad I asked! Today, we’ll take a look at where they stand. We’ll break the prospects into groups to show how close or far they may be from an NBA opportunity.

Welcome…to the No Stone Unturned Sleeper Cell!

Firmly in the Mix

This first group consists of players who have received Top 60 rankings on mainstream 2026 mock drafts.

Yaxel Lendeborg, 6’9”, 240 Pounds, Graduate, Michigan

24-25 Stats (at UAB): 17.7 PPG, 11.4 RPG, 4.2 APG, 2.2 TOV, 1.8 BPG, 1.7 SPG

24-25 Shooting Splits: 52.2/35.7/75.7

The Buzz:

-14th on Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo’s 2026 Mock Draft
-16th on Sam Vecenie’s 2026 Mock Draft

The Pitch:

Yaxel Lendeborg has a wonderful skill set that fits the modern NBA landscape, which values five-out play on both sides of the floor and the reemergence of double-big lineups.

He shines most as a passer. This past season, he registered a 22.8 AST%, which is more common among guard prospects than 4/5 hybrid big men. What’s more, the way he generates these assists screams of NBA functionality. Lendeborg is a tenacious rebounder (24.9 DRB%), and he has the ball skills to lead the break in transition, creating unique advantages in early offense. He can sling the ball to cutters from the perimeter, and he has the accuracy to thread the needle in tight spaces. When he’s posting up, he can find teammates anywhere on the floor, and he stays poised against doubles. Best of all, though, the guy can actually dribble. Lendeborg can attack mismatches downhill or charge toward the rack when he’s presented with an open driving lane. He keeps his head up on the go, allowing him to make slick interior dishes out of his live dribble or spray it out to shooters when their defender comes to help from the perimeter. Ball skills have never been more important for NBA big men, and Lendeborg will enter the league with one of the most diverse playmaking portfolios we’ve seen from a big man in recent history.

Still, playmaking in the absence of scoring isn’t that valuable. Lendeborg has carved out a few effective niches as a scorer. First, there’s the offensive glass. I touched on his defensive rebounding earlier, but it carries over to this side of the ball, too. Teams have to put a body on Lendeborg or he’ll make them pay. His 11.6 ORB% last season was an impressive mark, but particularly so when contextualizing the fact that he played a more perimeter-oriented role by big man standards. His touch and timing enabled him to finish in the 88th percentile on putback efficiency while slotting 73rd in putback frequency last season, per Synergy. Plus, Lendeborg is a solid floor spacer. He hit 35.7% of his threes on just under two attempts per game this past season while boasting a smooth stroke and consistent mechanics.

Lendeborg is every bit as versatile on the defensive end. He’s got a 7’4” wingspan and he knows how to use it. He’s a master takeaway artist for a big, as he posted a 2.9 STL% last year. He does a great job of getting into passing lanes and handles with his long arms. He has sharp off-ball help instincts, particularly around the basket (6.2 BLK% during his two seasons at UAB). He’s a fluid mover, which helps him to slide his feet and contain smaller opponents at the point of attack. Off the ball, that trait enables him to shift directions in a seamless manner prior to covering ground for rotations and closeouts. Lendeborg’s positioning in drop coverage is solid, and he’s still a good enough lateral mover to switch consistently. Plus, there’s the aforementioned defensive rebounding, which allows him to end possessions and prevent second-chance scoring opportunities. There’s a lot to like on both sides of the ball.

The Swing Skill(s):

I’m not entirely convinced that Lendeborg has enough juice as a scorer to keep defenses honest at the NBA level. He only made 59.6% of his halfcourt rim attempts this past season. That’s a poor mark by big man standards, though not a total dealbreaker when a big man is more perimeter-oriented and is self-creating those looks more often. Still, given that he was playing in a mid-major conference, I’d like to see that number be higher. To make matters worse, Lendeborg particularly struggled against better competition. His 59.2 TS% and 54.9 eFG% dropped to 52.7 TS% and 47.0 eFG% against Top 100 opponents, per BartTorvik. That’s foreboding not just for his move to the NBA, but even to Michigan.

Much of his interior struggles can be attributed to physical shortcomings. Lendeborg isn’t overwhelmingly powerful. As a result, he can’t just bully his man under the basket and get an easy look inside. When he’s matched up one-on-one, it usually ends in a contested look rather than a clean one attained via dominating the strength battle. Additionally, he’s not super bouncy. Again, this makes it a hair tougher for him to get the finish inside. Part of that could come from his upright nature, as he doesn’t have a great deal of bend in his knees to help him explode off the floor. Sometimes, he feels a bit rushed and uncoordinated inside. He can also settle for tough, floater-range shots too early in the clock.

Final Assessment:

I think it’s reasonable to have some apprehension about Yaxel Lendeborg. He’s going to turn 24 years old prior to playing in his first NBA game. Historically, the hit rate on much older prospects isn’t great, and the ones who pan out are usually more in the role player mold than the high-level starter mold. Then, there’s the fact that he really struggled to put the ball in the basket against UAB’s better opponents this past season. If he’s not going to be able to score inside in the NBA, he’ll need to become a more prolific jump shooter. And if that doesn’t come along, then what?

Still, I remain an optimist, and I think Lendeborg is going to be a good NBA player. He becomes all the more intriguing when you factor in his background. Lendeborg barely played in high school. He just started shooting jumpers two years ago. He’s a genuine late bloomer, but his combination of a high level of feel and ball skills is quite unusual for someone who didn’t begin playing until later on in life. Often, players who came to the game late can struggle to keep up with the mental pace of the game at the NBA level. With Lendeborg, that dynamic is inverted, as he always feels a step ahead of his opponents. His blend of size, skill, savvy, and all-around versatility feels tailor-made for the five-out and double-big oriented schemes we continue to see more and more frequently. His upward trajectory and the value of his traits at his size make him an easy Top 20 guy to start the year for me.

Darrion Williams, 6’6”, 225 Pounds, Senior, North Carolina State

24-25 Stats (at Texas Tech): 15.1 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 3.6 APG, 1.9 TOV, 1.3 SPG, 0.4 BPG

24-25 Shooting Splits: 43.9/34.0/83.6

The Buzz:

-33rd on Sam Vecenie’s 2026 Mock Draft
-41st on Jonathan Givony’s 2026 Mock Draft

The Pitch:

Darrion Williams is a big-bodied wing with exceptional feel who always finds a way to stuff the stat sheet.

Williams has been an impactful player on both sides of the ball throughout his college tenure. Defensively, he does a good job of making opponents deal with his large frame. He uses his chest well, routinely wins the bump battle, and forces opponents to play through him. Off ball, he has a strong understanding of where to be. Additionally, his hand-eye coordination shines when he pinpoints the ball for steals and gets in low for blocks, as he routinely manages to get a hand on the rock without fouling. Offensively, he’s been a good shooter throughout his college career, going 37.9% from distance on 6.5 attempts per 100 possessions and hitting 84.2% of his free throws. His skill set lends itself to a complementary role, as he’s sunk 41.7% of his catch-and-shoot triples in the halfcourt throughout his college career. He’ll also readily punish size mismatches with his post-up game, and he’s comfortable using his body to carve out bits of space for his mid-range pull-up when necessary.

What makes Williams particularly interesting, though, is his passing. Nowhere else does his feel shine through as brightly. Williams’ shooting gravity, craft as a ball screen operator, and his sense of his defender’s momentum allow him to generate advantages. His power helps him hold his line, too. But Williams’ on-the-go vision sets him apart from most of his wing peers. He’s comfortable operating in tight spaces, he knows which type of pass to throw, and he has the touch to thread needles. There’s some flair to him, but he’s never creative for creativity’s sake; rather, he's only creative when it bolsters his functionality. Plus, he doesn’t need to stop the ball, as he excels at hot potato style touch passes that can be a necessity in the NBA. His floor mapping is outstanding, whether it’s in transition, early offense, or the halfcourt. It feels like he always knows where his teammates are while also knowing the best way to get the ball to them. Mentally, it feels like he’s operating on a different tier. There just aren’t that many players who can make as good of decisions as quickly or as skillfully as Darrion Williams.

The Swing Skill(s):

I have significant athletic concerns about Darrion Williams. Offensively, he loves to operate with his back to the basket, even on the perimeter. Most NBA role players don’t get to do that and play in an entirely face-up oriented role. The reason for this is partially that he can get to his spots in college that way, but it’s also because he struggles to get to them the more traditional way for a wing, which is with a speedy first step. It’s hard for me to imagine him getting to the rim much at the NBA level. And even when he does get to the basket, he’s pretty ground-bound. He’s registered six total dunks through three college seasons. For reference, Corey Kispert had ten dunks in his final college season at Gonzaga. Defensively, he’s going to have foot speed issues at the point of attack. I worry more about him more off ball, though. He has a hard time chasing his man around screens and he’s slow covering ground.

Final Assessment:

When I covered Darrion Williams during the 2023 edition of No Stone Unturned, I wrote the following:

Darrion Williams is going to be one of the most fascinating test cases in the draft space going forward. He’s going to tell an interesting story as far as how far feel and intelligence can carry a player in the face of pretty severe athletic limitations.

Really, that’s still where we’re at. Williams is undersized for a four while being slow for a three. The dunk numbers are a red flag I take pretty seriously, too. The wings who overcome low dunk numbers are typically elite shooters. Williams is a good three-point shooter, but I wouldn’t call him elite. And while he’s up to speed mentally, I worry about his ability to keep up with the pace of an NBA game from a physical standpoint. He’s going to need to maximize every ounce of athleticism he’s got in order to hang defensively. At the NBA Combine, he registered a 6’6.5” wingspan, so he doesn’t have a ton of length to bail him out, either.

There’s not much room for error here. If Williams struggles with his shot out of the gate at the NBA level, things could get ugly in a hurry. Look at a player like fellow No Stone Unturned prospect Dillon Jones, an undersized, high-feel wing who the Thunder were more than happy to move on from after one season. That’s not to say that Jones won’t pan out; there’s still plenty of time for him. But the risk tolerance for subpar wing athletes with shooting woes isn’t particularly high at the moment.

That said, there’s hope for Williams. He’s a much better three-point shooter than a player like Dillon Jones was at any point in his college career, and he’s faced better competition, too. He’s also a much more active, proven off-ball defender who knows how to use his body at the point of attack. On offense, he’s consistently shot the ball well off the catch. Few can connect the dots as effectively and quickly as him, too. His feel is off the charts, he’s made threes at a solid clip, and he’s really strong. As a result, it’s easy to see why teams could be eager to take a crack at him. There’s some Royce O’Neal, Grant Williams-ish type stuff in here that you can talk yourself into. I’m intrigued to see what he’ll look like in another context this season, and if he can propel himself into first-round territory. For the time being, his traits make him an intriguing swing come the second round.

Ryan Conwell, 6’4”, 215 Pounds, Senior, Louisville

24-25 Stats (at Xavier): 16.5 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 2.5 APG, 1.6 TOV, 1.3 SPG, 0.2 BPG

24-25 Shooting Splits: 45.0/41.3/82.8

The Buzz:

-43rd on Sam Vecenie’s 2026 Mock Draft
-52nd on Jonathan Givony’s 2026 Mock Draft

The Pitch:

Ryan Conwell is a lights-out shooter who is built for the physicality of the NBA.

Conwell broke out as a sophomore at Indiana State, where he shone as a sharpshooter. Still, there were concerns as to how he’d scale up at Xavier, as he’d be facing stiffer competition, and he wouldn’t be playing off of an elite passing big man anymore. Despite a tougher context, Conwell increased both his volume and efficiency, going 41.3% from long range while taking 12.3 attempts per 100 possessions. The lefty sniper is particularly deadly off movement. Per Synergy, Conwell hit 41.5% of his transition threes, 43.8% of his threes coming off screens, and 46.3% of his threes in handoff scenarios. Whether he’s sprinting forward, back-pedaling, running right, or shuffling left, Conwell is a big-time threat from distance. His track record of high-volume efficiency from behind the arc, paired with his dynamism, should make him one of the best shooters in the 2026 NBA Draft class. In an era where NBA teams are shooting more threes than ever, that’s significant.

What I like about Conwell relative to other sharpshooters of his height is that he brings a different level of physicality to the table. He’s 215 pounds, with broad shoulders and chiseled arms. Offensively, that gives him more ways to get his shot off the ball. He can use bumps prior to movement to gain separation or get himself open after setting screens. Where I really like it, though, is on the defensive end. Conwell is an ultra-physical defender who makes opponents try to play through him. He does a great job of walling up and forcing his opponents into mistakes. He was able to hold his ground even when crossmatched against college fours. Conwell shows a solid level of effort when navigating ball screens, and he uses his length well. His combination of determination and power should give him more versatility than your typical 6’4” player. Guards get mismatch hunted by bigger players more than ever, making the fact that Conwell is far from a pushover quite valuable. Oftentimes, the concern with premier shooters is whether or not they can hang on an NBA floor defensively, and I worry about that less with Conwell than others.

The Swing Skill(s):

Ryan Conwell’s stock would be higher if front offices felt more confident in what he could do when run off the line. His first step is a bit lumbering, and when he does get to the rim, he lacks vertical pop. As a result, he only made 51.4% of his halfcourt rim attempts. His passing isn’t anything to write home about, either. He does a nice job of making the simple, basic read against help or when he draws two on the ball, and he’s far from mistake-prone, but there isn’t anything exciting about his playmaking. As a result, he’s typically played more of an off-ball role, and his career assist rate sits at just 14.6%. Defensively, he’s a hair clunky laterally, and he has to cross his feet to try to stay in the play at times.

Final Assessment:

Conwell’s current shortcomings are pretty serious ceiling inhibitors. He’s an older, sub-6’5” prospect who’s never posted a usage rate over 24%. He doesn’t have a particularly impressive dribble game or a mesmerizing passing bag. But what Ryan Conwell does have is one of the best, most dynamic jumpshots in the sport. Throw in the fact that he has the strength to knock people around and a good understanding of how to operate within a team construct, and it’s easy to understand the appeal. He’s a plug-and-play shooter who will stretch the floor at an elite level, keep the offense flowing, and hold his own physically. While it’s not the most coveted archetype in the league, it’s one that you’ll find around the association. If Conwell can display growth as a playmaker this year, he could ascend into the first-round conversation. But at worst, I’d love him as a two-way target.

Tucker DeVries, 6’7”, 220 Pounds, Redshirt Senior, Indiana

24-25 Stats (at West Virginia): 14.9 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 2.8 APG, 1.9 TOV, 1.8 SPG, 1.5 BPG

24-25 Shooting Splits: 41.2/47.3/82.1

The Buzz:

-54th on Sam Vecenie’s 2026 Mock Draft

The Pitch:

Tucker DeVries is a dribble-pass-shoot wing with a great frame who really knows how to play basketball.

What I like most about DeVries offensively is that he feels like the ideal “scale down” bet at the NBA level. Throughout his college tenure, he’s been tasked with initiating a larger share of the offense than most at his position, as evident by his career usage rate of 28.1%. It’s tough to put too much weight into his eight-game sample from last season, which was cut short due to injury. But the year prior at Drake, DeVries’ most common play type was operating as a pick-and-roll ball handler, and he ranked in the 91st percentile in efficiency on those play types. He plays really low with his dribble, he has the physicality to get to his spots, and he has multiple counter moves at his disposal. Better yet, he always has his head up for teammates and can make smart passes on the move. His 20.4 AST% over the past two seasons is a testament to that. It’s highly unlikely that DeVries will be a primary initiator at the NBA level, but the fact that he has an established track record of putting the ball on the floor, playing efficiently while doing so, and making good decisions demonstrates that he may be able to take on more when need be.

On a more basic level, DeVries should be able to butter his bread as a shooter. His career mark of 36.7% from deep might seem more “good” than “great,” but dig deeper, and you’ll get excited. For starters, there’s the volume, as he’s taken 12.2 threes per 100 possessions over the course of his career. Then, there’s the difficulty. As his team’s primary option throughout his time in college basketball, DeVries has been a primary focal point of defensive scouting reports. As a result, nothing comes easy, so he has to play with real dynamism from long range. He can drain threes flying off screens and handoffs, even if he doesn’t have his feet and body aligned perfectly with the basket before going into his shooting motion. He’s also comfortable pulling up from behind the arc. I anticipate that his shooting is what will allow him to carve out his niche, but it’s the other elements of his offensive game that make him more intriguing to me than other “shooting specialists.”

The other thing that draws me to DeVries over other marksmen is his ability to defend within a team concept. Simply put, he always knows where to be. He has a great understanding of what the opposing offense is trying to accomplish. He doesn’t gamble often, but when he does, it’s well timed. He reliably gets into position on his low man rotations. His ground coverage on rotations is pretty solid, and his engagement has him ready to move. It also doesn’t hurt that he’s 6’7” and 220 pounds. He uses his frame well while guarding the ball, bumping bodies to stifle dribble penetration. He does a great job of throwing his chest on smaller, quicker opponents to contain the ball. His career defensive playmaking metrics (2.3 STL%, 2.0 BLK%) are rock-solid for his archetype, and the fact that he rebounds (career 17.2 DRB%) shows that he’ll exert the necessary effort to end possessions. There’s a real case that he’ll be able to hang on this side of the ball, too.

The Swing Skill(s):

One big concern about DeVries is his health. He’s been banged up a lot over the years. He injured his shoulder at Drake in January 2024 and then missed most of last season due to a shoulder injury suffered in December of 2024. Beyond that, he’s not the greatest athlete. His advantage creation is largely the product of his ability to manipulate ball screens and overpower opponents, which will be a bit tougher to scale up to the next level. When teams run him off the three-point line, he’s not a blur downhill, nor does he easily soar above the rim off one foot. Defensively, his lateral footwork can get a bit clunky, and he doesn’t change directions particularly well.

Final Assessment:

DeVries’ injury and athletic concerns, in tandem, are a bit daunting. He’ll need to maximize his agility, speed, and lift while managing to stay healthy. Still, I remain fully aboard The Tuck Train. At the end of the day, I think he’s a terrific basketball player. He can shoot the cover off the ball in a variety of contexts, I trust him to make decisions, and I think the combination of his strength and timing will enable him to do enough defensively to stay on the floor. Dribble-pass-shoot players will always be enviable, and that’s DeVries. It may take a while for his timing to adjust to the NBA’s pace of play, but I think he’s a better bet than most to carve out a rotation spot. I’m bullish on his stock relative to consensus.

Joshua Jefferson, 6’9”, 240 Pounds, Senior, Iowa State

24-25 Stats: 13.0 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 3.1 APG, 2.4 TOV, 2.1 SPG, 0.7 BPG

24-25 Shooting Splits: 52.0/31.0/75.6

The Buzz:

-55th on Sam Vecenie’s 2026 Mock Draft

The Pitch:

Joshua Jefferson is an elite defender with NBA size who can pass the hell out of the ball.

His defense is a work of art. Nothing comes easy against Jefferson at the point of attack. Per Synergy, Jefferson registered 35 isolation defense possessions last year and surrendered a measly 13 points on them. He’s big enough that opponents can’t get through him and long enough that they can’t go around him. But beyond his measurements, he’s technically proficient. He does a great job of mirroring the ball and staying square. As a result, he’s able to guard up and down the positional spectrum effectively. If you’re more into off-ball defense, he’s got you covered there, too. His hand speed is outrageous. Watch the first clip in the video above. As Richie Saunders drives to the rim and Jefferson slides into position, he initially sets up to take a charge before deciding at the last second, “you know what, I’ll actually block his shot instead.” And he had the hand speed to pull that off! He has sharp rotational instincts as the low man and smells blood in the water when opportunities for a rejection come his way. Plus, his strong chest enables him to stay vertical well. He’s a nightmare in passing lanes, covering ground well, and taking up large amounts of space with his length. His motor runs hot in transition, too. The tools, effort, and feel are all there. As a result, Jefferson is a versatile, productive (21.7 DRB%, 4.1 STL%, 3.0 BLK%) defender in a way that should be scalable to the NBA.

Offensively, Jefferson’s best skill is his passing. He registered a 19.6 AST% this past season and often acted as a hub of offense for the Cyclones. He picks up the low-hanging fruit created by defensive lapses on a consistent basis, but there’s more to him than that. Jefferson often makes intermediate and advanced reads that further scramble defenses. Whether facing up or posting up, Jefferson loves to palm the ball like a water polo player before slinging it to open teammates. He can make long, cross-court deliveries from a standstill, whether it’s to an open shooter or a slashing teammate. He’s also comfortable putting the ball on the deck, whether he’s running a ball screen, attacking a closeout, keeping it out of a DHO, or operating out of the short roll. From there, he can manipulate rim protectors before making clever dishes through tight spaces or punish perimeter defenders who over-help. This blend of feel and skill could make him a weapon on the offensive side of the ball, too.

The Swing Skill(s):

I’m not entirely sure how Joshua Jefferson scores on an NBA floor currently. For starters, he’s not a shooter at the moment. Over the course of his college career, he’s made only 29.3% of his threes on low volume while shooting an acceptable-but-uninspiring 74.2% at the charity stripe. Typically, the idea would then turn to, “OK, well, just roll him to the basket,” but he’s not great there, either. Jefferson only made 55.8% of his halfcourt rim attempts this past season, which is a poor mark for a player his size. He’s not particularly fast or vertically explosive, limiting his value as a roll man and lob target. There aren’t many players who found NBA success at the forward spot after entering the league as an inefficient, low-volume three-point shooter and a subpar finisher.

Final Assessment:

If Joshua Jefferson doesn’t pan out in the NBA, it will almost certainly be because he didn’t present enough of a scoring threat to earn the respect of defenses and weaponize his passing arsenal. This year, front offices will be locked onto his jump shot and interior scoring game to see if he can find a way to put the ball in the basket efficiently. If he does, there’s plenty to get excited about. Jefferson is a big, physical forward who thinks the game two steps ahead of his opponents. He’s an excellent, versatile defender both on and off the ball. He’s a magnificent passer. The question is just whether or not he can score enough for any of it to matter in an NBA context. I love Jefferson as a second-round swing right now because he has clear-cut NBA-level skills in a vacuum. The hope is that he can take the offensive steps forward this year to alleviate concerns about his projection on that side of the floor.

Don’t Count Them Out!

These players may not have as much buzz as the prospects in the tier above them. Still, there’s a lot to like about their game. I anticipate that at worst, they’ll get NBA looks when their college career comes to a close, but that doesn’t mean they can’t hit a much better outcome than simply being on the radar.

Aly Khalifa, 7’0”, 250 Pounds, Redshirt Senior, Louisville

Aly Khalifa is one of the best passing big men in college basketball. He’s an electric orchestrator at the top of the key, capable of threading needles to cutters. During his junior season at BYU, he registered a comical 32.6 AST%. Look at these passes!

I can hear the complaints coming now. “He’s going to turn 24 in November!” “He had a sub-50 True Shooting Percentage!” “He’s super slow and ground-bound!” “BYU got torched defensively when he was on the floor!” All of that is valid. But what if I told you that in the time since we last saw Aly Khalifa, he got absolutely shredded?

Maybe he’ll still be too far behind the defensive curve. Heck, he still has a long way to go as a scorer, too. A guy like Drew Timme has been cutting his teeth on the margins for what feels like forever now, and he was a much more polished finisher than Khalifa. Still, 7-footers who pass like Khalifa don’t come around very often, and I’m incredibly intrigued to see what he’s going to look like post-body transformation. It’s hard for me to imagine that an NBA team won’t at least kick the Summer League tires on him. I wanted to lead off the “Don’t Write Them Off!” tier with Khalifa, because while he’s been out of sight, out of mind after redshirting this past season, I think his unique skill set and new physique make him incredibly interesting if nothing else.

Juslin Bodo Bodo, 6’11”, 231 Pounds, Junior, Baylor

Juslin Bodo Bodo is an awesome run-jump athlete who thrives at the classic big man stuff. He won back-to-back Big South Defensive Player of the Year Awards at High Point. His length and speed off the floor make him a big-time rim deterrent, and his 7.6 BLK% through two college seasons is a strong mark. Better yet, he has heaps of lateral agility, and the former soccer player is more than capable of holding his own on an island. Bodo Bodo is also an elite rebounder (18.3 ORB%, 27.4 DRB%) who will do the dirty work on the boards. Offensively, he thrives off put-backs, dump-offs in the dunker spot, and opportunities as a roller. His bounce enables him to finish above the rim on a consistent basis (40 dunks, per Synergy).

I’m generally a believer in keeping the big picture in mind, and Bodo Bodo checks the big picture boxes for a center. He can anchor a defense, own the glass, and finish plays. While few can do the big picture things as well as Bodo Bodo, he offers very little else. He can’t stretch the floor, and while he got better at the free-throw line, he still shot under 60% there. More concerning is the fact that he’s had back-to-back seasons of a sub-2% assist rate, which is far from ideal. Bodo Bodo has posted 13 total assists in 1630 minutes played. While part of it can be chalked up to his role, it’s still exceedingly rare to see such a low number, regardless of context. Bodo Bodo appears uncomfortable dribbling the ball, and he freezes up when he has the rock for more than a few seconds. As good as he is at some of the most important elements of playing his position, big men are required to have more ball skills than ever before. He’ll need to prove he can do more with the ball. But if he does that over the next two years, he’s off to the races. His blend of physical gifts and motor is tough to match.

Kasean Pryor, 6’10”, 230 Pounds, Sixth Year, Louisville

Kasean Pryor’s last season at Louisville got cut short due to injury. The downside is that Pryor turns 25 in January, and he posted a brutal 40.4 eFG% in his seven games last season. The upside is that he’s a great mover for his size who gets after it on the glass, generates stocks on defense, puts up threes, and makes some impressive passes. From a physical and movement perspective, he absolutely looks the part. If he can get his jumper going, he could easily find his way back into the mix, even at his advanced age. Pryor went 35.2% from deep during the 23-24 season, so that outcome is indeed on the table. The skill and athletic profile here are really great; I’m just concerned about his age, the size of his role, and how he’ll bounce back from injury.

Kimani Hamilton, 6’8”, 225 Pounds, Senior, UNLV

Kimani Hamilton has an interesting swing season coming up. He led the Big South in BPM (4.4) for High Point last season. He stuffed the stat sheet with an 11.3 TRB%, 17.3 AST%, 2.4 STL%, and 1.9 BLK%. Hamilton also scored an efficient 13.1 PPG while carrying a 26.7 USG%. There’s a lot to like here. Hamilton is a big wing with ball skills who can put it on the deck, read the floor, draw fouls (.507 FTr), finish above the rim (26 dunks, per Symergy), and guard multiple positions. There are two holdups. The first is that Hamilton is most comfortable with the offense flowing through him right now, and he can tend to stop the ball. I don’t worry about that too much, as it’s something we see players adapt to pretty consistently when they scale up. I do worry about his shot, though. Hamilton went 32.2% from deep on 6.1 attempts per 100 possessions. He’s also more comfortable pulling up, going only 29.0% on his catch-and-shoot attempts, per Synergy. He’ll need to get those numbers up to prove he’s cut out for a complementary role at the pro level. If he can do that, he has just about everything else you could ask for in a role player.

Micah Handlogten, 7’1”, 260 Pounds, Senior, Florida

There’s a lot working against Micah Handlogten. For starters, there’s a massive logjam in the Gators’ front court, with NBA prospects Thomas Haugh, Alex Condon, and Rueben Chinyelu all in front of him. Then, there’s some on-court stuff. Handlogten shot a measly 18.2% at the charity stripe last season. Despite his size, he’s only posted a 4.5 BLK% during his two seasons at Florida. Still, he’s an absolutely massive human who moves well for his size, controls the glass (18.0 ORB%, 21.4 DRB%, and demonstrates better feel than most bigs (13.2 AST%, 2.7 STL%). He’d probably be further up the board in any other context. If he can start to make free throws at a respectable level, there could be a Dylan Cardwell-style, “I know he doesn’t play a huge role, but he’s actually quite valuable” push for him as the draft draws near.

Amarri Monroe, 6’7”, 220 Pounds, Senior, Quinnipiac

Let’s get the negatives out of the way, and then we’ll get to why I remain optimistic. Amarri Monroe had a brutal 1.6-to-2.6 assist-to-turnover ratio this past season. He also shot a meager 27.3% from deep. In the modern NBA, the standard role for a wing on offense is basically “hit shots and keep the ball moving,” and Monroe did a poor job on those two fronts this past season.

Still, I think the context surrounding Monroe warrants consideration. As a sophomore, Monroe posted a 22.5 USG%, with his role being much more focused on his defensive output. This past year, his usage rate climbed to 29.5%, which is astronomical for any wing, but particularly one who never came close to spearheading an offense before. And while Monroe struggled from deep this year, he did take 9.9 attempts per 100 possessions. Plus, he hit 35.1% of his threes on decent volume as a sophomore, and he’s shot over 80% at the line over the past two years. And while his scoring/playmaking wasn’t ideal, Monroe still did all of the hard-charging athlete stuff you could possibly ask for. He posted a 7.5 ORB%, 23.6 DRB%, 3.8 STL%, and 2.5 BLK% despite shouldering a massive offensive burden. If Monroe can get his three-ball back going while settling into his initiator digs as a decision maker, he could emerge as one of the best mid-major prospects in the country.

Robert McCray V, 6’4”, 188 Pounds, Redshirt Senior, Florida State

I’m really looking forward to seeing Robert McCray V as a part of the new-look Seminoles this year. He spent the past two seasons doing just about everything for Jacksonville. There, he hit 34.2% of his threes on good volume, consistently produced highlight reel caliber dunks, and set up looks for his teammates (32.7 AST% last season). While his efficiency took a bit of a dip last season, I was encouraged by how much better McCray leveraged his athleticism on defense (2.7 STL%, 2.4 BLK%) despite his hefty usage load (31.6 USG%). McCray can get too forceful with his passing, and I wish he exercised better command over the ball in tight spaces. He’ll also need to be a bit more reliable from deep. Nevertheless, there’s an exciting framework to McCray’s game. He’s an NBA-level athlete who can create looks for himself and others, he has good size, he rebounds, and he can make plays on defense. Those are important boxes to check, and they give McCray a chance to scrap his way onto draft boards.

William Kyle III, 6’9”, 230 Pounds, Senior, Syracuse

During his first two seasons at South Dakota State, William Kyle III emerged as one of the nation’s most prolific dunkers. Defensively, his effortless bounce enabled him to swat shots, and his foot speed helped him to switch onto smaller defenders. He also started to show some flashes as a passer, posting a 12.8 AST% and orchestrating more offense as a sophomore. Kyle transferred to UCLA, which seemed like a great fit to me on paper. I thought his hard-charging, high-motor style would allow him to carve out a role similar to the one Adem Bona had for the Bruins. Unfortunately, things didn’t click, and Kyle played only 9.8 MPG. He’ll have a chance to get back on the horse at Syracuse. It’s tough work for non-shooting, undersized bigs, but I wouldn’t totally write off Kyle given his athleticism and passing upside.

Cade Tyson, 6’7”, 195 Pounds, Senior, Minnesota

Cade Tyson’s stock took a bigger hit than any other player in the series this past season. He was on mock drafts at this time last year after his efficient scoring arsenal at Belmont put him on the radar. Then, he had a disastrous junior year at North Carolina. Tyson played under eight minutes per game. He struggled mightily with his shot (40.3/29.2/56.3 splits) and looked a step slow defensively. So, why is he still in this tier? Because the Tyson we saw at Belmont still exists. There, he scored 16.2 PPG on 63.4 TS%, fought hard on the glass, and used his frame to hang on defense. That’s not to say that his high-major struggles aren’t concerning; they absolutely are. But I do wonder if his new coach at Minnesota (Niko Medved) can find an effective way to deploy Tyson, and in turn, get him back on the map. There’s always a degree of appeal to a physical marksman, and Tyson shot 46.5% from three as a sophomore. I’m keeping an open mind here.

Jadon Jones, 6’5”, 180 Pounds, Redshirt Graduate, Oklahoma

Injury prevented us from getting to see Jadon Jones last season, which was a shame. There’s a really nice modern framework to his game. During his senior year, Jones hit 37.7% of his threes on 6.0 attempts per game. He’s also one hell of a defensive playmaker, tallying 1.8 SPG and 1.0 BPG that same year. He’s a super functional mover, covering ground quickly and elevating with ease. Plus, he’s added more of a playmaking wrinkle to his game in recent years. Over his past two seasons, he averaged 1.8 APG to only 1.0 TOV. This combination of shooting, defensive event creation, and decision-making is intriguing. The question for Jones is how well he’ll deal with SEC physicality. He’s really skinny, and he’s always had a hard time playing through contact offensively, especially on the interior. If he can still hang at that level, he should get some NBA looks.

Javan Buchanan, 6’7”, 230 Pounds, Senior, Boise State

After a fantastic NAIA career, Javan Buchanan had a good first year with the Broncos. His physicality scaled up well to the Division-I level, which worked wonders for him. It enabled him to score efficiently inside the arc, as he made 66.3% of his halfcourt rim attempts. He did a good job on the boards (6.4 ORB%, 15.9 DRB%). Defensively, he successfully bodied up opponents and made plays off the ball (2.0 STL%, 3.2 BLK%). This overall production led to a rock-solid 5.8 BPM and the Mountain West Sixth Man of the Year Award. With many of his teammates graduating, he should be in line for a big role this season.

I’m curious to see how much further Buchanan can take his game. He’ll need to become a more consistent shooter. He only hit 31.9% of his threes on moderate volume, but he did make 81.3% of his free throws. Additionally, he’ll have to get a bit quicker. He plays more of a back-down, post-up oriented style that doesn’t lend itself to the speed of the NBA. On top of that, he’ll need to refine his playmaking, as his assist-to-turnover numbers were underwater. He’ll need to turn the dial in a lot of areas. That said, there’s a blend of physicality and productivity that I don’t feel entirely comfortable dismissing.

Andrew Rohde, 6’6”, 195 Pounds, Senior, Wisconsin

Andrew Rohde has been on a strange trajectory. He burst onto radars as a freshman at St. Thomas, showing enticing flashes of long-range shooting, high-level passing for his height, and defensive feel. He transferred to Virginia, and his sophomore year was a disaster. He struggled mightily with the physicality of the ACC and couldn’t put the ball in the basket (37.4 TS%). If you didn’t watch Virginia last year, I wouldn’t blame you, but Rohde quietly started to right the ship. He hit 41.3% of his threes on solid volume, racked up assists (4.3 APG vs. 1.8 TOV), and it felt like he was better processing the game defensively (2.5 STL%). That said, Wisconsin has heaps of talent. Returning hybrid big Nolan Winter has long drawn interest, and offensive dynamo John Blackwell has started to generate a lot of buzz behind the scenes, too. Rohde will have to earn his spot in the pecking order. At the end of the day, though, his combination of length, shooting, and intellect gives him a puncher’s chance.

Longer Shots and Deeper Cuts

These are players who are on the outside looking in. They’ll need to make significant headway to get into the draft mix.

Caden Pierce, 6’7”, 220 Pounds, Redshirt Senior, ???: I’ll explain the question marks in a second. Pierce is a super intelligent wing (19.6 AST% the past two seasons) who plays his tail off on the glass (career 7.6 ORB%, 21.9 DRB%). Unfortunately, he’s a lackluster defender and streaky shooter (career 32.7% from deep). The former Princeton Tiger is currently in the transfer portal, as he’ll be redshirting and finishing up his degree before transferring in the wake of changes to the coaching staff. We won’t see Pierce this coming season, but keep him in mind for the next one. If he gets his shot right, he might be able to overcome some of his speed limitations.

Steele Venters, 6’7”, 200 Pounds, Graduate, Gonzaga: Steele Venters is perhaps the most snakebitten prospect in the history of this series. The 2023-2024 season was supposed to be his senior year. Over the past two seasons, the tall marksman had drilled 40.3% of his threes. Unfortunately, injury would prevent him from seeing the floor that year. The next year, injury kept him off the court yet again. Now, he’s finally back healthy! Venters won the team’s three-point contest and made it rain from deep during scrimmage play. Ultimately, I put him here because it’s hard to know what the correct level of expectations is to apply.

Jacob Crews, 6’8”, 215 Pounds, Graduate, Missouri: The idea with Crews was that he could basically turn into the type of player Jamison Battle ended up being for the Raptors this past season—a big-bodied marksman who could use his physicality enough to stay afloat defensively and eat innings at the NBA level. Unfortunately, he only hit 33.6% of his threes at Missouri, and the issue with this archetype of player is that when the shot doesn’t fall, the player’s value diminishes significantly. Throw in the fact that he’ll turn 26 next summer, and he’ll need to take a mammoth step forward to draw NBA attention.

Tucker Anderson, 6’9”, 230 Pounds, Junior, Utah State: Anderson is in a similar boat as Crews. As a freshman at Central Arkansas, he won Atlantic Sun Rookie of the Year, hitting 38.1% of his threes on high volume while sitting at the top of his team’s scouting report. At Utah State, his three-ball betrayed him, and his value took a big hit. However, I’m more optimistic in Anderson’s case. He’s younger, he has better defensive instincts, and he’s a more reliable decision maker. Utah State’s quite talented, so it’s not like he’ll have carte blanche to chuck shots, but I do think he has a path to get onto NBA radars if he can get his jumper back going.

Darren Buchanan Jr., 6’7”, 235 Pounds, Redshirt Junior, Rutgers: Buchanan is physically strong and a gifted passer. However, he’s not quite impactful enough defensively or on the glass to cover up for the fact that he’s a non-shooter (17.5% on 1.3 attempts per game) at the moment. I was hoping for a shooting leap last season, and it didn’t come. If it happens, he could get back into the conversation.

Myles Rigsby, 6’6”, 190 Pounds, Junior, Tulsa: I’ve still got a degree of hope for Rigsby, who spent last season at Troy. He’s an intense, dogged defender who incites havoc both on and off the ball (3.1 STL%, 2.4 BLK%). Offensively, he’s as tenacious as they come, fighting through the paint and drawing fouls at an elite clip (.685 FTr). Unfortunately, he hit roadblocks in terms of his shooting and playmaking. While he has made 81% of his free throws in college, he only hit 28.6% of his threes on low volume this past year. He also coughed up the ball a lot, averaging 1.4 APG to 2.2 TOV. The motor, athleticism, and defensive production are here, but the big picture skills unfortunately remain a question.

Michael Belle, 6’7”, 215 Pounds, Junior, VCU: This one hurts. I fell HARD for Michael Belle. Prior to coming to the States for college, Belle posted numbers in France’s Espoirs league that weren’t too far off from Bilal Coulibaly’s. He averaged 17.0 PPG on 56.3/45.5/62.4 splits, 9.0 RPG, 3.1 APG, 2.2 SPG, and 0.5 BPG. I did worry about the shot, as he only took two threes per game and the mechanics were funky. Still, I didn’t think it would be “16.4% from three” through two seasons bad. He’s been a good energy defender and rebounder off the bench, but he’s miles away offensively. VCU’s roster is arguably its deepest in years this season, too, further complicating his trajectory.

Elijah Malone, 6’10”, 270 Pounds, Graduate, Colorado: Malone was the NAIA Player of the Year, and he really interested me going into last season. A big part of the appeal was that he had a five-out offensive skill set. At Grace College, he shot 37% from deep on nearly three attempts per game, showed an ability to attack closeouts, and made some intriguing passes. Unfortunately, Colorado primarily just threw him on the block. He took only 0.5 threes per game and made a meager 25% of them. What’s more, there was a big scouting lesson for me here in terms of athletic scalability. Malone blocked three shots per game at Grace, but only 0.6 at Colorado. He couldn’t dominate in the same way with physicality, he looked a step slow laterally, and he doesn’t get off the floor nearly as well as his high-major peers. I anticipated a steep curve there, but it was even steeper than I’d anticipated. He’s facing an uphill battle at this point.

Amar Augillard, 6’5”, 225 Pounds, Redshirt Senior, Milwaukee: Let’s get the bad stuff out of the way. Augillard was wildly inefficient at Fresno State (37.3/24.3/82.9 splits), averaged 0.5 APG to 1.9 TOV, and departed from the team in December. He’s struggled at each of his Division-I stops. The hope is that Augillard can recapture the magic he found at Triton College, where he won the National Junior College Athletic Association Division I Player of the Year Award. There, he shot 42.5% from three on 7.8 attempts per game while scoring 22.7 PPG on 64.9 TS%. He looked like a bucket-getter of the highest order there. There’s a lot to work through, but Milwaukee has an excellent staff that has found great success with former JuCo standouts in the past.