Which prospects are best positioned to define the 2025 NBA draft?
As the start of the 2024-25 men’s college basketball season nears, and with international leagues underway, NBA front offices are honing in on what’s shaping up as a particularly strong class.
Cooper Flagg and the Rutgers duo of Airious “Ace” Bailey and Dylan Harper have been the early headliners, but there’s a whole season ahead for players to make a case for themselves in what looks to be a deep, talented draft.
Check back regularly from now until when Round 1 begins in June 2025, as ESPN draft analysts Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo update this Big Board over the coming months as players rise and fall.
Here’s how the prospects in our Top 25 are tracking at this early stage.
Last updated: Oct. 7
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1. Cooper Flagg, SF/PF, Duke
Height: 6-9 | Age: 17.7 | Prev. rank: 1
Flagg appears to be settling in nicely as a freshman at Duke from what we saw in a recent practice, where we saw him put all his winning qualities on display, going 3-0 against a group of veteran players. The 17-year-old’s versatility on both ends of the floor will make him an impact player from Day 1 despite his youth, as he’s already one of the best teenage defenders you’ll find with his exceptional combination of intensity, instincts and explosiveness.
Duke’s lack of playmaking depth should give him opportunity to grow with perhaps the weakest part of his game, his shot creation, as the season progresses. Flagg’s memorable performance with the USA Basketball Select Team this summer stuck with NBA executives, and there’s significant runway for him to confirm his status as the draft’s No. 1 pick with a winning and productive season. — Givony
Cooper Flagg and Jon Scheyer sit down with Jonathan Givony to discuss managing expectations ahead of Flagg’s first season at Duke.
2. Airious “Ace” Bailey, SG/SF, Rutgers
Height: 6-10 | Age: 18.1 | Prev. rank: 2
We got a chance to see up close what makes Bailey perhaps the draft’s most talented prospect in a recent visit to Rutgers, where he put his impressive combination of size, explosiveness, shot creation, shot-making prowess, defensive versatility and competitive approach on full display.
How quickly Bailey can get up to speed with his shot selection, his decision-making, his off-ball defensive awareness and the demanding nature of the college game will determine whether he can become a potential No. 1 pick challenger, but NBA scouts are not ruling him out because of his immense long-term upside. He’ll be tested this season playing an outsized role in the Big Ten alongside Dylan Harper. — Givony
3. Dylan Harper, PG/SG, Rutgers
Height: 6-6 | Age: 18.5 | Prev. rank: 3
Harper will have a vast platform to showcase himself as Rutgers’ starting point guard, giving him a path to challenge Flagg and his teammate Bailey atop this draft. We watched him Rutgers and left impressed with the work he has done with his frame, and especially the vision and creativity he showed operating out of pick-and-roll after mostly being known for his scoring prowess earlier in his career.
Harper’s size, strength, feel for the game and skill level allow him to play older than he is at 18 years old, but he’s going to be tested this season in the Big Ten with defenses tilted toward slowing him down, which should shed insight into where he stands with his perimeter shooting, finishing ability and leadership skills. — Givony
4. VJ Edgecombe, SG, Baylor
Height: 6-5 | Age: 19.1 | Prev. rank: 5
Edgecombe is tracking as a sleeper for the No. 1 draft pick, with NBA teams highly intrigued by his adjustment to what promises to be more of a playmaking role at Baylor. He had an eye-opening summer with the Bahamian national team and has started to answer some of the questions about his feel for the game.
Edgecombe’s explosive athleticism should allow him to apply pressure downhill and in transition, and if he can make a good case for himself as more of a combo guard than a true wing — a role his frame is much better suited for dimensionally — his name should be among the first called in June. — Woo
5. Nolan Traore, PG, Saint-Quentin
Height: 6-5 | Age: 18.3 | Prev. rank: 4
Traore is coming off two of the best performances of his young career: a 27-point, five-assist outing in the FIBA Champions League in a Saint-Quentin blowout win against a weak Kolossos team from Greece, followed by a 20-point, 10-assist outing in a win against Nancy in France. Turnovers, playing through contact and defense were early issues for the 18-year-old, but he has shown progress as his unbeaten team (4-0) is off to a strong start.
Traore’s talent has been on full display. He has demonstrated exceptional speed getting downhill and operating at different gears, and he has made strong pick-and-roll playmaking reads. His shooting has looked dynamic pulling up off the dribble, as well.
He is going to be challenged nightly running the show in the French league and the Champions League, something that’s rare for a player his age at this level of competition. It should make him a better player, but it will also put his areas of growth under the microscope. — Givony
6. Kon Knueppel, SG/SF, Duke
Height: 6-7 | Age: 19.1 | Prev. rank: 17
Knueppel has drawn rave reviews all preseason from Duke’s coaching staff, and we got to witness it when taking in a 90-minute scrimmage in Durham, North Carolina. It’s easy to see why Knueppel led the Nike EYBL in scoring and 3-pointers made while converting a blistering 47% of his attempts, as he has elite balance, footwork and range getting into spot-up and pull-up jumpers. He has shown excellent pace, physicality and skill with the ball, demonstrating versatility and smarts while creating shots for himself and others.
Although he is not blessed with elite length or quickness, his fast processing speed, strength, and competitiveness help him hold his own defensively. Duke coaches say he has been the best player in several practices, and they expect him to make significant contributions this season. We’ll have to see how it translates to real games, but there’s excitement about what we saw. — Givony
7. Drake Powell, SG/SF, North Carolina
Height: 6-6 | Age: 19.0 | Prev. rank: 11
Powell made strong progress over the summer, and he looks set to be an important player for North Carolina. He projects as a high-level NBA defender, with room to improve physically and the right mentality to be impactful on the perimeter across multiple positions. The Tar Heels are going to be guard-driven, allowing Powell to slide into a natural supporting role where he can thrive in transition and as a cutter and spacer.
We’re curious to see how much he evolves individually on offense, as he is not an advanced ball handler or creator yet, but the positives figure to far outweigh the negatives as he progresses as a valuable two-way wing player in the long run. The opportunity is there for him to solidify himself as a high-level talent. — Woo
8. Khaman Maluach, C, Duke
Height: 7-2 | Age: 18.0 | Prev. rank: 6
Maluach has obvious appeal at 7-foot-2, 250 pounds with a 7-6 wingspan. After watching Duke’s practice last week, it’s obvious he’s going to play an important role anchoring the Blue Devils’ defense with his terrific timing as a rim-protector and solid mobility covering ground on the perimeter. Maluach is a terrific communicator who plays with intensity, which helps compensate to an extent for his lack of experience, having played the sport for roughly only five years. That shows up most vividly on offense, where he doesn’t have the best hands or processing speed currently, being a little mistake prone and not quite as reliable a finisher as one might hope with him lacking strength and balance.
He has shown flashes of stretch potential in small doses, and that combined with his shot blocking and outstanding intangibles is intriguing considering he turned 18 on Sept. 14. — Givony
9. Hugo Gonzalez, SG/SF, Real Madrid
Height: 6-7 | Age: 18.6 | Prev. rank: 7
Playing time has been hard to come by for Gonzalez, who had 8 total minutes in Real Madrid’s first five games, an ominous start that wasn’t entirely unexpected considering the EuroLeague powerhouse team’s depth and championship aspirations. It will be interesting to see if Gonzalez is content playing mop-up minutes this season or elects to push for a loan to a better situation, where he could showcase himself more favorably to NBA scouts. Gonzalez’s significant buyout greatly reduced his options this summer as many of his European peers flocked to college or more favorable platforms for playing time and development.
Gonzalez has shown considerable talent in other settings with his explosiveness, aggressive style and defensive intensity, but it might not be easy to show that off in his current situation. — Givony
10. Liam McNeeley, SG/SF, UConn
Height: 6-7 | Age: 18.9 | Prev. rank: 10
Well-regarded for his feel and versatility at forward, McNeeley will be a key player on a reloading UConn team that will want to play to his strengths. His intangibles fall in line with what NBA teams have come to expect from Huskies prospects in recent years — he’s a competitive, smart player who can make contributions in a range of areas, with good passing chops and a developed shooting stroke.
All of those strengths have allowed his game to play up, and outweighed an average physical profile for his position. Considering the apparent fit between player and program, the adjustment at UConn is expected to be smooth, giving McNeeley a shot to be a lottery pick. — Woo
11. Egor Demin, SG/SF, BYU
Height: 6-9 | Age: 18.5 | Prev. rank: 9
Demin is part of a new wave of elite international prospects lured to play college basketball with lucrative NIL deals and a significant platform in the Big 12 at BYU. Despite standing 6-9, Demin played point guard exclusively at Real Madrid, giving him distinctive versatility with the creativity he shows operating out of pick-and-roll. Demin has made a significant volume of 3-pointers everywhere he has played but hasn’t always been consistent with his shooting.
He has things to prove from a toughness perspective, especially on the defensive end. Talent has never been a question for the Russian guard, who missed out on national team exposure the past few summers because his country was banned by FIBA, so there’s room for movement with his draft standing depending on how he transitions to the college game. — Givony
12. Collin Murray-Boyles, PF/C, South Carolina
Height: 6-7 | Age: 19.3 | Prev. rank: 23
The top-ranked college returner on our Top 100 board, Murray-Boyles looks set to go from popular draft sleeper to full-fledged star this season. He had fans around the league hoping he’d remain in last year’s draft but ultimately opted to rejoin the Gamecocks. This season’s spotlight on him will be much brighter — and his cagey, lunch-pail style of play should make him effective as an interior scorer, rebounder and improving playmaker.
There are some limitations here: Murray-Boyles hasn’t added a 3-point shot to his repertoire and is a touch undersized for a power forward. But he’s a smart player who affects winning in the run of play on both ends of the court, which will earn him serious looks from scouts. NBA teams will be curious to see how his game and role expands , and how much South Carolina will end up playing through him. — Woo
13. Carter Bryant, SF/PF, Arizona
Height: 6-8 | Age: 18.8 | Prev. rank: 14
Bryant drew positive reviews in practice at Arizona before being sidelined by a back injury. At 6-8 and 220 pounds, with a big wingspan and terrific frame, he has versatility and upside to tap into long term with his dynamic shotmaking ability, passing creativity, ability to finish emphatically around the rim and defensive versatility.
Consistency wasn’t always there in high school, as his decision-making, toughness and shot selection were sporadic at times, making him a little more theoretical than some evaluators hoped, something we’ll have to learn more about this season. He’s likely to get minutes at both forward spots for an Arizona team looking to make a deep NCAA tournament run. — Givony
14. Tre Johnson, SG, Texas
Height: 6-6 | Age: 18.5 | Prev. rank: 8
Johnson’s ball-dominant, shoot-first style can be a bit polarizing at times, but he figures to play a leading role at Texas this season and should have a big platform to showcase his breadth of skills as a scorer.
He has been able to put the ball in the basket at every stop so far and comes with three-level scoring potential, reliant more on his excellent touch and craft in lieu of elite athleticism.
Johnson enters college as one of the most polished scorers in his high school class, and if he can settle in efficiently with what seems likely to be a healthy diet of shots, he can make a real run as a lottery pick. — Woo
15. Kasparas Jakucionis, PG, Illinois
Height: 6-6 | Age: 18.3 | Prev. rank: 18
Jakucionis has been a hit since arriving on campus, with the Illini staff excited about the level of feel, size and maturity he’ll bring to the court. The Lithuanian had some big moments over the summer at the FIBA U18s and should make a positive impact in what figures to be a significant role.
NBA teams will be eager to see how his game translates to college, particularly in the Big Ten, where he will face heightened length and athleticism and be tasked with making smart reads for teammates and picking his spots as a scorer. Jakucionis isn’t especially explosive or long, and the speed of that adjustment will be an excellent litmus test for his NBA prospects. — Woo
16. Ben Saraf, PG/SG, Ratiopharm Ulm (Germany)
Height: 6-6 | Age: 18.4 | Prev. rank: NR
The MVP of the FIBA U18 EuroBasket, Saraf has translated his excellent summer performance to the season pretty seamlessly, guiding Ratiopharm Ulm to a 6-0 record as his team’s starting point guard. Saraf’s combination of size, feel for the game, passing creativity and scoring instincts is distinctive. He has been able to get where he wants on the court and has held his own defensively better than expected for his age.
He is somewhat of a streaky shooter and finisher, so it will be interesting to see how his unorthodox style of play translates against high-level competition as he’s better scouted, especially his outside shooting (5-for-20 from 3 in six games). One cannot discount the sheer productivity he is amassing in the EuroCup and German BBL, giving him a runway to raise his profile with the significant platform at his disposal. — Givony
17. Motiejus Krivas, C, Arizona
Height: 7-3 | Age: 19.8 | Prev. rank: 19
The path was cleared for Krivas to take on a significant role this season when Oumar Ballo transferred from Arizona. He has been limited at practice in the early going, nursing a foot injury, but figures to return to full strength in November. Krivas has a chance to establish himself as one of college basketball’s top defensive bigs, relying on excellent positional size, nimble feet and a strong motor.
While not supremely skilled on offense, Krivas has the tools to be impactful under the basket. Those things add up to an attractive long-term floor as a defense-oriented backup center, but scouts will be curious to better understand where his ceiling lies in what should be a much larger role in terms of both minutes and opportunities. He has the ability to be a difference-maker in the Big 12. — Woo
18. Noa Essengue, PF, Ratiopharm Ulm (Germany)
Height: 6-10 | Age: 17.8 | Prev. rank: 15
Essengue is off to a productive start to the season, carving out a solid role playing 23 minutes per game for Ratiopharm Ulm (6-0) in the German BBL and EuroCup. The 17-year-old has had some impressive highlights using his quickness and explosiveness for emphatic finishes, while showing nice vision as a passer, getting to the free throw line at an high rate and making more outside shots than expected, albeit in a small sample size.
Defense and rebounding have been a struggle which is not surprising considering his youth and thin frame, but the fact he’s getting on the court and contributing at this level of competition is notable. It will be interesting to see if he continues to make shots from beyond the arc (3-for-10 from 3 in six games), an area he has been inconsistent in for much of his career. — Givony
19. Derrion Reid, SF/PF, Alabama
Height: 6-8 | Age: 18.2 | Prev. rank: 21
Reid brings an interesting mix of traits at forward, capable of handling the ball, making plays and attacking the rim, while contributing on the glass and playing a plus, disruptive style as a defensive stopper. While perhaps better-suited long term at the 4 physically, his versatility at both forward spots should be a solid fit for Alabama, where the Crimson Tide will want to play up-tempo, which caters to his strengths.
Reid’s excellent basketball feel and mélange of strengths makes him a name worth watching closely in the early going, even if his game is a tad unorthodox. The development of his jumper, particularly if he’s spending more time on the perimeter, will be critical. — Woo
20. Michael Ruzic, PF, Joventut (Spain)
Height: 6-10 | Age: 18.0 | Prev. rank: 12
Taking 11 shots in 65 minutes through four games, opportunity hasn’t been easy to come by for Ruzic — who turned 18 on Oct. 4 — in the EuroCup and ACB, the best domestic league in Europe. Still, there’s a lot to like at 6-10 with terrific perimeter shooting ability, outstanding basketball instincts on both ends of the court and a youthful appearance that suggests significant growth is still in store.
Early indicators suggest his limited role might not be too different than last season, which might make it difficult for him to build traction unless he gets lucky to be given a bigger platform as the season continues. Scouts might have to be opportunistic with the way they evaluate him. — Givony
21. Jalil Bethea, SG, Miami
Height: 6-4 | Age: 18.7 | Prev. rank: 13
One of the more gifted perimeter scorers and shotmakers in the incoming freshman class, Bethea is walking into what should be a conducive environment at Miami, a program that has had plenty of success empowering scoring guards in recent seasons. Scouts will try to ascertain whether Bethea projects best as an off-ball shooter — with advanced footwork, shot diversity and mechanics — or has room to be more than that via creating for himself off the dribble and for teammates.
He’ll need to continue to get physically stronger, but his significant offensive potential puts him on the one-and-done radar in the early going. — Woo
22. Will Riley, SG/SF, Illinois
Height: 6-8 | Age: 18.6 | Prev. rank: 22
Riley, relying on his elite shooting ability, won camp MVP in front of a host of NBA evaluators at Basketball Without Borders in February. He brings a terrific perimeter skill set and good size for a wing, with a history of excellent efficiency in EYBL play to back up his profile. However, he falls short defensively at this stage, something that could be mitigated to an extent by adding strength to his naturally slender frame.
Whether he can compensate enough to make a serious impact as a freshman who reclassified a year early is a fair question, particularly on a deep Illinois team in which extended minutes won’t be a given. Regardless, Riley’s obvious shooting prowess makes him a player to monitor closely long term. — Woo
23. Kanon Catchings, SF/PF, BYU
Height: 6-10 | Age: 19.1 | Prev. rank: 26
Regarded as one of the better long-term prospects at Overtime Elite last season, Catchings decommitted from Purdue to land at BYU under new coach Kevin Young. The nephew of longtime WNBA star Tamika Catchings brings an excellent physical profile for a wing at his listed 6-10, and has flashed shotmaking talent and true defensive potential in different settings in which we’ve seen him.
Catchings is still raw in areas, but teams will be closely tracking his progress under a coaching staff with NBA pedigree. The tools are there for him to emerge as a first-round-caliber player, but teams will want to get a better sense of his development trajectory and timeline in the early going. — Woo
24. Rocco Zikarsky, C, Brisbane (Australia)
Height: 7-3 | Age: 18.2 | Prev. rank: 20
Zikarsky hasn’t had a great start to the season, struggling to stay on the court for Brisbane, and struggling on defense (one block in three games), making it tough to quibble with his playing time. Scouts are going to want to see the 18-year-old take a step forward in his second season in the Australian NBL and there’s still plenty of time. Zikarsky gets up and down the court, and sets screens and rolls to the rim, but has questions to answer regarding his upright stance, ability to bend his knees, turn his hips and cover ground in small spaces, looking clumsy at times.
His defensive projection is a key part of his draft outlook, and it will be interesting to see how his processing speed, role and ability to affect winning evolves. — Givony
25. Derik Queen, C, Maryland
Height: 6-10 | Age: 19.7 | Prev. rank: 24
Another product of a star-studded Montverde Academy (Fla.) team that included projected lottery picks Flagg and McNeeley, Queen has a foggier pathway to establishing his draft stock, but some unquestionably interesting traits. He’s quite skilled for his size, can finish, handle and pass, and has solid footwork in the post, providing a framework for success long term.
The major questions surround his body type and defensive projection, as well as his lack of a floor-spacing element, three areas that haven’t improved markedly over the past couple of years. Queen’s long-term growth into an NBA-caliber player hinges on those things, primarily his frame, which will need to trim down particularly due to his lack of elite size for a five-man. His pedigree and skill level have him on scouts’ radar to start the season. — Woo
Remaining Big Board for the 2025 class
26. Donnie Freeman, PF , Syracuse | Age: 19.1
27. Ian Jackson, SG, North Carolina | Age: 19.6
28. Tyrese Proctor, PG, Duke | Age: 20.5
29. Dink Pate, SG/SF, Mexico City | Age: 18.5
30. Alex Karaban, PF, Connecticut | Age: 21.9
31. Asa Newell, PF, Georgia | Age: 19.0
32. Boogie Fland, PG, Arkansas | Age: 18.2
33. Jaylin Stewart, SF, Connecticut | Age: 19.6
34. KJ Lewis, SG, Arizona | Age: 20.1
35. Alex Toohey, SF/PF, Sydney | Age: 20.4
36. Joan Beringer, C, Cedevita Olimpija | Age: 17.9
37. Johann Grunloh, C Rasta Vechta | Age: 19.1
38. Ryan Kalkbrenner, C, Creighton | Age: 22.7
39. Kwame Evans Jr., PF, Oregon | Age: 20.1
40. Adou Thiero, SF/PF, Arkansas | Age: 20.4
41. Michael Ajayi, SF/PF, Gonzaga | Age: 21.2
42. Milan Momcilovic, SF/PF, Iowa St | Age: 20.0
43. Kanaan Carlyle, PG/SG, Indiana | Age: 20.0
44. Caleb Foster, PG, Duke | Age: 20.2
45. Zvonimir Ivisic, PF/C, Arkansas | Age: 21.1
46. Jarin Stevenson, PF, Alabama | Age: 18.9
47. Bogoljub Markovic, PF/C, Mega MIS | Age: 19.2
48. Dailyn Swain, SF, Xavier | Age: 19.2
49. Isaiah Evans, SG/SF, Duke | Age: 18.8
50. Noah Penda, SF/PF, Le Mans | Age: 19.7
51. Izan Almansa, PF/C, Perth | Age: 19.3
52. Sam Walters, SF/PF, Michigan | Age: 20.2
53. Hunter Sallis, SG, Wake Forest | Age: 21.5
54. Sion James, SF, Duke | Age: 21.8
55. Jaden Bradley, PG, Arizona | Age: 21.0
56. Saint Thomas, F, USC | Age: 21.4
57. Ben Henshall, SG, Perth | Age: 20.2
58. Payton Sandfort, SF, Iowa | Age: 22.2
59. Jamir Watkins, SG/SF, Florida State | Age: 23.2
60. Kam Jones, SG, Marquette | Age: 22.6
61. Baye Ndongo, PF/C, Georgia Tech | Age: 21.7
62. AJ Storr, SG/SF, Kansas | Age: 21.1
63. JT Toppin, PF, Texas Tech | Age: 19.3
64. Kobe Johnson, SG/SF, UCLA | Age: 21.7
65. Baba Miller, SF/PF, FAU | Age: 20.6
66. Zacharie Perrin, PF/C, Nancy (France) | Age: 20.1
67. Johni Broome, C, Auburn | Age: 22.2
68. Tucker DeVries, SG/SF, West Virginia | Age: 22.8
69. Koby Brea, SG/SF, Kentucky | Age: 21.9
70. Aaron Scott, SF/PF, St. John’s | Age: 21.2
71. Jonas Aidoo, C, Arkansas | Age: 21.8
72. Elliot Cadeau, PG, North Carolina | Age: 20.0
73. Augustas Marciulionis, PG, Saint Mary’s | Age: 22.5
74. Maxime Raynaud, C, Stanford | Age: 21.5
75. Kylan Boswell, PG, Illinois | Age: 19.4
76. Malique Lewis, SF/PF, South East Melbourne | Age: 19.9
77. Hansen Yang, C, Qingdao (China) | Age: 19.2
78. Tyon Grant-Foster, SG/SF, Grand Canyon | Age: 24.5
79. Ben Humrichous, PF, Illinois | Age: 22.2
80. Nique Clifford, SG, Colorado State | 22.6
81. Xaivian Lee, PG, Princeton | Age: 20.5
82. Mark Sears, PG, Alabama | Age: 22.6
83. Mouhamed Faye, C, Reggio Emilia | Age: 19.6
84. Matthew Murrell, SG, Mississippi | Age: 22.8
85. Samson Johnson, PF/C, Connecticut | Age: 22.2
86. Lachlan Olbrich, PF/C, Illawarra | Age: 20.7
87. Walter Clayton Jr., PG, Florida | 21.5
88. Ian Schieffelin, PF/C, Clemson | Age: 21.6
89. Caleb Love, SG, Arizona | Age: 23.0
90. Jaxson Robinson, SG/SF, Kentucky | Age: 21.8
91. Darrion Williams, SF/PF, Texas Tech | Age: 21.4
92. Danny Wolf, C, Michigan | Age: 20.4
93. Grant Nelson, PF, Alabama | Age: 22.5
94. Clifford Omoruyi, C, Alabama | Age: 22.9
95. Tamin Lipsey, PG, Iowa St | Age: 21.2
96. Brandon Garrison, PF/C, Kentucky | Age: 20.5
97. Matthew Cleveland, SG/SF, Miami FL | Age: 22.0
98. Coleman Hawkins, PF, Kansas St | Age: 22.8
99. Johnell Davis, PG/SG, Arkansas | Age: 23.3
100. Kadary Richmond, PG/SG, St. John’s | Age: 23.1
