Following a lackluster draft, the 2025 NBA draft has the kind of expertise that draft heads can stay up for and get hyped about. With a reputable franchise man on the prime (Flagg) and various long run, excessive upside guys, right here is our first have a look at an prolonged 2025 mock. The mock contains insights and comps for 30 “genetic lottery winners”, because the late, nice Invoice Walton would say.
1. Detroit Pistons Cooper Flagg 6-9 205 PF/SF Duke Fr.
Flagg has not solely the best ceiling, however contemplating he’s simply 18 years previous, and has superior maturity and focus, a really excessive ground. Flagg nonetheless should polish his capturing skill, which at this level is the one actual concern about his sport. Scrimmaging with the USA staff over the previous week has been a beneficial expertise and scouts readily available have been completely impressed. He has proven that he can already maintain his personal towards the most effective on the earth, with out being intimidated. A devoted staff man and a flat out winner, he’s the definition of a franchise expertise. A participant that any staff would love so as to add and see the place his profession can carry them. At this level, the energy of his sport is his defensive versatility, having the ability to use his 7’2 wingspan to protect a number of positions, plus his skill to provide the staff no matter it wants to assist them win. His passing skill as a 6-9 ahead is elite, and he additionally exhibits a variety of ball dealing with skill to play from the excessive publish. It is going to be a enjoyable 12 months for faculty basketball followers, with Duke being appointment television, and the development of Cooper Flagg seemingly changing into a nationwide obsession.
NBA Comparability: Andrei Kirilenko
2. Washington Wizards Drake Powell 6-6 205 SF North Carolina Fr.
Powell has actually made some main strides over the previous few months and will leapfrog various his classmates to be one of many prime picks within the 2025 NBA Draft. He’s a lockdown defender and is now constructing upon a really intriguing offensive talent set, together with creating off the dribble, capturing with vary and in addition exhibiting the imaginative and prescient and passing to be a playmaker for others. A tremendous transformation of his sport. He confirmed on the Jayson Tatum Elite Camp in early July, taking up the gymnasium on Day One for a stretch of performs within the scrimmages. He’s separated himself as one of many highest upside gamers coming into school basketball. Placing him at two over Ace Bailey is controversial, however based mostly on what he displayed in Las Vegas, inside his skill.
NBA Comparability:Â Grant Hill
3. Charlotte Hornets Ace Bailey 6-9 200 SF Rutgers Fr.
Bailey has maybe as a lot long run potential as anybody within the class, together with Cooper Flagg. With a extra superior offensive talent set, and the power to knock down outdoors photographs with vary, Bailey has a ton of intrigue in his personal proper. However Bailey is lacking the ground that another gamers possess, as he nonetheless has a variety of maturing left to do. His vitality shouldn’t be practically as centered but, and a 12 months at Rutgers ought to assist him to progress each on and off the ground, and turn into extra able to tackle the social challenges in addition to the competitors soar on the NBA degree. Bailey is an Atlanta child who clearly loves the sport of basketball and may proceed to excel at it. He’s listed at 6’10 on the Rutgers web site, which is spectacular if he’s in reality grown a pair inches prior to now few months.
NBA Comparability: Rashard Lewis
4. Portland Trailblazers VJ Edgecombe 6-5 190 SG/PG Bsylor Fr.
Edgecombe was unranked nationally once we first noticed him play on the Hoop Corridor traditional in Phoenix again in early 2023. We shortly recognized him as a future professional and certain one-and-done prime 10 choose. Now he’s on everyone’s radar as an elite prospect with dynamic athleticism and growing offensive sport. He offers Baylor one other robust combo guard to develop. Edgecombe has made nice use of the summer time, persevering with his growth, enjoying extraordinarily properly for the Bahamas nationwide staff of their Olympic Qualifiers.
NBA Comparability: Russell Westbrook
5. San Antonio Spurs Dylan Harper 6-5 215 PG/SG Rutgers Fr.
Harper has NBA bloodlines, being the son of a standout NBA participant (Ron Harper) going for him. He’s additionally extraordinarily robust and polished for an 18 12 months previous. Whereas possessing a a lot greater body, the type and mindset is just like Knicks standout Jalen Brunson. He’s not overly fast or explosive, however may be very artful at making performs for others and using his energy to his benefit. Harper ought to hit the bottom operating at Rutgers and be a direct star on the faculty degree. He and Ace Bailey’s Rutgers squad will make for one more appointment viewing staff on the faculty degree (together with Duke and North Carolina).
NBA Comparability: Jalen Brunson
6. Toronto Raptors Nolan Traore 6-4 185 PG France 2006
Traore is a scoring level with a really superior talent set. He exhibits the power to get by defenders off the dribble and scoring and playmaking skill. Traore got here into the Nike Hoop Summit in April of 2024 underrated and was sensational. He proved that he might compete towards the most effective guards on the earth in his age group and constantly scored and created for others in PnR. He’s a great athlete and has an excellent really feel for the sport, and may proceed to develop this season enjoying fro Saint-Quentin Basket-Ball of the LNB Élite.
NBA Comparability: Jamal Murray
7. Memphis Grizzlies Ian Jackson 6-5 190 PG/SG North Carolina Fr.
Jackson is a great participant who has elite quickness. His fast first step makes him extraordinarily troublesome to include and the truth that he’s a wonderful outdoors shooter fives him a dynamic talent set as he units up the drive extraordinarily properly with a fast faux. Jackson can drive and dish and rises up above the rim with excessive degree athleticism. Search for him to be a mid lottery choose, if issues fall into place and he’s capable of show his expertise this season at UNC.
NBA Comparability: Jamal Crawford
8. Utah Jazz Cameron Carr 6-5 185 SG Tennessee So.
Following a freshman season through which he performed restricted minutes, in simply 14 video games, and averaged lower than 2 factors, you received’t discover Carr’s identify being talked about in lots of first spherical mock drafts. However anticipate that to vary because the season will get underway. Carr lit it up on the Jayson Tatum Elite Camp in early July and oozes potential along with his enormous wingspan, explosiveness and physique management, plus outdoors capturing potential. He additionally exhibits a variety of potential to interrupt opponents down off the dribble, in isolation, with a powerful deal with and explosive first step, it’s an formidable comp, however there’s some Kobe to his sport, just a bit.
NBA Comparability: Zach Lavine
9. Brooklyn Nets Asa Newell 6-10 220 PF/C Georgia Fr.
Newell is a proficient 4/5 who has an opportunity for a giant freshman season and being a 1-done lottery man. He’s an explosive finisher within the paint with wonderful dimension and fluidity. He nonetheless doesn’t play with sufficient physicality for scouts liking, however maybe with added energy, he can turn into extra snug imposing his will within the paint. The face up expertise and enhancing vary give him actual intrigue.
NBA Comparability: Nikola Vecevic
10. San Antonio (from Atlanta) Isaiah Evans 6-6 175 SG Duke Fr.
Evans comes into Duke a really skinny 195 lb wing with a 7-foot wingspan and a fame as a great three level shooter. He’s nonetheless in want of higher physique energy and improved physicality, however the physique sort and talent set give him quite a lot of potential. He could begin sluggish, and whether or not he can enhance because the season goes alongside and proceed to broaden his sport would be the key. He’s a man with clear lottery expertise, however he could also be a season away.
NBA Comparability: Brandon Ingram
11. San Antonio (from Chicago) Noa Essengue 6-10 200 SF/PF France 2006
The French Invasion continues! A really personable participant, Essengue got here to Orlando in early June for 2 weeks of expertise work to enhance his capturing with former Auburn nice Adam Harrington. You can see the development in his shot virtually instantly. The lengthy Frenchman is a reputable small ahead, possessing good ball dealing with and mobility. He’ll have a great likelihood to be taken within the lottery if his capturing effectivity advances this season. His physique sort is paying homage to former NBA ahead Donyell Marshall, however he has extra of a small ahead’s sport already.
NBA Comparability: Donyell Marshall
12. Oklahoma Metropolis (from Houston) Dailyn Swain 6-8 225 SF/PF Xavier So.
Swain has placed on 40 lbs of muscle since arriving at Xavier a 12 months in the past. He confirmed up on the Jason Tatum camp in Las Vegas, wanting extra like a PF than a SF and has saved his wonderful velocity and mobility. The makings are there for Swain to be one of many massive breakout stars on the faculty degree in 2024-25. he’s bought the athletic profile, plus the soar capturing skill. He simply wants to interrupt although the barrier of changing into a prime scoring choice throughout the staff assemble and play constantly to his skills.
NBA Comparability: Deandre Hunter
13. Atlanta (through Sacremento) Jaland Lowe 6-3 175 PG Pittsburgh So.
Lowe confirmed some actual flashes as a freshman, changing into extra constant because the season went alongside at Pitt, and ought to be one of many prime level guards on the faculty degree this upcoming 12 months. He has nice imaginative and prescient, making inventive passes routine, and does a stable job of determination making and never forcing issues. Lowe is not only a playmaker for others however exhibits a really promising pull up sport and a capability to make use of the runner and be a excessive degree scorer. The sharpshooting lefty might want to get stronger, however has a stable body so as to add weight and likes to compete.
NBA Comparability: Mo Williams
14, Golden State Tyler Harris 6-8 190 SF Portland So.
Harris opted to remain at Portland after a stable freshman marketing campaign, as an alternative of transferring to a extra excessive profile program. He’s an extended, athletic wing who exhibits good scoring skill. His enormous 7+ foot wingspan offers him wonderful defensive potential, however it’s clear he wants so as to add additional energy and toughness. Harris had an inconsistent freshman season, however ended up with a powerful 12 ppg, 7 boards and three level capturing within the 35% vary, on practically one make per sport.
NBA Comparability: Jaden McDaniels
15, Oklahoma Metropolis (from Miami) Hugo Gonzalez 6-6 200 SG Actual Madrid 2006
Gonzalez is a feisty competitor and a flashy finisher on the rim. He can rating from all three ranges and has proven actual polish in his sport with the power to create offense in isolation with step backs and drives. He lacks nice size and must get stronger, however he’s been one of many elite gamers inside his age group for various years. Gonzalez doesn’t possess nice lateral velocity, so protection shall be an space of focus for him to enhance upon.
NBA Comparability: Rudy Fernandez
16. Oklahoma Metropolis (from Philadelphia) Dink Pate 6-8 210 SF Mexico Metropolis Capitanes (G League) 2006
Pate will play subsequent season for the Mexico Metropolis affiliate of the G League, following final 12 months enjoying with the Ignite. Pate is some extent ahead sort with the power to push the ball up the ground and play some level ahead. At 6’8, he exhibits very good capturing potential with a clean stroke from mid vary. Pate is bound to attract a variety of hype this season as he’s an intriguing prospect with a excessive ceiling. Regardless of a pleasant wanting shot type, the Dallas native will look to enhance upon his 21% three level capturing with the Ignite final season.
NBA Comparability: Boris Diaw
17. New Orleans (from LA Lakers) Tre Johnson 6-6 190 SG Texas Fr.
Johnson has an array of expertise and is a prototypical 3-D sort of off guard. He can ISO and rating in drives or pull ups. He is also adept on the drive and kick. The place he wants enchancment is with maturity and consistency. He has video games the place he fades and doesn’t make an actual impression. The expertise is clearly there for him to go increased, however he’ll want to enhance on the acknowledged deficiencies to get there.
NBA Comparability: JR Smith
18. Orlando Egor Demin 6-8 200 SF BYU Fr.
Denim is a expertise. He’s shows shades of a smaller Toni Kukoc, or in right this moment’s NBA an even bigger Cedi Osman. In a vacuum, He’s a lottery expertise, however has work to do to get there. The observe file of elite gamers leaving Europe, for NCAA, earlier than being drafted has been considerably disappointing. And the Russian nationwide has an enormous adjustment to make with regard to type of play. His three seasons in Actual Madrid juniors clearly helps with the cultural transition. Demin arrived in Provo final week as BYU’s crown recruiting jewel. He has all the abilities to thrive, it’s a query of how shortly he adjusts to enjoying the American type of sport, towards NCAA athletes and in school arenas.
NBA Comparability: Toni Kukoc
19. Indiana Kwame Evans 6-9 220 PF Oregon So.
Evans is face up, lefty 4 man with some stable capturing contact and potential to assault the basket off the dribble. He confirmed flashes as a freshman of what made him a 5 star recruit, and prime 3-5 in his class early in his highschool profession, with a couple of scoring outbursts. Evans will look to tackle an even bigger function as a sophomore, with the departure of Nfaly Dante and will simply make the mandatory leap in play to contend for a primary spherical choose. Added energy ought to permit him to turn into extra bodily and make the most of his size and dimension across the basket with rebounding and low publish scoring.
NBA Comparability: Kyle Kuzma
20. Utah (from Cleveland Boogie Fland 6-3 180 PG Arkansas Fr.
From the “Boogie down Bronx” Fland is a flashy level guard who is usually a playmaker for himself and facilitate for others. He’ll look to be subsequent in an extended line of Calipari guards which have gone on to have standout NBA careers. By no means missing for confidence, he’s a speedy lead guard with step one to create separation. He joins a loaded Arkansas staff, so will probably be fascinating to see how shortly Cal has full religion within the younger level guard. He proved himself all through his highschool profession to be among the many elite level guard in his class. He possesses one and finished, lotto potential, if he has a powerful season.
NBA Comparability: Cole Anthony
21. New York (from Milwaukee) Xavier Booker 6-11 220 PF/C Michigan St. So.
Booker is one other proficient publish participant that can look to raise his play in his sophomore season. His elite from a bodily standpoint with excessive degree run soar athleticism. Booker will look to achieve extra enjoying time and extra alternative to be an element on the offensive finish. He entered school with a variety of holes and a really feel for the sport that was a piece in progress. Now going into his second season beneath Coach Izzo, it stays to be seen what sort of leash Booker is given to make errors and study on the ground. The lefty exhibits capturing potential and runs the ground like a gazelle, giving him very intriguing potential.
NBA Comparability: Nic Claxton
22. Houston (from Phoenix through OKC) Liam McNeeley 6-7 190 SF UConn Fr.
McNeeley went on a tear on the finish of the 12 months, scoring at an environment friendly fee and pulling down clutch photographs, together with sport winners for Monteverde. When UConn missed out on Cooper Flagg, they landed McNeeley, who was not a nasty comfort value for the defending champions. McNeeley ought to are available in and be a direct contributor. He’s a proficient offensive participant, who can actually shoot it. Whereas simply a median athlete by NBA requirements, he’ll seemingly want a while to regulate to the NBA degree and turn into a dependable defender.
NBA Comparability: Corey Kispert
23. New Orleans Carey Sales space 6-10 205 PF Illinois So.
The son of NBA GM Calvin Sales space, Carey confirmed a variety of progress in his freshman season with not solely his talent set however his physique growth, velocity and athleticism. He has put within the work within the weight room and appears much more fluid in his actions. He’s a bouncy bigman with shades of Chris Bosh to his sport. Sales space joins a proficient incoming class that features freshman wing Will Riley, who can also be receiving some first spherical buzz.
NBA Comparability: DaRon Holmes
24. Dallas Andrej Stojakovic 6-7 200 SG California So.
Stojakovic moved on from Stanford however didn’t go far, crossing over to the East Bay to play for Mark Madsen at California. Stojakovic had a really stable freshman season through which he showcased some skill to complete on the rim in addition to knock down outdoors photographs. He doesn’t have fairly the elite degree outdoors shot of his father Peja, however the makings are there for him to be a really stable shooter and throughout wing. A considerable soar in manufacturing is on the desk as he appears to be like to fill the footwear of first rounder Jaylon Tyson at Cal.
NBA Comparability: Christian Braun
25. New York Baye Ndongo 6-8 225 PF Georgia Tech So.
The 21 12 months previous sophomore qualifies as a freakish athlete on the 4 place. He’s bought a 7’2 wingspan and is extremely bouncy and highly effective. He’ll aggressively assault the rim and trys to dunk every thing and attracts a variety of contact, leading to journeys to the FT line. His capturing type is promising as is his scoring skill. He actually got here on robust within the second half of the season for Georgia Tech, and there’s an actual likelihood he’s one of many actual impression sophomores in 2024-25. After placing his identify within the 2024 NBA draft and getting suggestions, search for him as a possible first rounder in 2025.
NBA Comparability: Miles Bridges
26. LA Clippers Garwey Twin 6-5 190 PG/SG Windfall So.
Twin is an extended, rangy lead guard with a excessive upside. He exhibits excellent velocity to get by opponents off the dribble and a inventive skill to search out teammates on the drive and kick. He struggled with effectivity as a freshman and can look to chop down on turnovers and turn into a extra environment friendly shooter as a sophomore. The upside is clearly excessive, as he’s bought an incredible basketball physique with a variety of wiggle and flash to his sport. His shot from outdoors takes a short time to get off, making it simpler to include him. If he can revamp his capturing type, it may very well be a giant improve to his sport. With Devin Carter off to the NBA, Twin ought to have the chance to take over extra of the scoring load.
NBA Comparability: Reggie Jackson
27. Utah Jalil Bethea 6-4 170 SG/PG Miami Fr.
Bethea is a 6’4 combo guard with a variety of sizzle. He can stand up for spotlight dunks and makes flashy performs along with his ball dealing with and passing. He’ll look to achieve energy and consistency and turn into extra of an environment friendly participant at Miami within the freshman 12 months. The ACC shall be a tricky proving floor for him, and he’ll should be prepared for an extended season. The expertise is there, however he’s nonetheless a little bit of a piece in progress, as he must get quite a bit stronger and reduce down on turnovers.
NBA Comparability: RJ Hampton
28. Orlando (from Denver) Jase Richardson 6-3 180 PG/SG Michigan State Fr.
It’s usually not an incredible thought projecting Spartans as one and finished first rounders as there simply shouldn’t be as a lot alternative enjoying beneath an old-fashioned coach like Tom izzo, who hardly ever arms out vital minutes and alternatives to much less polished gamers (proficient freshmen). Zach Randolph being one of the crucial polished freshmen bigs struggled for minutes, for example. Richardson has a faculty reference to a father (Jason) that starred at Michigan State. Jase is a proficient playmaker with size and athleticism, who got here off a knee damage and seems to have his velocity and athleticism again.
NBA Comparability: Monte Morris
29. Brooklyn (from Oklahoma Metropolis) Collin Murray-Boyles 6-9 230 PF/C South Carolina So.
One of the productive freshman within the nation enjoying within the SEC final 12 months. Murray-Boyles is a excessive vitality massive with a great really feel for taking part in within the paint. He’s bought an enormous wingspan (7-1) which helps make up for not being probably the most explosive athlete. A gamer, who all the time appears to play with a excessive motor, CMB finds methods to outwork opponents. If he can enhance his vary and capturing skill, he can probably snatch a spot within the first spherical.
NBA Comparability: Danny Fortson
30. Jaxson Robinson 6-7 205 SG/SF Kentucky Sr.
Robinson has been a school basketball vagabond, now becoming a member of his fourth staff in 5 years. After two productive seasons at BYU, he joins Kentucky for his tremendous senior fifth 12 months and can look to diversify his sport and cement a spot within the first spherical. He knocked down 81 threes final 12 months, coming off the bench for BYU., and lead the staff in scoring. He’ll look to broaden his function beneath Mark Pope with Kentucky, going through SEC competitors this season.
NBA Comparability: Trey Murphy
