2025 NBA Draft Confidential: Coaches, execs, scouts on Khaman Maluach, top center prospects

The evidence keeps trickling in.
The Oklahoma City Thunder, like the Cavaliers, Celtics, Knicks, Mavericks, Bucks and other teams in the last couple of years, have used two big men lineups on the floor — 7-foot center Isaiah Hartenstein and 7-1 forward Chet Holmgren — to great impact. Small-ball lineups still dominate the NBA game, but size matters, more and more, and especially in the postseason.
Advertisement
Part of it is evolution. More bigs come into the game such as Cleveland's Evan Mobley, who can handle and pass as well as score, and was given the keys to the Cavaliers' offensive car this season by first-year head coach Kenny Atkinson. A big who can initiate offense like Mobley is a godsend to teams that can see their star guards stymied by hard shows on pick-and-rolls, or otherwise taken out of rhythm. Cleveland ripped off a 64-win regular season, as Mobley unlocked all of the features of his game, while also anchoring Cleveland's top-five defense with center Jarrett Allen. Similarly talented bigs like Bam Adebayo in Miami can draw defenses their way.
This year's NBA draft features a number of bigs who have a plethora of offensive skills. And some still bother to block a shot or two. Like Duke freshman Khaman Maluach, who's rising rapidly up draft boards in the last days before the draft. Whatever your preference. They haven't been played off the floor yet.
Once again, I make no bones about the fact that this is the NBA version of my NFL colleague Bruce Feldman's annual NFL Draft Confidential. As that work pairs perfectly with Dane Brugler's monster NFL draft preview, The Beast, I hope my contributions serve as a complement to Sam Vecenie's exhaustive annual NBA Draft Guide. Sam is the first and last word on NBA prospects, having scouted and/or seen almost everyone over the last couple of years.
But I have spent some time on this. I've spent the last two-plus months talking with nearly three dozen college head and assistant coaches, NBA executives, scouts and other personnel types who've all either seen or coached against most of this year's crop. (I try not to ask coaches about their own players, because it's often hard for them to give me a real and objective evaluation of their own guys.)
In exchange for anonymity, they tell me the truth, both good and bad, about what they think about the players.
As ever, this is not a mock draft. Really, it's not even a 'Big Board.' And, I didn't ask about every single player that's in every single mock. I have to cut this off somewhere. I know Florida guard Alijah Martin has a chance to be taken, for example. He's a hell of a defensive player. But I don't know that you'd read 10,000 words apiece on all of the guards, wings and bigs who could possibly be taken. So I made some decisions. But, there's still plenty to chew on here. Have at it!
It's hard to teach 7-foot-1, 253 pounds, and 75 percent from the floor on 2-pointers. And being a vital part of a Final Four team. And being just 18 years old. Cooper Flagg got most of the attention at Duke this past season, but Maluach certainly didn't disappoint, either, after coming out of the NBA Academy Africa from South Sudan, playing in the Basketball Africa League and playing on South Sudan's men's team — at 17 years old — as it clinched its first-ever Olympic tournament berth last summer. South Sudan then nearly shocked the world in a one-point exhibition loss to the U.S. men in London, with Maluach scoring seven points off the bench, before South Sudan beat Puerto Rico in the opening round of the Games.
At Duke, Maluach was named to the ACC All-Freshman Team, averaging 8.6 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.3 blocks on 71.2 percent shooting from the field in 39 games. He ranked sixth in the country in offensive rebound percentage (16.5) and 2-point percentage (75.4). There's a reason the Spurs, per league sources, have already had him in twice for pre-draft visits. It's not likely San Antonio would take him with its No. 2 overall pick, but the Spurs certainly know that they'll probably need to secure a second top-10 pick to have a real chance at taking him. Maybe top five.
Advertisement
College head coach No. 1 (his team played Duke): I actually think he has the biggest upside of anybody in the draft. … He's huge. And he's long. He's a good athlete. And I think he has natural defensive instincts. He shoots the ball better than I think, maybe, he was able to show this year. He's a live body. He's enthusiastic about playing. It seems he loves the process, is not afraid of it. He's competitive. He's not afraid. He's ready to mix it up if he needs to. His length, size and athleticism, and then when you add those other things, I think the only thing that could stop him is injury.
Western Conference executive No. 1: Guys like him are only in one place for 11 to 13 years, and they're starters. What's the worst scenario he could be? Clint Capela? If you watched him in FIBA, offensively, it's two completely different talents than he showed at Duke. In FIBA, he's shooting 3s. At Duke … no. But there were a couple of times where he did do it and you're like, ah, that's what I saw at FIBA. He plays hard. He seems like a great kid. Rebounds. And Duke bigs — (Dereck) Lively was undervalued, and he's turned out to be damned good. Mark Williams. The general manager who has enough (guts) to take him earlier than Tre, maybe even Edgecombe, I could see him being the under the radar (pick) that nobody's really pinpointing to maybe screw up the (draft) order a little bit.
College assistant coach No. 1 (his team played Duke): I got up next to the kid. He's huge. And he's untapped. He's got a world of potential. He goes after everything. He rebounds. And offensively, he's untapped.
Few big men have as much in their offensive quiver as Maryland's freshman Derik Queen, who was Big 10 Rookie of the Year and a first-team all-conference selection. The 6-9 power forward can pass and score – sometimes, with his team's season on the line. Where he goes next week is up in the air, though; he's all over the place from the mid- to late Lottery. South Carolina's Collin Murray-Boyles turns heads at the other end of the floor, as one of the best defenders in the country, with just enough offense to not get played off the floor. Georgetown center Thomas Sorber missed a large chunk of the Hoyas' season with an injury, but he showed substantial two-way potential in his one season on the Hilltop, and his Green Room invite this week only solidifies the growing belief he'll be a top-20 pick. Right alongside him may be Georgia freshman Asa Newell, whose game puts some in mind of Obi Toppin when he turned two great years at Dayton into a top-10 draft selection, and Michigan junior Danny Wolf, an all-Big 10 selection who almost averaged a double-double (13.2 ppg, 9.7 rpg) for the Wolverines.
Eastern Conference executive No. 1: I've been telling our guys, you watch him before the games, and he (seems) lackadaisical. He doesn't show a serious side. And that's a turnoff to some people. I'm like, think of Naz Reid when he was at LSU. It was the same damn thing. The games never get too big for (Queen).
Advertisement
College assistant coach No. 2 (his team played Maryland): The skill is real. The knowledge of the game, and how to get to where he needs to go, crafty, is a real thing. He's not jumping over a phone book. I worry about, can he guard? Who he's going to guard is my question. I don't worry about him at all on offense. But I don't think he can guard fives. I don't think he's great in pick-and-roll defense, and I don't think he can move well enough laterally to guard Giannis and Michael Porter Jr., these scorers. He tries on defense, I think. I just don't think he moves well enough for it to be as good as it needs to be if he's not going to be a guy who's going to be super efficient on offense.
I like him a lot (though). He can pass. He's a willing passer. He actually wants to pass. He can really see the floor. He can survey. He can get to his spot. He can make a shot off both feet. He can knock you off balance. He can get to the free-throw line. He's a good rebounder. There's a lot to like. The defensive part is where I have questions. Who's he guarding? Can he guard (Mikal) Bridges? Can he guard Josh Hart? Can he guard Stew (Isaiah Stewart), the next tier of guys who aren't the primary offensive option, but they know how to cut, how to go to the glass?
College assistant coach No. 3 (his team played Maryland): I am not a Derik Queen guy. He can't shoot. Look at his 3-point percentage and number of attempts. I don't know who he's going to guard. Very skilled with the ball, because he's got great hands. Good from 15 feet on in. Doesn't run fast or hard. But he hardly took any 3s. And the way the NBA game is right now, what are you gonna do? But he's a great rebounder.
Western Conference scout No. 1: Nice kid. Heavy emphasis on kid. We interviewed him, and he's 19 going on 14. He can do one thing: he can score. But you don't want to have to rely on a rookie scoring for you to contribute.
College assistant coach No. 4 (his team played South Carolina): I would say I love his game. He was a little bit like Draymond (Green), similar size. Great passer in the short roll. You couldn't double him because he'd make you pay. Just really hard to guard. Analytically, I had that scout. He was shooting a crazy percentage within three feet of the basket. He shoots such a high percentage and no one can really stop him from getting that close. He's such a good dribbler and he's so strong. It just makes him unique. He shot 62 from two on the year. The midrange kind of drew it down a little bit, but when he got close, the ball's going in, or he's getting to the free throw line. That, combined with the passing … and the rebounding is elite.
He's so quick, and has such a good feel for where the ball's going. There's some awesome plays, some great defensive plays, where most guys would get a deflection, he'd just catch the ball. They'd throw it right to his hands, and it just, like, sticks. The shooting is the biggest question, but I think he has everything else. … He seems like he's a great kid, even though they were struggling. He was playing really hard.
College head coach No. 2 (his team played South Carolina): He was a handful. The thing I worry about with him is we didn't guard him on the perimeter. He's undersized. If you're undersized in the NBA, you've got to be able to shoot. I look at a guy like Draymond, who could shoot in college. I don't know if he'll ever be a respectable enough shooter where you have to guard him. Back in the day, guys used to work to get NBA money. Now they already get NBA money. So I don't know how hard he's going to work at shooting. If I'm making $2 million and I'm at South Carolina, I ain't worrying about shooting. But we couldn't keep him off the glass. He's physical. He knows how to score around the rim.
Advertisement
College assistant coach No. 5 (his team played South Carolina): He's really good positionally, and he's so strong. So you can never get to your spots. Rebounds. I think the thing is his strength. It's hard for you to get to where you want to get to. Just trying to get to your plays, he holds you, and he's so strong. They hedged. He hedges extremely hard, so it makes it hard for you to turn the corner. He does a great job of being able to hard hedge and get back to his guy. They did drop and level at times. But he was more of a hedge guy. He's got good feet. Very long arms, too, so it's very hard to throw over the top. He could potentially guard at three, but as far as playing the three, his handle and shot, he's not there. Obviously, he defends extremely well. He walls up at the rim when you try to score over him. His shooting is not good. But him going over that right shoulder, he's money down low.
College assistant coach No. 6 (his team played Georgetown): He's not terribly tall. I thought, for a young big guy, his motor was incredible. A lot of times, young big guys don't play quite hard enough. He had a grown man's motor as a freshman. You look at his face, you can tell he was a baby; he has the braces. He's so young. But he plays hard. Great face-up game. But I was impressed with his motor. Against us, we were fronting, he had a catch and finish like, holy s—. He's talented. I think he has the touch to kind of extend his range out. He's a pretty good jump shooter. He just shot 15-footers, face-ups and that kind of stuff. I think he's got the touch to be able to extend his range. To be able to play that hard, and if he can shoot it some, I like his progression. That's something he'll have to work on. But I don't think he's far off from what his NBA game, or style should be – a hard-playing four who can stretch it.
He's not a center at the next level. He's not a 7-foot monster like some of those guys are. He battles in the post. … He's not a true center. I don't think he can guard a (Nikola) Jokić. He can guard Myles Turner, probably. But not the bigger centers. Defensively, he contested shots. He was good in ball screens. They did some zone, they did some switching. The effort was there. His motor was real, his talent was real.
College assistant coach No. 7: He played in, what, 20 games, 23 games, before he got hurt? He's got a chance to be really good. He's really skilled. Thinks the game. But he's got a lot of stuff to work on. … He's a good athlete, but he's not a great athlete. He reminds me of a David West type, eventually. David could pass, he was pretty skilled, smart.
Eastern Conference executive No. 1: He's long. He'll shoot the 3, and sometimes shoots it when he shouldn't. But there's an upside that I like there. (Obi) Toppin's a little better athlete, but Newell's longer. There's a point of interest with him.
College assistant coach No. 4 (his team played Georgia): I was surprised he was able to score the way he did in the SEC, just based on what he did at Montverde. When he was younger, there were times when he really struggled to score. He would catch the ball and just look a little awkward. They did an amazing job with him, to do what he did. He would get some easy ones that he probably won't get at the next level, like rim runs or transition; that kind of drove his percentages up. I do feel like he made a jump scoring the ball. He would let it fly. When he was open, he would shoot it. He didn't turn many down. Didn't shoot it great from 3, but I don't think he took many bad ones. …Really nice kid, worker. I think he has a chance to make a jump because of who he is, in terms of work ethic and attitude.
College assistant coach No. 5 (his team played Georgia): I don't know if he was great against us, but with his length, he's so long, and he offensive rebounds so well, and he's a lob threat. He gets fouled. Lefty, moves well, can run down the floor extremely well. Incredible on the glass.
Advertisement
Eastern Conference executive No. 2: If you're a fan, you think this is the next Kelly Olynyk. He can think the game, he can pass, he can shoot some. My problem with him is he's (6-11) and he's physical, and he plays like he's 6-6. He does up-and-unders instead of just going over guys. He wants to pass and make plays. It would be one thing if he was a great shooter. He's not a great shooter.
College assistant coach No. 3 (his team played Michigan): What they want you to do is drop coverage where he and (Vladislav) Golden can do screen and roll at the elbow. Look at his turnovers. He's a very high turnover machine, because he can't go left very well. He can shoot 3s, so that does translate. He can bring it up as a five. He told Michigan I won't come there if you make me play five. He didn't want to guard fives in college. He did, five-10 minutes a game, but they had Golden. In order for him to be a mismatch, he's got to play the five in the NBA. He is a late developer. He's much better than he was two or three years ago.
Multiple bigs could get into the back end of the first round. French center Joan Beringer is one of the youngest guys in the draft — he just turned 18 last November — but held his own this season playing for Cedevita in the Adriatic League. The Celtics, among other teams with late first-round picks, have had Creighton senior center Ryan Kalkbrenner in for a workout. Stanford's Maxime Reynaud was an All-ACC selection (still weird to type 'Stanford' and 'ACC' in the same sentence) who played well in Chicago at the predraft combine. Penn State junior Yanic Konan Niederhauser made an impression late in the season for the Nittany Lions, and stands to be one of the most impactful Penn State big men hoopers since the days of John Amaechi and Frank Brickowski.
Eastern Conference executive No. 3: Very, very new to the game. Big (kid). Light on his feet. Shot blocker. High motor. The offensive part is gonna be a wait. Right now, he's a vertical spacer, lob catcher. Just dunks everything around the rim. He's only been competitively playing the last five years. …It's been good for him to leave France and get away from that sort of thing, and now he's in Slovenia. Perfect work conditions. Lives two or three blocks from the gym. Someone might (take) him in the teens. Really, his talent level, he's supposed to be a late 20s guy, maybe mid-20s guy, just with his inexperience. But a big body, live body. You're going to hear from him. Offensively, he's a ways away. But he does have decent instincts.
Eastern Conference executive No. 2: Saw him last year at the Under-18s in Finland. Still very raw. But he's come a long way from where he was last year. If you think about Jarrett Allen in college, and just how raw he was, that's what he reminds me of. If you're a fan of his, that's how you have to project him. Just started playing two or three years ago. Good pick and roll defense. There's not a lot there (offensively). You throw it at the rim and he catches it.
Western Conference executive No. 2: Raw, young, rim protector and rebounding will keep him around. Solid motor. That kid is a dog, man. He's a horse. He just works all the time. He's just starting to play. Whoever gets him is going to have rim protection, rebounder. And he asks questions. Very smart kid. His hands aren't really the greatest, but he can catch the ball in the dunker's spot.
College assistant coach No. 7 (his team played Creighton): I like him. It's tough, because defensively, and I know he kept winning Defensive Player of the Year, but he never left the paint. He changed shots around the basket. I think his offensive game got better. I don't think he's the athlete, mobility guy, that Zach Edey is. But it's legit size. You just can't bypass that. Their system — now maybe, he can do more than he was able to show, based on how they utilized him in their system. He was basically a screen roll guy. But you never really were able to see what he had in his bag. Edey has a little edge to him. I'm not sure Ryan has that.
Advertisement
Western Conference scout No. 1: He's big as s—, long as f—. Standing reach over nine feet. His interview was spectacular in Chicago. Really bright dude; really smart man. It's hard not to like him. And he's a five-year guy. He's a drop coverage guy, which is fine. But he's a Jakob Poeltl type. He's got some bulk. Three blocks a game this year and three blocks a game last year. Sometimes, you just need competence. You don't need another star.
Western Conference scout No. 2: Somebody's gonna get a star in him. Got better each year. A good team is gonna get him, and people are gonna be 'How did they get him?' He's got to get stronger, but he can post up, he can pass, he's got the jump hooks, both hands. Turnaround J. He can step out and shoot 3s. And he can put it on the floor. (Donovan) Clingan went seven (in last year's draft). Zach Edey went nine. Other than (Edey) being bigger, (Raynaud's) more skilled than both of them put together.
Western Conference scout No. 1: Hates to be touched. In the playoffs, the way they let you play, you've got to get used to a bit of manhandling. Has some talent. He's like Luke Kornet. Could shoot the ball, great hands, but hated to be touched. He had to learn. Took him a while, but now he's a serviceable player. (Raynaud's) better than Kornet, but he's going to have to find somebody who values his finesse.
College head coach No. 3 (his team played Penn State): Love his upside. Should get better and better. Could turn into Kel'el Ware or even be better. Needs to get strong. Needs to continue to improve his ball skills. Other than this past season has lacked playing against high-level competition but has high upside.
Eastern Conference executive No. 3: Raw. But size and athleticism, he's got all that. It's an elite combination. He's just learning how to play. The downside is he didn't rebound. He should have been getting an easy 12 rebounds a game. You're just betting that he's going to learn and get better at that stuff.
Western Conference scout No. 1: He's a workout warrior. Came to the combine and blew out the numbers. But when I went to see him play … he wasn't interested in playing at all. He played against the big kid at Oregon (Nate Bittle). He didn't show up to play. His numbers show that consistent inconsistency. Now, other people have seen him. But all of a sudden, he's a hot name because of what he did at the combine. But, still, at his worst, he's Mitchell Robinson. And at his best, he could be a lot better than that.
Auburn's Johni Broome absolutely maxed out as a super senior for the Tigers, winning SEC Player of the Year honors and leading Auburn to the Final Four and a top-five spot all season. But, it's more likely than not that he'll have to stick as a second-round pick. Serbian forward Bogoljub Marković was named Top Prospect in the Adriatic League this past season, shooting nearly 39 percent on 3s for Mega Basket. The 2024 winner of the award, guard Nikola Topić, was Oklahoma City's first-round pick (12th overall) last year; Heat forward and 2022 first-rounder Nikola Jović took the honors three years ago.
Advertisement
Kentucky's Amari Williams came to Lexington after four years at Drexel and finished second in the SEC in rebounds (8.5 per game). China's Hansen Yang is ready to make the leap to the NBA after playing for the Qingdao Eagles in the Chinese Basketball Association this past season. So is 18-year-old Australian Rocco Zikarsky, whose massive (7-3) size could get him a late second-round look after a couple of years playing for the Brisbane Bullets in the NBL. Zikarsky was also in the NBL's Next Stars program this season with fellow 2025 potential draftees Izan Almansa and Alex Toohey; NBA alumni who were in Next Stars on their way to the league include LaMelo Ball, Josh Giddey and Alexandre Sarr.
College assistant coach No. 4 (his team played Auburn): Almost looks like he's not playing that hard because he's so good. He was, you're trying to get him to catch the ball as far away as possible because he's such a great dribbler. He's a great passer, especially with his back to the basket. … With Broome, you couldn't double him. You have to play him one-on-one. You're trying to sit on his right shoulder so hard, but it's so good, he could still get to it, somehow. You're yelling at your guys, but it was impossible to stop him from getting to that right shoulder. Amazing rebounder. Defensively, he might struggle a little bit. …but the game is so easy for him. He was a five in the SEC defensively. They played (Dylan) Cardwell, too, both those guys together, but with Broome, he's a little more of a natural drop guy. They had to get him out there to try and impact the ball more. I don't know if, when he gets to the league, I don't know if he can really switch. He's going to have to rely on ball screen coverage to keep himself on the guy he's guarding.
College assistant coach No. 8 (his team played Auburn): From the waist up, Johni is a great athlete. From the waist down, he's suspect. He's got incredible timing. He gets the ball at its peak. And he's got soft hands. Unbelievable hands. Anything in his area, he comes up with it. Not much vertical. … I think he competes, and I think this is true of a lot of guys. Very few guys compete in a lot of context areas of the game. They'll compete in different areas of the game. Broome competes on the backboard. He competes in the paint. And he made himself a much better 3-point shooter. He can really pass, he can really play. But he doesn't want to guard anybody. He's not rushing up to a ball screen. Bruce (Pearl) is great at getting guys to play to their strengths. My worry is, unless you play drop, he doesn't have great feet, and he's not really competitive in that context of the game. How much would it piss him off to sit?
Western Conference executive No. 3: He's talented. Very skilled. His body's got to fill out. Somebody with multiple picks is going to take him. He's very skilled. You have to bring him (over). If you stash him, you're going to lose him. He's a good player. Long, athletic, can pass. He's got a chance.
Western Conference executive No. 4: He didn't shoot the ball well this year. They moved up in competition. He's kind of young and frail. But you're betting on the shot coming up and the body coming up. And when he played in the Hoop Summit in '24, he was easily a top-10 player in that.
College assistant coach No. 4 (his team played Kentucky): (Kentucky) obviously had, Lamont Butler got hurt, so they lost their point guard. They actually were running offense through (Williams) to relieve pressure. They ran some zoom action through him. He helped get them through in a pinch. Great size. Moves well. Obviously not a 3-point threat. But around the rim, he's got good touch. Switching, he's not a great defender in ball screens. But he can protect the rim. They were in drop coverage a lot, and they iced. He was fine. He can move his feet. But you don't want him guarding guards.
Western Conference executive No. 3: He's got good hands. When he came to Chicago, he wasn't in shape. He shut down. He's not a guy that's going to run up and down. He's like (Joel) Embiid. He's going to be trailing. But he's got skills. If Berenger had his skills, he'd be a top-five pick. But he's slow. Berenger is fast as hell, but he's limited.
Advertisement
Western Conference executive No. 4: There's not a lot to go on. The numbers (in Brisbane) weren't staggering. But his size, and he's young and he blocks shots – you're betting on that. These big foreigners, you have to expend a pick on them. You're not getting them in the G League. And you don't lose the value of those guys (if they stay overseas for a year or two after getting drafted) because you keep their rights.
Eastern Conference executive No. 3: He was supposed to be the prize of the class. Even if he keeps his name in, he probably goes late second round. He just hasn't done enough to warrant a first-round pick. And with bigs and injuries, they want to see proof of life. I don't want to see some big guy that's been hurt half the season, and is now pushing himself into the draft.
(Illustration: Will Tullos / The Athletic; Photos: Jared C. Tilton, Michael Allio, Todd Kirkland / Getty Images)

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

USA Today

12 minutes ago

• USA Today

2025 NBA Mock Draft 7.0: Predicting all 59 picks, with Ace Bailey sliding

The 2025 NBA Draft is less than one week away, which means we will soon know exactly where each of the top prospects will begin their NBA careers. While there is near certainty toward the top of the draft with Cooper Flagg and Dylan Harper, it gets a bit murkier surrounding where Ace Bailey may eventually land. There a wide range of outcomes, including many possible trade scenarios that could change the landscape. These projections are based on the order as it stands, however, and it does not project trades. We expect at least a couple transactions on draft night, though, with teams like the Houston Rockets as well as the Toronto Raptors and Brooklyn Nets expected to make some moves. The following mock draft is based on our research and contains original reporting with quotes from prospects including Dylan Harper, Kon Knueppel, Jeremiah Fears, Cedric Coward, Asa Newell, and Thomas Sorber. All heights are listed without shoes measured at the 2025 NBA Draft Combine in Chicago or Treviso. The best takes and the sharpest bets on all the hoops storylines you need to know. Sign up for our Layup Lines newsletter, hitting your inbox on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. 1. Dallas Mavericks: Cooper Flagg TEAM: Duke POSITION: Wing HEIGHT: 6' 7.75'' DRAFT AGE: 18.5 The 2025 NBA Draft Lottery was effectively a launching ground for Duke sensation Cooper Flagg to find out what team he will play for next season and beyond. It was the Mavericks who shockingly got the opportunity, and we shouldn't expect them to trade the pick. Flagg was long considered the favorite at No. 1 overall (we wrote about it when he was 15 years old) and he made that even more clear when he dominated against Team USA during a friendly scrimmage before they won gold at the Olympics. He then exceeded all expectations while he was in college, accomplishing just about everything except winning a national championship. Something that NBA fans should adore about Flagg: While the Mavericks reportedly decided long before they met with him that he was their pick at No. 1 overall, according to The Stein Line, he still 'insisted' that he still work out on the court for the team and he 'made a very favorable' impression. 'He doesn't turn it off. That's one of the best compliments I can give,' Kon Knueppel, his Duke college roommate and teammate, recently told For The Win. 'He is just a humble dude who loves basketball.' More: The Mavericks reportedly plan to select Cooper Flagg, not make another controversial trade 2. San Antonio Spurs: Dylan Harper TEAM: Rutgers POSITION: Guard HEIGHT: 6' 4.50'' DRAFT AGE: 19.3 While the Spurs could have plenty of suitors if they wanted to shop this pick, it isn't worth it to make a move unless it could land them Giannis Antetokounmpo, and such a trade is seeming more and more unlikely. Instead, they could get someone with legitimate star potential to pair with Victor Wembanyama. For The Win spoke to Harper earlier this year and he described how he developed his fantastic ability to become such a dynamic scorer at the rim. Harper should bring that skill set with him to the pros after earning Big Ten All-Freshman honors. Q&A: Meet Dylan Harper, the best NBA Draft prospect who did not make March Madness tourney 3. Philadelphia 76ers: V.J. Edgecombe TEAM: Baylor POSITION: Wing HEIGHT: 6' 4.00'' DRAFT AGE: 19.9 After a strong performance for the Bahamas during the Olympic qualifiers last year, V.J. Edgecombe became a name to watch for scouts and evaluators. At the start of the NCAA season, he showed a lot of promise as a defensive player, though that actually slowed down a bit as his freshman campaign progressed. However, while at Baylor, he also showed promise as one of the bounciest scorers. While the Philadelphia 76ers have reportedly not met with Ace Bailey yet, Edgecombe did travel for a private workout. He 'impressed' during this environment, per The Philadelphia Inquirer. The organization liked his 'work ethic, personality and interviews' during the visit, via The Stein Line. The Big 12 Freshman of the Year joined Flagg as the only first-year collegiate players with at least 30 dunks and 3-pointers recorded, per Bart Torvik. 4. Kon Knueppel TEAM: Duke POSITION: Wing HEIGHT: 6' 5.00'' DRAFT AGE: 19.9 In the event that the 76ers do not pick Edgecombe and he is still on the board, the organization may target him over Bailey as a defensive anchor. He reportedly had an 'excellent' interview for the team during the 2025 NBA Draft Combine, per Yahoo's Kevin O'Connor. But assuming he is off the board, Duke's Kon Knueppel is an ideal candidate. The Hornets 'appear to have interest' in the ACC tournament MVP, according to ESPN's Jonathan Givony. "I try to focus on all the little things," Knueppel recently told For The Win. "I'm going to make it as hard on the guy that's got the ball that I'm guarding. I'm going to make it super hard on him. I'm going to box out. I'm going to rebound. I'm going to get a loose ball. Those things add up. It all goes into having a good plus-minus or making winning plays on the court." The Blue Devils outscored opponents by 625 points when Knueppel was on the court this season, per CBB Analytics, which was the highest plus-minus among all men's college basketball players. More: Meet NBA draft prospect Kon Knueppel, the other Duke star you're not talking enough about 5. Utah Jazz: Tre Johnson TEAM: Texas POSITION: Wing HEIGHT: 6' 4.75'' DRAFT AGE: 19.3 It is hard to predict what kind of decisions Austin Ainge will make in his new role as an executive for the Jazz. For example, Duke big man Khaman Maluach is considered a 'potential draftee' for Utah, via The Stein Line. This would give Utah the flexibility to potentially trade center Walker Kessler. Texas freshman Tre Johnson, however, is another player who is reportedly gaining significant momentum in the pre-draft process so far. Johnson was named SEC Freshman of the Year because he is such a natural scorer whose passing is better than his assist stats might suggest. He is very difficult to stop in the open-court and led all freshmen in 3-pointers made in transition (21) and above the break (65) this season, per CBB Analytics. He measured with a nearly plus-six (6-foot-10) wingspan at the 2025 NBA Draft Combine, which should help him in the pros. Johnson also recorded the fastest lane agility time (10.49 seconds) at the 2025 NBA Draft Combine and his upside makes him a good option for a franchise like the Jazz. 6. Washington Wizards: Jeremiah Fears TEAM: Oklahoma POSITION: Guard HEIGHT: 6' 2.50'' DRAFT AGE: 18.7 Oklahoma freshman Jeremiah Fears has reportedly had multiple workouts with the Jazz, who are on the clock immediately before the Wizards. But if Utah decides to go a different direction, don't expect Fears to wait long to hear his name called. His mentality helps explain why. "Whoever picks me on draft night, you guys are going to be getting a dog," Fears recently told For The Win. "Somebody that's going to come in, work hard, bring star power, and give it his all every time they step on the court." Fears gave fans some amazing highlights as he climbed up draft boards this season. He deservedly received SEC All-Freshman honors, can score at multiple levels from the floor, and he is a fantastic playmaker on both offense and defense as well. The guard is the second-youngest NCAA prospect we have projected in the first round behind only Flagg and was still one of the best overall performers in March Madness. He was one of the fastest players at the 2025 NBA Draft Combine, recording a 3.05-second three-quarter sprint. 7. New Orleans Pelicans: Derik Queen TEAM: Maryland POSITION: Big HEIGHT: 6' 9.25'' DRAFT AGE: 20.5 The New Orleans Pelicans are another difficult team to predict in the 2025 NBA Draft because they have a new front office led by Joe Dumars. But the Pelicans do have rumored interest in Queen and he was one of the 'headliners' of a workout with the organization, per NBA Big Board's Rafael Barlowe. Queen was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year and proved his versatility and eye-catching skill set as a big man who is incredibly fun to watch. Then after recording perhaps the biggest moment of the NCAA men's basketball tournament, Queen skyrocketed his draft status. While his athletic testing was less than desirable at the 2025 NBA Draft Combine, he plays at his own speed and could provide a unique addition for any roster. Yahoo's Kevin O'Connor reported that "most front-office executives" believe Ace Bailey is their target, even if it means they need to make a trade. However, per The Stein Line, the interest is "overstated" and that they are not "actively" trying to trade up for the Rutgers standout. More: Derik Queen's game-winner just cemented his NBA Draft status 9. Brooklyn Nets: Ace Bailey TEAM: Rutgers POSITION: Forward HEIGHT: 6' 7.50'' DRAFT AGE: 18.9 There is a lot to unpack about why Ace Bailey's draft stock is apparently plummeting lately, especially after he measured a bit shorter than expected at the 2025 NBA Draft Combine. While this is much lower than where he was projected in our latest consensus rankings at No. 3 overall earlier this month, fans shouldn't expect him to fall much lower than this. It's possible that Bailey's representation wants him to land in a big market where he can get a lot of playing time, and the Nets would provide exactly that. Back when For The Win spoke to his teammate Dylan Harper, he said that his favorite thing about Bailey is how much joy he plays with on the court. Harper described him as tall, lanky, twitchy and a nearly constant presence because of his ability to get a bucket. While some evaluators feel that he might take a bit too many mid range shots, his ability to shoot at his size is something that is going to entice every team in the NBA. His consistency will define just how much success he has, though, as will any development as a passer or as a defensive playmaker. More: The alarming reasons why Ace Bailey's NBA draft stock is plummeting 9. Toronto Raptors: Khaman Maluach TEAM: Duke POSITION: Big HEIGHT: 7' 0.75'' DRAFT AGE: 18.8 South Sudan's Khaman Maluach enjoyed an excellent, efficient campaign and earned ACC All-Freshman honors for Duke. As a lob threat, per CBB Analytics, he had the second-most alley-oops completed (38) among all players in college basketball. He is raw on both ends of the court but has a strong defensive presence thanks to his nearly 7-foot-7 wingspan and 9-foot-6 standing reach measured at the 2025 NBA Draft Combine. Other teams that could have interest include the Utah Jazz, Washington Wizards, Brooklyn Nets, and Atlanta Hawks. 10. Houston Rockets (via PHX): Collin Murray-Boyles TEAM: South Carolina POSITION: Big HEIGHT: 6' 6.50'' DRAFT AGE: 20.1 No one expects the Rockets to actually use this pick and are likely candidates to make a trade, but if they do, expect them to look at versatile defensive forward like South Carolina sophomore Collin Murray-Boyles. Murray-Boyles is perhaps the most enticing collegiate player who was not a one-and-done prospect. According to ESPN's Jeremy Woo, the Rockets are considered a "team that makes sense as a fit" for the the forward. He who averaged 16.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.5 steals, as well as 1.3 blocks per game this season. He is ready to contribute in many ways at the next level. Murray-Boyles is a bit undersized for someone who is virtually a non-threat from beyond the arc but he can offer enough impact as a defender to potentially make up for it. 11. Portland Trail Blazers: Carter Bryant TEAM: Arizona POSITION: Forward HEIGHT: 6' 6.50'' DRAFT AGE: 19.6 Arizona freshman Carter Bryant is a former McDonald's All-American forward who had a strong collegiate debut despite a relatively limited role. He was the only freshman aside from Flagg with at least three dunks and 3-pointers during the NCAA men's basketball tournament, per Bart Torvik. Bryant is unselfish, he works hard on defense, he measured with a wingspan just short of 7-foot, he recorded a 39.5-inch max vertical and 3.07-second three-quarter sprint. Bryant plays with a high IQ, and already looks like one of the biggest risers during the pre-draft process. It was a no-brainer for him to stay in the 2025 NBA Draft. He told The Athletic that he studies Portland's Toumani Camara and he could soon become his teammate on the Trail Blazers. 12. Chicago Bulls: Kasparas Jakučionis TEAM: Illinois POSITION: Guard HEIGHT: 6' 4.75'' DRAFT AGE: 19.1 Lithuania's Kasparas Jakučionis was briefly one of the hottest names in draft circles and he eventually earned Big Ten All-Freshman honors. He has an effective pull-up jumper and led all high-major freshmen in unassisted 3-pointers made (34), per CBB Analytics. As a distributor, in the same group, he also had the most assists finished at the rim (76) this season. Jakučionis needs his jump shot to look more like it did in the first two months of the season than it did in the final three for this pick to work out. 13. Atlanta Hawks (via SAC): Noa Essengue TEAM: ratiopharm ulm (Germany) POSITION: Wing HEIGHT: 6' 10.00'' DRAFT AGE: 18.5 NBA teams have had a slightly difficult time evaluating France's Noa Essengue because he is still playing in the postseason while overseas. Essengue is the second-youngest player in the draft but has still managed impressive productivity in one of the more competitive basketball leagues. He ranks fifth-best among all players in Defensive Statistical Impact (DSI) among those with at least seven games played in the Eurocup, per Cerebro Sports. Essengue is an interesting prospect who a variety of teams should have on their radar and, per ESPN's Jeremy Woo, has "drawn increasing interest from teams in the 9-to-15 range" in the 2025 NBA Draft. He is seen as one of the "potential candidates" for the Hawks, according to Woo. 14. San Antonio Spurs (via ATL): Joan Beringer TEAM: KK Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana (Slovenia) POSITION: Big HEIGHT: 6' 11.00'' DRAFT AGE: 18.6 If the Spurs decide to keep their second lottery pick, France's Joan Beringer is one of the names they will consider. Beringer was not able to participate in the 2025 NBA Draft Combine in Chicago because he was playing overseas but he is a great rim runner and legitimate vertical lob threat. He has a strong defensive presence with a high upside who can impact the game defensively right away. Beringer led the ABA League in blocks this season and ranks third overall in Defensive Statistical Impact (DSI) in his league, per Cerebro Sports. 15. Oklahoma City Thunder (via MIA): Cedric Coward TEAM: Washington St. POSITION: Forward HEIGHT: 6' 5.25'' DRAFT AGE: 21.8 Perhaps the most fascinating player in the 2025 NBA Draft is Cedric Coward, who was originally committed to Duke in the transfer portal before deciding to turn pro. "I think I can play anywhere because I'm adaptable," Coward recently told For The Win. "I know who I am as a player and I know who I am as a person and all I want to do is impact winning. I don't care about individual accolades, all of that stuff. That stuff comes with it. But for me, I just want to win. That's all I want to do. I want to win and I want to get better ... Whatever team is looking for that in a player has it right here with me." He shot 40.0 percent on his 3-pointers while averaging 17.7 points per game before getting hurt last season. Coward is one of the hottest names in draft circles right now after measuring with a 7-foot-2 wingspan with a 38.5-inch max vertical and 3.06-second three-quarter sprint at the 2025 NBA Draft Combine. Coward reportedly met with the Thunder for a private one-on-zero workout, per ESPN's Jonathan Givony. 16. Memphis Grizzlies (via ORL): Nique Clifford TEAM: Colorado St. POSITION: Forward HEIGHT: 6' 5.25'' DRAFT AGE: 23.4 Colorado State senior Nique Clifford is the oldest player we have projected in the first round but he looks ready to contribute to an NBA rotation. Teams are betting on the assumption that the do-it-all forward is going to make an impact on winning right away in the NBA. He led an upset in the first round of the NCAA tournament and averaged a productive 18.9 points. 9.6 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game during his final collegiate campaign. He has reportedly "received positive feedback" from his workouts and is drawing interest from teams picking in the teens, per ESPN's Jeremy Woo. Perhaps that team is Memphis now that they have traded back into the first round. Clifford fits a statistical profile that the Grizzlies have valued in previous draft cycles under executive Zach Kleiman, which we have written about in the past. Other prospects who fit this description include Collin Murray-Boyles and Adou Thiero. 17. Minnesota Timberwolves (via DET): Asa Newell TEAM: Georgia POSITION: Forward HEIGHT: 6' 9.00'' DRAFT AGE: 19.7 Georgia's Asa Newell, who was named SEC All-Freshman, is recorded the second-most layups and dunks combined this season among freshmen, per CBB Analytics. But he is also developing his 3-pointer after changing his shooting motion. 'I've always been extremely confident in my jump shot from high school to college and now in the NBA,' Newell recently told For The Win. 'You have to have a 3-point shot to survive in the NBA.' He trailed only his high school teammate, Flagg, among all freshmen in Player Efficiency Rating (PER) last season. 'I know I play with a lot of energy,' Newell added. 'I'm a match waiting for some gasoline and causing a whole fire … That is very contagious when you have someone who plays very hard, with a motor, and doesn't take plays off.' Newell has worked out with the Timberwolves, per Rookie Wire's Cody Taylor. Q&A: Asa Newell pitches his 'contagious' energy as NBA draft prospect 18. Washington Wizards (via MEM): Thomas Sorber TEAM: Georgetown POSITION: Big HEIGHT: 6' 9.25'' DRAFT AGE: 19.5 Georgetown freshman big Thomas Sorber, who has a 7-foot-6 wingspan, was an analytics darling before he suffered a season-ending foot injury. He could provide an exciting young piece to a developing young core and defensive presence for a team that could use a spark on that end of the floor like the Wizards. "You never hear a lot of people say that their favorite joy is playing defense. I think that's one thing that's rare about me," Sorber recently told For The Win. "I know that defense wins games, so I basically just put my all into the defensive end and try my best to not let my opponent score or anybody on the other team score because that can also start breaks and also get my team quick, easy points." It made a lot of sense for him to stay in the 2025 NBA Draft considering that, per ESPN's Jeremy Woo, he "has solid interest inside the top 20" for this class. 19. Brooklyn Nets (via MIL): Nolan Traoré TEAM: Saint-Quentin (France) POSITION: Guard HEIGHT: 6' 3.00'' DRAFT AGE: 19.1 After a slow start to his season in France, based on his priors before this season, it was only a matter of time before Nolan Traoré eventually started to heat up. He averaged 13.8 points and 5.0 assists per game while shooting 42.7 percent on 3-pointers over the course of his last ten games, per RealGM. Traoré was named 2025 Best Young Player of the Basketball Champions League and is inarguably one of the best playmakers in the 2025 NBA Draft. If he is more consistent at the next level, he could become something special as a point guard of the future. Other teams that may have interest include the Washington Wizards, Toronto Raptors, Miami Heat, and Phoenix Suns (especially if they land an additional pick as part of their trade return for Kevin Durant). 20. Miami Heat (via GSW): Will Riley TEAM: Illinois POSITION: Wing HEIGHT: 6' 8.25'' DRAFT AGE: 19.3 Canada's Will Riley "could be very much in the Heat's wheelhouse at 20" in the 2025 NBA Draft, per Miami Herald. Riley had multiple big performances during his freshman campaign for Illinois, including a debut in which he had 31 points while shooting 5-of-6 on 3-pointers. He also had 21 points with 7 rebounds and 5 assists during a win over Iowa in the Big Ten tournament and had another great game against Xavier shooting 3-of-4 on 3-pointers during March Madness. Riley was named Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year. Any team drafting Riley is betting on his continued development. He has reportedly worked out with the Heat, per Rookie Wire's Cody Taylor. 21. Utah Jazz (via MIN): Egor Demin TEAM: BYU POSITION: Guard HEIGHT: 6' 8.25'' DRAFT AGE: 19.3 Russia's Egor Demin was initially having one of the strongest freshman campaigns of anyone in the nation for BYU. But his relatively poor overall performance and shooting against top-100 competition causes some room for concern. He measured at 6-foot-8 barefoot at the 2025 NBA Draft Combine and his playmaking still makes him intriguing. especially if he stays in the same state where he went to college. Demin "has a relationship with" Jazz governor Ryan Smith and executive Danny Ainge, per The Salt Lake Tribune. Jazz decision makers Ryan Smith and Danny Ainge, both BYU alums. Ainge often attends BYU games as a former player, whose jersey is retired at the Marriott Center. 22. Atlanta Hawks (via LAL): Maxime Raynaud TEAM: Stanford POSITION: Big HEIGHT: 7' 0.25'' DRAFT AGE: 22.2 TEAM: Stanford POSITION: Big HEIGHT: 7-1 DRAFT AGE: 22.2 Every team in the NBA should want a guy like France's Maxime Raynaud, who measured with a wingspan above 7-foot-1 and a standing reach above 9-foot-2. Those are excellent numbers for a player who averaged 20.2 points and 10.6 rebounds per game. But is even better when also considering he made nearly two 3-pointers per game. Raynaud was easily one of the biggest standouts during five-on-five scrimmages at the 2025 NBA Draft Combine. Raynaud has reportedly worked out with the Hawks, per Rookie Wire's Cody Taylor. More: 2025 NBA Draft Combine: 5 biggest winners, including Maxime Raynaud 23. New Orleans Pelicans (via IND): Walter Clayton Jr. TEAM: Florida POSITION: Guard HEIGHT: 6' 2.00'' DRAFT AGE: 22.3 ne enough to earn first-round consideration. As we wrote then: The archetype of undersized players who are a bit older relative to the other players in their draft class are typically not early draft picks. Clayton, however, could provide a legitimate exception to this rule after winning NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player. It makes a lot of sense for the Magic to find someone who can get a bucket as easily as Clayton. More: Is Walter Clayton Jr. an NBA Draft first-round pick after his incredible March Madness? 24. Oklahoma City Thunder (via LAC): Rasheer Fleming TEAM: Saint Joseph's POSITION: Forward HEIGHT: 6' 8.25'' DRAFT AGE: 21.0 One of the most pleasantly surprising prospects in this class is Saint Joseph's Rasheer Fleming, who has great positional size and shooting feel. He was the only player in college basketball to record at least 40 dunks and 50 shots from beyond the arc, per Bart Torvik. He measured with a wingspan above 7-foot-5 and a standing reach above 9-foot-1 at the 2025 NBA Draft Combine. 25. Orlando Magic (via DEN): Liam McNeeley TEAM: Connecticut POSITION: Wing HEIGHT: 6' 6.75'' DRAFT AGE: 19.7 UConn freshman Liam McNeeley won Big East Freshman of the Year and showed flashes during his freshman campaign, like when he had 38 points with 10 rebounds while making five 3-pointers against Creighton on Feb. 11. He also had a solid performance against the eventual national champions during the NCAA men's basketball tournament, recording 22 points while adding 2 rebounds as well as 3 assists and 2 steals. McNeeley is solid value at this point in the draft but should get consideration even higher. 26. Brooklyn Nets (via NYK): Jase Richardson TEAM: Michigan St. POSITION: Guard HEIGHT: 6' 0.50'' DRAFT AGE: 19.7 Michigan State freshman Jase Richardson earned Big Ten All-Freshman honors after a solid collegiate campaign. He averaged 16.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 0.9 steals per game while shooting 42.0 percent on 3-pointers after moving into the starting lineup for Michigan State. However, he measured small for a traditional two-guard and may not have the playmaking skills as a floor general to run point. He has reportedly worked out with the Nets, per HoopsHype. 27. Brooklyn Nets (via HOU): Alex Toohey TEAM: Sydney (Australia) POSITION: Forward HEIGHT: 6' 7.75'' DRAFT AGE: 21.2 Australia's Alex Toohey is a fascinating prospect who contributes well on both sides of the floor. He is a legitimately strong wing defender whose Defensive Statistical Impact (DSI) ranks as the best among those who have played more than one game in Australia's NBL this season, per Cerebro Sports. He measured just short of 6-foot-8 barefoot at the 2025 NBA Draft Combine with a wingspan nearly 6-foot-11 and played well during five-on-five scrimmages. 28. Boston Celtics: Drake Powell TEAM: North Carolina POSITION: Wing HEIGHT: 6' 5.25'' DRAFT AGE: 19.8 North Carolina freshman Drake Powell was one of the biggest winners at the 2025 NBA Draft Combine, measuring with a 43-inch max vertical and a standing vertical four inches higher than any other prospect. Although he had a relatively limited role during his time in the NCAA, you're betting on upside by selecting Powell in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft. He has reportedly worked out with the Celtics, per Rookie Wire's Cody Taylor. 29. Phoenix Suns (via CLE): Danny Wolf TEAM: Michigan POSITION: Big HEIGHT: 6' 10.50'' DRAFT AGE: 21.2 Michigan's Danny Wolf is a do-it-all big man who has averaged 13.2 points, 9.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.4 blocks per game this season. Wolf had the most assists (132) of any college player who is 6-foot-10 or taller, per CBB Analytics. The big man is an incredibly gifted and skilled playmaker considering his height, even though there are questions about how it may translate in the NBA. According to ESPN's Jeremy Woo, feedback on Wolf has been "mixed" in the pre-draft process. He has reportedly worked out with the Suns, per Rookie Wire's Cody Taylor. 30. L.A. Clippers (via OKC): Adou Thiero TEAM: Arkansas POSITION: Wing HEIGHT: 6' 6.25'' DRAFT AGE: 21.1 After transferring from Kentucky last season, Arkansas junior Adou Thiero had a well-rounded season in which he averaged 15.1 points and 5.8 rebounds with 1.9 assists and 1.6 steals per game. While his 3-pointer was inefficient at just 25.6 percent, he missed time due to a knee injury in February and that factored into why he stopped getting as much buzz as the season progressed. However, he still showed enough to decide to stay in the 2025 NBA Draft. Second Round 31. Minnesota Timberwolves (via UTA): Noah Penda (Le Mans) 32. Boston Celtics (via WAS): Chaz Lanier (Tennessee) 33. Charlotte Hornets: Hugo González (Real Madrid0 34. Charlotte Hornets (via NOP): Ben Saraf (Ulm) 35. Philadelphia 76ers: Ryan Kalkbrenner (Creighton) 36. Brooklyn Nets: Hansen Yang (Qingdao) 37. Detroit Pistons (via TOR): Johni Broome (Auburn) 38. San Antonio Spurs: Yanic Konan Niederhauser (Penn State) 39. Toronto Raptors (via POR): Jamir Watkins (Florida State) 40. Washington Wizards (via PHX): Bogoljub Marković (Mega) 41. Golden State Warriors (via MIA): Tamar Bates (Missouri) 42. Sacramento Kings (via CHI): Tyrese Proctor (Duke) 43. Utah Jazz (via DAL): Rocco Zikarsky (Brisbane) 44. Oklahoma City Thunder (via ATL): Kam Jones (Marquette) 45. Chicago Bulls (via SAC): Mark Sears (Alabama) 46. Orlando Magic: Koby Brea (Kentucky) 47. Milwaukee Bucks (via DET): Hunter Sallis (Wake Forrest) 48. Memphis Grizzlies (via GSW): Kobe Sanders (Nevada) 49. Cleveland Cavaliers (via MIL): Eric Dixon (Villanova) 50. New York Knicks (via MEM): Sion James (Duke) 51. L.A. Clippers (via MIN): Javon Small (West Virginia 52. Phoenix Suns (via DEN): John Tonje (Wisconsin) 53. Utah Jazz (via LAC): Alijah Martin (Florida) 54. Indiana Pacers: Ryan Nembhard (Gonzaga) 55. Los Angeles Lakers: Izan Almansa (Perth) 56. Memphis Grizzlies (via HOU): RJ Luis Jr. (St. John's) 57. Orlando Magic (via BOS): Vlad Goldin (Michigan) 58. Cleveland Cavaliers: Amari Williams (Kentucky) 59. Houston Rockets (via OKC): Grant Nelson (Alabama)

CBS News

13 minutes ago

• CBS News

James Tibbs III reacts to being in Rafael Devers trade, excited for potential future with Red Sox

While the Red Sox will see Rafael Devers in his new San Francisco Giants uniform this weekend, it might be a while before Boston fans see any of the players the team received in the surprising blockbuster. That is unless they head to Worcester or Portland, Maine. While Devers is already mashing for the Giants, the four players the Red Sox received are either injured or in the minor leagues. Hard-throwing reliever Jordan Hicks is sidelined with a foot injury, while lefty starter Kyle Harrison, outfielder James Tibbs III, and pitcher Jose Bello will be taking the bus for the foreseeable future. Harrison was sent to Triple-A Worcester after Sunday's trade was completed, and has yet to make his debut for the WooSox. Tibbs, meanwhile, is now in Double-A Portland where he made his debut for the Sea Dogs on Tuesday. The outfielder/first baseman, who is currently ranked the No. 6 prospect in the Boston system, collected his first career hit at the Double-A level on Wednesday. On Thursday night, he went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI and two runs scored for Portland in a 7-6 loss to Akron. Tibbs spoke with WBZ-TV's and CBS News Boston's Joe Weil ahead of Thursday's game and shared his reaction to being traded to the Red Sox, an organization he had always hoped to be a part of. He just had to take a different and very unexpected route to join the Boston franchise. Tibbs' reaction to be traded to the Red Sox Devers was traded just hours after he hit a home run for Boston in a 2-0 win over the Yankees at Fenway Park. He and his teammates were about to board a flight and head off on a nine-game west coast swing, when Devers was pulled aside and told he had been dealt to San Francisco. Tibbs' trade story was just as interesting. He was wrapping up his final game with the Eugene Emeralds in High-A ball and had just worked a walk in the ninth inning. When he got to first base, he was surprised to see he was being lifted for a pinch runner. When Tibbs got back to the dugout, the team's pitching coach handed him a phone. The director of San Francisco's farm system was on the other end, and told Tibbs he had been traded to the Boston Red Sox. "My first thought was, 'Huh, no kidding. Alright.' A lot of emotion," Tibbs told Weil. "Definitely was very sad to leave those guys; I had a great time over there and had a blast with that group of guys in Eugene. But I was immediately so fired up to become a Red Sox." Tibbs got a taste for baseball in New England when he played for the Brewster Whitecaps of the Cape Cod Baseball League in 2023. "Being in New England and playing in the Cape, I knew the love for Boston sports and the Red Sox specifically," he explained. Then Tibbs started wondering how he ended up in Boston. "Then I was like, 'Alright, who was I traded for?' When I found out it was Devers, I was like, alright, this could go one of two ways. It went both ways for sure, with a lot of mixed emotions. I tried my best not to go on social media and get my feelings hurt," he said. While the reaction among Red Sox fans certainly swayed one way after the trade was announced, it didn't take away from Tibbs' excitement. He said it was extremely humbling to be in the trade package for a player like Devers. "To be a part of something like that, it's very cool, very humbling. Very appreciative of the Red Sox giving me a chance to come and play here," said Tibbs. "Couldn't be a better spot, a better opportunity. I'm ecstatic to be here." Tibbs in the Cape Cod Baseball League Tibbs put together a solid campaign for the Whitecaps in his lone season on the Cape, slashing .303/.390/.472 with six homers, six doubles, 25 RBI, and 17 runs scored over 40 games. He was drawn to the region that summer, and hoped to return for his pro career. "I remember walking away like, 'Wow. This place is fantastic.' The people, the places, there are so many cool spots here. I'm a big food guy, and the food is phenomenal so I'm excited to be back for that as well," he said. What food is Tibbs looking forward to scarfing down the most? "Clams and lobster," he said. "It's hard to beat." Tibbs was drafted by the Giants with the 13th overall pick out of Florida State in 2024. He was hoping to go to Boston at 12th overall, but the Red Sox picked Braden Montgomery instead. (Montgomery was traded to the White Sox in the Garrett Crochet trade over the offseason.) "This was a place I had hoped to play one day," Tibbs said of the Red Sox. "I had hoped they picked me in the draft, but they didn't and now I'm here anyways. Pretty funny how the circle comes around in full." Tibbs is hoping to get a crack at Fenway Park in the near future. He was supposed to get a chance to hit some batting practice at the famous ballpark during a prospect day while with Brewster, but it was canceled because of rain when he was on-deck. "It's always been in the back of my mind. At least if I play one game in the big leagues with the Giants, I had hoped it was at Fenway. Now I get the opportunity to call it home," he said. "It's even cooler for me and even cooler for us as a family."

Yahoo

20 minutes ago

• Yahoo

T.J. McConnell's Father Crashes His Interview On TV And Catches Him Off Guard With Old Story: "It's A Dream Come True"

T.J. McConnell's Father Crashes His Interview On TV And Catches Him Off Guard With Old Story: "It's A Dream Come True" originally appeared on Fadeaway World. T.J. McConnell provided the necessary spark from the bench as the Pacers forced a Game 7 in their NBA Finals series against the Thunder. The Pacers' veteran played only 24 minutes in the game and stuffed the stat sheet. He finished the game with 12 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 steals. Advertisement Following the game, the crew of NBA TV, including NBA legend Isiah Thomas, interviewed McConell. They were poking him about yelling at his father, Tim McConnell for not being taller or marrying someone taller, when they saw him behind the camera. Thomas invited McConell Sr, who seemed offended, to also join them, and he came running. "He finds a way to get everywhere," said McConell hilariously as his father greeted the entire crew personally. 'I'm telling you right now, he's a warrior, you're right. It doesn't matter how tall you are,' said Tim in response to the jab on his height. He then moved on to give his opinion about his son's performance. 'Excellent, just disappointed he missed two foul shots. In the beginning, I kept saying, 'Man! I wish he'd have made those two foul shots' but he recovered and we won the game. I can forget about the foul shots; anything can happen in Game 7, we're going to OKC to try to win a world championship. And my son's a part of it, I can't believe that.' Advertisement Isiah Thomas then asks Tim why his son claims that he is more strict on him than he is on T.J.'s sister, Megan McConnell. 'He says that, but that's a lie. Let me tell you, my daughter won the undefeated state championship, he lost in the state championship, we lost two games. So undefeated, he didn't play well in the state championship, he played great but we didn't win it.' 'It's unbelievable,' said the embarrassed Pacers veteran in disbelief. 'The truth hurts,' responded his father. But he made sure to remind him how proud he is of his achievements now. "I can't be more proud to say I have a son in the NBA and a daughter in the WNBA... this is a dream come true. And I'm going to OKC for my son to play in the championship game, to win the world championship.' T.J. McConnell has averaged 11.3 points, 4.5 assists, and 3.2 rebounds in six games played so far in this series. But the standout number is that he averages 2.3 steals per game in this duration. Averaging 19 minutes played per game in this series, McConnell is an essential part of the Pacers' bench. Yet it is surprising to hear that his performance has already brought him into the discussion to potentially become the Finals MVP in this series. Lakers Veteran Picks T.J. McConnell For Finals MVP The NBA veteran twins, Markieff Morris and Marcus Morris, appeared on their podcast with the Playmaker following Game 6 of the NBA Finals. Marcus asked Markieff who he would pick for the Finals MVP in this series. The Lakers' veteran felt that if T.J. McConnell continues to play like this in Game 7 and the Pacers win the championship, then he would pick him for the Finals MVP over Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam. Advertisement "If the Pacers win and he continues to play like he has been in these last couple of games, I'm going with T.J. McConnell, bruh.' 'F**k outta here!' responded his brother in disbelief. 'I'm going with T.J. f**king McConnell, he's single-handedly winning these games for these boys, man. The loudest 12 in NBA history, anytime he scores like damn!' T.J. McConnell was crucial in their Game 3 win of this series, and the Pacers' coaching staff received a lot of criticism for not playing him in the fourth quarter of Game 5 when he had sparked their comeback in the third quarter. And now with his essential contributions in Game 6, he has certainly put his name in the elite discussion. Advertisement Related: Drake Loses $800K Bet On NBA Finals Following Thunder's Game 6 Upset This story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Jun 20, 2025, where it first appeared.