November and December mark the first pivotal stretch of the draft process for college prospects, as NBA teams hit the road for a host of nonconference games to assess the level of talent they’ll be focused on for the next seven months.

It has been a compelling start for a number of notable 2025 NBA draft prospects, headlined by Duke’s Cooper Flagg, the Rutgers duo of Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey, and others who make up ESPN’s Top 100 rankings.

Which college players have most impressed thus far? Who has more to show as the college schedules move toward conference play? Which underrated players are making an impact?

Now a month into the college season, NBA draft analysts Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo dive into what they’ve seen, where 10 notable prospects stand and what storylines to keep tabs on with December in full swing.

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Rising prospects | More to show
Surprising players | Big questions

Most impressed by these rising prospects

Age: 18.7 | Height: 6-5 | Weight: 215
Projected draft range: 1-4

I had a front-row seat in Las Vegas last week as Harper delivered over the course of a high-pressure Thanksgiving week at the Players Era tournament, one that was well-attended by NBA decision-makers and scouts to see him and his star teammate, Ace Bailey.

Fresh off an embarrassing loss to Kennesaw State, the Scarlet Knights turned in respectable showings in their first taste of high-major competition, due largely in part to Harper. He turned in 36 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists in a win against Notre Dame and followed it up with 37 points against Alabama, two eye-opening games that affirmed his standing as a top-five draft pick.

While there’s a long way to go — and most around the NBA presently feel it will be a tall task for any prospect to unseat Flagg as the presumptive top pick in June — there’s an easy argument to be made that Harper has been the best freshman in the season’s first month.

His 51% clip from the field has been spurred on by excellent finishing skills and a knack for getting downhill. Harper has an excellent grasp of angles, uses both hands and the glass effectively as a finisher, and wields his size and strength in the paint. His competitiveness and consistency left an impression on evaluators, as he essentially willed Rutgers to a win against Notre Dame and kept it in the fight against a more talented Alabama team.

“Nobody can stay in front of him right now,” one scout said. “He’s big, strong, and knows how to use it to his advantage.”

There’s still room for growth to determine whether he can contend for the No. 1 pick.

He’s shooting 28.6% from 3 and was an average long-range shooter in the Nike EYBL (34.3% in the 2023 summer), something he’ll have to work on. Harper will need to take over games as a scorer, but some scouts still want to see more of a willingness to involve teammates, particularly if projecting Harper as a full-time lead guard. Harper is a capable passer, but it hasn’t consistently shown up in the box score or on tape, and some have questions about what level he’ll ultimately get to as a playmaker.

Not an elite athlete by NBA standards (which raises questions around Harper’s tough finishing diet), Harper is taking on contact beneath the rim and finishing through defenders, something that will become more difficult against the size he’ll face nightly in the pros. He lacks elite-level burst and shiftiness, meaning his strength, instincts and craft will have to keep propping up his profile.

Still, it’s hard to argue with Harper’s success thus far and readiness for the college level. And if he can sustain this type of production well into Big Ten play, there’s an opportunity for him to wedge himself further into the conversation at the top of draft boards. — Woo

Age: 18.5 | Height: 6-5 | Weight: 198
Projected draft range: 5-14

Jakucionis had his first signature moment at the collegiate level, pouring in 15 second-half points to take down John Calipari’s ranked Arkansas team in Kansas City, Missouri, with huge plays down the stretch to ice the game.

The Lithuanian point guard has made the transition to college basketball look seamless, getting to spots on the floor with aggressiveness and pace. He’s finishing skillfully in traffic, drawing free throws in bunches and hitting tough pull-up jumpers. Using his excellent size, he has a feel for the game and vision to make intelligent passes out of pick-and-roll.

Few freshmen process the game as quickly as Jakucionis, as Illinois assistant Geoff Alexander (who recruited Jakucionis) told ESPN: “His brain is beyond his years. He sees the game differently. The passing, the understanding; he’s different. … Everyone loves him here.”

Naturally unselfish (at times to a fault), Jakucionis showed balance against Arkansas in terms of scoring and playmaking. He has played with the brakes on more than necessary this season while turning the ball over on 27% of his possessions, something scouts want to see improve.

Illinois is all-in on empowering Jakucionis with primary ballhandling responsibilities, which should allow him to grow significantly with his decision-making. Jakucionis has moved into the top 10 of our Top 100 and has plenty of room to rise with Big Ten play starting later next week and nonconference matchups versus Duke, Tennessee and Missouri. — Givony

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Kasparas Jakucionis drills back-to-back buckets to seal Illini’s win

Kasparas Jakucionis hits a 3-pointer and a step-back jumper as Illinois takes down No. 19 Arkansas.

Age: 19.3 | Height: 6-7 | Weight: 210
Projected draft range: 4-12

While Knueppel’s box scores from Duke’s major tests against Arizona and Kansas might not leap off the page, there were ultimately more positives to take away in spite of the freshman’s scoring struggles. NBA evaluators are still determining how much to weigh his average athletic profile against him — he’s not the fleetest of foot, nor does he have elite size on the wing — but it has become hard to deny how well-rounded a performer Knueppel has been so far. While not an isolation-centric player, his feel for the game and maturity have stood out within an important role for the Blue Devils.

Knueppel’s passing acumen in particular shone against the Jayhawks, totaling 8 assists and surprising scouts with the accuracy of his reads and placement searching for teammates in the half court. Duke relied on him heavily to initiate offense and create shots against an experienced and tough Jayhawks defense. He missed all eight of his 3-point attempts in that game, perhaps a byproduct of playing nearly 40 minutes. He continues to showcase a well-rounded perimeter skill set.

He struggled in the first half against Arizona but salvaged the day with a strong second half in Duke’s 69-55 win.

History says Knueppel is a much better 3-point shooter than his percentages at Duke have shown (he shot an elite 45% and 46% from deep on high volume in his past two EYBL seasons). Duke is playing a short rotation and asking a ton of him at the moment but has made a point of featuring him off screens and calling his number. Defenses are keying on him quite a bit, and he has scored 20 points only once thus far, but it feels like a breakout is coming. Amid the heavy minutes and workload, his passing, decision-making and team defense have all been sound.

While there figures to be some debate within NBA front offices about where his upside lies, Knueppel continues to trend as a potential lottery talent. — Woo

Age: 19.5 | Height: 6-7 | Weight: 223
Projected draft range: 25-50

Tugler put his game-changing defensive versatility and intensity on display in Houston’s overtime loss to Alabama in front of NBA executives at the Players Era in Las Vegas, blocking 8 shots in 31 minutes and showing why he’s deserving of being in NBA conversations despite his highly unorthodox profile.

USA Basketball measured Tugler at 6-foot-7 in shoes and 223 pounds a year-and-a-half ago, but he has a 7-6 wingspan that allows him to play significantly bigger than his height.

Few players offer more mobility covering the floor, as he has typically been asked to show on-ball screens almost out to half court in Houston’s defensive system and then recover to make plays at the rim or contest shots on the perimeter, requiring an incredible amount of energy.

The way he gets in a stance, turns his hips, slides his feet and mirrors opponents on the perimeter, smothering with his wingspan, has been impressive. He did his best Evan Mobley impression with the way he can switch into smaller players and hold his own but also body up with physicality inside. His 14% block percentage is the second-best mark among Top 100 prospects, but he also gets in passing lanes often due to his off-the-ball approach.

The rest of Tugler’s game is still a work in progress, as he’s not a skilled or prolific scorer (6.3 points per game in 23 minutes), struggles from the free throw line (46%) and can be mistake-prone. He is primarily a rim-runner and offensive rebounder whose lack of bulk makes it difficult for him to hold his own against stronger players at times (for example, Auburn’s Johni Broome), making him foul-prone, too.

He is 3-for-6 for 3-pointers through seven games; building on that part of his game would be an important development for his long-term prospects.

It’s hard to find many players with similar measurements to Tugler — our database points to much taller but similarly long and thin big men such as Jarrett Allen and Robert Williams III, even though he’s much shorter than both NBA players. Regardless, there is likely a place for high-energy big men who can change the game defensively, and Tugler will have a great platform to showcase those abilities as well as any contributions he can make offensively in Big 12 play. — Givony

These prospects still have a lot to show

Age: 18.3 | Height: 6-10 | Weight: 200
Projected draft range: 1-4

Bailey and Harper were major draws for NBA teams in Las Vegas, who showed up to see Rutgers face high-level competition for the first time this season. While scouts were largely effusive about Harper’s showing, it’s clear Bailey is shaping up as a more complex evaluation, with his season off to an uneven start. His early play has showcased his immense talent as arguably the best tough shotmaker in this class, but also the incomplete areas of his skill set, which teams are scrutinizing closely in comparison to other candidates atop this draft class.

It was good to see steady improvement from Bailey over the course of three games in Las Vegas. He struggled with his conditioning in Rutgers’ win against Notre Dame, scoring 10 points and laboring to make a positive impact. He bounced back with a high-energy, active first half in a more difficult matchup against Alabama, contributing defensively and on the glass and finishing with 22 points. Bailey turned in his best showing against Texas A&M, totaling 24 points and 10 rebounds, and doing his best to assuage earlier concerns.

Bailey appears to be getting more comfortable by the day, and there’s little doubting his knack for knocking down jumpers. His size, high release point and strong footwork, balance and touch have enabled him to live off an exceedingly tough shot selection thus far. Watching him play can be something of a roller coaster, but his prowess creating shots for himself, often with little room to operate, is NBA-caliber. He’s an inconsistent defender who can be disruptive when engaged on that end, supplying good size and length in a team framework.

In spite of all that ability, Bailey sometimes makes life difficult for himself, tending to freelance with the ball in his hands and settle for difficult shots rather than make the simple play. He has struggled to get to the rim in the half court, due in part to a rudimentary handle and visible lack of comfort in his off hand. While he has the talent to compensate, the scarcity of easy half-court buckets is a glaring flaw. The hope is that Bailey’s explosiveness should make him a beneficiary of better spacing to get downhill at the NBA level. He also isn’t much of a playmaker for teammates, totaling 5 assists in seven games, backing up ongoing questions among scouts about his feel.

Rutgers does not have much in the way of a supporting cast around its two stars, something that has exacerbated the weaknesses of Bailey more than Harper. Harper has deservedly been given the keys to the offense, but Bailey has been left to hunt shots so far. Whatever the Scarlet Knights can do to help feature Bailey and get him easier looks moving forward would help his cause as well as theirs.

Bailey is an unpolished version of a high-value wing scorer archetype that NBA teams covet. The starry upside is obvious, keeping him in the mix as a candidate for the No. 1 pick. The challenge for evaluators will be understanding his current context, unpacking his habits and determining the likelihood of his development in key areas — handling the ball, making decisions and getting to the rim more often. There’s room for improvement, and the progress Bailey can make will dictate where he’s drafted come June. — Woo

Age: 18.7 | Height: 6-6 | Weight: 190
Projected draft range: 6-15

Texas notched back-to-back wins in the Legends Classic over Syracuse and Saint Joseph’s, drawing a large audience of NBA executives for both games.

Johnson, one of the best freshmen through the first few weeks of college basketball who dropped 29 points in his debut against Ohio State, was more reserved in Brooklyn, shooting 11-for-36 from the field en route to 33 points over two nights, with 4 assists and 8 turnovers, including some questionable decisions.

Johnson’s shots, featuring a heavy dose of contested pull-up 3s, difficult midrange fadeaways, casual scoop shots, floaters and wild spin moves, made it difficult for him to score with any kind of efficiency while showing quite a bit of tunnel vision looking off open teammates in both games.

Johnson’s defense, like that of most freshmen, is well behind his offense, as he looks lost relaxing off the ball and then being late chasing opponents around screens, giving up too many easy looks while bringing little else to the box score and boasting one of the worst rebound/block/steal rates in this class early on among projected first-rounders.

Despite this poor two-game showing, Johnson is still shooting 42% for 3 on more than seven attempts per game, thanks to scorching performances against low-level competition outside of his debut.

Scouts in Brooklyn loved Johnson’s shotmaking versatility and how much of his shot creation and shotmaking comes off NBA-type moves. With a 6-10 wingspan and impressively built frame, there’s little doubting his scoring talent, but we’ll have to see if he can do it in a winning context in a more aesthetically pleasing fashion, as Texas will go through the SEC and an intriguing matchup on Dec. 8 against Liam McNeeley and the UConn Huskies. — Givony

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Freshman Johnson discusses building chemistry with Longhorn teammates

Tre Johnson talks about how he has been able to build relationships with his teammates fast as he leads the way for Texas with 21 points and five rebounds in the win over Delaware State.

Age: 19.2 | Height: 6-6 | Weight: 193
Projected draft range: 8-15

Powell got off to a slow start, averaging 4.3 points in his first six games before exploding for 18 points in the final game of the Maui Invitational.

Powell isn’t in the easiest situation, coming off the bench and playing mostly power forward for the Tar Heels, who start a trio of undersized guards and have gotten very little from their frontcourt to this point, leading to a 4-3 start. Powell is second on the team in net rating and was a consistent positive in his Maui minutes (plus-16 when on, minus-30 when off), which might cause the coaching staff to rethink the rotation with upcoming games against Alabama, Florida and UCLA.

Powell has been even better on the defensive end of the floor, guarding everyone from point guards to power forwards while flying around to protect the rim, crash the glass and close out with purpose on the perimeter. He plays hard, has tremendous mobility covering ground rotating all over the floor, and has made a handful of eye-opening plays showing impressive ability locking up bigger and smaller players alike.

It was a great sign seeing Powell step into open 3s confidently in Maui, finishing 6-for-9 from beyond the arc over three games, after starting the season just 1-for-8 in his first five contests. He caused opponents to “dork” him, making no attempt to guard him off the ball. Powell even showed versatility running and shooting off a pindown for an impressive corner 3 against Michigan State, something scouts would surely like to see more of as the season progresses.

Powell is likely going to be somewhat of an acquired taste for some NBA teams, as his lack of shot-creation prowess, thin frame and inconsistent scoring ability will require astute observers to dig in beyond box scores and highlights to reveal the ways he contributes to winning with his passing, defense and feel for the game. — Givony

Age: 19.4 | Height: 6-7 | Weight: 245
Projected draft range: 15-30

I saw Murray-Boyles and South Carolina play at Indiana a couple of weeks ago, a game that was well-attended by NBA scouts but turned out to be the low point in the sophomore’s season thus far — he scored 2 points and fouled out in 19 minutes. The Gamecocks are off to a 4-3 start, and apart from that loss against the Hoosiers, Murray-Boyles has averaged 15.7 points and 8.7 rebounds, a tick up from last season’s numbers.

Still, his early play has left NBA scouts wanting a bit more.

Analytically driven teams were particularly keen on Murray-Boyles’ profile following his solid freshman season and have been watching to see how he scales up into an expanded offensive role, with South Carolina limited in its options and needing to play through him quite a bit. He is still efficient in the paint, shooting 66% on 2-point attempts, but his turnovers have spiked up to 3.1 per game as a byproduct.

NBA teams are working to understand the chances Murray-Boyles will develop a serviceable jump shot: He has begun to attempt the odd 3-pointer in games but still looks reticent to take them, a dimension that will be pivotal to his success in screening situations and in maximizing his plus-passing ability.

The other factor here is that Murray-Boyles’ physical profile doesn’t leap off the page, raising some concerns about how well his rebounding might translate against NBA competition. Listed at 6-7, he struggles at times against size and length, something that was apparent against Indiana when matched up against the larger Oumar Ballo. It helps his case that he’s an intelligent player with strong instincts, but it’s also hard to project him as a prolific interior scorer, rebounder or shot blocker.

There’s still plenty to like about Murray-Boyles as an NBA role player, and games should get easier when defenses aren’t gearing up to stop him. But the first month of the season has reframed expectations around the likelihood of a major breakout, making him more of a candidate for the back half of the first round. — Woo

These sleeper prospects have surprised scouts so far

Age: 20.3 | Height: 6-9 | Weight: 232
Projected draft range: 31 to undrafted

A late-blooming forward with excellent length, Fleming is coming into his own, totaling 16 points and 20 rebounds in a loss against Texas. Prior to college, he was a role player on a stacked Camden, New Jersey, high school team that featured more touted prospects, including D.J. Wagner and Aaron Bradshaw. He’s on the younger side for his junior class and is shaping up as a legitimate second-round candidate after a solid first month, averaging 13.4 points and 9.1 rebounds, 1.7 steals and 1.9 blocks in seven games.

Saint Joseph’s measured Fleming at 6-9 with a 7-5 wingspan and 9-1½ standing reach this season — enough length to project as an undersized 4 or 5 role by NBA standards. His motor has been impressive, manifesting in production on the glass and as a defensive playmaker. And while still a touch inconsistent in his positioning and reactions, Fleming plays hard enough that you can live with those teachable mistakes.

Fleming’s positive defensive outlook, coupled with a developing workable jumper, paints an encouraging picture as far as a future complementary role. His offensive play will be the swing factor for his draft stock.

He’s a middling performer from the foul line (63% for his college career) and from 3 (32.4%), numbers that cast doubt over the likelihood he develops into more than an average shooter. Still, there’s enough appeal from a defensive standpoint that simply working himself into a reliable floor spacer could be Fleming’s ticket to a useful NBA career as a low-usage, high-energy big. — Woo

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Rasheer Fleming rocks the rim with slam

Rasheer Fleming rocks the rim with slam

Age: 23.8 | Height: 6-8 | Weight: 269
Projected draft range: 45 to undrafted

Dixon has exploded in his sixth collegiate season, transforming himself from the energy guy of Villanova’s 2022 Final Four team to college basketball’s No. 2 scorer at 25.1 points per game.

Shooting 25-for-46 (54%) on his 3s through seven games, Dixon is the best shooting big man in the college ranks, converting 91% of his free throw attempts for good measure. There’s always going to be an NBA market for big men who can stretch the floor, and he’s showing added versatility picking and popping, running off pindowns, sidestepping off shot-fakes for pull-ups, and hitting tough jab-step 3s out of isolation, making him more than just a spot-up threat.

While his jumper is going to be his calling card from an NBA perspective, Dixon’s scoring also comes off a heavy dose of midpost isos, pick-and-roll finishes, closeouts and offensive rebounds. He bullies weaker opponents with his back to the basket and uses skillful one-on-one takes from the perimeter to show impressive ballhandling, footwork, body control and scoring instincts for someone his size.

With the Wildcats’ 3-4 record, Dixon has done a good job of being efficient as he inevitably gets double- and triple-teamed every time he puts the ball on the floor.

The defensive side is where NBA teams are going to want to see more from Dixon, as his effort has been disappointing at times, which doesn’t give him a big margin for error if he’s not competing at maximum intensity on every possession. He was known for his physicality and energy earlier in his career, so in a smaller offensive role, the hope is he can get back to that at the pro level.

Dixon’s age could limit his ceiling as a draft pick come June, but there’s little doubt he could be on an NBA roster next fall in some capacity. — Givony

Biggest questions looming ahead of June’s draft

Can Baylor’s VJ Edgecombe rebound from a cold shooting start?

When Baylor visits UConn on Wednesday, I’ll be interested to see how Edgecombe (ranked No. 4 in ESPN’s Top 100) looks after his slow start to the season, shooting 44% from 2-point range, 27% for 3 and 68% from the free throw line.

Baylor turned over almost its entire roster from last season and has played one of the country’s toughest schedules to this point, leading to some early growing pains. Edgecombe is still trying to find his place among the Bears’ plethora of guards, all of whom seemingly need the ball in their hands to be successful.

Edgecombe’s incredible explosiveness gives him considerable upside projecting to the more wide-open NBA, and he has shown flashes of passing and instincts getting in passing lanes (2.1 steals), protecting the rim (1.6 blocks) and crashing the glass to show his grit and activity.

Getting on track as a scorer will be key to maintaining his lofty draft standing, but there’s quite a bit to like about Edgecombe, even when he’s not putting the ball in the basket with regularity. — Givony

Which version of Egor Demin will we see vs. Providence?

BYU travels for its first true road game of the season, visiting Providence on Tuesday in a contest that will see several NBA executives in attendance.

Demin, No. 11 in ESPN’s Top 100, will be looking to bounce back from fairly passive showings against Ole Miss and NC State this past weekend, looking more limited as a shot creator than in the softer portion of BYU’s early schedule.

Demin’s spectacular court vision and passing creativity pop every time he’s on the floor, but he tends to play with the brakes on at times. Quite a few pro scouts will be watching to see how the projected top-10 pick continues to grow, as he clearly has a rare gift with his 6-foot-9 frame and unselfishness, but showing more of a willingness to put his imprint on games in key moments will be important moving forward. — Givony

Does Will Riley continue to ascend for Illinois?

We were very close to writing about Illinois’ other potential one-and-done lottery pick before settling on Jakucionis following his explosive showing against Arkansas. Riley was Illinois’ best player in a loss to Alabama two weeks ago, dropping 18 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists against the national championship contenders. However, he came down to earth somewhat this weekend against Arkansas, with just 5 points on 2-for-9 shooting.

Riley has carved out a strong role, seeing steady doses of shot-creation opportunities and shooting 18-for-36 on 3s through seven games — eye-opening stuff for a 6-foot-8 18-year-old. He’ll have a strong platform to establish himself as a potential lottery pick if he can grow defensively and with his scoring efficiency inside the arc.

Illinois opens Big Ten play this week with Northwestern and Wisconsin before facing Tennessee and Missouri in nonconference action, providing solid tests for Riley.

Speaking of Illinois draft prospects, Tomislav Ivisic is also making his NBA case loudly after shooting 6-for-9 on 3s versus his twin brother, Zvonimir Ivisic, in the win against Arkansas, while doing a little bit of everything on both ends of the floor. He has scouts’ attention in a major way. — Givony

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Labaron Philon makes a sweet dime

Labaron Philon makes a sweet dime

Will Alabama’s Labaron Philon be one-and-done?

Philon, a freshman, looked like a lock to make the “rising prospects” section after back-to-back exceptional games versus Purdue and Illinois where he was his team’s best player, making outstanding reads out of pick-and-roll and scoring with ease.

That changed in Las Vegas at the Players Era tournament, where he went 0-for-9 from the field against Houston and posted four turnovers in 12 minutes against Rutgers before bouncing back against Oregon with 15 points, 7 rebounds and 2 assists.

Philon has the NBA’s attention already with how easily the game comes for him and the different ways he is able to impact the game. His thin frame (6-4, 177 pounds) and streaky shooting (33% from 3 and 70% on free throws) might cause some growing pains as the season moves on, but he’s clearly in an enviable situation starting for one of the most attractive teams in college basketball. He has the runway to solidify himself as a potential first-round pick. — Givony

Arkansas needs even more from Adou Thiero

Thiero, a 6-foot-8 junior, has been one of college basketball’s breakout players, posting gaudy scoring figures (19.1 points in 29 minutes) on tremendous efficiency, shooting 73% for 2 and living at the free throw line thanks to his strength and aggressiveness as a mismatch at the power forward position, and showing impressive versatility defensively as well.

And yet, Arkansas doesn’t have a good win on its résumé yet (losses to Baylor and Illinois) with a big game coming at Madison Square Garden next week versus Michigan. The Razorbacks’ guard play has been poor, with too many ball handlers and insufficient shooting, perhaps necessitating a reshuffling of the team’s rotation.

Thiero’s productivity and upside will move him up ESPN’s next Top 100 ranking, but he has some things to prove with his perimeter shooting (4-for-16 from 3, 67% on free throws) and feel for the game on both ends of the floor. — Givony