The 2025 NBA Draft class is fully coming into focus with March Madness around the corner. While the hype of this class has worn off slightly as the season has gone on, it’s still a strong group of incoming talent defined by high upside swings throughout the lottery.

Duke’s Cooper Flagg is the obvious No. 1 pick. He’s lived up to the hype during his freshman year with the Blue Devils, and will be expected to be an All-NBA player by the time he reaches his prime. Behind Flagg, there are a number of prospects who have a pathway to NBA stardom but also have scary downside scenarios if they don’t hit.

There’s been a lot of changes since our last mock draft. Oklahoma’s Jeremy Fears and Baylor’s VJ Edgecombe are among the risers, while BYU’s Egor Demin is the biggest faller. Here’s how we see the 2025 NBA Draft class right now, with short scouting reports on every potential first-round pick.

1. Washington Wizards – Cooper Flagg, F, Duke

Flagg is living up to the ‘generational’ tag, and proving without a doubt that he’s in a tier of his own in this class. Flagg feels like a team-building cheat-code: at 6’9 with a 7-foot wingspan, he’s a nearly elite run-and-jump athlete with a non-stop motor with supreme versatility on both ends of the floor. He’s a dominant defensive prospect who can protect the rim and routinely make big plays off-ball. Offensively, Flagg is already a killer play-finisher, transition threat, and offensive rebounder who is flashing potential a jumbo on-ball creator. This is a legitimate franchise-changing prospect who will forever bolster the trajectory of the lucky team that wins the lottery to land him.

2. Utah Jazz – Dylan Harper, G, Rutgers

Harper is a huge lead guard with a special skill for getting downhill. At 6’6, 215 pounds with a reported 6’10 wingspan, the Rutgers freshman can pressure the rim at will and has shown impressive finishing touch despite not being an explosive above-the-rim athlete.His ability to split pick-and-roll defenders is mesmerizing to watch, and to this point he’s shown tremendous craft on his ability to hit layups. Harper is more of a scorer than a playmaker at the moment, but he’s shown he can handle the keys to an offense with a nearly 30 percent assist rate and close to a 2:1 assist to turnover ratio. With only average explosiveness, Harper will need to prove he’s better than the average shooter he’s been so far at Rutgers. Still, his ability to get to the basket, hound smaller guards defensively, and handle primary usage with above-average scoring efficiency has made him the clear No. 2 prospect in this class behind Flagg.

3. New Orleans Pelicans – V.J. Edgecombe, G, Baylor

Edgecombe is the most athletic guard the class, and lately he’s making real strides with his skill level. While he’s a little undersized at 6’3 with a reported 6’6 wingspan, Edgecombe has absurd explosion that he uses to force turnovers, finish at the rim, and create advantages against a set defense. Long-term, he has the tools to develop into a lead shot creator with a wicked first step and next-level hangtime around the basket to convert layups or draw fouls. Edgecombe’s defense should translate to the league immediately. He’s an awesome off-ball playmaker, with a massive 3.3 percent block rate fora guard and a 4.2 steal rate, and also has the potential to lock up on the ball. The big question here his shooting, but even that has improved: he’s making 47.4 percent of his threes on 5.2 attempts per game over his last 11 games. On a spaced out NBA floor, Edgecombe’s speed and athleticism should feel even more impressive.

4. Charlotte Hornets – Ace Bailey, F, Rutgers

Bailey is the most polarizing player in the class, yet still seems like a lock for the top-5 thanks to his combination of size, youth, shot-making, and athleticism. At 6’10 with a 7-foot wingspan, Bailey plays with a constant green light, which leads to him taking and making some ridiculous shots from the perimeter. One of the youngest players in this class with an Aug. 2006 birthday, Bailey is oozing with raw talent but still needs to learn how to actually play basketball. He is one of the most reticent passers I’ve ever scouted, and has only recorded 16 assists in his first 16 games. His lack of feel shows up defensively at times too, but his physical tools are so good that he can often recover to the ball. A bet on Bailey this high would require a team believing they can continue to teach him the game, which isn’t a bad bet for a player this young and this talented.

5. Brooklyn Nets – Khaman Maluach, C, Duke

Maluach has played a narrow role in his freshman season at Duke, but it feels like he’s just scratching the surface of his long-term potential. The Duke center has elite physical tools for an NBA center at 7’2, 250 pounds with a reported 9’8 standing reach. He’s essentially been in a catch-and-dunk role thus far, but he’s also putting up one of the most efficient scoring seasons a draft prospect has ever had. Through his first 20 games, the South Sudan native is shooting a stunning 75.6 percent from the field. He’s a monster on the offensive glass and has serious upside as a rim protector, though his timing feels a half-second late as a shot blocker right now. Maluach has bad hands and is totally incapable of making plays for his teammates, which would significantly cap his upside if it doesn’t improve. Still, he’s flashed enough ball handling and shooting ability in the BAL before enrolling at Duke to make teams think he has another level to get to with his skill.

6. Toronto Raptors – Kasparas Jakucionis, G, Illinois

Jakucionis’ outstanding production during his freshman season should earn him looks in the draft starting at No. 3. The Illini point guard has best-in-class vision and creativity as a passer, with a rare ability to pass his teammates open and deliver dimes from all angles. Jakucionis also puts pressure on opposing defenses as a scorer: his stepback three going left is a lethal weapon, and he’s shown an incredible knack for getting to the foul line this season. His 64 percent true shooting is an unbelievable number for a guard — especially one like Jakucionis who lacks elite athletic traits. It’s fair to wonder if the foul drawing will translate to the next level, because the Lithuanian is limited with his burst. He also needs to cut down on his turnovers and his fouls on defense. To this point, Jakucionis is a much better shooting off the dribble than he is off the catch, which limits his ability as a floor spacer. He is not a good defensive prospect despite having good strength for his age. There’s a pathway for Jakucionis to be a really good starting point guard in the NBA, but his margins will be slim due to his lack of athletic explosion.

7. Portland Trail Blazers – Asa Newell, F, Georgia

Newell is a big forward who can finish plays with power around the rim and provide some paint protection defensively. At 6’10, the Georgia freshman has hammered home 43 dunks in his first 21 games while shooting 73 percent at the rim. He’s been a monster on the offensive glass with a 15.2 percent o-board rate that ranks top-30 in America, per KenPom. Newell has been trying to show off his three-point stroke for NBA teams, and while he’s not a shooter yet (13-for-47 from deep thus far), it’s encouraging that he’s not scared to take them. Scouts will question Newell’s feel for the game with just about as many turnovers as assists, and they will wonder if he’s long enough (7-foot wingspan) to capably hold down minutes at the five. Newell may need to be in a more limited play-finishing role to be at his best, but if he finds the right front court match, he has the tools to be a productive player.

8. Oklahoma City Thunder (via 76ers) – Jeremy Fears, G, Oklahoma

Fears showed several indictors for star potential during his red hot start as a freshman at Oklahoma. He’s cooled down a bit in conference play against a tough SEC schedule, but there’s still plenty to like about his long-term projection. The 6’4 guard has real shot creation potential with a tight handle and the ability go flow into pull-up jumpers. He’s carried a sky-high usage rate (31 percent) at a young age (he turned 18 in Oct.) with above-average scoring efficiency (58 percent true shooting). Fears’ three-ball hasn’t been falling lately and his lack of strength can get him in some bad spots, but he’s a worthy long-term creation bet after the top prospects are off the board.

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9. Chicago Bulls – Collin Murray-Boyles, F/C, South Carolina

Murray-Boyles bypassed the draft last year to return to South Carolina for his sophomore season, and has pulled off the rare feat of increasing his usage while improving his scoring efficiency and maintaining his elite level defensively. There will be skepticism about how he’ll handle the NBA as a 6’7 big man without a reliable outside shot, but his production and flashes of translatable skill should give teams optimism. Murray-Boyles is powerful 245-pound athlete who attacks the opposition aggressively at both ends of the floor. He’s the one of the best defensive prospects in this class as a big who can blow up pick-and-rolls, force turnovers on digs, and provide stout paint protection despite his lack of size. On offense, Murray-Boyles can play in the short roll with his impressive passing ability while generating power as a downhill scorer. He’s been able to create looks for himself at times with his combination of strength, handling, and touch. He’s also a solid screener. His production is hard to argue with, but it will be fascinating to see how teams view his projection come draft time.

10. San Antonio Spurs – Tre Johnson, G, Texas

Tre Johnson’s upside is tied to how his nuclear shooting ability translates to the highest levels. The 6’6 freshman wing is hitting 38 percent of his threes on 6.6 attempts per game, showing a quick release and the ability to hit shots after off-ball movement. The problem is Johnson just doesn’t have a well-rounded game: he’s limited as a ball handler and rarely gets to the foul or foul line, and he also nearly as many turnovers as assists. If Johnson can survive on the defensive end, he should have enough gravity as a shooter to give himself real offensive utility even with his flaws.

11. San Antonio Spurs (via Hawks) – Derik Queen, C, Maryland

It would be easy to write off Queen’s NBA translation as an undersized big man with only average athleticism and no real three-point shot, but that would overlook everything that’s made him special as a freshman for Maryland. The beefy 6’10 big man can create offense with the ball in his hands with an advanced handle for his player his size. He can use his big frame to create space when he gets going downhill, and he’s shown soft touch (72.5 percent at the rim) when he gets in close. Queen will need to cut down his turnovers and develop into a better passer, but there will be more attention on his shooting projection. He’s been solid from the foul line this year (76 percent), but is only 2-of-22 from three. A unique player who will require a precise fit to hit his highest end outcomes, Queen’s projected range could be one of the wider in this class.

12. Golden State Warriors – Ben Saraf, G, Ulm

The 6’5 point guard out of Israel is putting together an impressive season in the German league at 18 years old. Saraf has complete control of the game as a lead guard, showing great passing vision and a solid mid-range pull-up jumper he can use as a scoring weapon. The issue with Saraf is his three-point shot hasn’t been falling and he falls below the NBA average in run-and-jump athleticism for a guard. Still, Saraf has enough similarities to Kasparas Jakucionis to demand lottery looks if the Illini freshman is going top-5.

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13. Atlanta Hawks – Labaron Philon, G, Alabama

Philon struggles to shoot from deep and is limited athletically, but still leaves an indelible imprint in every game. The 6’4 freshman from Alabama has plus strength and instincts and uses it to make all sorts of winning plays. He’s a good rebounder for his position, he can lock down defensively, and his flashes of bullying his way through defenses as a pick-and-roll ball handler are impressive. Philon has showcased good touch inside and an ability to self-create looks off the dribble, so his sub 30 percent three-point stroke shouldn’t be too scary for his pro projection. He just looks like a role player who does all the little things to help teams compete.

14. Dallas Mavericks – Kon Knueppel, G, Duke

Knueppel’s production hasn’t quite matched his preseason hype, but there’s still a good player here with translatable NBA skills. The thick 6’7 wing can play on- or off-the-ball offensively, with impressive poise operating in the pick-and-roll and the ability to bomb away from three-point range off the catch. Knueppel lacks the length and explosion you usually see out of NBA wings, which makes his defensive projection a big question mark and puts more emphasis on his need to shoot at a high level. While the thought some had of him as a potential top-5 pick feels too optimistic, his dribble-pass-shoot skill set becomes more appealing despite his limitations towards the middle of the first round.

15. Minnesota Timberwolves – Liam McNeely, F, UConn

McNeeley’s case for a top-20 pick begins with his ability to be one of the best shooters in this draft class. The 6’7 freshman wing is making 38 percent of his threes on 9.5 attempts per 100 possessions. He’s displayed connective passing traits and has just enough ball handling juice to beat a scrambling close out. McNeeley is limited athletically which will hurt his defense and rim finishing (he only has one dunk this year), but he’s a high floor prospect with enough offensive skills to stay on the floor.

16. Orlando Magic – Jase Richardson, G, Michigan State

Jase Richardson has gone from legacy recruit to instant impact freshman at Michigan State. Richardson is a little small (listed at 6’3) and doesn’t have his father’s elite athleticism, but he’s an incredibly smart player who \ knows how to pick his spots on the floor. Richardson is a ridiculously efficient scorer making 64 percent of his two-pointers, 41 percent of his threes, and 82 percent of his free throws. While he’s not an amazing playmaker, he also rarely makes mistakes, boasting a nearly a 2:1 assist-to-turnover ratio. Richardson has played with low usage (17.6 percent) thus far, and it’s hard to say how he’d scale up to a bigger role against biggest and more athletic competition. If nothing else, Richardson just knows how to play, and has proven he’s already damn good against old competition in college.

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17. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Heat) – Thomas Sorber, C, Georgetown

Sorber has been one of the best freshmen surprises of the season, going from the No. 40 overall recruit in the RSCI to a potential top-20 pick during his debut season with at Georgetown. The 6’10 big man has played with imposing physicality at both ends of the floor. He’s a very good rebounder, a tough screen setter, and can absorb contact in the paint defensively while still challenging the shot. He’s flashed the connective passing traits that NBA teams love out of their big men, and he looks like a solid finisher inside. Sorber does not have a three-point shot at the moment, he’s a bit undersized for a center, and he’s not a quick twitch athlete, but his powerful and efficient game gets the job done.

18. Houston Rockets (via Suns) – Nolan Traore, G, France

Traoe was considered a potential top-5 pick coming into the season, but an up-and-down year for Saint-Quentin in the top French pro league has suddenly made him one of the class’ most divisive prospects. The 6’5 guard has an intriguing combination of speed, playmaking, and rim pressure that could translate well as the NBA pushes the pace to new heights every year. The issue is that he isn’t an inefficient scorer right now (47 percent true shooting) with just average vertical pop around the basket and a shaky three-point shot. The 18-year-old is handling an enormous usage rate (31 percent) while facing tougher competition than any college player, so maybe the idea that he’s sliding in this draft is completely overblown.

19. Utah Jazz (via Timberwolves) – Noah Penda, F, Le Mans

Penda is a long and beefy forward out of France who has shown great two-way versatility in a tough league as a 20-year-old. At 6’8 with a reported 7-foot wingspan, Penda looks like a tremendous defensive prospect who has made some strides on offense. While he’s limited in terms of both his speed and explosion, Penda is super strong and always seems to know where to be defensively. He’s put up monster defensive playmaking stats (3.3 percent steal rate and 5.4 percent block rate) that showcase his phenomenal defensive awareness. Penda isn’t going to beat many players off the dribble, but he has some stuff you can work with offensively if he can shoot it at a league-average level. He’s a smart cutter and good passer who contributes on the offensive glass. Every team wants long forwards with strong feel for the game, and Penda checks those boxes.

20. Indiana Pacers – Noa Essengue, F, Ulm

Essengue is a 6’9 French forward who deserves first round looks for his athletic tools, consistently high motor, and solid productivity as an 18-year-old in the German league. He has a special skill for drawing fouls with his ability to handle the ball a bit in the open floor and find openings on cuts around the basket. He will provide some supplemental shot-blocking but can also get buried by stronger and longer players. His three-point shot (23.3 percent on his first 60 attempts) is his big swing skill.

21. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Clippers) – Ian Jackson, G, UNC

Jackson is a microwave scorer who has been on fire to start conference play for North Carolina. The 6’5 guard is a blur with the ball in his hands who shines in transition and can create scoring opportunities for himself in the halfcourt. He’s been a solid shooter from deep thus far at 39 percent from three, but almost all of his makes are assisted. Jackson doesn’t pass much and his thin frame will give teams pause defensively. He’s also much older than a typical freshman, turning 20 in Feb. Jackson certainly has some red flags as a prospect, but just turning into a better pull-up shooter would help his projection immensely. Teams will always need guards who can create a bucket, and Jackson can do that.

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22. Atlanta Hawks (via Lakers) – Johni Broome, C, Auburn

Broome has been the best player in college basketball this year, and it’s brought renewed interest in his pro projection. The 6’10, 235-pound big man is an absolute bulldozer as an interior scorer, has showed great shot-making touch from mid-range (nearly 50 percent on his first 63 mid-range twos), and he’s a good enough passer and decision-maker to be the hub of an offense. Broome has been a fantastic rim protector (10 percent block rate) and rebounder on both ends of the floor, and those skills aren’t going to disappear just because he’s a bit undersized for an NBA five. As a fifth-year college player there’s bound to be plenty of skepticism about Broome’s NBA potential, but he’s been so damn good this year that he deserves a chance.

23. Brooklyn Nets (via Bucks) – Egor Demin, G, BYU

I was guilty of buying the early hype on Demin during his hot start against a cupcake schedule. His production plummeted as BYU entered conference play, exposing his lack of speed and explosiveness and his shaky outside shot. The idea of Demin as a 6’9 point guard with panoramic vision is still intriguing long-term, but he’s going to need to up his skill level and change his body to overcome the concerns about his tools.

24. Orlando Magic (via Nuggets) – Miles Byrd, San Diego State

Miles Byrd’s breakout season at San Diego State has marked him as one of the best potential 3-and-D wings in the class. Byrd has made major strides as a shooter, going from 31.1 percent on 2.2 attempts per game from three last season to 35.8 percent on 6.2 per game this year. His defensive markers are even more encouraging: his 5.2 percent block rate and 4.4 percent steal rate are monster numbers that show his athleticism, motor, and instincts. The 6’7 wing can continue to show more off the dribble, but he feels like he can be an impactful player without sucking up a ton of usage on an NBA floor. While he’s technically in his third year of college basketball. Byrd doesn’t turn 21 years old until Sept. and is already showing he could be a late bloomer.

25. Memphis Grizzlies – Rasheer Fleming, F, Saint Joseph’s

Fleming has been a revelation during his junior season, catching the NBA’s attention for his massive frame, impressive defensive playmaking, improved shooting, and strong finishing at the rim. Fleming has ideal size for an NBA four at 6’9, 220+ pounds with a reported 7’5 wingspan. He’s been able to leverage those ultra long arms to get blocks (5.1 percent block rate) and steals (3.1 percent steal rate) all season in the Atlantic-10. He’s also been cleaning the glass at both ends of the floor this year, including a 24.9 percent defensive rebound rate that nearly ranks top-50 in the country. Fleming has made a big leap as a three-point shooter this year (40.4 percent on his first 89 attempts), but he’s mostly known for his interior scoring. He’s making 69 percent of his shots at the rim so far, and has hammered in 29 dunks in his first 20 games. Fleming doesn’t create off the bounce much and teams might still have skepticism about his shot given his non-existent mid-range game and poor free throw shooting numbers. His combination of size and production should still be enough to get him looks later in the first round.

26. Brooklyn Nets (via Knicks) – Kam Jones, Marquette

Jones has a case as being the best guard in college basketball this year after his significant improvement as a playmaker in the wake of Tyler Kolek’s departure from Marquette. The 6’5 senior guard has upped his assist rate form 16.6 percent last year to 40.3 percent this season, which ranks top-10 in the country. As Jones has soaked up more usage, it’s come at the cost of his shooting: he was a 40.6 percent three-point shooter last year, and thats dipped to 32.7 percent this year. Jones can shoot it so teams shouldn’t be too worried about that. He’s a solid value late in round one as a potential backup guard.

27. Boston Celtics – Hugo González, F, Real Madrid

Gonzalez has been on the NBA’s radar for a while after some strong showings at FIBA youth tournaments in recent years. Playing time has been hard to come by this season for the soon-to-be 19-year-old on one of the best clubs in Europe, but he still has the physical tools that appeal to scouts. An athletic 6’6 forward with a strong frame, Gonzalez makes energy plays defensively and on the glass, and has shown some progress with his three-point stroke. If teams believe in his shot (which has only hit at 28.6 percent this year on low volume), he could go much higher than this.

28 Brooklyn Nets (via Rockets) – Donnie Freeman, F, Syracuse

Freeman has had an up-and-down season and is out right now with a foot injury, but he’s intrigued every since his standout run at the McDonald’s All-American Game practices. Freeman has tons of talent as a long and athletic 6’10 forward with an easy shooting stroke. He’s been a monster on the defensive glass this year, and his touch from the foul line (80 percent) and deep range should give teams confident he will shoot the three ball better than he did before the foot injury. Freeman is something of a lottery ticket selection, but he’s got the tools teams wants.

Photo by Peyton Williams/UNC/Getty Images

29. Phoenix Suns (via Cavs) – Drake Powell, F, North Carolina

It’s easy to see what NBA like about Powell’s long-term projection as a long and athletic 6’6 wing who can make plays on defense and hit some catch-and-shoot threes. His production has been inconsistent most of the season, making him a premium candidate to return to school for sophomore year in an attempt to boost his draft stock. If he does declare, teams could still talk themselves into him as a long-term high-energy wing who can keep the floor spaced with a 37.5 percent three-point stroke so far.

30. Los Angeles Clippers (via Thunder) – Flory Bidunga, C/F, Kansas

Bidunga was a 5-star recruit who gained a bigger role on Kansas during KJ Adams’ recent injury. A super bouncy 6’9 big man, Bidunga can finish plays with power above the rim on both ends of the floor. He doesn’t offer any shooting or creation, but he’s a good finisher inside and an absurdly fluid athlete.