2025 NBA Big Board 1.0 (15-30)

Happy Draft Lottery Day or mostly happy Cooper Flagg day to those teams who will be in Chicago this evening. If you missed the initial lottery rankings of my big board, you can check that out here. Below are my remaining rankings to complete my big board. Thanks to all who read the initial one and please continue to offer feedback, disagreements and questions. I will have several different pieces post lottery so the content will be ongoing weekly to provide more insight leading up the draft.

15. Nique Clifford. F. Colorado St

A true Swiss Army knife in every aspect. He’s versatile defensively and has the ability to play on or off ball on the offensive end. He’s much better when the ball is in his hands as a creator, which he showed all year. An older prospect who can slide into a middling team and potentially provide instant production. His defense alone can provide a boost to any organization. He rebounds well for his position and uses his hands well in passing lanes.

Offensively, he can do whatever you need him to do. He ran a lot of high pick and rolls this year and was effective as a shooter and playmaker. He can create for himself and when he’s off the ball - he shoots nearly 40% on catch and shoot threes. There are numerous teams in this range who would benefit from Clifford’s versatility on both sides.

16. Cedric Coward, F, Washington St

One of the bigger risers throughout this process but if you are not fully dialed into draft boards or college basketball, you may not be familiar with Coward. The attention he garnered in the transfer portal may have opened your eyes - especially the commitment to Duke in April. He has a great skill set and right as he was about to put it on full display - an injury happens and ends his season. In a small sample size, he was putting up quality numbers and shooting the ball at a high level.

The injury and how it will affect his pre-draft process is unknown (to me at least) which is why I believe he kept his college eligibility. His journey and ability to take his game up a level at every stop shows his work ethic and positive trajectory. The shooting and overall scoring ability is something that is instinctive for him. Self-creation and his handle are a weakness right now but much like he’s done throughout his career, I expect that to become a strength of his.

17. Will Riley. G. Illinois

I know I’m a little higher on Riley than most but the positional size mixed with the off-ball movement and shot making is something I love about him. He was around 32% from three this year but he was nearly 40% in high school so I trust the truth is somewhere between. He can create his own shot and moves extremely well off-ball to open himself up for cuts and catch and shoot opportunities.

The fit at Illinois was somewhat odd but he showed flashes of being the best player on the floor in big games. Other times he positioned himself to run the second unit effectively which shows his ability to play multiple roles. The shooting needs to show itself to be more consistent along with the rim finishing. At times he was able to get to the rim but settled for pull up jumpers instead of layups. A concern? Yes, but something that can be worked on and built upon with his development.

18. Egor Demin. G. BYU

The success of Josh Giddey this year is going to benefit Egor. He has great positional size and is one of the best passers in this class. The scoring needs some work but the size and passing at his position is hard to look past. In the NCAA tournament he did increase his offensive output and become more aggressive.

Despite shooting 29% from deep, he averaged around 14 points, 6 assists, and 5 rebounds in the three tournament games. You can see the level of aggression rise and I thought - where was this all year? I love big guards and so does the NBA, and despite his elite passing - Egor can struggle a bit with ball pressure. His role at BYU is like what he will play at this level and if the shooting improves, I like his fit as a Josh Giddey type of player.

19. Rasheer Fleming. F. St Joes

Fleming is an older but productive prospect. He fits in perfectly with a contending team that needs a connector and high-level defender. He averaged nearly 3 STOCKS (steals + blocks) per game which shows his versatility and range as a defender. He would have to play a small ball power forward rather than small forward due to the lack of shot creation. Defensively I trust all his ability to translate to the next level and be by far one of the best perimeter defenders in this draft

Offensively there can be a case he is an excellent three point shooter BUT if you dig a little deeper, there may be some flaws in the numbers. He was nearly 40% from three this year and almost 42% on unguarded threes. That drops to under 33% when he is guarded, not to mention he was in the low 30’s his first two years. With that said, he does not have to be 40% but if he can be mid 30’s, any team will take that with his defensive ability.

As it always comes up with players who don’t play in a power conference - quality of competition is constantly in question. My response would point to his performance against power five schools where he averaged around 17 points and 10 rebounds in four games. He also played well against VCU who had one of the better defenses in the country. I don’t think the competition is any way indicative of why he had success - which is why I have him slotted at this position

20. Asa Newell. F. Georgia

Asa has played multiple roles in his last few years of basketball. At Georgia he was more of a go to player but in high school he was a role player. Fitting into any role and situation is a plus when I’m looking at prospects. Along with that - Asa possesses the versatility defensively to get him on the floor immediately. He has good instincts and ball skills but the way he’s able to switch onto guards and have success is excellent.

Offensively, he is one of the best offensive rebounders in the class. Relentless motor and elite finishing ability are his super strengths. Two traits that translate because they are more effort based than anything. He does need to improve his shooting - not necessarily be a three-point threat but being respectable from 12-15 feet raises his floor. Those offensive improvements mixed with the versatility defensively put him in a good spot to outperform his draft position.

21. Liam McNeely. F. UConn

One of the biggest fallers in my rankings over the course of the year. Despite the big games he had this year, I just didn’t see lottery level talent when assessing him. This range fits more with where I think he projects at this level. The shooting is a strength, but it must improve other than just on spot up opportunities. Since high school, he struggled with movement shooting. That diminishes some of the upside early on until that is improved.

His movement off the ball is positive and he is active on the glass. Huskies ran some of the best sets in college basketball so his movement in an offense will come easier than most. If I am a team like Orlando, Liam would be at the top of my board at this range. He can slide in and knock down shots but at the same time develop his weaknesses under a good coach and young core. I love his competitive fire and motor - once he learns how to shoot better on the move and finish a little better at the rim, he can have a long career.

22. Nolan Traore, G, Saint Quentin

Traore was projected to be a high lottery pick by most coming into the season but finds himself in the middle of the pack now. There were some reports about him “tanking” his draft position as he wanted to get into a better situation - which is interesting to say the least. The tools did not change - his speed, passing, and ball handling are key strengths that help him be one of the best guards in the draft.

The shooting must improve and become more consistent. He has shown stretches where he shot well but others where he was abysmal. His speed helps him get to the rim almost at ease, but he has not had success finishing at a high rate. While the NBA spacing will help showcase his speed along with pick and roll brilliance - he needs to show signs of improvement with his shooting and finishing.

Defensively he will be a prime target for offenses as he often is out of position and gambles a bit. He will have to improve there but that is something which takes experience to be able to adjust to. He won’t ever be a lockdown, but can he be serviceable? Of course. His offensive skill set will keep him on the floor, but the shooting can take him to another level.

23. Carter Bryant. F. Arizona

I have seen Carter mocked all over the place. His production doesn’t match that of a lottery pick but I can see the upside as far as what he can bring to the table defensively and potentially knocking down threes. My rationale as to why I am lower on him is the limited offensive ability and lack of consistent reps. Defensively he fits the part of what you want in your wing. He’s big, physical and can guard all positions BUT his aggression sometimes leads to foul trouble.

Ryan Dunn and Toumani Camara are the two players I compare him to as far as their defense being the stronger aspect of his game. Offensively he moves well without the ball and has shown flashes of being able to knock down spot up threes. How consistent he can be offensively is what will determine his ceiling because if he is a liability on offense, I’m unsure he can stay on the floor despite his strong defensive versatility.

24. Labaron Philon. G. Alabama

There is another level to Philion that was not shown in Alabama. The makeup of their team and scheme did not entirely fit his skill set or enhance what his strengths were. The Crimson Tide had a lot of mouths to feed and a returning guard who was an All-American. The fact Philion still thrived and is projected to go first round despite the lack of showcasing in the Nate Oats system is a testament to his upside and skill set.

What he did show was his ability to fit in a role and run an offense. The tempo and pace of Alabama fits right into what Philion will most likely be playing at this level. He is effective in pick and roll sets as a passer or scorer while also being able to process and make the correct play. The floater and mid-range game is an advantage of his despite his lack of strength right now. As he gets stronger, he’ll be able to finish better at the rim and turn those bumps into three-point play opportunities.

The shooting was not effective in his freshman year, but he was nearly 40% in high school. He does not have to be quite that good, but I do believe he’s a better shooter from deep than the 32% shown this year. Defensively just because of his size (175 lbs) he will likely be a hunted player, but he is a competitive defender with a high motor and constantly makes the offensive player work. The strength will come and when it does, watch out.

25. Thomas Sorber. C. Georgetown

Sorber’s season was cut short due to an injury, or he would be much higher on my board. Prior to the injury, he was on pace for one of the more historic seasons in the rich history of Georgetown. Like those who came before him, he is an old school big man who operates in the post with a flurry of moves and counters. He has a soft touch and good hands to handle all types of passes. The mid-range jumper needs to develop to help raise his offensive floor. When he develops that, he could be very similar to an Al Horford archetype.

Defensively he averaged 3.5 STOCKS (steals + blocks) and protects the paint as good as anyone in this draft. He defends without fouling and is consistently in the right position on defensive rotations. Lateral quickness is a concern which is why he struggled against stretch bigs who can create off the dribble. Being undersized, he must improve his perimeter defense because he’s likely going to be guarding more versatile forwards and bigs at this level.

Foot injuries and big men are not a good combination which is why he is lower on my board. Not sure how much he will participate in the pre-draft process and how he will respond to recovery of his foot. Little too much uncertainty but the talent and upside are there if a team can get some good medical reports. I would love to see him paired with another big like what Houston did in the playoffs to help utilize his post offense.

26. Walter Clayton Jr, G, Florida

March Madness always has a few prospects that were not on draft boards (or very low) but a hot two or three game stretch and you find yourself in the mix. Walter Clayton Jr was not on many boards coming into the season, but his stellar play has him at the back end of the first round. His shot making and clutch performances led Florida to a national championship. While he did not perform particularly well in the national championship game - he was amazing throughout the tournament.

An older prospect so maybe his ceiling is not as high but the way he’s produced against elite competition all year. He can score at all three levels on a variety of shots and has shown the ability to be clutch throughout the year. The shot selection can be a bit concerning but with his percentages, it is hard to argue with that. Now the bigger question is will a coach allow him that same freedom.

More than likely the answer is no, but he has the tools to be a microwave scorer off the bench. He fights defensively but will need to improve to keep from being constantly hunted. The shot making alone should be enough to get his foot in the door and with the right team, he could provide immediate production.

27. Tahaad Pettiford, G, Auburn

Fearless. Competitive. Versatile. All of those are adjectives that come to mind when watching Pettiford play. Look no further than his 20-point outing at Duke where he made clutch baskets and got wherever he wanted against one of the best defenses in the country. His pace is great, and he blends it well regardless of if he is on or off ball. Bruce Pearl utilized him in several ways and in numerous situations which is sometimes tough on a young guard, but he thrived and showed up time after time.

The shooting is excellent regardless of if he is spotting up or creating off the dribble. He navigates pick and rolls effectively and despite his small frame, he is fearless at attacking the rim. One of his weaknesses is finishing effectively when he gets to the rim. He was below 45% on layups and a lot of that had to do with him either shying away from contact or the inability to finish through it. Strength and conditioning will get him to a point where he can finish better but the way he can shoot as well as create, I think he is worthy to be slotted here.

28. Danny Wolf. C. Michigan

One of the more unique prospects in the draft. A big man with guard like skills but also the ability to rebound and score in the paint. Similar concerns stylistically to that of Derik Queen. It is going to take the right system to raise his ceiling. Wolf could be a hub for an offense as he showed both at Princeton and Michigan. The issue is will a team allow him to do so. Despite the playmaking being a strength, Wolf also can be careless with the ball and have tunnel vision when he’s driving to the basket.

He did have some issues with the more versatile bigs - mostly outside of the Big Ten but he fights and competes at a high level. Half the battle is effort on the defensive end and despite the lack of athleticism, Wolf does show signs of being decent defensively. The shooting is a concern as he was around 34% in his three seasons. His post presence and ability to hit a mid-range shot does help him but as stated earlier - will a team run their offense through him.

Alperen Sengun is my only parallel to Wolf, but I do believe Wolf is the better playmaker. His success at this level is tied to a specific team and their ability to showcase him in a perfect system. Golden State Warriors is a spot I think he would be able to thrive with their offensive motion and ability to allow more than one person to initiate their offense.

29. Ben Saraf, G, Ratiopharm ULM

One of the younger prospects in the draft but has been productive in one of the better leagues in Europe. Amazing footwork with a change of speed that allows him to get by defenders in a multitude of ways. His navigation of pick and roll sets is highly effective, and he can make any pass there is to make. The ability to come off the pick and roll and be able to knock down the jump shot is the next step in his development. Teams will likely play a lot of drop coverage on him until he shows he can be a consistent shooter.

Ben was under 30% from deep while also struggling at the free throw line. His improvement in both of those aspects must improve for him to reach his ceiling. It is not all bad with the shooting - he did shoot around 37% on catch and shoot opportunities. The volume wasn’t as high, but it shows some type of positive outlook that the shooting can improve. Right now, he is more effective with the ball in his hand but could show some value to teams by playing off ball and being a secondary ball handler or initiator. His usage rate shows he can carry a lot of responsibilities, so if the jump shot can improve, it only raises his floor.

30. Yaxel Lendeborg, F, UAB

There are differing opinions on Yaxel from front offices to draft pundits. On paper he has the productivity of a lottery pick but there are some intangibles that have him towards the bottom of the first round. The level of competition will be in question when referring to his eye-popping numbers - which is fair but averaging a double-double and nearly 2 blocks is impressive no matter where you do it.

He has a unique journey and has not been playing basketball as long as most. His progression is a testament to his growth and dedication to his craft. The shooting was low volume and would have to improve to keep him on the floor. He rebounds well and has defensive versatility, but he does not always look engaged on that side of the ball. He is a bit undersized to play in the post so the handle and decision making also needs to go up to a higher level. All of that said, I can see a team reaching for Yaxel due to his skill set and how effective he was at his size.