1. Cooper Flagg of Duke University is far and away the most heralded prospect of the incoming freshman class. Standing at 6 ‘9” and weighing in at 205 lbs, Flagg is one of those rare prospects whom NBA teams start planning and scheming for many years prior to him even being draft eligible. With elite ball skills, top-notch athleticism, and a dangerous perimeter jumper, it’s no wonder Flagg is far and away the odds on favorite to hear his name called first during the 2025 NBA Draft. The hype surrounding Flagg’s game has reached such a pinnacle that many scouts and draft analysis have compared his playstyle to that of Kevin Durant and Kevin Garnnett.
2. VJ Edgecombe of Baylor University is perhaps the most explosive athlete of his respective class. Edgecombe is first and foremost an aggressive and ferocious downhill driver, but he has also shown himself to be a capable outside shooter. On the other side of the ball, Edgecombe profiles as an elite defensive prospect. Standing at 6’5” and weighing in at 190 lbs, Edgecombe’s body could use a little bit of filling out, but as things currently stand he still feels like a safe bet to go within the top 5 of next year’s draft. Edgecombe’s game reflects that of a player like Jalen Green or pre-injury Victor Oladipo.
3. Ace Bailey of Rutgers is yet another prospect who’s sheer athleticism is going to demand a lot of attention and eyeballs during his freshman year of college. Bailey has all the physical tools that NBA teams desire most, with 6’10” size and quick twitch bounce. If Bailey can add a bit more heft and muscle to his frame, he could wind up looking like a modern day Amar’e Stoudemire—a freakishly athletic 3-level scoring big.
4. Dylan Harper of Rutgers is a certified bucket getter, and looks entirely the part of a future 20+ ppg scorer in the NBA. In addition to Harper’s offensive capabilities, he also has solid defensive instincts and at times looks like a player capable of becoming a dynamic perimeter defender. With a game eerily similar to that of James Harden, there is a real possibility Harper winds up hearing his name called within the first 5 picks of the 2025 NBA Draft.
5. Tre Johnson of Texas is another crafty and dynamic scorer. While Johnson may not have the same level of freakish athleticism as some of the other previously mentioned prospects, he’s still got enough speed and burst to buy into his game translating to the next level. Johnson is almost always under control, and seems to always play the game at his own pace. Johnson’s current stage of development reminds me a bit of Nick Smith Jr. when he was at Arkansas just a few years back. If Johnson is able to add a bit more heft to his 6’6”, 190-pound frame, his 3-level scoring arsenal should be enough to help teams picture a lottery-level talent during next year’s draft.
6. Liam McNeely of UConn is someone who Head Coach Dan Hurley is undoubtedly excited to have on board as the Huskies look to achieve the seemingly impossible task of becoming back-to-back-to-back NCAA National Champions. For his part, McNeely is not the most athletic player but he does have a sturdy frame which he consistently uses to get downhill and finish in the paint. With a reliable outside jumper, McNeely’s offensive package reflects that of a young Gordon Hayward or Jaime Jaquez Jr. If McNeely is able to make an immediate impact on winning at Uconn next year, he could easily find himself in the lottery mix for next year’s draft.
7. Ian Jackson of North Carolina is a straight up freak athlete who is most certainly going to create a high number of highlight plays for the Tar Heels next year. Jackson may be slightly less refined than some of the other top prospects in his class, with a bit of a shaky handle and inconsistent jumper, but his jump-out-the-gym athleticism and blow by speed keep his potential at an almost unmatchable height. If Jackson is able to hone some of his on court capabilities and bring a bit more consistency to his game, he could one day develop into a player similar to that of Lonnie Walker IV—with perhaps a bit more playmaking upside. If Jackson is able to carve out a consistent and productive role for himself at UNC next year, he feels like a safe bet to hear his name called in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft.
8. Khaman Maluach of Duke has one of the highest possible ceilings of anyone in this potential crop of freshmen. Standing at 7 ‘2” and 235-pounds, Maluach physical frame speaks for itself. Add on the fact that Maluach moves with the speed and agility of a man much shorter in stature, and has shown hints at 3-point capabilities, and it’s no wonder the Blue Devils are excited about their new big man. Maluach is certainly a raw prospect, but regardless players his size rarely have the skill set that he does. Malachi is one of those prospects whose mixture of size and skillset are so rarely seen it’s hard to draw comparisons—although a player like Thon Maker does come to mind. Whether Maluach is ready to enter the NBA Draft after just one year at Duke, or whether it ultimately takes him an additional year or two, there is a real pathway to him finding himself in the middle to back end of the lottery.
9. Egor Demin of BYU is an international player who most recently played for Real Madrid. BYU fans are quickly going to appreciate the way Demin blends his 6’9” wing size, with his guard level playmaking. Demin is not yet a consistent threat from the perimeter, but his silky textbook form suggests it’s only a matter of time until he starts becoming a more consistent threat from beyond the arc. For my money, Demin looks similar both in stature and skill set to Denji Avdija. Whether Demin ultimately lasts one or two years in college, he is someone to potentially keep an eye on during the first round of either the 2025 or 2026 NBA Draft.
10. Jalil Bethea of Miami is another dynamic scorer who looks destined—at the very least—for a microwave role in the NBA. With quick twitch speed and a crafty isolation scoring bag, Bethea is going to have a good opportunity to make a name for himself at Miami. Bethea’s game contains shades of Monta Ellis and recently drafted Isaiah Collier. Whether Bethea is able to cement himself as a surefire first round prospect will depend largely on his ability to fill out his body and play with more physicality. Standing at 6’4” and weighing in at just 170-lbs, Bethea’s body could take a real beating next year playing in the highly competitive, highly physical ACC.
