The upcoming 2025 NBA draft will mark my 23rd consecutive year covering it from the main desk for ESPN. Over the years, there have been hits and misses, times we were right and times we were wrong, but with each passing draft, I gain even more respect for the entire evaluation process. When I first started out, after countless hours spent analyzing players, I probably felt confident that I knew which prospects were destined for success. I quickly realized I didn`t know. In fact, nobody truly knows.
All anyone can really do is `believe` in certain players. How many people raised their hands expecting Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to become a future MVP when he was drafted 11th overall out of Kentucky? How many predicted Jalen Brunson would be an All-NBA player and Clutch Player of the Year after coming out of Villanova? In almost every draft, when we look back five years later, the players will be ranked vastly differently than they were on draft night. Perhaps this is true in every sport, but it feels especially pronounced in basketball, where major decisions are often made based on the relatively short track records of 18 and 19-year-olds.
However, certain players consistently stand out in every draft class. While guarantees are non-existent – although this year`s draft (Wednesday and Thursday nights on ABC and ESPN) features arguably the closest thing to a sure bet we`ve seen in quite some time – when you witness specific qualities in these prospects, they make you a believer. Here are a few players in this draft that I particularly like.
The Obvious Choice
This is fundamentally the Cooper Flagg Draft. If any of the 30 NBA teams held the top pick in the 2025 draft lottery, every single one would select Flagg without hesitation. Flagg is arguably the most impactful freshman Duke has ever had and stands out as the most complete player in this draft class.
Although Flagg still has areas where he can refine his game, no other player currently possesses as many desirable traits. Few players I`ve scouted over the past three decades demonstrate proficiency in as many facets of the game as Flagg does. He genuinely measures 6-8 with an impressive 7-0 wingspan. He`s athletic, long, possesses excellent lateral quickness, and has good straight-line speed. Defensively, his awareness is exceptional; he generates steals and blocks and is very effective on the boards. Flagg is an elite finisher and playmaker in transition. He is a superb driver and finisher around the basket, and an excellent cutter off the ball.
Early on, questions were raised about his shooting consistency from the perimeter. However, during ACC play, Flagg shot 44% from three-point range, finishing last season at nearly 39%. While he can still tighten his handle, his shot is far from being a problem; it`s simply not the primary highlight of his game. Flagg possesses All-NBA potential, and I firmly believe he will reach it. As long as he stays healthy, he is destined for success in the NBA. He simply has a different makeup. Beyond his skills and physical measurements, Flagg is one of the most fiercely competitive players I`ve ever observed at this age. While many prospects are competitive, this young man belongs in the absolute highest tier of competitors. At just 18, Flagg exhibits maturity well beyond his years – significantly more so than most 22-year-old prospects in this draft.
Flagg doesn`t enter a game focused solely on accumulating statistics. Instead, he prioritizes making the correct play, consistently. By executing the right play repeatedly, he naturally accumulates impressive numbers across various categories.
The Marksmen
This draft class features several excellent shooters, with freshman entries Tre Johnson from Texas and Kon Knueppel from Duke leading the way in this category.
Johnson is the superior shotmaker and athlete between the two. Utilizing his 6-10 wingspan, he led the SEC in scoring, averaging 19.9 points per game, and shot 39.7% from beyond the arc, connecting on 89 three-pointers last season.
Despite his length and physical attributes, Johnson didn`t always display the expected defensive impact, but his speed and agility should serve him well in the NBA. Knueppel, on the other hand, is arguably the best catch-and-shoot guard available in the draft.
He hit nearly 41% from deep during his freshman year at Duke, making 84 three-pointers. Last season, Knueppel shot 48% on corner threes and made an outstanding 91.4% of his free throws. Questions surrounding Knueppel primarily concern his defense and overall physical tools. However, while Kneuppel is unlikely to make an NBA All-Defensive Team, he isn`t a defensive liability and consistently hustles for loose balls.
The 3-and-D Specialists
Length is a highly valued asset that consistently translates well to the NBA game; its importance cannot be overstated. A player who can effectively guard multiple positions, switch defensively, disrupt passing lanes, and accumulate deflections, steals, and blocks can secure playing time on any NBA roster. Combine these defensive capabilities with a reliable perimeter shot, and a player becomes even more valuable. This year, there are three 3-and-D prospects who might be slightly under the radar but are expected to be highly sought after on draft night.
Carter Bryant from Arizona, Rasheer Fleming from Saint Joseph`s, and Cedric Coward from Washington State are the most intriguing prospects within this valuable category. Bryant is projected to be the first of the three to be selected. At 19 years old, Bryant is an exceptional athlete who finished among the top 5 in both vertical leap and sprint time at the NBA Combine. He possesses good size and impressive length and can effectively knock down a standstill three-pointer. Almost half of his points last season came from made threes, and 82% of his shot attempts were either catch-and-shoot threes or finishes directly at the rim.
Fleming, aged 20, offers great versatility with a remarkable 7-5 wingspan. He profiles as a multi-positional defender and floor spacer who hit 62 three-pointers on 39% shooting. His shot preparation appears solid, he excels at running the floor in transition, and he is an outstanding rebounder for his position.
Coward represents something of a mystery man in this group. He began his college career at the Division III level before transferring to Eastern Washington and eventually to Washington State. Coward played only six games for Washington State, but he scored 20 or more points in three of them, including an impressive 30 points against Northern Colorado. Coward isn`t as tall as Fleming, but he boasts a significant 7-2 wingspan, coupled with speed, strength, and excellent instincts on both offense and defense. Coward performed exceptionally well at the combine, finishing among the top 6 in the sprint, maximum vertical leap, and standing vertical leap measurements.
Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper are considered high-upside prospects in this year`s draft class.
The Wild Cards
Based purely on talent and potential upside, Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey might otherwise be considered the second and third picks in this draft, respectively. However, these two highly-rated prospects played together at Rutgers on a team that finished with a losing record. The Scarlet Knights went 15-17 overall and 8-12 in the Big Ten conference. While it`s reasonable to question why neither player contributed more significantly to winning, especially with a talented point guard like Harper, I doubt the team`s record will negatively impact the individual draft position of either prospect significantly.
Harper is arguably the second-best prospect in this draft class overall. He is a long-armed, scorer capable of scoring at all three levels, a polished offensive player with excellent footwork, and a skilled shot creator. Harper is particularly effective in pick-and-roll situations and makes great reads from them. His consistent deep shooting is not yet a strength, as he only shot 33% from three-point range, but he possesses good shooting mechanics and is a dedicated worker, though not yet an impactful defender despite his physical tools and length.
Bailey falls into the high-risk, high-reward category in this draft. Few players in the class possess a higher potential ceiling, and few can match his shotmaking ability, particularly his tough, contested pull-up jumpers under pressure. Bailey demonstrated his scoring potential with games of 39 points against Indiana and 38 points against Northwestern. Questions have been raised about Bailey`s maturity, but it`s important to remember he is only 18 years old, and his raw talent is undeniable. Given Harper`s talent and skill set, no team will likely pass on him at No. 2, not even San Antonio, which is often cited as needing shooting – an area where Harper isn`t yet elite. Bailey is expected to be drafted shortly after Harper, likely falling anywhere from pick No. 3 to No. 8.