March Insanity is the primary time a giant part of NBA followers examine in on the highest prospects in school basketball. This can be a good 12 months to do it: 19 of the 30 first-round picks in our final mock draft made the 2025 males’s NCAA match, and a bunch of them are nonetheless enjoying as the sphere trims within the second weekend.
The Duke Blue Devils are rolling behind their three lottery picks, led by the clear No. 1 total decide Cooper Flagg. Flagg’s former highschool teammate Derik Queen hit the defining shot of the match to this point to raise Maryland to a spherical of 32 win over Colorado State on the buzzer. Even BYU’s Egor Demin has been enjoying his finest ball of the season to assist the Cougars attain the Candy 16.
Queen and Oklahoma guard Jeremiah Fears are taking pictures up the draft board in our newest replace. In the meantime, Illinois level guard Kasparas Jakucionis finds himself falling out of the top-10 after a troublesome efficiency towards Kentucky. Right here’s our newest 2025 NBA mock draft.
1. Utah Jazz – Cooper Flagg, F, Duke
Flagg is one of the best participant in school basketball regardless of being the youngest draft-eligible participant within the sport, which is the premise of his case as one of the best American-born basketball prospect since LeBron James. Flagg has excellent positional dimension for a 4 (6’9, 7-foot wingspan), top-tier athleticism, an superior motor, and a burgeoning offensive talent set. Flagg was extensively acknowledged as a defense-first, off-ball prospect coming into this season, however he’s confirmed he’s rising into an elite offensive engine throughout his one season at Duke. He’s a uncommon franchise-changing expertise, and whoever wins the lottery to get him wants to begin planning for rivalry in a single 12 months or much less.
2. Washington Wizards – Dylan Harper, G, Rutgers
Each workforce within the NBA is searching for jumbo guard to behave as their main creator, and Harper is one of the best wager on this class to be precisely that. The 6’6 guard is a grasp at getting downhill within the pick-and-roll, the place he combines environment friendly, self-created rim ending (70 p.c on the rim with solely 17.6 p.c assisted) with stable passing imaginative and prescient to kick out to teammates. Harper is good-not-great by way of each his explosion and his three-point taking pictures (33.3 p.c), however his shot mechanics ought to give groups confidence he’ll shoot it higher within the execs. There are many No. 2 total picks in recent times who’ve been a little bit of a disappointment, however Harper’s archetype and talent set make him a stable wager to hit.
3. Charlotte Hornets – VJ Edgecombe, G, Baylor
Edgecombe is essentially the most explosive athlete within the draft as a quick-twitch marvel with an unmatched mixture of maximum velocity and leaping. Edgecombe’s aerial hang-time is one thing to behold when attacking the basket, however his athleticism additionally reveals up in his potential to drive turnovers on protection. His spot-up three-point shot seems to be good, too, after hitting 36.7 p.c of his triples on 120 makes an attempt during the last 25 video games of Baylor’s season. The catch with Edgecombe is he’s undersized for a two (6’4 with a 6’6 wingspan), and his ball dealing with, pull-up jumper, and ending craft want a ton of labor. Nonetheless, the instruments are there for a high-upside participant who ought to nonetheless have a high-floor even when he doesn’t hit his finest outcomes.
4. New Orleans Pelicans – Ace Bailey, F, Rutgers
Please don’t give Ace Bailey a Kevin Durant comp. The Rutgers ahead is approach too tough across the edges for that kind of comparability, and has a protracted technique to go together with his consciousness and really feel for the sport earlier than he’s even a top quality NBA starter, not to mention a celebrity. I wish to view Bailey as a high-floor prospect moderately than a high-ceiling one: at 6’10 with a 7-foot wingspan, Bailey is a big-time athlete who can end performs above the rim on each ends of the ground, whereas additionally wanting good as a spot-up three-point shooter (34.6 p.c from deep). Bailey doesn’t have the deal with or passing imaginative and prescient to be a play creator at this stage, and that’s the trail to stardom. Even when he by no means will get there, Bailey being enormous, athletic, and having an excellent leap shot at an excellent younger age (he doesn’t flip 19 till mid-August) is interesting sufficient to make him a top-5 decide.
5. Philadelphia 76ers – Derik Queen, C/F, Maryland
Queen was already beginning to really feel like a top-10 lock earlier than March Insanity. After carrying Maryland to the Candy 16 with a buzzer-beater for the ages towards Colorado State, NBA evaluators must ask if he’s value taking within the top-5. Queen lacks excellent dimension (6’10, 7’1 wingspan) and athleticism for an NBA middle. He’s nothing near an elite rim protector, and he doesn’t shoot threes (solely 4 made threes all season). On the identical time, specializing in what Queen doesn’t do detracts from the numerous abilities he brings to the desk. It’s uncommon to discover a large man this snug placing the ball on the ground to make a play for himself and his teammates. He’s a bruising inside scorer, a workhorse on the glass, and a succesful passer with both hand. Queen simply has some particular scoring potential to associate with terrific instincts to generate fouls and compromise the opposing protection. Philadelphia could be in a captivating place to take him given Joel Embiid’s harm bother, doubtlessly giving them a participant who may who may act as an offense hub whereas Embiid is out and restrict his minutes in an try to delay the previous MVP’s profession.
6. Brooklyn Nets – Jeremiah Fears, G, Oklahoma
Fears seems like one thing of a boom-or-bust prospect who is definite to be among the many most polarizing gamers on this draft class after Ace Bailey. The nice: Fears is the second youngest American participant on this draft with an Oct. 2006 birthday, and he simply went by way of the SEC gauntlet with the very best utilization on this class (32 p.c) and nonetheless took Oklahoma to the NCAA match. He’s already a complicated ball handler who makes use of his mixture of velocity and alter of path to separate from defenders. On the flip aspect, Fears was horrible each as a rim finisher (53 p.c), three-point shooter (28.3 p.c), and he’s not a pure playmaker. Fears wants a whole lot of bodily growth and fine-tuning to his talent set, however he has the look of a high-ceiling creator when you consider in his expertise.
7. Toronto Raptors – Khaman Maluach, C, Duke
Maluach didn’t begin enjoying basketball till he was 13 years previous, and his profession has been on a meteoric rise ever since. The Duke freshman middle has elite NBA dimension at 7’2, 250 kilos with a 9’9 standing attain. He must be impactful defensively on dimension alone even when he’s nonetheless studying about positioning and could be a little bit of a sluggish leaper getting off the bottom. His offense is much more thrilling: Maluach is an outstanding rim finisher who can be an enormous lob goal and putback risk on the offensive glass. He has two abilities that might take his potential to the stratosphere: he’s fast laterally on protection, and he’s snug taking pictures threes even when Duke hardly ever lets him do it. Think about a 7’2 middle who can change on protection, area the ground as a shooter, and contact the rim on his tippy-toes. That seems like a straightforward top-5 decide to me. This must be his flooring.
8. Miami Warmth – Tre Johnson, G, Texas
Johnson has a case as each one of the best shooter and finest takeover scorer on this draft class. The 6’6 off-ball guard led all DI freshmen in scoring (20.2 factors per sport) regardless of enjoying within the SEC, one of the best convention in America. Johnson shot 39.7 p.c from from three on a high-volume of makes an attempt (224), which is much more spectacular contemplating he was the No. 1 title on each opposing scouting report. Johnson can get tunnel imaginative and prescient at occasions and doesn’t often fill the field rating in different classes, however he’s first rate sufficient as a passer and on-ball defender to make him greater than a specialist. Johnson usually displays an intense on-court mentality that ought to make him an ideal slot in Warmth Tradition enjoying off Tyler Herro.
9. Chicago Bulls – Collin Murray-Boyles, F/C, South Carolina
Murray-Boyles was a complicated stats marvel throughout his sophomore season regardless of enjoying on a horrible South Carolina workforce as a 6’7 large man with no dependable leap shot. Murray-Boyles’ NBA translation can be a captivating one together with his limitations, however he brings a lot to the desk that he deserves top-10 consideration. Murray-Boyles has a long-and-strong body (reportedly 235 kilos with a 7’2 wingspan) and low middle of gravity that helps him defend larger gamers when matched together with his good IQ. He is likely one of the best possible defensive prospects on this class, exhibiting elite instincts as an off-ball defender with some potential to wall up on the rim. On offense, he must be an excellent short-roll passer and hub in dribble-handoffs whereas additionally having a stable deal with and final touch to create a few of his personal offense off the bounce. The hope is that CMB can vacillate between the 4 and 5 whereas offering wonderful protection and sufficient offensive abilities to present him constructive worth till he can enhance as a shooter.
10. San Antonio Spurs – Kon Knueppel, G, Duke
Knueppel impressed scouts who flocked to Duke early within the season to examine in on Cooper Flagg, rising as a giant wing shooter who can even run some motion as a ball handler within the two-man sport. Knueppel doesn’t actually move the attention check as an NBA prospect with out plus size or explosion, however he’s a wise and expert participant who’s at all times below management. His 39.3 p.c three-point stroke and 90 p.c mark from the free throw line offers him a case as one of the best shooter on this class, and he’s definitely not small at 6’7, 220 kilos. Knueppel’s athletic limitations may hinder him on the subsequent stage, however his taking pictures will play no matter the place he lands. Going to San Antonio would really feel like an ideal touchdown spot for each the participant and workforce.
11. Portland Path Blazers – Noa Essengue, F, Ulm
Essengue is an excellent younger ahead who has already been productive within the German league. At 6’10, 200 kilos with a 9’3+ standing attain, Essengue combines positional dimension with a excessive motor and spectacular productive for such a younger participant. Essengue is usually a play-finisher at this level who wins with hustle and instruments, serving to him flip into an environment friendly scorer (61.4 p.c true taking pictures), a stable rebounder, and an excellent occasions creator on protection. He’s not an excellent shooter but and wishes so as to add a whole lot of power to his body, however he already has some abilities to affect the sport regardless of being simply two days older than Flagg.
12. Dallas Mavericks – Jase Richardson, G, Michigan State
Richardson had a small position for Michigan State till the second week of Feb., when he lastly acquired his first begin and instantly turned the workforce’s finest participant. The freshman guard and son of former NBA veteran Jason Richardson doesn’t have his father’s top or hops, however he’s a wise and expert participant who constantly makes a big effect on profitable. Richardson is a lethal shooter (40 p.c from three) who has a sixth sense for how you can discover open pockets of area for his jumpers off the ball. He can change instructions on a dime off the dribble, and reveals good final touch in shut. Richardson’s dimension can be a significant query mark: he’s listed at 6’3 however that appears beneficiant. He’s performed with a smaller utilization price this 12 months which may increase some questions on how excessive his ceiling actually is. His harm historical past can also be a bit scary. Nonetheless, Richardson hardly ever makes errors with the ball and his taking pictures will play wherever. He’s value a lottery decide, and deserves seems to be within the top-10.
13. Houston Rockets – Kasparas Jakucionis, G, Illinois
Jakucionis was monitoring as a possible top-5 decide earlier within the season, however his struggles in convention play and the postseason revealed some deeper points about his sport. The Illini level guard has great passing imaginative and prescient, a robust 6’5 body, and a go-to scoring transfer together with his step-back three-pointer. The most important points for Jakucionis are his restricted athletic explosiveness paired together with his turnover issues. The Lithuanian is a below-the-rim participant in each sense who depends extra on power than velocity to get previous defenders. That sometimes acquired him into dangerous spots on the ground, which led to main turnover points for Illinois late within the season. Jakucionis remains to be an excellent prospect who adjusted shortly to American school ball, however the finish of his freshman season was a bit sobering for evaluators. It feels just like the Rockets have one among each kind of participant of their fast-tracked rebuild, however they nonetheless lack an elite passer, which is the place Jakucionis can add worth.
14. Atlanta Hawks – Carter Bryant, F, Arizona
Bryant is an excellent athlete with a really perfect body for an NBA ahead at 6’8, 225 kilos with lengthy arms (reportedly a 7-foot wingspan). He’s performed a low utilization offensive position in his freshman season for Arizona, the place he’s proven the power to knock down spot-up threes (37.4 p.c on 99 makes an attempt) and end successfully on the rim. Bryant’s offense is proscribed by his lack of ball dealing with potential and passing imaginative and prescient, however his sturdy defensive projection will preserve him on the ground. Bryant has posted monster block price (six p.c) and steal price (2.7 p.c) numbers this 12 months through the use of his size and athleticism to generate takeaways off the ball. His defensive upside and flooring spacing potential offers him a straightforward NBA translation even when he’s not an amazing scorer but.
15. Orlando Magic – Nolan Traore, G, Saint-Quentin
Traore entered the draft cycle with top-5 hype, however he’s had a troublesome 12 months enjoying in a excessive utilization position towards professional competitors within the high French league. Traore’s leap shot is a giant situation, with a 27 p.c three-point stroke limiting his scoring effectivity to simply 50 p.c true taking pictures. What’s extra encouraging is that Traore has shouldered a giant 30 p.c utilization price whereas exhibiting off nice playmaking imaginative and prescient with a 42.5 p.c help price. Simply what the Magic want, one other non-shooter! Nicely, Orlando must be searching for taking pictures in free company, however grabbing a lightning-quick level guard who can generate paint touches could be a pleasant long-term addition subsequent to Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner.
16. San Antonio Spurs – Asa Newell, F, Georgia
Newell has all of the makings of a killer inside finisher on the NBA stage — and he has a projectable three-point shot, too. It is going to be fascinating to see how the Georgia freshman measures on the mix with estimates starting from 6’9 to six’11 with out lengthy arms. The Gerogia freshman hammered house 57 dunks this 12 months to assist him end 73 p.c of his seems to be on the rim. He additionally made 26 threes, which ought to give groups confidence he can develop right into a shooter even when he solely made them at a 29 p.c clip. One situation with Newell is he simply doesn’t move the ball or see the ground properly in any respect. One other is that he’s a little bit brief for a middle. Newell’s measurements can be essential through the course of, however his leaping and power to complete inside and clear the glass has attraction both approach.
17. Minnesota Timberwolves – Nique Clifford, F, Colorado State
Clifford can be 24 years previous as a rookie after 5 seasons in school, however age didn’t cease the Timberwolves from drafting Terrence Shannon final 12 months. Clifford additionally has a ready-made NBA sport has a 6’6 wing who can compete defensively, clear the glass, and play a well-rounded flooring sport offensively. He shot the ball very well this season (37.7 p.c on 175 makes an attempt) and confirmed off extra creation potential than ever earlier than with Isaiah Stevens not round at Colorado State. Clifford is true late bloomer together with his offensive growth during the last two years, and it may make him interesting to groups like Minnesota able to compete proper now.
18. Utah Jazz – Thomas Sorber, F/C, Georgetown
Sorber out-performed his recruiting rating (No. 40 within the RSCI) throughout a productive freshman season at Georgetown. Sorber is a tad undersized for an NBA middle at 6’10 with a 7’1 wingspan, however his inside scoring, passing imaginative and prescient, screening, rim safety potential, and plus rebounding offers him an NBA position. He may not have the flashiest talent set, however the issues Sorber does properly often contribute to profitable.
19. Brooklyn Nets – Noah Penda, F, Le Mans
Penda is a giant wing out of France who can thrive on protection, make superior passing reads, and has an enhancing leap shot. Penda has a beefy 6’8 body with lengthy arms that he makes use of to dam pictures and get deflections. He has an excellent really feel for the sport on each ends, and a mix of size and power that may compete on the subsequent stage. Penda will not be an elite athlete or an amazing shooter (30.6 p.c on 72 makes an attempt), however he’s projectable sufficient in these areas that his instincts on each ends ought to assist make him a flexible rotation piece.
20. Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder – Egor Demin, G/F, BYU
Demin appeared like a possible top-5 decide when he was enjoying a cupcake schedule early within the season, however his flaws have been uncovered towards higher competitors. Nonetheless, there’s purpose to purchase into Demin as an elite passer at 6’9 who can put the ball on the ground and doesn’t hesitate to shoot from deep. The Russian guard is proscribed athletically, turns the ball over so much, is a shaky shooter (28 p.c from deep), and badly wants so as to add power to his body to outlive defensively. A workforce just like the Thunder that might enable him to slowly develop for a couple of years with out a whole lot of early on-ball reps could be a really perfect touchdown spot.
21. Miami Warmth – Adou Thiero, F, Arkansas
Thiero is a wrecking ball as a mismatch ahead with explosive athleticism, however sadly he’s missed Arkansas’ Candy 16 run with a knee harm. The junior has an amazing body at 6’7 with a 7-foot wingspan and loads of velocity, power, and energy baked in. He flies round defensively getting blocks and steals, and at all times brings a whole lot of vitality. Offensively, Thiero is an effective cutter and inside finisher who hammed house 45 dunks in 26 video games this season. He’s not a lot of a shooter or ball handler but, however Thiero makes essentially the most of his dimension and athleticism because of his hustle.
22. Indiana Pacers – Labaron Philon, G, Alabama
Philon doesn’t have a standout talent, however he’s a well-rounded and productive freshman guard enjoying a key position for an Alabama workforce within the Candy 16. Philon is a connective guard who can get into the paint off the bounce, and both hit a floater or kick out to teammates. He’s stable defensively utilizing his size, and he appears to have good instincts on that finish too. Philon may actually use a dependable three-point shot, however he nonetheless checks sufficient packing containers as a complementary guard to attract first spherical seems to be.
23. Atlanta Hawks – Will Riley, G, Illinois
Riley matches a well-recognized mildew of the microwave scorer, solely most of them aren’t 6’8 like he’s. The Illinois guard ran hot-and-cold throughout his freshman 12 months, however when he was on he supplied prompt offense together with his perimeter scoring. Riley is extra of a shot-maker than a pure shooter at this level, hitting solely 32 p.c of his threes however exhibiting good versatility in how he acquired them off. He can fall in love together with his jumper a bit at this stage, however his ending numbers have been nonetheless stable and may solely get higher as he will get stronger. The actual situation for Riley proper now’s his protection, which has a protracted technique to go earlier than he’s playable on the NBA stage. Nonetheless, his long-term scoring potential is spectacular sufficient to earn first spherical takes care of the lottery.
24. Washington Wizards – Rasheer Fleming, F, Saint Joseph’s
Fleming’s comically massive body and breakout manufacturing throughout his junior season has put him firmly on NBA radars. At 6’9, 240 kilos with a 7’5 wingspan, Fleming has elite size and the potential to develop right into a bully on the within. He shot the ball properly this 12 months by making 39 p.c of his 159 three-pointers. He additionally cleaned the defensive glass and added some spectacular shot blocking for Saint Joe’s. Fleming can’t do a lot off the dribble and doesn’t make performs for his teammates, however his flooring spacing and skill to compete defensively together with his dimension offers him a pathway to success in a low utilization position.
25. Orlando Magic – Liam McNeeley, F, UConn
McNeeley must be one of many premier shooters on this draft class, however one way or the other he solely hit 31.7 p.c of his threes on 145 makes an attempt at UConn. His athletic limitations actually hamper him at each ends of the ground. He’s more likely to put on a goal defensively, and he couldn’t even end on the rim (48.6 p.c) over school shot-blockers. Nonetheless, McNeeley has stable positional dimension (6’7) and strikes properly off the ball and he could be a rotation piece if the shot comes round once more.
26. Brooklyn Nets – Joan Beringer, C, KK Cedevita
Beringer will most likely go a lot larger than this given the NBA’s reported fascinated with him. A 6’10 large man with a 7’4 wingspan, Beringer is a bouncy leaper who can slam lobs as a roll man and assist shield the rim. His motion abilities, size, and youth are hallmark traits of a first-round decide.
27. Brooklyn Nets – Danny Wolf, F, Michigan
I’ve been holding off on projecting Wolf as a first-round decide, however that’s the best way the wind is blowing after his breakout junior 12 months at Michigan. Wolf is a real unique as a beefy 7-foot level guard who needs to run pick-and-roll with the ball in his arms. Is any workforce going to let him have that position within the NBA? Wolf strikes properly sufficient defensively to carry his personal on that finish, which is able to put additional strain on his taking pictures growth. If his shot turns into a weapon, he might be an excellent connective piece.
28. Boston Celtics – Alex Condon, C, Florida
Condon can have a captivating stay-or-go school choice following his breakout sophomore season at Florida. The 6’11 Australian runs the ground properly in transition, flashes some tantalizing passing potential, and has proven the power to hit some threes. On the flip aspect, Condon isn’t a strong inside finisher, he’s a 60 p.c free throw shooter, and his rim safety is extra stable than spectacular. He seems like a late first-round if he enters.
29. Phoenix Suns – Kam Jones, G, Marquette
Jones took on main ball handler duties at Marquette this 12 months, and displayed a brand new stage of passing imaginative and prescient scouts didn’t know was in him. Whereas his help share soared, Jones’ effectivity as a three-point shooter — traditionally one of many strongest components of his sport — dipped. With the power to get to the rim at will and sufficient passing and taking pictures upside, Jones is a worthy flier within the late first.
30. Los Angeles Clippers – Johni Broome, F/C, Auburn
Broome has been arguably one of the best participant in school basketball as a fifth-year senior. He’s a monster inside scorer, an excellent passer, a stable shot-blocker, and has some historical past of creating threes. He’s additionally a bit undersized for a 5 and a bit sluggish for a contemporary 4. At this level within the draft, you’ll be able to financial institution his manufacturing and hope for a rotation piece.
