Ought to there be on-court considerations about Ace Bailey on the subsequent stage? How do Tre Johnson and Jeremiah Fears translate within the NBA? Have been Egor Demin and Cedric Coward deserving of lottery picks?
To reply among the burning questions following the 2025 NBA draft, ESPN spoke to just about a dozen school basketball coaches — the individuals who have watched and game-planned in opposition to these gamers for the previous few years — in regards to the largest storylines and high prospects.
Bounce to:
The highest two picks
The following tier of picks
Extra first-round storylines
Different notable first-rounders
Second-round notes
Since Flagg introduced in August 2023 that he deliberate to reclassify into the 2024 highschool class, there was little or no query in regards to the high of this class. Thought-about probably the greatest highschool prospects in latest reminiscence, Flagg had been the favourite to be chosen No. 1 for the previous two years, with the Dallas Mavericks making that official Wednesday. He was the perfect participant in school basketball final season, successful the Wood Award and main Duke to the Last 4. He averaged 19.2 factors, 7.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists, answering questions on his capturing by making 38.5% of his perimeter makes an attempt.
Opposing school coaches have zero doubts about his means to translate to the NBA stage.
“He is acquired a swagger to him, a toughness and he is bodily able to make an affect,” one coach instructed ESPN. “For a younger child going to the NBA, if he is by no means been in a scenario the place he is been the man, it is arduous to flip a swap. However he is been in each single a type of conditions. Enjoying off ball screens, coming off pindowns, rebounding and going. Confirmed his versatility all 12 months lengthy. He is accomplished all that stuff on the highest stage of school basketball.”
Popping out of highschool, Flagg’s capturing was one thing of a query, however the Maine native improved as his freshman season in Durham progressed. He shot 44% from behind the arc in ACC play, making a number of 3s in 9 video games.
“Early within the 12 months, you might go below a ball display in opposition to him. You were not doing that by the tip of the 12 months,” one other coach mentioned. “The NBA is an enormous isolation league. So with regards to particular person wiggle and with the ability to get by guys, he’ll must determine these issues out.”
Coaches additionally thought Flagg’s touchdown spot will likely be a constructive for his improvement, principally because of the reality he’ll be taking part in alongside Kyrie Irving and different veterans.
“I feel he matches in nicely,” one coach mentioned. “He will not be keyed on as the principle man each single evening. For a younger man, that may shake your confidence. I am not apprehensive about that with him.”
Even with out being the Mavericks’ high offensive choice, Flagg would be the heavy favourite for Rookie of the 12 months.
“[If he can] simply be a well-rounded 15 factors, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, a block [contributor] … he’ll win Rookie of the 12 months,” an ACC coach mentioned, “as a result of Dallas needs to be good, assuming well being.”
Almost each school coach we spoke with agreed that there was a spot after Flagg at No. 1 and Harper at No. 2 — every in lessons of their very own.
“[Harper is] pretty much as good a participant as we have performed in opposition to within the final 10 years, whether or not you are going again to Markelle Fultz or speaking about Paolo Banchero. He is higher than Jabari Smith. I am tremendous, tremendous excessive on him. I feel he is nearer to Flagg than No. 3 is to him,” one opposing coach mentioned of the brand new San Antonio Spurs guard. “He is a pick-and-roll maestro. It would not matter what protection you throw at him, it would take him a possession or two however he’ll discover a technique to beat it.”
“Flagg and Harper are the one two to me which have an All-NBA ceiling,” one other coach added. “There’s such an enormous drop-off — it is virtually like these subsequent guys usually are not Tier 3, it is Tier 4. That is how huge I feel the hole is between Dylan and everybody else.”
THE NEXT TIER
1:25
The performs that introduced V.J. Edgecombe to the 76ers
Take a look at among the high highlights from Baylor freshman V.J. Edgecombe as he is drafted third total by the 76ers.
The most important beneficiary of Bailey’s drop was Edgecombe. The Bahamas native confirmed off his spectacular athleticism all through his one season at Baylor, bettering his offensive consistency and playmaking because the season progressed. Now, he’ll have the prospect to hitch a proficient backcourt that includes Tyrese Maxey and Jared McCain.
“Till I noticed him in individual, I used to be important of him. ‘He is a lock to be a top-five man?'” one coach mentioned. “After which we performed him and he was simply relentless. His athleticism, his shot acquired so much higher because the season went on. Began getting extra constant from the perimeter.”
“He must be essentially the most athletic participant or prospect within the draft,” one other added. “He is a high-flyer, he performs greater than what he’s. He can defend 1 by way of 5, at the very least in school. He can in all probability do the identical as a result of the 5s are extra cell. Positional versatility, athleticism and simply the way in which he defends.”
The match alongside Maxey and McCain might be a priority, though a number of coaches mentioned there might have been questions on his offensive function no matter touchdown spot.
“Can he be a main man?” one Massive 12 coach requested. “He isn’t a man the place you’ll be able to put the ball in his fingers and say go get a bucket. He simply is not that. He is a slasher, a pick-and-roll man, nice in transition, offensive rebounding, does all of the little issues. But when there’s one unfavourable, it is simply how is he going to attain within the NBA.”
The second of three Duke gamers chosen within the high 10, Knueppel skyrocketed in mock drafts final fall and maintained that place all through the Blue Devils’ terrific season. Whereas taking part in second fiddle to Flagg, Knueppel averaged 14.4 factors and shot higher than 40% from 3-point vary — popping as a shotmaker late within the season and within the NCAA match. He was thought-about the perfect catch-and-shoot perimeter shooter within the draft. And he has a consolation stage with not being a crew’s main offensive choice, which might be interesting to Charlotte, the place he’ll play alongside LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller.
“He was such a difference-maker for Duke final season, being the Robin to Cooper Flagg’s Batman,” one coach mentioned. “When you may have a man able to dropping 30 in a recreation and is not the principle man on scouting experiences, that is harmful. The NBA loves guys that may make photographs, and if you are able to do that, you may be within the league for a very long time.”
Whereas Knueppel’s flooring seems excessive, making him a protected wager for the Hornets, he may not possess the ceiling of the opposite gamers on this tier, opposing coaches mentioned. The main focus for him shifting ahead will come on the different finish of the ground.
“Guys can get performed off the ground [in the NBA],” one coach mentioned. “Can Kon keep on the courtroom guarding in one-on-one conditions? He is acquired the scale and body, however does he have the footspeed? That is the one factor you do not get to see in opposition to Duke, with how a lot they masks issues, how a lot they’re serving to. They do not enable offensive groups plenty of area, so not often did he have to protect in area. He has to show he can do this.”
A 12 months in the past, it appeared that Bailey can be proper within the combine with Flagg and Harper on the high of the board. Bailey confirmed flashes of that means throughout his freshman season at Rutgers, however questions continued to pop up that precipitated a slight drop. He was listed at 6-foot-10 in school however measured at 6-7 1⁄2 on the mix. He was additionally the one U.S. prospect who did not go to an NBA crew facility throughout the predraft course of, canceling a scheduled one with the 76ers.
From an on-court perspective, coaches understandably liked his scoring means.
“He is versatile, he is acquired dimension, he is expert like an off-guard,” one Massive Ten coach mentioned. “He is the prototypical NBA wing. He is a very robust cowl. He can transfer. Not elite athleticism, however a great athlete. He can shoot over gamers and the power to make contested photographs provides worth.”
However will all of that translate? And what in regards to the different facets of his recreation?
“If you happen to’re [Kevin] Durant, positive, [relying on hard shots] can work,” one coach mentioned. “However he is 7-1. Ace is not going to be a stand-in-the-corner man.”
“The knock on him, whether or not it was in highschool or at Rutgers, is that he is disengaged defensively,” one other Massive Ten coach mentioned. “He would not have to change into an all-NBA defender. However you could get buy-in from him defensively.”
Johnson’s offensive means has saved him within the high half of the lottery dialog for a lot of the cycle. The previous top-five recruit averaged 19.9 factors and shot practically 40% from 3 throughout his lone season at Texas
Whereas he was the go-to man offensively for the Longhorns, most opposing coaches assume his finest function within the NBA — assuming he is not instantly Washington’s offensive focus — is as a microwave scorer off the bench or a specialist catch-and-shoot choice. The Wizards struggled mightily from the perimeter and simply traded Jordan Poole, making Johnson a simple match.
“He is a scoring guard, interval,” a coach mentioned. “He is probably the greatest shooters within the draft. He’ll must study that you simply needn’t dribble the ball eight occasions earlier than capturing, however he generally is a borderline All-Star due to how nicely he shoots the ball. He generally is a catch-and-shoot man and shoot 50%.”
The questions on Johnson focus on the remainder of his recreation and whether or not he’ll contribute sufficient in different sides to affect successful on the highest stage.
“He is an excellent particular person expertise,” one other coach added. “However should you’re not scoring, what different issues are you doing that assist successful? Inevitably the perfect gamers on the earth are going to have off nights.”
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Jeremiah Fears’ finest performs that led him to the Pelicans
Take a look at Jeremiah Fears’ high performs at Oklahoma because the Pelicans choose him with the seventh total decide.
The freshman out of Oklahoma was the largest riser of the previous 12 months — he wasn’t even on this draft class a 12 months in the past, however he opted to reclassify into 2024 and decide to Oklahoma, the place he emerged as one of the dynamic guards within the nation regardless of not turning 18 till October.
“He is wired to attain,” one coach mentioned. “I sort of examine him a bit of bit to [Nets guard] Cam Thomas. He is a greater playmaker than Thomas was popping out of school. He has the power to make reads, you’ll be able to double-team him or entice a ball display, however he’ll learn it completely, whereas different freshmen get rattled. He is a sneaky athlete, too.”
What’s going to decide his ceiling is perhaps his perimeter capturing. He shot 28.4% from 3 on the season, making solely 15 photographs from 3 in 18 SEC video games.
“He is streaky, not a constant shooter,” one opposing coach mentioned. “He has to proceed to construct up his body, however he is a younger child, solely 18 years outdated. As he matures bodily as he will get older, he’ll be capable of take a bit of bit larger command of the place, get into the paint, take care of physicality. “
MORE FIRST-ROUND STORYLINES
Egor Demin: Lottery’s largest riser
Had the draft taken place across the begin of final school basketball season, the previous BYU guard being chosen at No. 8 by the Brooklyn Nets would not have come as a shock. The Russia native slotted in at No. 7 in ESPN’s November mock draft after producing vital buzz following his arrival from Actual Madrid. However an uneven freshman season in Provo brought about his inventory to fluctuate, ending up at No. 13 in ESPN’s last predraft mock.
On Wednesday, nonetheless, Demin discovered his manner again into the highest 10.
Opposing coaches have been combined on his means to contribute instantly on the subsequent stage.
“He is large,” one Massive 12 coach mentioned. “Ball stress bothers him, he performs fairly upright, he is methodical. However he could make each learn on the market. … He is acquired a bit of little bit of a burst simply because he goes from sluggish to medium, it throws you off. He is throwing it excessive of guards. You possibly can say, ‘Oh, that is school,’ however he is taller than most guards within the NBA, too. His passing is elite. He is a greater shooter than his percentages. And I feel he’ll get higher with the area of the NBA.”
“I do not assume he shoots, I do not assume he actually defends,” one coach countered. “However individuals see an enormous guard who can go and it is form of intriguing.”
Demin was one among 5 first-round picks for the Nets, with three of them — Demin, Nolan Traore (No. 19) and Ben Saraf (No. 26) — possessing heavy worldwide expertise. It was an interesting haul, given all three have been projected within the lottery again in November. “[The Nets are] clearly dedicated to their worldwide scouting crew, taking three guys who have been worldwide gamers who most felt underachieved this 12 months,” one coach mentioned. “There was clearly a perception in who Demin was earlier than he got here [to the United States].”
After Flagg and Knueppel, there was a longer-than-expected wait to listen to Maluach’s title, however the Suns finally chosen him at No. 10. He did not have practically the school manufacturing of the opposite gamers drafted within the high 10, however his 7-2 dimension, 9-6 standing attain and 7-6 ¾ wingspan, mixed along with his defensive potential, are extremely intriguing to coaches.
“You possibly can throw him on the market and he is going to have the ability to affect the sport along with his dimension and shot-blocking, his defensive and offensive rebounding,” one opposing coach mentioned. “Within the NBA recreation, you must have a 5-man like that, however the younger ones, it is simply going to take him time. He does have some ability, he banged in a 3 early within the 12 months, he has the potential to step out and shoot 3s.”
One other opposing coach questioned how superior that ability stage actually is, and whether or not the perceived ceiling is definitely decrease in actuality.
“I feel he is a lob-catching huge. He is large, however I do not assume he is an unbelievable athlete,” the coach mentioned. “He isn’t Dereck Vigorous II, who was a unique kind of mover, completely different athlete, had extra ability. Maluach is just not pretty much as good in any of these classes. I do not assume he is acquired that very same ceiling.”
“He is nonetheless going to be a undertaking on the finish of the day,” one other coach mentioned.
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Khaman Maluach’s performs that led him to the Suns
Take a look at Khaman Maluach’s highlights from Duke that led him to the Phoenix Suns.
Phoenix will be capable of be affected person with Maluach, because the franchise additionally traded two first-rounders to Charlotte for veteran heart Mark Williams. However at No. 10, among the threat is mitigated.
“He is the kind of archetype that often goes up the board as time goes on,” one coach mentioned. “It stays to be seen whether or not the shot is one thing that is translatable. It would not look unhealthy mechanically, nevertheless it hasn’t gotten to the purpose the place he is taking them or making them with any actual consistency. However it would not shock me if that is one thing he was in a position to do over time.
“I just like the vertical risk he presents on the rim as a finisher, I really like his shot blocking, the defensive versatility that he has. He has to rebound the ball higher. However he is not somebody who’s going to return into the league and take his foot off the gasoline.”
Coward was among the many most fascinating storylines within the lead-up to the draft. Beginning his school profession on the Division III stage with Willamette College in Oregon, Coward was barely on NBA draft boards at the moment final 12 months, having completed up his second season at Japanese Washington within the Massive Sky Convention.
Coward transferred to Washington State, the place he performed simply six video games earlier than lacking the remainder of the season due to a shoulder harm. However after rising as one of many standouts from the mix, he cemented his standing as a top-20 decide and opted to stay within the draft as a substitute of taking part in his last school season at Duke, the place he dedicated out of the portal.
On Wednesday, he was chosen No. 11 by the Grizzlies, who traded as much as decide him.
“The factor that caught out to me with him was he acquired higher yearly,” one Massive Sky coach mentioned. “When he first got here in as a D-III switch, we did not actually know who he was. [He was] a thin child with size, creating his offensive recreation. He performed arduous as hell, impacted successful. He began to shoot the ball a bit of bit higher, to the purpose now the place he shot it rather well within the brief span final 12 months. He saved including to his recreation. Little bit extra polished, little bit extra refined, little bit smoother each time we performed him.”
Surrounded by Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr., Coward is not going to be requested to shoulder large offensive duty early on, however opposing coaches assume he’ll don’t have any downside being a high-end function participant within the NBA.
“He has the power to shoot, legitimately catch-and-shoot,” one coach mentioned. “He is acquired the in-between recreation, he killed us within the publish. He can play with a face-up recreation. He is a fairly good defender. Blocked a ton of photographs. He does a lot to affect successful. He would not have to be a man who carries the load offensively, and I do not know if he ever will likely be.”
The large query: Was No. 11 too excessive for a participant who began simply eight profession video games in opposition to power-conference opponents?
“Seeing him this 12 months, he regarded like a professional. He took an enormous leap bodily,” mentioned one coach, who added that Coward’s highest-end ceiling shares plenty of the identical traits as Kawhi Leonard. “He is going that can assist you win in some capability. He can do so much to essentially affect the sport, whether or not it is off the bench or if he develops right into a starting-caliber participant. He is a man you are going to wager on.”
Carter Bryant: Most unproven lottery decide
When the 2024-25 school basketball season ended, Bryant appeared like he might go both manner along with his draft determination. He began simply 5 video games as a freshman at Arizona, scoring in double-figures only a handful of occasions.
Because the spring went on, although, it grew to become clear Bryant wasn’t going again to varsity. His inventory steadily rose, from a lock first-rounder into the highest 20 and finally to No. 14 with the Spurs.
At 6-6 ½ with out footwear, Bryant shot practically 39% from 3-point vary in Massive 12 play, making a number of 3-pointers in a recreation 9 occasions after the calendar turned to 2025.
“He is acquired the positional dimension, the athleticism, the capturing, the defensive versatility, with potential to get higher,” one Massive 12 coach mentioned. “In small doses, he confirmed some issues offensively, that possibly he generally is a little little bit of a playmaker, he could make some passes. It wasn’t showcased a ton, however he did it sufficient. Whether or not it was guarded or unguarded, he is in a position to get his shot off. He has room to develop in that space, he must proceed to hurry up his shot, however the NBA loves huge wings that may shoot it.”
The Spurs must be affected person, although, as he is solely proven his means in flashes.
1:43
The performs Carter Bryant is bringing to the Spurs
Take a look at a few of Carter Bryant’s high highlights from his time at Arizona that led to the Spurs drafting him within the first spherical.
Veterans change into greater first-round precedence
Whereas the highest half of the primary spherical was predictably full of freshmen — the primary eight picks have been all first-year school gamers, and 18 freshmen have been chosen within the first spherical — the development of older gamers being drafted earlier continued this 12 months.
Coward, Walter Clayton Jr., Nique Clifford, Danny Wolf and Yanic Konan Niederhauser all transferred at the very least as soon as and performed at the very least three years in school, with Clifford, Clayton and Niederhauser all at the very least 22. And older school gamers Ryan Kalkbrenner (No. 34), Johni Broome (No. 35) and Chaz Lanier (No. 37) have been picked pretty early within the second spherical.
The development actually took form final 12 months, when Zach Edey, Devin Carter, Dalton Knecht, Dillon Jones, Baylor Scheierman and Terrence Shannon Jr. have been chosen within the first spherical.
Why is that this occurring? It is primarily associated to the elevated cash out there to student-athletes on the school stage, permitting extra gamers to remain in school, whereas the elevated prevalence of the switch portal has allowed mid-major stars to shine at greater ranges and improve their draft inventory.
“Financially, they’re rewarded to remain. It permits them to be a bit of extra prepared and polished for the following stage,” one coach mentioned. “The high-end guys, the lottery guys, you are drafting on upside. But when I am a playoff crew, a play-in crew and nonetheless rising, getting an older, mature man that might help you in a job, that is a wise wager. You are still getting a man within the prime of his profession. You get extra bang on your buck in 12 months 1 or 2, possibly not 12 months 6 or 7.”
This is perhaps one of many last years of the development, nonetheless. An extended listing of borderline first-round picks opted to return to varsity on the withdrawal deadline this spring, together with Michigan’s Yaxel Lendeborg, Florida’s Alex Condon, Auburn’s Tahaad Pettiford, Alabama’s Labaron Philon and NC State’s Darrion Williams. Duke’s Isaiah Evans, Texas Tech’s JT Toppin and UConn’s Alex Karaban did not even undergo the draft course of.
All of those gamers — and plenty of others — have been compensated handsomely for his or her choices to remain at school, however with the Home vs. NCAA settlement and wage caps doubtlessly impacting gamers’ earnings potential within the new revenue-sharing period, will the cash to return to varsity be sufficient to maintain gamers out of the draft sooner or later?
“I feel it will flip again the opposite manner with rev share,” one high-major coach mentioned. “You take a look at the rev share numbers, plenty of SEC faculties are placing most of their cash into soccer. Their rev share numbers are between $2 [million] to $3 million. This 12 months, we had collectives, a few of these groups had $10 [million] to $12 million. We had a pair on our crew that got here again as a result of they are going to earn more money right here than going within the second spherical. However with these numbers happening, these potential first-rounders or high-second rounders, I can see them going to the league as a substitute.”
“I feel this will likely be one of many final years of it,” one other coach added. “There are plenty of actually good gamers staying in school due to NIL. As soon as income share kicks into impact and the NIL market will get some stability, you are going to see much more of those fringe first-rounders keep within the draft. It was the place should you have been high 40, 90% of these guys have been staying within the draft. Now it is shifted to the place you could be a top-20 participant to remain in.”
One byproduct of all of the aforementioned gamers staying in school versus getting into the draft was the dearth of surefire hits within the second spherical. A coach identified that 14 second-round picks final 12 months acquired assured offers, with solely two of the primary 47 picks touchdown two-way offers.
Which may not be the case this 12 months.
“It is one of many worst second rounds of all time. An enormous a part of that’s due to NIL,” the coach mentioned. “Undergo all the fellows that might’ve been late first, early second, it could’ve actually moved issues. It wasn’t a powerful draft to start with, however with all these guys going again, after No. 35 or so, I do not know if I’d give [many] of those guys a assured deal.”
OTHER NOTABLE FIRST-ROUNDERS
First non-freshmen picked: Murray-Boyles has a really distinctive profile. He measured at simply 6-6 ½ with out footwear, however he did practically all of his offensive injury across the basket. He tried simply 39 3-pointers throughout his 60 video games with South Carolina however was dominant within the paint.
Murray-Boyles was in a position to overcome his dimension points in school, making an affect defensively and along with his passing, however he’ll must broaden his ability set on the subsequent stage.
“He is acquired form of a singular recreation, and the NBA falls in love with guys who’ve a bit of little bit of plenty of issues,” one coach mentioned. “He is a man who has an opportunity to be an excellent defender. He would not have nice peak, however he has good dimension when it comes to measurements and energy. He can perform a little little bit of all the pieces, he can go, he can rebound, he is not an excellent shooter at this level. I feel he is a great participant, however I feel he is a mix participant. I do not assume, individually, he is acquired unbelievable expertise the place he is bringing one thing to the desk instantly. If he is on a great crew, he might help it perform. However I do not know if Toronto is that.”
1:57
Collin Murray-Boyles’ finest performs that led him to be drafted by the Raptors
Take a look at a few of Collin Murray-Boyles’ finest moments from South Carolina because the Raptors take him with the tenth decide.
Blended opinions: Coaches have been cut up on this trio of Massive Ten picks.
Maryland’s Queen established himself as one of the expert bigs in school basketball final season, highlighted by his buzzer-beater to knock off Colorado State within the second spherical of the NCAA match. However there are questions on his maturity, and his lack of athleticism might cap his perceived upside.
“He is so expert,” one Massive Ten coach mentioned. “I really like his passing means. You watch him on movie, you assume he is not athletic. However in individual, it would not matter. If he is in a position to develop a motor, I actually assume he is acquired an opportunity to be one hell of an NBA participant.”
Michigan State’s Richardson noticed his inventory fluctuate all through the previous few months, rising into the primary spherical and ultimately the lottery after Tom Izzo moved him from the bench into the beginning lineup in early February. However after measuring at simply over 6 ft with out footwear on the mix, Richardson’s spot in mocks dropped into the 20s — and he finally did not obtain an invitation to the inexperienced room.
Orlando purchased the dip and chosen him at No. 25.
“I like Jase Richardson. He can be a nightmare to teach in opposition to in school subsequent 12 months, however I do not see it [in the NBA],” one Massive Ten coach mentioned. “He is a 6-foot guard whose main ability is scoring — not capturing, however scoring. He isn’t an excellent defender, not a brilliant dynamic playmaker for others. He is acquired below-average dimension. So is he Trae Younger? Is he T.J. McConnell? Is he Davion Mitchell?”
Michigan’s Wolf had one of many extra fascinating roles within the Massive Ten final season, with Dusty Might utilizing the 6-11 Yale switch as a playmaker with the ball in his fingers due to his decision-making out of ball screens and passing means. However there are questions on the way it will translate to the following stage.
“He can play in pick-and-roll, as an enormous man he could make unimaginable passes,” one coach mentioned. “However he is a high-turnover man. Along with his function within the NBA, you are not going to have the ability to make an unimaginable go after which two unhealthy passes. An NBA crew is just not going to let him simply roll by way of his turnovers.”
“A part of his magnificence is that he can accomplish that many issues, however none of it he is glorious at,” one other added. “Will a crew attempt to make him elite at one thing, or are they OK with the buffet?”
NCAA match affect: Clayton’s rise to No. 18 on the heels of an unimaginable NCAA match run was highlighted by one coach. Clayton was unbelievable throughout Florida’s march to a nationwide championship, averaging 24.6 factors within the Gators’ first 5 match video games, together with 34 factors within the Last 4 in opposition to Auburn and 30 factors in opposition to Texas Tech.
“He is an excellent instance of what successful does for a participant’s inventory,” the coach mentioned. “He went from a mid-to-late second-round decide to a late first-round decide. Florida happening a run, him with the ability to be on that platform and showcase his skills. That proper there made the child tens of millions and tens of millions of {dollars}.”
Greatest slides of opening evening: Illinois’ Jakucionis was ranked No. 10 on Jonathan Givony’s Massive Board and projected at No. 11 in ESPN’s last predraft mock, whereas UConn’s McNeeley was No. 17 on Givony’s board and mocked at No. 20, every falling notably under their evaluations. A number of coaches thought the 2 might be large values for the groups that landed them.
Jakucionis regarded like a reliable All-American in nonconference play, averaging 16.4 factors, 5.6 rebounds and 5.4 assists by way of 14 video games, headlined by a stretch of 20-point outings in opposition to Arkansas, Northwestern, Wisconsin, Tennessee and Missouri.
Whereas one Massive Ten coach agreed this touchdown spot was good worth for the Warmth and a doubtlessly good match for Jakucionis, alongside Tyler Herro within the backcourt, he additionally understood the slide.
“He is a three-level scorer,” the coach mentioned. “He performed with an excellent change of tempo. Because the season went on and as groups scouted him, he sort of got here again right down to earth. However he performs with a toughness. He isn’t an elite athlete. His stats tailed off the second half of Massive Ten play, and he is somebody you might go at and isolate on protection.”
1:43
Why the Warmth like Kasparas Jakucionis
Take a look at some highlights from Kasparas Jakucionis as he heads to the Miami Warmth.
McNeeley was a five-star recruit popping out of highschool however was hampered by an harm throughout the center a part of his freshman marketing campaign in Storrs. He is a shotmaker with dimension and had among the finest particular person performances of any freshman final season: 26 factors and eight rebounds in opposition to Gonzaga, plus 38 factors and 10 rebounds in opposition to Creighton.
One Massive East coach thought McNeeley’s ankle harm that brought about him to overlook eight video games throughout convention play impacted his effectivity and effectiveness at each ends of the ground, which could have contributed to his slide.
“I do not assume he is the Twenty ninth-best participant within the draft,” he mentioned. “He is 6-8 and he is a a lot better shooter than his percentages recommend. He is actually aggressive. I feel he is a bit of bit higher [overall] basketball participant than he will get credit score for, when it comes to his means to drive the ball and go the ball.”
Shock decide: The North Carolina wing was one thing of a shock at No. 22, with the Nets utilizing their third first-round choice on the previous five-star recruit. He had an inconsistent function as a freshman for the Tar Heels with 7.4 factors per recreation however examined as arguably the perfect athlete on the mix, pacing the participant pool in each max vertical leap and standing vertical leap.
Can he assist Brooklyn instantly? Opposing coaches have questions.
“He matches the prototype of that 3-and-D man, however is he actually ok at both of these to truly match that profile?” one ACC coach requested.
“Numerous what individuals considered Powell dates again to among the enthusiasm on the finish of his highschool profession, when individuals noticed a man who wasn’t a great shooter however had dimension and flexibility. Good passer, some really feel, good athlete, possibly the potential to be an enormous level guard,” one coach added. “After which he will get to North Carolina, and he turns into a full-time wing participant with actual limitations offensively.”
Made the minimize: The Penn State huge man capped his meteoric rise by seeing his title taken with the final decide of the primary spherical.
Niederhauser raised his inventory as a lot as anybody throughout the predraft course of, working his manner from averaging 12.9 factors final season for the Nittany Lions to the G League Elite camp after which incomes an invitation to the NBA draft mix. Bear in mind, this can be a participant who averaged 7.3 factors at Northern Illinois simply two seasons in the past.
“He is simply scratching the floor. He is any individual that may be like a Dereck Vigorous kind within the NBA,” one coach mentioned. “I feel if he got here again to varsity, he would’ve been a lottery decide subsequent 12 months.”
SECOND-ROUND NOTES
Auburn’s Broome, Stanford’s Raynaud, West Virginia’s Small and Wisconsin’s Tonje stood out to coaches as values. Two identified that the hole between Broome — a consensus first-team All-American and the perceived runner-up to Flagg for Participant of the 12 months honors — and first-round huge males equivalent to Murray-Boyles should not have been that vast.
“He is a participant that’s restricted athletically. There’s in all probability extra issues individuals can say about him, age, all these items,” one coach mentioned. “However he acquired Participant of the 12 months in the perfect league within the nation, he went to the Last 4. A few of that has to have some substance on the subsequent stage. He did all the pieces that everybody requested. And he produced each evening. What else is he presupposed to do? He had a historic 12 months in a convention that was traditionally probably the greatest ever.”
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What the 76ers are getting in Johni Broome
Take a look at a few of Johni Broome’s high moments as he’s drafted by the 76ers with the thirty fifth decide within the NBA draft.
Raynaud was additionally one of the productive gamers in school basketball final season, averaging 20.2 factors and 10.6 rebounds whereas capturing practically 35% from 3 at 7-foot-1.
“I like Raynaud. He is huge and might shoot. He can decide and pop. He rebounds,” one coach mentioned. “What can he do defensively? He isn’t switchable, he is not a rim protector, so what does that appear to be? However offensively he’ll be capable of play. He is a plug-and-play function participant.”
Of the group, Tonje had essentially the most circuitous path to the draft. He spent 4 years at Colorado State, performed sparingly at Missouri earlier than struggling an harm, then transferred once more to Wisconsin, the place he emerged as a consensus first-team All-Massive Ten choice.
“His shotmaking is actual,” a Massive Ten coach mentioned. “I do not know why individuals do not like him.”
Lastly, one coach in contrast Small to former Houston guard Jamal Shead, who made an affect at each ends of the ground for the Raptors in a key bench function as a rookie.
“He is the consummate backup NBA level guard,” the coach mentioned. “Expertise, dimension, shotmaking means. Choose-and-roll passer. He needs to be a greater defender, however he is a great rebounder for a guard.”
Two ACC wings, James from Duke and Watkins from Florida State, drew reward as second-round picks.
“James’ physicality is on one other stage,” one coach mentioned. “He will have the defensive half. He can go play defensively in a playoff recreation proper now. He can guard completely different guys, he can swap. Is he going to be a ok shooter to hold within the nook and make sufficient 3s the place guys have to protect him?”
“I like Jamir Watkins,” an ACC coach mentioned. “He is huge, he can guard a number of positions, he could make some performs. I feel he is a ok shooter, some individuals do not belief the capturing. However watch the playoffs. He matches that prototype of a future function participant. He’ll be capable of swap 1 by way of 4 and maintain his personal. I feel he can match that 3-and-D profile higher than, like, Will Riley and Drake Powell.”
