March Insanity is the primary time a giant part of NBA followers verify in on the highest prospects in faculty basketball. This can be a good yr to do it: 19 of the 30 first-round picks in our final mock draft made the 2025 males’s NCAA event, and a bunch of them are nonetheless taking part in as the sector trims within the second weekend.
The Duke Blue Devils are rolling behind their three lottery picks, led by the clear No. 1 general decide Cooper Flagg. Flagg’s former highschool teammate Derik Queen hit the defining shot of the event up to now to raise Maryland to a spherical of 32 win over Colorado State on the buzzer. Even BYU’s Egor Demin has been taking part in 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 in opposition to 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 faculty basketball regardless of being the youngest draft-eligible participant within the sport, which is the idea of his case as one of the best American-born basketball prospect since LeBron James. Flagg has best positional dimension for a 4 (6’9, 7-foot wingspan), top-tier athleticism, an superior motor, and a burgeoning offensive ability set. Flagg was broadly 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 competition in a single yr or much less.
2. Washington Wizards – Dylan Harper, G, Rutgers
Each group within the NBA is on the lookout for jumbo guard to behave as their main creator, and Harper is one of the best guess 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 % on the rim with solely 17.6 % 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 %), however his shot mechanics ought to give groups confidence he’ll shoot it higher within the professionals. There are many No. 2 general picks lately who’ve been a little bit of a disappointment, however Harper’s archetype and ability set make him a stable guess 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 pace and leaping. Edgecombe’s aerial hang-time is one thing to behold when attacking the basket, however his athleticism additionally reveals up in his means to drive turnovers on protection. His spot-up three-point shot appears good, too, after hitting 36.7 % of his triples on 120 makes an attempt over the past 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 sort of comparability, and has an extended method to go together with his consciousness and really feel for the sport earlier than he’s even a high 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 trying good as a spot-up three-point shooter (34.6 % 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 a brilliant 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 in opposition to Colorado State, NBA evaluators must ask if he’s price taking within the top-5. Queen lacks best 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 similar time, specializing in what Queen doesn’t do detracts from the various abilities he brings to the desk. It’s uncommon to discover a large man this comfy 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 means to go together with terrific instincts to generate fouls and compromise the opposing protection. Philadelphia could be in an enchanting place to take him given Joel Embiid’s damage bother, probably giving them a participant who might who might act as an offense hub whereas Embiid is out and restrict his minutes in an try to lengthen 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 great: Fears is the second youngest American participant on this draft with an Oct. 2006 birthday, and he simply went by the SEC gauntlet with the best utilization on this class (32 %) and nonetheless took Oklahoma to the NCAA event. He’s already a sophisticated ball handler who makes use of his mixture of pace and alter of path to separate from defenders. On the flip aspect, Fears was horrible each as a rim finisher (53 %), three-point shooter (28.3 %), and he’s not a pure playmaker. Fears wants a whole lot of bodily improvement and fine-tuning to his ability set, however he has the look of a high-ceiling creator should you imagine in his expertise.
7. Toronto Raptors – Khaman Maluach, C, Duke
Maluach didn’t begin taking part in basketball till he was 13 years outdated, 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 needs to be impactful defensively on dimension alone even when he’s nonetheless studying about positioning and could be a little bit of a gradual leaper getting off the bottom. His offense is much more thrilling: Maluach is an exceptional rim finisher who will probably be an enormous lob goal and putback menace on the offensive glass. He has two abilities that would take his potential to the stratosphere: he’s fast laterally on protection, and he’s comfy taking pictures threes even when Duke not often 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 needs to 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 taking part in within the SEC, one of the best convention in America. Johnson shot 39.7 % from from three on a high-volume of makes an attempt (224), which is much more spectacular contemplating he was the No. 1 identify on each opposing scouting report. Johnson can get tunnel imaginative and prescient at instances and doesn’t often fill the field rating in different classes, however he’s respectable sufficient as a passer and on-ball defender to make him greater than a specialist. Johnson typically reveals an intense on-court mentality that ought to make him an ideal slot in Warmth Tradition taking part in off Tyler Herro.
9. Chicago Bulls – Collin Murray-Boyles, F/C, South Carolina
Murray-Boyles was a sophisticated stats marvel throughout his sophomore season regardless of taking part in on a horrible South Carolina group as a 6’7 large man with no dependable leap shot. Murray-Boyles’ NBA translation will probably be an enchanting 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 among the best possible defensive prospects on this class, exhibiting elite instincts as an off-ball defender with some means to wall up on the rim. On offense, he needs to be an excellent short-roll passer and hub in dribble-handoffs whereas additionally having a stable deal with and of completion 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 glorious protection and sufficient offensive abilities to present him optimistic 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 verify 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 go the attention take a look at as an NBA prospect with out plus size or explosion, however he’s a sensible and expert participant who’s at all times underneath management. His 39.3 % three-point stroke and 90 % mark from the free throw line offers him a case as one of the best shooter on this class, and he’s actually not small at 6’7, 220 kilos. Knueppel’s athletic limitations might hinder him on the subsequent degree, 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 group.
11. Portland Path Blazers – Noa Essengue, F, Ulm
Essengue is a brilliant 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 % 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 impression 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 received his first begin and instantly turned the group’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 sensible and expert participant who persistently makes a huge impact on profitable. Richardson is a lethal shooter (40 % from three) who has a sixth sense for the right way to discover open pockets of area for his jumpers off the ball. He can change instructions on a dime off the dribble, and reveals good of completion in shut. Richardson’s dimension will probably be a serious query mark: he’s listed at 6’3 however that appears beneficiant. He’s performed with a smaller utilization charge this yr which might increase some questions on how excessive his ceiling actually is. His damage historical past can be a bit scary. Nonetheless, Richardson not often makes errors with the ball and his taking pictures will play wherever. He’s price a lottery decide, and deserves appears 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 large passing imaginative and prescient, a robust 6’5 body, and a go-to scoring transfer together with his step-back three-pointer. The largest 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 pace to get previous defenders. That often received 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 faculty ball, however the finish of his freshman season was a bit sobering for evaluators. It feels just like the Rockets have considered one of each sort 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 great 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 flexibility to knock down spot-up threes (37.4 % on 99 makes an attempt) and end successfully on the rim. Bryant’s offense is proscribed by his lack of ball dealing with means and passing imaginative and prescient, however his robust defensive projection will maintain him on the ground. Bryant has posted monster block charge (six %) and steal charge (2.7 %) numbers this yr 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 important 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 yr taking part in in a excessive utilization position in opposition to professional competitors within the prime French league. Traore’s leap shot is a giant subject, with a 27 % three-point stroke limiting his scoring effectivity to only 50 % true taking pictures. What’s extra encouraging is that Traore has shouldered a giant 30 % utilization charge whereas exhibiting off nice playmaking imaginative and prescient with a 42.5 % help charge. Simply what the Magic want, one other non-shooter! Effectively, Orlando needs to be on the lookout 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 degree — and he has a projectable three-point shot, too. Will probably be attention-grabbing 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 yr to assist him end 73 % of his appears 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 % clip. One subject with Newell is he simply doesn’t go the ball or see the ground nicely in any respect. One other is that he’s slightly quick for a middle. Newell’s measurements will probably be necessary through the course of, however his leaping and power to complete inside and clear the glass has enchantment both approach.
17. Minnesota Timberwolves – Nique Clifford, F, Colorado State
Clifford will probably be 24 years outdated as a rookie after 5 seasons in faculty, however age didn’t cease the Timberwolves from drafting Terrence Shannon final yr. 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 % on 175 makes an attempt) and confirmed off extra creation means than ever earlier than with Isaiah Stevens now not round at Colorado State. Clifford is true late bloomer together with his offensive improvement over the past two years, and it might 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 won’t have the flashiest ability set, however the issues Sorber does nicely usually 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 bettering 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 can compete on the subsequent degree. Penda will not be an elite athlete or an important shooter (30.6 % 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 seemed like a possible top-5 decide when he was taking part in a cupcake schedule early within the season, however his flaws had been uncovered in opposition to higher competitors. Nonetheless, there’s cause 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 lots, is a shaky shooter (28 % from deep), and badly wants so as to add power to his body to outlive defensively. A group just like the Thunder that would permit him to slowly develop for just a few years with out a whole lot of early on-ball reps may be a great 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 damage. The junior has an important body at 6’7 with a 7-foot wingspan and loads of pace, 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 efficient 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 ability, however he’s a well-rounded and productive freshman guard taking part in a key position for an Alabama group 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 might actually use a dependable three-point shot, however he nonetheless checks sufficient packing containers as a complementary guard to attract first spherical appears.
23. Atlanta Hawks – Will Riley, G, Illinois
Riley suits 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 yr, however when he was on he offered on the spot offense together with his perimeter scoring. Riley is extra of a shot-maker than a pure shooter at this level, hitting solely 32 % of his threes however exhibiting good versatility in how he received them off. He can fall in love together with his jumper a bit at this stage, however his ending numbers had been nonetheless stable and may solely get higher as he will get stronger. The actual subject for Riley proper now’s his protection, which has an extended method to go earlier than he’s playable on the NBA degree. 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 giant 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 nicely this yr by making 39 % 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 talent 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 needs to be one of many premier shooters on this draft class, however in some way he solely hit 31.7 % 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 %) over faculty shot-blockers. Nonetheless, McNeeley has stable positional dimension (6’7) and strikes nicely 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 in all probability go a lot greater than this given the NBA’s reported fascinated about 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 defend 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 yr at Michigan. Wolf is a real unique as a beefy 7-foot level guard who desires to run pick-and-roll with the ball in his fingers. Is any group going to let him have that position within the NBA? Wolf strikes nicely sufficient defensively to carry his personal on that finish, which is able to put further strain on his taking pictures improvement. If his shot turns into a weapon, he could possibly be an excellent connective piece.
28. Boston Celtics – Alex Condon, C, Florida
Condon may have an enchanting stay-or-go faculty resolution following his breakout sophomore season at Florida. The 6’11 Australian runs the ground nicely in transition, flashes some tantalizing passing means, and has proven the flexibility to hit some threes. On the flip aspect, Condon isn’t a robust inside finisher, he’s a 60 % 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 yr, and displayed a brand new degree 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 flexibility 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 faculty 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 gradual 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.