Big Board 1.0, Part 1: My Top 25 Prospects for the 2025 NBA Draft
An exciting draft class filled with elite talent, early debates for No. 1, and unique evaluation challenges
As college basketball season tips off today, I’m excited to debut my Big Board 1.0 for the 2024-25 season. Unlike the past few seasons—where top picks played outside the NCAA spotlight—this class has a strong lineup of American prospects playing college basketball, joined by a talented group of international prospects competing in the NCAA for the first time. Additionally, there are still high-level international players performing overseas, from Europe to Australia, adding to the depth and intrigue of this draft pool.
This year’s class reintroduces the thrilling possibility of a No. 1 pick debate among college players—something we haven’t seen since the Banchero-Holmgren-Smith race in 2022.
While most scouts currently see Cooper Flagg as the top choice, others believe Ace Bailey may have the highest long-term potential in this group. It’s a class filled with talent at the top, with multiple prospects who could project as tier one, potential superstar players—a stark contrast from the 2024 draft, which many scouts considered a weaker class without a clear-cut franchise talent.
While this class is deep in talent, it presents unique evaluation challenges. Several first-round-caliber prospects could find themselves limited by stacked rosters and veteran depth, a scenario common in overseas but now also affecting some college players.
Many of these prospects are on loaded teams with fourth- and fifth-year seniors who are more prepared to contribute immediately, even if they don’t carry the same NBA potential.
To clarify, this Big Board is not a mock draft predicting team selections—that will come later with my 2025 mock draft. Instead, this is a ranking based on my personal scouting reports and assessments, reflecting each prospect's projected NBA potential. With such a strong class and a season full of high-stakes games ahead, college basketball fans and NBA scouts alike have plenty to look forward to this year.
This is just the first edition: Big Board 1.0.
Future editions will track changes in draft stock among top prospects as the season unfolds, incorporating insights from NBA sources.
Stay tuned—these are just the top 25 prospects. Prospects 26 through 50 will be posted later this week.
1. Cooper Flagg
Duke
Freshman
Combo Forward
6’9” | 205
Age on draft night: 18.5
Flagg is the clear frontrunner to be the first player to shake Adam Silver’s hand on draft night in June 2025, and it’s easy to see why. The excitement surrounding him is enormous, not just because of his talent but also due to the fact that, after two straight years of No. 1 overall picks coming from overseas—Victor Wembanyama and Zaccharie Risacher—Flagg will be playing under the bright spotlights of college basketball.
He’ll take the floor for Duke, one of the most iconic programs in basketball history, where national TV games and March Madness pressure will only add more intrigue to his already compelling journey.
Listed at 6'9", Flagg combines skill, versatility, and explosive highlight-reel athleticism, already making him a social media sensation. His game is set to fill arenas in a way reminiscent of Zion Williamson’s impact during his 2019 season at Duke. Offensively, Flagg is tough to define by a traditional position—he’s equally effective as a play finisher, spot-up shooter, or connector/playmaker. His ability to impact the game in multiple roles makes him one of the most dynamic prospects in recent memory.
What truly separates Flagg is his motor. His relentless energy impacts every facet of the game—he can easily score 10 to 12 points a night purely off hustle plays, be it put-backs, running the floor, or crashing the offensive glass.
Defensively, he’s in a class of his own for a high school prospect. Flagg’s shot-blocking instincts and timing are elite, and his presence changes the geometry of the court, deterring opponents from even considering challenging him at the rim. Scouts saw flashes of this in July during his run with the USA Select Team, where Flagg held his own against NBA talent, showcasing the defensive chops that will immediately translate to the next level.
The biggest questions I have for Flagg in 2024-25
Can he carry an offense?
While Flagg’s defensive floor is extraordinarily high, the 2024-25 season at Duke could be pivotal in determining what kind of offensive player he can become. Right now, he projects as an elite play finisher and connector, but can he develop into a legitimate No. 1 option for an NBA offense? Flagg has shown flashes of improved shooting, especially from deep, including hitting threes on the move. His mechanics look more refined than they did a year and a half ago, but I want to see if he can sustain that over the course of a college season.
The key question for me is whether Flagg can be a primary creator or if he’s better suited as a secondary offensive option, someone who can carry stretches but needs to be paired with a more dynamic scorer or closer in the long run. If he continues to refine his handle and shooting, there’s a pathway to him becoming a focal point. That said, right now I’m leaning toward him being a great No. 2 option—someone who can thrive in a playoff setting but will need a co-star to close games. This year will help answer those questions.
2. Ace Bailey
Rutgers
Freshman
Wing
6’10” | 200
Age on draft night: 18.8
Bailey has a legitimate shot at being the top pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, thanks to his combination of physical tools, competitive fire, and offensive firepower. Listed at 6'10" on the Rutgers team site, Bailey possesses guard-like ball-handling skills and dynamic three-level scoring potential, making him a prime candidate to evolve into a No. 1 scoring option at the next level. He’s already shown the capability to finish efficiently in the paint, knock down pull-up jumpers, and stretch defenses with his range from beyond the arc.