2025 NBA DRAFT PROSPECTS

[God Squad]

Haven't watched this Michigan-Oklahoma game super closely, but the 2 things that jump out to me on Fears:

-Very smooth offensive guard, really does look like a modern starting (scoring) NBA PG and okay as a passer
-Not a tough defender. Isn't competing that hard and the opposing PG Donaldson is having a much better game than he had against Boogie Fland.

Edit: He hit a 4 point off the dribble 3 to win the game.

So as you know I'm a Fears fan. What did you think? I have him top 5-7, maybe higher tbh.

[Psubs]

Haven't watched this Michigan-Oklahoma game super closely, but the 2 things that jump out to me on Fears:

-Very smooth offensive guard, really does look like a modern starting (scoring) NBA PG and okay as a passer
-Not a tough defender. Isn't competing that hard and the opposing PG Donaldson is having a much better game than he had against Boogie Fland.

Edit: He hit a 4 point off the dribble 3 to win the game.

So as you know I'm a Fears fan. What did you think? I have him top 5-7, maybe higher tbh.

Oh, would a good comp be Kobe Bufkin, but ahead 1 year in development so compare to his sophomore final season?

6'4 195 lbs, 48/35/84, 14 pts, 4.5 rebs, 2.9 asts, A/T = 1.5

[God Squad]

Fears Dick backcourt?

The defense would be wonky, but I like it. Movement shooting, or shooting in general would be crazy. Fears is elite when getting into the paint. But then again, I also like Tre Johnson as a pure scorer. We desperately need another pick, and I don't know how we could.

[God Squad]

Haven't watched this Michigan-Oklahoma game super closely, but the 2 things that jump out to me on Fears:

-Very smooth offensive guard, really does look like a modern starting (scoring) NBA PG and okay as a passer
-Not a tough defender. Isn't competing that hard and the opposing PG Donaldson is having a much better game than he had against Boogie Fland.

Edit: He hit a 4 point off the dribble 3 to win the game.

So as you know I'm a Fears fan. What did you think? I have him top 5-7, maybe higher tbh.

Oh, would a good comp be Kobe Bufkin, but ahead 1 year in development so compare to his sophomore final season?

6'4 195 lbs, 48/35/84, 14 pts, 4.5 rebs, 2.9 asts, A/T = 1.5

Raw numbers look similar, but advanced stats still favor Fears largely (for now). When I say advanced stats I particularly look at BPM, DBPM and OBPM. So far it hasn't let me down. It'll never tell you who's gonna be an NBA star, but it helps weed out the bad players IMO.

Bufkin
https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/kobe-bufkin-1.html

Fears
https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/jeremiah-fears-1.html

[XTC]

Great year to be picking top 10. Lots of prospects to like.

Flagg, Harper, Johnson, Bailey, Jokucionis, Demin, Malauch, Fears, etc...

This draft is stacked.

[Psubs]

Watch on YouTube

I guess he has potential to be like Steph Curry with regular 3pt shooting.

[Son Goku 25]

Im still liking Queen if he can grow another inch somehow. We really do need another first round pick and need to hit on these picks.

I think Queen can be that stretch big that can score inside out and has good instincts in passing and high IQ defender and overall player. Well still need that go to scorer though and wing defender.

[Raptorfan2012]

Im still liking Queen if he can grow another inch somehow. We really do need another first round pick and need to hit on these picks.

I think Queen can be that stretch big that can score inside out and has good instincts in passing and high IQ defender and overall player. Well still need that go to scorer though and wing defender.

Queen looks like around 6'10; slightly bigger than Scottie. He will be fine even if he remains his current height. Big strong teenager (though he is turning 20 next week). I like his toolbox so far. I really hope we do get a big wing or a big C this draft; I think we are okay with guard for now (though if we get Dylan or Tre Johnson, I'm good too).

[ATLTimekeeper]

I'm the exact opposite camp of high school translates with the exception of outside shooting since there's a lot of variance in 3pt shooting a top hs 3pt shooter who struggles a bit as a freshman you can expect them to bounce back.

Ceteris Paribus I would take the lower ranked high school recruit with the same stats/ everything as the top recruit since they've shown either more growth to their game or that their game translates better against tougher competition.

The Ignite basically folded because of high school top prospects repeatedly underwhelming in the NBA.

But let's go with (subjective) top 20 players (at any time in their career) in the NBA and top 10 RSCI rankings. Since 2004, I have:

Dwight Howard (1st)
Kevin Durant (2nd)
Rose (5th)
Love (2nd)
John Wall (2nd)
Kyrie (2nd)
AD (1st)
KAT (5th)
Brown (3rd)
Tatum (3rd)
Zion (4th)
Ant (4th)
Banchero (3rd)

I have, subjectively, 13 players. I know some would open it up and add some more and the later drafts are more tbd in terms of impact (Scottie could make the list down the road, for example). Let's add 7 more from the later years to be generous.

EDIT: So in 20 RSCI rankings, 200 players, we have 20 players that can be top 20 at any given time. Then start to consider the statistical production that most of these players had in the NCAA. That's why I think Ace has to really turn it up in order to earn his current ranking.

Prior to playing their freshman year,

2023
1. Isaiah Collier
2. Ron Holland

2022
1.Nick Smith
2. Dariq Whitehead

2021
4. JJ Hardy
5. Emoni Bates

2020
5. Brandon Boston

The early season arguments tend to be the same. People that followed these players early on are more likely to remain invested.

I extended it out to the top 20 RSCI and only caught Harden, Embiid, Griffin and Brunson.

So basically 1 out of the top 10 will become a top 20 NBA player at some point.

This year's top 10 is

Flagg
Ace
Harper
Edgecombe
Johnson
Jackson
Bathea
Quaintance
Freeman
McNeely
Powell

If you had to pick 1, who would it be?

[UnbelievablyRAW]

Maybe I'm missing something but Fears isn't doing it for me

[Yallbecrazy]

Maybe I'm missing something but Fears isn't doing it for me

He gets to the line at an incredible rate, extremely impressive steal rate too. Doesn't rebound.

I assume he plays point guard, but he looks to have way, way too many turnovers.

[Psubs]

The early season arguments tend to be the same. People that followed these players early on are more likely to remain invested.

I extended it out to the top 20 RSCI and only caught Harden, Embiid, Griffin and Brunson.

So basically 1 out of the top 10 will become a top 20 NBA player at some point.

This year's top 10 is

Flagg
Ace
Harper
Edgecombe
Johnson
Jackson
Bathea
Quaintance
Freeman
McNeely
Powell

If you had to pick 1, who would it be?

I would go with Tre Johnson. I mean, I could easily see Harper and Flagg also being top 20.

[Psubs]

Maybe I'm missing something but Fears isn't doing it for me

He gets to the line at an incredible rate, extremely impressive steal rate too. Doesn't rebound.

I assume he plays point guard, but he looks to have way, way too many turnovers.

I'm warming up to Fears. Steph was pretty much a SG until his final year as a junior with A/T just slightly above 1 his first years.

Is it better to have a lot of turnover but also getting the ball to teammates? I guess better than Bailey just being a blackhole.

[ATLTimekeeper]

^Also consider how unlikely it is to be a great player with a < 2.5 DBPM. When I checked the only top 20 players I could find were Ant and Morant. You can be good with a < 2.5, you can even be a great defender with a < 2.5, but it's a lot more rare to find even an all-star when it's that low.

I'm still putting my money on Flagg.

[twiggy2]

The Ignite basically folded because of high school top prospects repeatedly underwhelming in the NBA.

But let's go with (subjective) top 20 players (at any time in their career) in the NBA and top 10 RSCI rankings. Since 2004, I have:

Dwight Howard (1st)
Kevin Durant (2nd)
Rose (5th)
Love (2nd)
John Wall (2nd)
Kyrie (2nd)
AD (1st)
KAT (5th)
Brown (3rd)
Tatum (3rd)
Zion (4th)
Ant (4th)
Banchero (3rd)

I have, subjectively, 13 players. I know some would open it up and add some more and the later drafts are more tbd in terms of impact (Scottie could make the list down the road, for example). Let's add 7 more from the later years to be generous.

EDIT: So in 20 RSCI rankings, 200 players, we have 20 players that can be top 20 at any given time. Then start to consider the statistical production that most of these players had in the NCAA. That's why I think Ace has to really turn it up in order to earn his current ranking.

Prior to playing their freshman year,

2023
1. Isaiah Collier
2. Ron Holland

2022
1.Nick Smith
2. Dariq Whitehead

2021
4. JJ Hardy
5. Emoni Bates

2020
5. Brandon Boston

The early season arguments tend to be the same. People that followed these players early on are more likely to remain invested.

I extended it out to the top 20 RSCI and only caught Harden, Embiid, Griffin and Brunson.

So basically 1 out of the top 10 will become a top 20 NBA player at some point.

This year's top 10 is

Flagg
Ace
Harper
Edgecombe
Johnson
Jackson
Bathea
Quaintance
Freeman
McNeely
Powell

If you had to pick 1, who would it be?

I really like asa newell but he isn't even in your top ten. Kasparas jakucionis is also a player I'm watching outside your top ten.

[Yallbecrazy]

Maybe I'm missing something but Fears isn't doing it for me

He gets to the line at an incredible rate, extremely impressive steal rate too. Doesn't rebound.

I assume he plays point guard, but he looks to have way, way too many turnovers.

I'm warming up to Fears. Steph was pretty much a SG until his final year as a junior with A/T just slightly above 1 his first years.

Is it better to have a lot of turnover but also getting the ball to teammates? I guess better than Bailey just being a blackhole.

Assist rate can be tricky to value for lead/point guards since a lot of those assists just come from being the guy who initiates the offense. Eye test would come into play there. His turnover rate is way too high currently, it's higher than Cade's was and a lot of people jumped off the Cade#1 bandwagon because of his turnovers.

Cade had 3.9 assists and 4.6 turnovers per 40.
Fears currently has 6.4 and 5.4.

[Clutch0z24]

Watch on YouTube

Fears has upped his draft stock and rightfully so....Hes a tough shot maker but he sometimes takes ill advised shots but that is good for his development in college....He doesn't have a crazy quick burst to the rim but hes good at attacking despite that....The 3 pointer is clearly his bread and butter and has a smooth shot....The turnovers will be the only issue right now 4 TO a game to 5 Assists a game is not the best....Deff needs to tighten up his ball handling. Good prospect that came out of no where though to add to this stacked class..

[Ell Curry]

Haven't watched this Michigan-Oklahoma game super closely, but the 2 things that jump out to me on Fears:

-Very smooth offensive guard, really does look like a modern starting (scoring) NBA PG and okay as a passer
-Not a tough defender. Isn't competing that hard and the opposing PG Donaldson is having a much better game than he had against Boogie Fland.

Edit: He hit a 4 point off the dribble 3 to win the game.

So as you know I'm a Fears fan. What did you think? I have him top 5-7, maybe higher tbh.

I honestly only locked in for the final 10 minutes or so, so I'm not super confident on my take apart from what I posted above. Michigan's D is pretty good, Oklahoma had pretty good spacing (stretch 4) so it's a decent setup for a scoring guard, but credit to Fears for turning that opportunity into a ton of free throws. Fears definitely runs the team in a way freshman typically don't, even if his passing didn't really pop. My wild guess after seeing him would be a starting PG, not a star, but when they showed him close up on FTs he looked like a child incapable of growing even a sad excuse for a beard, so who knows he might have real upside in terms of explosion and strength left.

I was harsh on his defence, but he started rotating and helping in the final 5 minutes, and he might just not be locked in on that end because he's at a 33 USG as a freshman.

[Ell Curry]

Haven't watched this Michigan-Oklahoma game super closely, but the 2 things that jump out to me on Fears:

-Very smooth offensive guard, really does look like a modern starting (scoring) NBA PG and okay as a passer
-Not a tough defender. Isn't competing that hard and the opposing PG Donaldson is having a much better game than he had against Boogie Fland.

Edit: He hit a 4 point off the dribble 3 to win the game.

So as you know I'm a Fears fan. What did you think? I have him top 5-7, maybe higher tbh.

Oh, would a good comp be Kobe Bufkin, but ahead 1 year in development so compare to his sophomore final season?

6'4 195 lbs, 48/35/84, 14 pts, 4.5 rebs, 2.9 asts, A/T = 1.5

Bufkin I watched a ton of. He wasn't rotation ready as a freshman, as a sophomore he was a very, very solid overall SG who sorta lacked a true singular skill but did everything on both ends at like an 8.5/10 level for a Big 10 Guard (derogatory).

Maybe smart enough to limit mistakes playing at PG but if so would absolutely be off the ball, like you'd want a Sengun/Sabonis type big you run your offense through, and a #1 option scoring wing to do so and then Bufkin can defend PGs and be decent at everything. Or he's your backup 2 guard, or starting 2 guard who guards 1s if you have a giant PG like Cade or Luka.

Fears seems like a scoring PG who stepped into college day 1 ready to run an offence and create a ton and just be a medium to high usage guy, whereas if Bufkin comes good, it will probably be as a lower usage guard off the bench, maybe as a 3rd or 4th guard.

[XTC]

The Ignite basically folded because of high school top prospects repeatedly underwhelming in the NBA.

But let's go with (subjective) top 20 players (at any time in their career) in the NBA and top 10 RSCI rankings. Since 2004, I have:

Dwight Howard (1st)
Kevin Durant (2nd)
Rose (5th)
Love (2nd)
John Wall (2nd)
Kyrie (2nd)
AD (1st)
KAT (5th)
Brown (3rd)
Tatum (3rd)
Zion (4th)
Ant (4th)
Banchero (3rd)

I have, subjectively, 13 players. I know some would open it up and add some more and the later drafts are more tbd in terms of impact (Scottie could make the list down the road, for example). Let's add 7 more from the later years to be generous.

EDIT: So in 20 RSCI rankings, 200 players, we have 20 players that can be top 20 at any given time. Then start to consider the statistical production that most of these players had in the NCAA. That's why I think Ace has to really turn it up in order to earn his current ranking.

Prior to playing their freshman year,

2023
1. Isaiah Collier
2. Ron Holland

2022
1.Nick Smith
2. Dariq Whitehead

2021
4. JJ Hardy
5. Emoni Bates

2020
5. Brandon Boston

The early season arguments tend to be the same. People that followed these players early on are more likely to remain invested.

I extended it out to the top 20 RSCI and only caught Harden, Embiid, Griffin and Brunson.

So basically 1 out of the top 10 will become a top 20 NBA player at some point.

This year's top 10 is

Flagg
Ace
Harper
Edgecombe
Johnson
Jackson
Bathea
Quaintance
Freeman
McNeely
Powell

If you had to pick 1, who would it be?

Harper and Johnson look like guys who can be allstars and lead an offense in the NBA. Harper has tons of Harden/Pierce/Derozan in his game, he has phenomenal footwork.

Tre Johnson has that it factor. Pretty jumper with range, athletic, nice handles, and his offensive bag is filthy. If there was a guy to come in and average 20, it's him. Reminds me alot of Devin Booker. Those guys are my #1 and #2 right now. I flip flop between them all the time to be honest.

Fears is also soaring up my draft board. I also think people need to start giving Boogie Fland some recognition, kid is a gamer and a shotmaker, and he's playing under Calipari. I'm not a fan of Ace Bailey. His underlying numbere are horrible, Flagg is going to be good, but I can't see him leading an offense, I see him more like a Shawn Marion.