Jay Bilas: Eight prospects I like on this NBA draft

The 2025 NBA draft will mark my twenty third straight 12 months sitting on the primary desk for ESPN. In all of these years, there have been hits and misses, we have been proper and mistaken, however yearly, I acquire extra respect for the method. After I first began, after spending lengthy hours on participant evaluations, I most likely thought I knew which prospects would hit. I shortly realized that I did not know. No one is aware of.

All anybody does is “consider.” Fingers up all for any of those that thought Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was a future MVP when he was drafted No. 11 out of Kentucky? What number of pegged Jalen Brunson as All-NBA and Clutch Participant of the 12 months when he got here out of Villanova? Nearly each draft, we are going to look again in 5 years and rank the gamers far in another way than on draft night time. Possibly that’s true in each sport, however it’s very true in basketball, the place selections are made on brief monitor data of 18- and 19-year-olds.

Gamers stand out in each draft. There are by no means ensures — although this 12 months’s draft (Wednesday and Thursday nights, 8 ET on ABC and ESPN) has as near a positive factor as we have seen in a very long time — however if you see one thing from these gamers, they make you a believer. Listed below are just a few on this draft whom I actually like.

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The no-brainer

That is the Cooper Flagg Draft. If any of the 30 NBA groups had the highest choose within the 2025 draft lottery, all 30 would take Flagg and by no means look again. Flagg is the very best Duke freshman ever and probably the most full participant on this draft.

Although Flagg has room to enhance in sure areas, no different participant checks as many containers. Few gamers I’ve scouted over the previous 30 years are as proficient in as many areas as Flagg. He’s a legit 6-8 with a 7-0 wingspan. He’s athletic, lengthy, can transfer his toes laterally and has good pace. Defensively, he has nice consciousness, will get steals and blocks, and is excellent on the glass. Flagg is an elite transition finisher and playmaker. He’s a terrific driver and finisher, and a very good cutter.

The knock on him early was his capturing: Is he a constant perimeter shooter? Throughout ACC play, Flagg shot 44% from deep and nearly 39% final season. Can he tighten up his deal with? Sure, however his shot is hardly an issue; it simply is not the lead story.

Flagg has All-NBA potential, and I consider that he’ll attain it. So long as he stays wholesome, he is not going to fail within the NBA. He’s simply totally different. Placing apart the talents and measurable traits, Flagg is without doubt one of the best gamers I’ve seen at this age. Sure, a number of prospects are aggressive, however this man is on the very best tier of rivals. At solely 18, Flagg is mature past his years — far past most 22-year-old prospects on this draft.

Flagg doesn’t go right into a recreation in search of numbers. As an alternative, he strives to make the best play — and by stacking the best play again and again, he places up spectacular numbers throughout the board.

The shooters

This draft has its share of fantastic shooters, and freshmen entries Tre Johnson of Texas and Kon Knueppel of Duke cleared the path.

Johnson is the higher shotmaker and athlete. With a 6-10 wingspan, he led the SEC in scoring at 19.9 factors per recreation and shot 39.7% from past the arc, hitting 89 3-pointers final season.

Regardless of his size and bodily traits, Johnson didn’t have the anticipated defensive impression, however his pace and agility will serve him effectively within the NBA. Knueppel is the very best catch-and-shoot guard within the draft.

He hit nearly 41% from deep as a freshman in Durham, North Carolina, making 84 3s. Final season, Knueppel hit 48% on nook 3s, and canned 91.4% of his free throws. Kneuppel’s protection and bodily instruments are the questions. However although Kneuppel is unlikely to be named to the NBA’s All-Defensive Crew, he is not a pushover and is all the time getting unfastened balls.

The three-and-D guys

Size appears to translate effectively to the NBA, and its significance can’t be overstated. A participant who can guard a number of positions, change, disrupt and get deflections, steals and blocks can discover taking part in time for any NBA crew. Add in a dependable perimeter shot, and you might be much more useful. This 12 months, three 3-and-D guys are considerably below the radar however will likely be coveted on draft night time.

Carter Bryant of Arizona, Rasheer Fleming of Saint Joseph’s and Cedric Coward of Washington State are probably the most tantalizing prospects on this useful class. Bryant is predicted to be first off the board among the many three. Bryant, 19, is an excellent athlete who completed within the high 5 in vertical leap and dash time on the mix. He has measurement and spectacular size and might hit a standstill 3-pointer. Nearly half of his factors final season got here from made 3s, and 82% of his shot makes an attempt have been catch-and-shoot 3s or finishes on the rim.

Fleming, 20, has nice versatility and a 7-5 wingspan. He is a multi-positional defender and ground spacer who hit 62 3s on 39% capturing. His shot preparation is sweet, he can actually change ends, and he is an excellent rebounder.

Coward is the thriller man. After beginning his profession as a Division III participant, he transferred to Jap Washington, then to Washington State. Coward performed solely six video games in Pullman, however he scored 20 or extra in three, together with 30 factors in opposition to Northern Colorado. Coward just isn’t as tall as Fleming, however he is bought a 7-2 wingspan, pace, power and nice instincts on each ends of the ground. Coward was terrific on the mix, ending within the high 6 within the dash, vertical leap and standing vertical leap.

The wild playing cards

Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey would go No. 2 and No. 3, respectively, if expertise and upside potential have been the one variables. However the two finest prospects after Flagg performed collectively at Rutgers and had a dropping file. The Scarlet Knights went 15-17 and 8-12 within the Massive Ten. Although it’s honest to query why neither contributed extra to profitable, particularly with a gifted level guard in Harper, I doubt the crew’s file will issue into the draft place of both prospect.

Harper is the second-best prospect on this draft — a long-armed, three-level scorer who’s a refined offensive participant with nice footwork and a shot creator. Harper is excellent in pick-and-roll conditions and makes nice reads. He’s not a constant deep shooter, hitting solely 33% from 3-point distance, however he has good mechanics. He’s a employee, however not but an impactful defender, regardless of his size and physique.

Bailey is without doubt one of the high-risk, high-reward guys within the draft. Few have the next ceiling and few can match his shotmaking capacity, particularly powerful, pull-up jumpers below stress. Bailey had 39 factors in opposition to Indiana and 38 in opposition to Northwestern. Bailey has confronted questions on his maturity, however he’s simply 18 years previous, and his expertise is simple. With Harper’s expertise and talent profile, no person passes him up at No. 2 — not even San Antonio, which wants capturing, one thing Harper doesn’t present. Bailey ought to comply with him shortly, going anyplace from No. 3 to No. 8.