Building a 2025 NBA Draft Big Board before March Madness

Tier 3 – Riskier High End Star Bets

Tier 4 – Elite Complementary Pieces and Flawed Star Bets

Tier 5 – Strong Rotation Bets and Upside Swings

Tier 6 – Possible Rotation and Long Term Upside Projects

The top of the Draft is Elite

Not all drafts feature a tier one prospect, but the 2025 class has one of the greatest prospects in recent memory in Cooper Flagg. Any team that lands the top pick, regardless of their needs, roster construction or timeline, should sprint the card up for Flagg. Dylan Harper, tier two’s only prospect, has a real All-NBA ceiling, but Flagg brings extra size, defense and outside shooting along with primary initiation.

The third tier contains prospects with ceilings a tad lower than Flagg and Harper and a few more obstacles for that high-end projection. Maluach must continue to grow more consistent in his positioning on defense, but his tools, defensive excellence and touch are high-end star traits. Jakucionis’s passing and off-dribble shooting could make him a star if he reigns in his handle and Queen’s creation makes his defensive motor and interior struggles worth any risk.

The Draft’s Most Interesting Ceiling Bets

Part of what makes 2025 such an excellent class comes from its bevy of interesting ceiling bets. Many of those exist in tier four, chief among them being Ace Bailey. He’s a divisive prospect but has undeniable star qualities in his shotmaking flashes and could develop into a deadly two-way weapon, even if his feel may limit the ultimate ceiling.

VJ Edgecombe possesses the requisite athletic tools to become a star on both ends of the floor if he continues to progress as a scorer and creator. Even if not, his athleticism provides a realistic defensive floor, especially given his reliable shooting. Tre Johnson will also add tons of value as a shotmaker, with his playmaking and rim pressure possibly determining his ceiling.

Jeremiah Fears might be the draft’s most underrated upside bets given his blend of youth, production, tools and touch. We see potent advantage creation, excellent touch and an elite handle in many shorter star initiators and Fears could become that if he finds consistency as a shooter. 

The 2025 Draft Has Excellent Depth

The class’s greatest quality is its depth, outside of Flagg and Harper. Since I’ve been covering the draft (2019), the 2025 class has a deeper talent pool of possible stars and high-end complementary pieces than any other. Some drafts have stronger talent at the top, but prospects like Thomas Sorber, Kon Knueppel, and Ben Saraf all have lottery cases in many classes.

Injury ended Sorber’s season, but his intersection of tools, feel for the game and skill are hallmarks of valuable NBA big men. Knueppel’s shotmaking and pick and roll passing are both incredibly valuable skills and Saraf’s feel and creation are NBA quality.

Over time, drafts tend to flatten sharply at some point late in the first round, resulting in a sixth tier containing nearly 40 prospects. There truly isn’t much separation between prospects in the late first and late second round at this stage, even if the higher prospects have a slight edge. 

Some of the players towards the top of this tier, like Rasheer Fleming, Nique Clifford and Asa Newell, might not possess enormous ceilings but have easy paths to role player value. Others represent big-time upside swings with notable risks or development like Noa Essengue, Tahaad Pettiford and Will Riley, 

As players make their decisions to stay in college or leave for the draft, tiers will shift and rankings will change. I’d expect quite a few of the prospects on this current board to return for another college or pro season before entering the draft. Until then, we’ll continue to update the board throughout the cycle up until the 2025 NBA Draft.