点击查看原文：2025 NBA draft: March Madness stock watch, top 100 prospects
2025 NBA draft: March Madness stock watch, top 100 prospects
With the first weekend of the men’s NCAA tournament in the books and the NIT entering its quarterfinals, it’s a great opportunity to update ESPN’s Top 100 rankings and see how many of the top 2025 NBA draft prospects performed.
Although this year’s tournament didn’t produce many upsets, the bracket shook out well for scouts. Plenty of high-level matchups, particularly in the second round, gave NBA teams much to evaluate ahead of the June 25-26 draft.
Though many prospects are still playing in the tournaments – projected No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg and Duke are among the favorites to win the NCAA title – several prospects’ seasons ended, including Baylor’s VJ Edgecombe, Texas’ Tre Johnson, Oklahoma’s Jeremiah Fears, and others.
The stories of the tournaments are far from done, and there’s plenty to anticipate from an NBA draft perspective. ESPN draft insiders Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo updated the top 100 rankings and players’ draft stock with insight on how top prospects fared, who moved the needle, and which players have more to prove – whether in the tournaments or the predraft process.
Last updated: March 25
Jump to: Top 100 | Stock up | Stock neutral/down\
More from ESPN+: NBA execs on Flagg | Mock draft
Top 100 big board rankings
-
Cooper Flagg, SF/PF, Duke | Age: 18.2\
-
Dylan Harper, PG/SG, Rutgers | Age: 19\
-
Sion James, SF, Duke | Age: 22.3\
-
John Tonje, SF, Wisconsin | Age: 23.9\
-
Koby Brea, SG/SF, Kentucky | Age: 22.3\
-
Cedric Coward, SF, Washington St | Age: 21.5\
-
Bogoljub Markovic, PF/C, Mega MIS | Age: 19.6\
-
Ian Jackson, SG, North Carolina | Age: 20.1\
-
Dink Pate, SG/SF, Mexico City | Age: 19\
-
Joseph Tugler, PF/C, Houston | Age: 19.8\
-
Rocco Zikarsky, C, Brisbane | Age: 18.7\
-
Braden Smith, PG, Purdue | Age: 21.6\
-
Tomislav Ivisic, C, Illinois | Age: 21.6\
-
Tahaad Pettiford, PG, Auburn | Age: 19.6\
-
Walter Clayton Jr., PG, Florida | Age: 22\
-
Zuby Ejiofor, C, St. John’s | Age: 20.9\
-
Dailyn Swain, SG/SF, Xavier | Age: 19.6\
-
Johann Grunloh, C, Vechta | Age: 19.6\
-
Mouhamed Faye, C, Reggio Emilia | Age: 20.1\
-
Zvonimir Ivisic, PF/C, Arkansas | Age: 21.6\
-
Malique Lewis, SF/PF, South East Melbourne | Age: 20.3\
-
Javon Small, PG, West Virginia | Age: 22.2\
-
Hunter Sallis, SG, Wake Forest | Age: 21.9\
-
RJ Luis Jr., SF/PF, St. John’s | Age: 22.3\
-
Ben Henshall, PG/SG, Perth | Age: 20.7\
-
Igor Milicic Jr., PF, Tennessee | Age: 22.5\
-
PJ Haggerty, PG, Memphis | Age: 20.9\
-
Jamir Watkins, SG/SF, Florida St | Age: 23.7\
-
Micah Peavy, SG/SF, Georgetown | Age: 23.6\
-
Amari Williams, C, Kentucky | Age: 23.1\
-
Grant Nelson, PF, Alabama | Age: 23\
-
Hansen Yang, C, Qingdao | Age: 19.7\
-
Bruce Thornton, PG, Ohio St | Age: 21.5\
-
Andrej Stojakovic, SG/SF, California | Age: 20.5\
-
Augustas Marciulionis, PG, Saint Mary’s | Age: 23\
-
Wesley Yates III, SG, USC | Age: 20.2\
-
Trey Kaufman-Renn, PF, Purdue | Age: 22.5\
-
Otega Oweh, SG, Kentucky | Age: 21.7\
-
Jalon Moore, SF/PF, Oklahoma | Age: 21.9\
-
Izan Almansa, PF/C, Perth | Age: 19.7\
-
Max Shulga, PG/SG, VCU | Age: 22.7\
-
Payton Sandfort, SF, Iowa | Age: 22.6\
-
Jaxson Robinson, SG/SF, Kentucky | Age: 22.3\
-
Lachlan Olbrich, PF/C, Illawarra | Age: 21.2\
-
Andrew Carr, PF/C, Kentucky | Age: 23.1\
-
Vladislav Goldin, C, Michigan | Age: 23.8\
-
Mark Sears, PG, Alabama | Age: 23\
-
Nate Bittle, PF/C, Oregon | Age: 21.8\
-
Clifford Omoruyi, C, Alabama | Age: 23.4\
-
Caleb Grill, SG, Missouri | Age: 24.7\
-
Ryan Nembhard, PG, Gonzaga | Age: 22\
-
Kobe Johnson, SG/SF, UCLA | Age: 22.1
Notes: True shooting percentage (TS%) is a formula that blends field goal percentage with free throw shooting and 3-point shooting into a catchall ratio. PR = previous ranking in ESPN’s Top 100.
Draft watch: Stock up
Cooper Flagg, SF/PF, Duke
Top 100 ranking: 1 | PR: 1\
Height: 6-9 | Age: 18.2 | TS%: 60.3%
Flagg showed no effects returning from a scary left ankle injury, helping Duke cruise past Baylor after beating Mount St. Mary’s while posting 32 points, 16 rebounds, 10 assists, and 3 blocks in 51 minutes over two games. Flagg showcased his high-level, two-way versatility and flashed his improvement as a shot creator. He shouldered significant playmaking duties out of pick-and-roll, isolations, post-ups and pushing in the open floor, making passes all over the court and getting to the rim and finishing with both hands.
A stern test awaits Thursday in Newark, New Jersey, with the No. 1 seed Blue Devils facing No. 4 seed Arizona, a game that many NBA executives will attend because the McDonald’s All-American game is set for next Tuesday in nearby Brooklyn, New York. Flagg will match up with Carter Bryant, a projected top-20 pick, for a trip to the Elite Eight against Alabama or BYU. – Givony
Jeremiah Fears, PG, Oklahoma
Top 100 ranking: 7 | PR: 9\
Height: 6-4 | Age: 18.4 | TS%: 57.0%
Fears’ season ended with a first-round loss to UConn, a game in which he was the clear-cut best player, leading all scorers with 20 points. His outstanding creativity and ability to get where he wanted with his jittery handle and play at different speeds were evident. He improved on reads out of pick-and-roll, dissected UConn’s defense with passes all over the floor and scored in many ways. Fears would have likely finished with a dozen assists (he had four) off the good looks he generated, but he was let down by Oklahoma’s 3-for-17 3-point shooting and his bigs’ inability to convert around the basket.
Though aspects of Fears’ defense and finishing in the paint deserve scrutiny, his talent is undeniable. He’s coming off a spectacular freshman season that has positioned him as a top-10 pick, with a strong claim to be made closer to the No. 5 to 7 range of the lottery, depending on how the order shakes out. – Givony
Khaman Maluach, C, Duke
Top 100 ranking: 8 | PR: 7\
Height: 7-2 | Age: 18.5 | TS%: 72.6%
Maluach had a positive weekend facing two undersized frontcourts in Mount St. Mary’s and Baylor, anchoring Duke’s defense in blowout victories. The game seems to be slowing down for Maluach, who is one of the most impactful paint presences in college basketball with an elite combination of mobility, timing, intensity and length. He often deters opponents from attacking the rim, knowing his 9-foot-8 standing reach is looming.
Maluach even made a 3-pointer against Mount St. Mary’s and was a reliable target for lobs, set screens and rolled to the rim. A rematch with Arizona awaits Thursday. He fared well against the Wildcats in November and they will look different this time without 7-foot-2 Motiejus Krivas, who is out because of a foot injury. – Givony
Derik Queen, C, Maryland
Top 100 ranking: 10 | PR: 11\
Height: 6-10 | Age: 20.2 | TS%: 59.9%
Queen had an excellent weekend, showing off his diverse skill set and aggressive mentality. He hit an incredible buzzer-beating game winner against Colorado State to help Maryland advance to its first Sweet 16 since 2016. He made a pair of early 3-pointers (his fifth and sixth makes of the season), was a significant target finishing in pick-and-roll, created his own shots after some gorgeous moves and finished skillfully facing the basket. He brought better defensive intensity than usual in spurts, showing he has another gear when the moment demands it.
The competition will rise significantly in San Francisco on Thursday as Maryland faces off against Florida, which has arguably the best frontcourt in college basketball. The Gators will challenge Queen with the length, physicality, and defensive versatility he has not seen in his career. His matchup with fellow first-rounder Alex Condon will be a huge opportunity for both prospects to show how their skills on both ends will project to the NBA. – Givony
Egor Demin, PG/SG, BYU
Top 100 ranking: 12 | PR: 10\
Height: 6-9 | Age: 19.0 | TS%: 51.3%
Coming off a shaky showing in the Big 12 tournament, Demin had a positive NCAA tournament weekend, posting 26 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists and just 5 turnovers through two games. He also finished the weekend 5-of-13 from 3s, including a massive late-game shot to help BYU upset Wisconsin. Demin, 19, looked confident and aggressive and had some strong moments making passes all over the floor, showcasing his outstanding court vision and playmaking prowess. He was far from perfect, struggling at times to generate good looks for himself due to his lack of explosiveness, making some shaky decisions, and searching for the right balance between shooting and getting teammates involved, something common for a teenager at this level of competition.
BYU and Demin will match up next against Alabama, which is the most offensively talented team the Cougars have faced this season. – Givony
Will Riley, SG/SF, Illinois
Top 100 ranking: 15 | PR: 22\
Height: 6-8 | Age: 19.1 | TS%: 53.8%
There were plenty of positives from Riley’s finish to the Fighting Illini’s season. He strung together several impressive offensive showings before a forgettable 84-75 loss to Kentucky. Riley had it all on display against Xavier in the first round, scoring 22 points, making good decisions and picking his spots as a scorer and playmaker.
He has gathered steam behind the scenes as a player worth considering late in the lottery. Riley has some shooting upside at his size and room to expand his game if he keeps improving physically. He struggles defensively because of a high center of gravity and lack of strength that can make him a target, but NBA evaluators see that his upside holds up well to most of the better wings in this draft class. – Woo
Nique Clifford, SG, Colorado State
Top 100 ranking: 25 | PR: 39\
Height: 6-6 | Age: 23.1 | TS%: 60.9%
Clifford’s college career ended with a strong NCAA tournament. He dropped 35 points, 15 rebounds and 12 assists in two games against likely the best competition he has faced this season in Memphis and Maryland. Though his jumper wasn’t falling (0-for-9 on 3s), Clifford demonstrated the myriad ways he impacts winning on both ends, handling significant shot-creation duties and making good decisions with the ball. Defensively, he fought over screens, denied off the ball, generated turnovers, and brought terrific intensity against smaller players.
Clifford, 23, looks like a plug-and-play wing option ready to enter a playoff team’s rotation thanks to his feel for the game, maturity, and strong intensity. If his 38% 3-point shooting this season holds up, he should carve out a long and fruitful NBA career. – Givony
Yaxel Lendeborg, PF/C, UAB
Top 100 ranking: 28 | PR: 58\
Height: 6-9 | Age: 22.4 | TS%: 60.5%
After posting impressive numbers for much of the season, Lendeborg has his team in the NIT quarterfinals after back-to-back road wins at St. Joseph’s and Santa Clara.
Lendeborg is making the most of favorable platforms in the AAC tournament and NIT, which are played at convenient scouting locations (Dallas, Philadelphia, San Jose, and Irvine, California) and draw many NBA executives. With his ability to handle, pass, shoot, and rebound, Lendeborg, 22, has the two-way versatility, skill, and instincts NBA teams covet.
His decision-making and technique leave something to be desired at times, and he hasn’t been efficient against better competition (54% TS%, 16% TO% against top-100 opponents). Nonetheless, Lendeborg is a big man who can be deployed all over the floor and has upside. He’ll be weighing NIL offers in the portal (he has one more year of NCAA eligibility) with the feedback he’ll receive in May at the NBA combine, which will likely determine his next move. – Givony
Bennett Stirtz, PG/SG, Drake
Top 100 ranking: 35 | PR: Not ranked\
Height: 6-4 | Age: 21.4 | TS%: 61.1%
Stirtz had a positive NCAA tournament showing, posting 42 points and 12 assists in two games against Missouri and Texas Tech, showing he can hang with SEC and Big 12 competition. He got where he wanted on the floor with his understated burst and slippery ballhandling ability, which is a good sign for his NBA projection, as he created advantages consistently by getting downhill in both games. That’s important because Stirtz is one of the best passers and decision-makers in college basketball. Scouts will be interested in his ability to make split-second decisions and read out of pick-and-rolls once he’s surrounded by better talent.
His dynamic shot making, going 5-for-9 for 3 in two games – including a variety of off-the-dribble 3s from difficult angles – bodes well for him. He made 40% of his 3s this season despite being the focal point of opposing defenses while demonstrating tremendous touch and creativity finishing around the basket. It’s not easy to gauge Stirtz’s defense; he plays all 40 minutes and has to avoid foul trouble because of how heavily his team relies on his playmaking.
Stirtz has shown defensive flashes, chasing opponents around screens, being in the right spots off the ball, generating turnovers and bringing great effort in spurts. Scouts will question his thin frame and lack of length as a defender, as well as his ability to transition to a much faster NBA style.
Stirtz is likely to declare for the draft and gather NBA feedback. Reuniting with Drake coach Ben McCollum, hired by Iowa this week, and returning for his senior year could be an option – absent assurances of a guaranteed contract – as an all-conference showing at the Power-5 level could solidify him into the first-round conversation. Playing at the NBA combine might assuage some of the scouts’ concerns and could improve his standing significantly for this draft. – Givony
Tyrese Proctor, PG, Duke
Top 100 ranking: 46 | PR: 43\
Height: 6-6 | Age: 20.9 | TS%: 59.5%
Proctor took a star turn as Duke comfortably punched its ticket to the Sweet 16. The guard rode a hot streak from long range, scoring 19 against Mount St. Mary’s and 25 against Baylor. He has made 19 of 30 3-pointers in his past three games, including the ACC title game, and is up to 42% from range this season, giving Duke a critical scoring component.
But he has attempted just three 2-pointers in that span, pointing to a somewhat one-dimensional offensive presence. He also doesn’t offer a ton defensively, other than solid size for his position. Guard play will be a swing factor in Duke’s title hopes, and if Proctor continues cooking from outside, it certainly won’t hurt his draft standing. – Woo
John Tonje, SF, Wisconsin
Top 100 ranking: 52 | PR: 60\
Height: 6-6 | Age: 23.9 | TS%: 65.7%
Although Wisconsin fell to BYU in a second-round upset, Tonje’s spectacular 37-point showing in that game cemented his surprise sixth-year breakout and legitimacy as a draft candidate. Despite the poor track record of 24-year-old draftees breaking through in the NBA, Tonje’s strength, perimeter shooting and ability to get into the paint and to the line give him role player potential, considering the constant need for 3-point shooting role players.
He can be streaky, and his defensive projection doesn’t add value, but players with his frame and offensive skill set warrant looks. He will have more to prove in the predraft process, and presumably at the combine, but he helped himself at Wisconsin, after missing most of his lone season at Missouri because of a foot injury. – Woo
Zuby Ejiofor, C, St. John’s
Top 100 ranking: 64 | PR: Not ranked\
Height: 6-9 | Age: 20.9 | TS%: 64.5%
Despite St. John’s’ second-round loss to Arkansas, Ejiofor was a bright spot in that game, totaling 23 points and 12 rebounds against the Razorbacks’ NBA-sized frontline.
Although undersized by NBA standards, his relentless effort on the glass, impressive physicality, ability to sprint the floor and above-average defensive mobility stood out. Ejiofor began his college career at Kansas, turns 21 in April and got his first opportunity as a full-time starter this season for the Johnnies. Pro teams will need to see much more from him. His solid junior season went somewhat unnoticed, but was aided by his play in the March spotlight. He looks like a draft prospect of interest for 2026 with his appealing role player qualities. – Woo
Dailyn Swain, SF, Xavier
Top 100 ranking: 65 | PR: 57\
Height: 6-8 | Age: 19.6 | TS%: 61.2%
Swain scored a career-high 27 points in Xavier’s first-round loss to Illinois, knocking down multiple 3s for the first time this season and playing with more aggression and confidence. His size, agility, and defensive potential should be appealing to NBA teams.
His scoring limitations and questionable shooting (he’s a career 20% shooter from 3 on 54 attempts in two college seasons) make him a project. He will need to expand his comfort level on that end. Swain’s tools and upside make him an interesting player whether he tests the draft or not, but he’d likely be best served developing in college for another season.
On Monday, Swain entered the transfer portal, a source told ESPN’s Jeff Borzello, and Xavier coach Sean Miller reached an agreement to be the next head coach of the Texas Longhorns, according to ESPN sources. – Woo
Draft watch: Stock neutral/down
VJ Edgecombe, SG, Baylor
Top 100 ranking: 4 | PR: 4\
Height: 6-5 | Age: 19.6 | TS%: 56.1%
Edgecombe had a largely successful weekend, capping a strong freshman season, but bowed out to Duke in the round of 32. His electric first step was on display in transition and the half court in both outings, but especially late in the Bears’ NCAA tournament opener against Mississippi State. He took over against the Bulldogs, drawing foul after foul, making clutch free throws, and coming up with important stops.
But he could have looked for his own shot more instead of deferring to Baylor’s ball-dominant guards. Edgecombe, the Big 12 Freshman of the Year, appears entrenched in the top 3 to 5 picks, depending on how the lottery shakes out May 12. – Givony
Tre Johnson, SG, Texas
Top 100 ranking: 5 | PR: 5\
Height: 6-6 | Age: 19.0 | TS%: 56.1%
Johnson’s season ended with a play-in loss to Xavier. It was a typical outing for Johnson this season. He had extreme highs, putting nonstop pressure on the opposing defense with high-level shots running off screens, pulling up off the dribble and hitting impossible step-back jumpers. And discouraging lows, running into screens, settling for well-contested long 2-pointers, poor defense and showing frustration when things didn’t go his way. Scouts have questioned his ability to drive winning after Texas’ 19-16 season, with a less-than-ideal roster surrounding him.
No one doubts Johnson’s pure scoring prowess, as his diverse shotmaking arsenal is built for the NBA. He can pass when he is playing with his head up and looking to make the right play. Johnson’s SEC Freshman of the Year campaign has positioned him well as a potential top-5 pick, and many teams will be looking to get to know him better off the court to determine his potential. – Givony
Kasparas Jakucionis, PG, Illinois
Top 100 ranking: 6 | PR: 6\
Height: 6-6 | Age: 18.8 | TS%: 59.8%
Jakucionis’ season ended on an uneven note, playing well in a first-round win against Xavier in which he finished one rebound short of a triple-double (16 points, 10 assists, 9 rebounds), but struggling in Illinois’ loss to Kentucky. NBA executives haven’t forgotten how good he was early in the season, but he struggled to make shots from long range down the stretch (24.5% over his final 10 games) and recorded six turnovers in each of his last four performances.
At times, he appeared to be pressing to make an impact, but for an 18-year-old adjusting to the physicality and schedule of Division I basketball – and being the focus of opposing scouting reports – Jakucionis fared well overall. His positional size and playmaking instincts, flashes of shotmaking and intangibles should translate into NBA value in the long run, and will keep him in the top-10 conversation. – Woo
Jase Richardson, PG/SG, Michigan State
Top 100 ranking: 13 | PR: 24\
Height: 6-3 | Age: 19.4 | TS%: 63.3%
It hasn’t been a banner tournament for Richardson, going 1-of-10 from the field in a win against New Mexico in the round of 32. He has garnered some buzz as his role has grown at Michigan State, becoming the rare freshman to earn Spartans coach Tom Izzo’s trust. Part of the appeal is how he impacts winning beyond scoring. He’s a smart ball-mover and largely turnover-averse performer who is comfortable playing on and off the ball.
Though he generally makes the most of his tools, he’s not physically overwhelming and that raises questions with NBA scouts, who are concerned about how he would translate into a full-time, on-ball role. Richardson will have a big opportunity to bounce back as Michigan State advances to a Sweet 16 matchup with Ole Miss on Friday. – Woo
Liam McNeeley, SG/SF, UConn
Top 100 ranking: 14 | PR: 12\
Height: 6-7 | Age: 19.4 | TS%: 53.6%
McNeeley finished his season, and likely college career, with 22 points in UConn’s near-upset of No. 1 seed Florida. Though somewhat miscast as the Huskies’ go-to guy at times, McNeeley had a positive freshman season, handling more responsibility than he possibly could handle. NBA teams remain attracted to his positional size, feel for the game, toughness and versatility. However, the biggest question is McNeeley’s shooting, as he shot 31.5% from 3 this season and 44% on 2s.
Though his production since high school suggests he’s a highly efficient, dynamic shotmaker from long distance, McNeeley will need to reinforce that in predraft workouts to enhance his standing. – Woo
Asa Newell, PF/C, Georgia
Top 100 ranking: 21 | PR: 20\
Height: 6-11 | Age: 19.4 | TS%: 62.0%
Newell finished his season with 20 points and eight rebounds against Gonzaga in a game Georgia fell behind early and never recovered. He also turned in his best stat line of the season in an SEC tournament loss to Oklahoma the week before (21 points and 17 rebounds). His motor and production on the offensive glass have helped his case, but NBA teams will point to his inconsistent defensive contributions as they evaluate where he lands on their final draft boards.
His lack of high-level rim protection (32 blocks in 33 college games) coupled with sometimes questionable positioning and feel underscore how far he has to go to earn major minutes in the pros. Newell helped himself this season, but he still profiles as a long-term project for whichever team drafts him, with a lot riding on the development of his outside shot. – Woo
Rasheer Fleming, PF/C, Saint Joseph’s
Top 100 ranking: 29 | PR: 23\
Height: 6-9 | Age: 20.7 | TS%: 64.4%
Fleming’s season ended in discouraging fashion, with disappointing showings in high-profile games in the Atlantic 10 tournament and a loss in the NIT, where his warts as a decision-maker, defender and processor were on display. When Fleming, a 39% 3-point shooter, is making shots, he looks the part of an NBA big man with his 7-foot-5 wingspan, finishing prowess and the way he rebounds, blocks shots and picks up steals.
When he’s not making shots, he doesn’t impact the game in other ways, as he is a poor ball handler and passer, lacks the physicality to utilize his 240-pound frame in the paint and is a step behind defensively. George Mason, Dayton, and VCU targeted him relentlessly in pick-and-roll and one-on-one, and he yielded points on blow-bys, gambled wildly for steals, and was in the wrong spots off the ball, often watching while being late on plays.
Fleming’s excellent physical profile and terrific numbers, largely accumulated against lower-level college competition, will give NBA teams hope for developing him long term. He’s also a young junior (turning 21 in July). But how he ended his season will raise questions from teams seeking answers during the predraft process. – Givony
Drake Powell, SG/SF, North Carolina
Top 100 ranking: 31 | PR: 26\
Height: 6-6 | Age: 19.5 | TS%: 58.6%
Powell’s freshman season ended with North Carolina’s first-round loss to Ole Miss, leaving questions going into the predraft process that place him on the fringe of the first round. He’s a sturdy wing defender who guarded multiple positions effectively with his length and good instincts this season.
He struggled with confidence at times in a suboptimal team context, and never settled in away from the ball in an offense dominated by the Tar Heels’ guards. Powell shot 37% from 3 this season, offering hope for a long-term 3-and-D role at the next level. He flashed some passing ability that wasn’t often evident in the stat sheet. He might greatly benefit from a second season in college to showcase his skills. – Woo
Ryan Kalkbrenner, C, Creighton
Top 100 ranking: 32 | PR: 30\
Height: 7-2 | Age: 23.1 | TS%: 69.2%
Kalkbrenner’s five-year Creighton career ended with a second-round loss to Auburn, sending him into the draft as a reliable, if unspectacular, contributor. Some NBA team will likely value having a depth center who can run the floor, play drop coverage, hit the occasional open shot, and help in emergency minutes.
It’s unclear how his prolific shot blocking will translate against more physical and athletic NBA bigs. His age doesn’t have much-perceived upside, but there will be a place on a roster for Kalkbrenner, as legit 7-footers with his demonstrable consistency are difficult to find. – Woo
Alex Karaban, PF, UConn
Top 100 ranking: 33 | PR: 32\
Height: 6-8 | Age: 22.3 | TS%: 57.3%
Karaban struggled to make shots this past weekend (3-of-14 on 3s) but showed the other ways he impacts winning with his character, feel for the game and underrated defensive versatility, reminding NBA teams of his value as a role player who could thrive when surrounded with more talent.
Though not a fluid mover, Karaban was consistently in the right spots, generating deflections and steals and rotating to protect the rim with his 6-foot-11 wingspan and excellent timing. He keeps the offense moving fluidly by driving and dishing, making touch passes along the perimeter, and finding rollers in stride out of zoom actions. Though he hasn’t shot the ball as well as scouts might have hoped this season (35% from 3-point range), it was notable to see the often-reserved Karaban not shy away from any open shot, even running off screens or picking and popping with a hand in his face.
A 39% 3-point shooter during UConn’s two national championship-winning seasons, it wouldn’t be surprising if Karaban reverts closer to that number with less offensive responsibility than he had this season, which would bring real value with the other things he brings on both ends. – Givony
Miles Byrd, SG, San Diego State
Top 100 ranking: 50 | PR: 38\
Height: 6-7 | Age: 20.5 | TS%: 52.3%
Byrd had one of his worst games of the season, going 1-for-5 from the field with three turnovers in San Diego State’s loss to North Carolina in the NCAA tournament’s play-in game. Byrd has struggled offensively against high-level competition. He has posted a paltry 45% True Shooting percentage and averaged 10.4 points over 10 games against top-50 opponents, per KenPom. Byrd’s vaunted block and steal rates, the basis for his sparkling analytic profile, also dropped off dramatically in those games.
His rail-thin frame and lack of physicality raise questions about his ability to become a defensive stopper fighting over screens and containing stronger players one-on-one in the NBA. Byrd had a breakout season and put himself on NBA radars, and he will likely test the draft waters to see how teams view him. Returning for a fourth year of college and polishing his offensive skill set might prove to be in his best interest. – Givony
Ian Jackson, SG/SF, North Carolina
Top 100 ranking: 56 | PR: 33\
Height: 6-4 | Age: 20.1 | TS%: 57.7%
Jackson’s role evaporated over the final stretch of the season, and he totaled 10 points in 26 minutes in North Carolina’s two NCAA tournament losses.
His defensive shortcomings limited his ability to contribute for the Tar Heels (just 19 minutes per game in his last 15 games) and that outweighed a strong first couple of months. Returning to college and working on his all-around game looks like the most prudent move for his career, with his scoring ability offering a long-term pathway to the NBA. – Woo