NBA Draft prospects 2025: Ranking top 60 players on big board entering March Madness

March Madness is here, meaning millions of eyes will be on what’s happening inside the world of college basketball.

Some of college’s biggest stars represent the future of the game, and there is a large group of players that NBA fans will want to get familiar with as the tournament gets underway.

After a more unorthodox draft class in 2024, the 2025 NBA Draft class is one of the deepest in recent memory and is headlined by a generational prospect in Duke’s Cooper Flagg. It’s not just Flagg, either, as he’s one of several freshman looking to help propel their respective schools to college basketball’s ultimate prize.

Ahead of one of the most fun months on the basketball calendar, here’s a guide to get familiar with some of the top players in the 2025 NBA Draft class.

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NBA Draft prospects 2025

1. Cooper Flagg, Duke

• Age: 18
• Position: G/F
• Height: 6-9

Flagg has been exactly who basketball fans expected him to be, though there were minor growing pains along the way. Such is the case for a phenom who plays the first 10 games of their college career before turning 18.

With averages of 18.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game, Flagg is in serious contention to win National Player of the Year while leading a Duke team with very real aspirations to win a national title. He does a little bit of everything and has a skill set that will immediately translate to the next level.

Simply put: Flagg is a generational prospect. Full stop. As impressive as the offensive production is, he also has limitless potential on the defensive end. 

2. Dylan Harper, Rutgers

• Age: 19
• Position: G
• Height: 6-6

As a big guard with an innate feel for the game, Harper fits the mold of a player capable of making an instant impact at the NBA level.

The son of five-time NBA champion Ron Harper, the NBA DNA of Rutgers’ lead guard has been on display throughout his freshman campaign. Despite the Scarlet Knights’ lack of team success, Harper has been a bright spot, leading the team in scoring and assists per game.

Team need will ultimately determine where Harper lands, but there are several recent examples of players like him easily translating to the NBA level.

3. Tre Johnson, Texas

• Age: 19
• Position: G
• Height: 6-6

Scoring comes naturally for Johnson, whose 19.8 points per game rank first in the loaded SEC and first among all freshmen in men’s college basketball this season.

As the numbers show, the 19-year-old fills it up at a high level, and he’s shooting 42.7 percent from the field and 39.2 percent from deep on high volume. Elite prospects come with an elite skill. Scoring is that skill for Johnson, who will be a great get for an NBA team in need of an offensive punch.

4. Ace Bailey, Rutgers

• Age: 18
• Position: G/F
• Height: 6-10

Bailey is a tough shot-taker and a tough shot-maker, both signs of an elite prospect, though his shot selection can sometimes be frustrating. At 6-10, Bailey plays like a scoring guard, and his potential is as limitless as his talent.

The other half of Rutgers’ dynamic freshman duo, Bailey ranks second on the team with 17.6 points per game and leads the team with 7.2 rebounds per contest. He won’t turn 19 until after the NBA Draft, a reminder that he is still learning and growing into who he is as a player.

Bailey has the physical tools to become a game-changer defensively, something he has shown flashes of this season. In the right situation, he can be a well-rounded threat in the league.

5. VJ Edgecombe, Baylor

• Age: 19
• Position: G
• Height: 6-4

A relentless competitor, Edgecombe has come along as the season has progressed. As with many freshmen, there have been highs and lows, but the highs are indicative of why Edgecombe is one of the best prospects in this draft class.

Edgecombe is an exceptional athlete with a strong frame at 6-4. He’s shown up in big moments for Baylor throughout the season and is no stranger to the big stage, having already competed internationally for the Bahamas Senior Men’s National Team. A leap to the next level shouldn’t faze him.

6. Khaman Maluach, Duke | South Sudan 

• Age: 18
• Position: C
• Height: 7-2

Maluach taught himself how to play the game just five years ago, so it’s incredible to see where he is as an NBA Draft prospect. It’s not an exaggeration to say that there is no way to predict just how good he’ll be at the next level.

Maluach is arguably the most important piece of a loaded Duke team, as he’s masterfully used his 7-2 frame to be one of the best rim protectors in college basketball. In today’s game, there’s always a place for an athletic, rim-protecting lob threat — and that’s Maluach’s floor. His ceiling is impossible to forecast, but it’s a high one.

7. Kasparas Jakucionis, Illinois | Lithuania

• Age: 19
• Position: G
• Height: 6-6

Jakucionis has been the biggest riser among 2025 NBA Draft prospects, and he has a stellar freshman campaign to thank for that.

The 6-6 lead guard has been more than solid for the Illini, leading the team with 15.0 points and 4.6 assists per game. He is another big guard who fits the mold of what many teams are now seeking from that position. His size and international experience should ease the NBA learning curve.

8. Kon Knueppel, Duke

• Age: 19
• Position: G/F
• Height: 6-7

There’s a case to be made for Knueppel as the best 3-point shooter in this draft class. That alone makes him a very valuable prospect.

Knueppel is hitting 2.2 3s per contest at a 39.2 percent clip and has six games with four-plus made 3s. He’s shown a capability to put the ball on the floor and shoot off the bounce, as well, a valuable skill for any shooter. Given his size, Knueppel projects as an impactful shooter with much more to offer in the league.

9. Jeremiah Fears, Oklahoma

• Age: 18
• Position: G
• Height: 6-4

Fears graduated high school early and arrived in Norman, Okla., at 17, but his game has proven to be quite mature.

A poised lead guard, Fears is averaging 17.0 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.6 steals per game as a freshman. There’s room for his 3-point shooting efficiency to improve, but he’s certainly a capable shooter. Fears has the makings of a riser in this draft cycle.

10. Collin Murray-Boyles, South Carolina

• Age: 19
• Position: F
• Height: 6-8

Murray-Boyles is a name you’ll want to be familiar with during the draft cycle. The 2024-25 SEC slate was rough for the Gamecocks, but Murray-Boyles found ways to stand out.

The young sophomore will turn 20 weeks before draft night but benefitted greatly from a second season of college ball. His draft stock is rising because of his high skill and a feel for the game that can’t be taught.

Updated 2025 NBA Draft big board