Why Duke’s Cameron Boozer leads my list of Top 15 NBA Draft prospects

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Congratulations, tankers. You’ve made it.

A loaded NBA Draft awaits the league’s worst groups from 2025-26, and the excellent news for them is that it might not matter a lot what occurs within the precise lottery. While groups would of course fairly choose first than, say, eighth, that is as “flat” a expertise distribution on the prime of the draft as I can bear in mind. The six groups that tanked most openly on the finish of the season are all principally assured of getting a high-upside one-and-done.

While the depth of the group is loaded, there isn’t a singular LeBron or Wemby on the prime. In truth, my No. 1 alternative deviates from consensus, and 4 gamers could make a reputable declare to warrant being the highest choice. Beyond these 4, an nearly overwhelming class of level guards makes for a troublesome sport of splitting hairs.

Before we get into the enjoyable half, let me word a pair of methods I’ve modified this board from how I did it the previous few years.

First of all, longtime readers will word that I normally attempt to do a Top 20 heading into the draft lottery, with possibly a pair of sleepers on the finish. That now not appears sensible given the uncertainty of so many gamers remaining within the draft. Virtually each participant I had in consideration for spots No. 16 by way of No. 20 continues to be a menace to return to highschool for a reputation, picture and likeness bag. As lately as two years in the past, anyone with a first-round projection was gonzo.

I’ve restricted myself to 15 gamers this 12 months, however don’t let that be a mirrored image on the draft’s high quality. If each participant who submitted his identify for the draft finally ends up staying, I’m going to have a board of 30 first-rounders whom I actually like.

That’s the case despite the fact that NIL has as soon as once more given us a “U-shaped” draft by age; when you do a bar chart, you’ll get lots of freshmen, lots of seniors and nearly no person in between. With prime sophomores and juniors similar to Florida’s Thomas Haugh and Alex Condon, Arizona’s Motiejus Krivas, Wake Forest’s Juke Harris and Duke’s Patrick Ngongba pulling out, I rely solely 12 draftable gamers from the sophomore and junior lessons. Twelve! And even of that small set, a number of extra appear prone to bail earlier than draft day. These guys was half the draft, and their absence has cratered the depth of the second spherical.

Finally, one space the place I’ve needed to change my philosophy is on facilities. A assessment of my previous hits and misses reveals that I’ve been completely too pessimistic on the thought of drafting facilities; the league has additionally lately shifted again towards lineups that function a number of bigs on the identical time, so the place isn’t going through a minutes crunch and will even have some real shortage in the mean time. Big wings stay essentially the most priceless draft commodity, however I’ve realized I must be a lot greater on drafting facilities. My scores this 12 months mirror that shift.

Now, get your popcorn. Here’s my Top 15 board:

Tier 1

1. Cameron Boozer, freshman, 6-9, PF/C, Duke

Yes, Boozer.

Similar to Cooper Flagg a 12 months earlier, Boozer each destroyed faculty basketball and, at 18 years previous, is the youngest faculty prospect within the draft. That he isn’t clearly the No. 1 choose at this level is a inform on the energy of this class, however I additionally marvel if everyone seems to be overthinking issues a bit.

Yes, some weaknesses bounce out whenever you watch Boozer. He struggles to raise and end in opposition to size across the rim, one thing that stood out when Virginia’s Ugonna Onyenso repeatedly blocked his shot within the ACC championship sport. Yes, Boozer’s potential as a rim protector is suspect, to say the least, with a minuscule 0.9 % block charge in convention video games. Finally, at 6 ft 9 and 250 kilos, he’s undersized for a middle however could not have the mobility to play energy ahead.

The motive you are taking him No. 1 anyway is that Boozer was principally “college basketball Nikola Jokić” final season. He’s an enormous, extensive large man who nonetheless can deal with on the perimeter and shoot 3s (39.1 % from distance, 78.9 % from the road). Duke ran inverted pick-and-rolls for him final season, the place he was selecting out 3-point shooters on the weak facet and flicking one-handed crosscourt passes. As a rule, teenage facilities don’t do that, and after they do, they grow to be fairly particular.

That, principally, is my elevator pitch for Boozer as the highest choose: Don’t fear concerning the protection, as a result of the offense goes to be ridiculous. Pairing him with a cell shot-blocker shall be necessary, however Boozer’s resume is overwhelming.

I’ll throw in a number of different Boozer nuggets whereas I’m right here. First of all, his really feel on the defensive finish is fairly sturdy too; he averaged 2.8 steals per 100 possessions in convention play, which lots of first-round guards didn’t do.

But let’s get again to that passing, as a result of that to me is the last word motive to take him. I’ve a primary draft concept that I name the Marc Gasol Rule: Bigs who can cross, determine it out. Gasol was considered so susceptible on protection that the Grizzlies drafted Hasheem Thabeet to play subsequent to him. Gasol ended up profitable a Defensive Player of the Year trophy. So a lot of big-man protection is studying what’s taking place and determining place and angles. That’s why lots of “feel” bigs like Gasol (or Jokić!) find yourself being solid-to-good defenders even with meh instruments.

Boozer is just 6-9, so he’s working with a special ceiling, and in the end, he could play lots at energy ahead. But he confirmed sufficient mobility that I don’t suppose he’d be a catastrophe at that spot defensively, and he’d have large benefits on the different finish if matched up that manner.

In the tip, it’s laborious to not see a Kevin Love-type impression as a median final result for Boozer, however he was so dominant at such a younger age that there could also be upside for extra.

2. AJ Dybantsa, freshman, 6-9, PF/SF, BYU

Dybantsa is clearly an outstanding scorer, averaging a jaw-dropping 39.4 factors per 100 possessions in Big 12 video games, totally on self-created pictures. He shot 56.8 % on 2s, despite the fact that lots of them had been contested pull-ups, and whereas he solely shot 33.1 % from 3, I belief his shot much more than that.

Watching him shoot earlier than video games, you see a straightforward, clear launch, and he will get nice elevation on it; the NBA degree ought to possible afford him some simpler catch-and-shoots to enhance that proportion.

In specific, Dybantsa is hell on wheels in transition, pushing his personal rebounds upcourt after which taking large strides into his finishes. He’s by no means passing as soon as he will get a head of steam, however when you had been an computerized bucket like this, you wouldn’t both.

If you’re searching for warts, he has a excessive deal with that may get away from him a bit bit, and you are concerned about NBA defenders selecting his dribble when it’s out that prime and away from him. Additionally, Dybantsa had hassle studying defenders and selecting out open teammates and relied a bit an excessive amount of on robust 2s, though this acquired higher because the season went on.

I went again and appeared traditionally on the manufacturing of different equally extremely drafted large forwards, and Dybantsa’s freshman 12 months is an analogous story: Rather a lot of these guys don’t even have overwhelming stats so far as impressing draft fashions and have considerably excessive turnover charges and underwhelming 2-point taking pictures stats, however they rating at a excessive charge and have no less than halfway-decent help charges. If you take a look at Dybantsa’s offensive stats from his one-and-done 12 months, they principally match proper in subsequent to the likes of Jayson Tatum, Brandon Ingram, RJ Barrett, Paolo Banchero, Jaylen Brown and Cade Cunningham. I’d say that’s good firm.

Where I fear extra about Dybantsa is definitely on the different finish. His charges of rebounds, steals and blocks are all unusually low for a prospect of his sort; of the gamers I listed above, Dybantsa can be a distant final in rebounds and blocks and close to the underside in steals.

Defensively, he was fairly good one-on-one as a result of he weaponizes his size, maintaining his fingers excessive and utilizing them to discourage shooters whereas permitting sufficient cushion to chop off a drive. Sometimes this resulted in him letting guys stroll right into a jumper, however as a rule, it was efficient.

The dearth of rebounds and defensive occasions relates extra to his consciousness and instincts off the ball and within the run of play; his really feel for the sport nonetheless has a methods to go. That is probably going considerably a end result of the sport being really easy for him thus far; he can simply bounce over all people and rating. When NBA defenses make it tougher for him to do this, he’ll have to develop these different colleges or danger turning into an empty-calorie scorer.

Nevertheless, this historical past of enormous forwards who can rating like that is extraordinarily constructive, and Dybantsa has a stable case to be the primary choose. Even within the worst-case situation, it’s laborious to think about him not scoring 20 a sport for years.

3. Caleb Wilson, freshman, 6-10, PF, North Carolina

A good quantity of projection has to enter this choose. Wilson has a really skinny body, can’t shoot from distance and has sequences on protection that may make you shake your head.

Even with that, his manufacturing as a freshman was phenomenal. Let’s begin right here: He continuously will get to the rim, whether or not because the initiator or rolling to the cup as a screener. Wilson took 19.3 2-point baskets per 100 possessions in ACC play and made 64.5 % of them. In different phrases, he was taking pictures contained in the arc practically as typically as Dybantsa or Kingston Flemings (beneath), however he was changing at an superior charge.

Included in these had been mouth-watering transition sequences the place he dunked on folks’s heads. He likes to push rebounds and begin hassle himself, though his dribble can get away from him. As a passer, he was fairly efficient as a 6-10 ahead, despite the fact that he wasn’t wowing you together with his reads. It’s simply a straightforward sport for him at his dimension and with the benefits he creates.

The different half of that 2-point proportion is Wilson’s shocking lower-body energy. Despite his skinny body, he’s snug powering up within the paint and taking a success and expertly spins off contact and takes lengthy strides to complete, in a manner that’s barely reminiscent of Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Now, for the unhealthy information: Defensively, Wilson has nice instruments and made disruptive performs at a excessive charge (5.4 “stocks” per 100 possessions, 2.8 of which had been steals — an incredible charge for a participant of this dimension). However, he was typically too informal at that finish and was crushed on the perimeter greater than you’d anticipate or need.

And then there’s the taking pictures. Wilson solely made seven 3-pointers all season and shot 71.3 % from the road. While Wilson is gifted sufficient to outlive within the NBA and not using a bounce shot, choosing him this extremely costs in the concept that his 3 will ultimately get to a good degree. Given that his kind doesn’t appear damaged, I don’t suppose that’s a loopy guess.

“Huge forward who can handle the ball and move” is a fairly troublesome archetype to seek out, and gamers like that may hit large even with out being knockdown shooters (witness Scottie Barnes, Franz Wagner and Pascal Siakam, for instance). Wilson’s sport can go lots of instructions from right here, and whereas the taking pictures offers him a decrease flooring than maybe anybody within the prime eight, he additionally has a crazy-high ceiling.

4. Darryn Peterson, freshman, 6-6, SG, Kansas

Peterson got here into the 12 months because the No. 1 participant on most draft boards, however his injury-riddled season at Kansas left lots of questions. In specific, the minutes he performed didn’t actually showcase him as a lead creator regardless of a excessive scoring charge. His stat line is extra of an elite 3-and-D man, which clearly nonetheless has worth, however that will be a barely disappointing final result this excessive within the draft.

The most notable stat for Peterson is 9.9 discipline objective makes an attempt for each help in Big 12 Conference play, which isn’t fairly in Cam Thomas territory however undoubtedly isn’t good for a guard prospect. You can solely blame him taking part in off-ball for some of that; most of the opposite elite wing prospects from current years averaged between 4.0 and seven.0 pictures per help. Even Dybantsa, who wasn’t precisely nicknamed the Human Assist, was at 5.0.

Peterson’s accidents and restricted minutes considerably obscured how a lot he was scoring, although; in convention video games, he averaged 40.2 factors per 100 possessions, extra even than Dybantsa. That’s partly as a result of when he went to the rim within the half court docket, he was taking pictures each time; in transition, oddly, he threw some great alley-oops. Peterson, alas, wasn’t fairly as environment friendly as he may have been on these pictures; he lacked explosion on the rim, and his left hand steadily let him down as a finisher.

Peterson’s protection grades out as a significant plus, particularly off the ball. He zips into passing lanes for steals (2.8 swipes per 100 in Big 12 play), blocked 3-pointers and customarily was a pest.

I’ve additionally buried the lede a bit: Peterson shot 38.2 % from 3 on enormous quantity and 82.6 % from the road. Given that 3-point quantity and free-throw taking pictures are the 2 greatest predictors of professional 3-point success, he has nearly as good a taking pictures projection as any participant on this draft.

Peterson should show he’s a go-to offensive choice versus a second-side finisher; if not, he nonetheless has a ton of worth, however it might take his ceiling to a special place than a top-three man. Still, any person who shapes up as “a more athletic Keaton Wagler” continues to be a heck of a participant to have.

Tier 2

5. Kingston Flemings, freshman, 6-3, PG, Houston

We have an excellent group of level guards this 12 months; I’ll have a first-round grade on no less than eight of them. Beyond that, splitting hairs amongst them is hard.

However, I like Flemings one of the best of the group as a result of of his turbo-boosted quickness and athleticism, which he makes use of to impression the sport at each ends of the ground. Flemings is particularly potent with the ball in his proper hand, stepping into pick-and-rolls with tempo and zipping one-handed crosscourt passes whereas going full velocity. He additionally will get nice elevation on his pull-ups, though he most likely depends on that shot an excessive amount of.

One motive Flemings is so pull-up heavy is that he’s a poor finisher on the cup; he’ll have to refine his steps and craft across the rim as a professional. That’s an enormous motive he shot solely 47.3 % on 2s in Big 12 play and didn’t draw fouls at a excessive charge.

The different swing talent for him, nevertheless, is his taking pictures. Flemings’ kind just isn’t superb – it comes out a bit flat and has some sidespin – and he didn’t shoot many 3s. On the opposite hand, he additionally shot 84.5 % from the road in his one season.

Defensively, I like Flemings higher off the ball than on it. He rockets from nowhere on the weak facet to get steals and is nice at turning errors into fast transitions. In isolation, nevertheless, he simply wasn’t all that particular.

Still, the open areas of the NBA ought to assist him leverage his explosiveness and maybe simplify some of his ending challenges. Flemings profiles as a Day 1 place to begin guard with All-Star upside.

6. Keaton Wagler, freshman, 6-6, PG, Illinois

Wagler has a thin body, near-zero explosiveness and ran possibly two quick breaks all the season. Yet he tormented faculty defenses within the half court docket together with his deep taking pictures vary, potential to get into his shot off the dribble and craft in beating switches with crossovers and decel Euro steps on the cup. He’s unflappable on the ball, hardly ever getting sped up, and gained’t take a foul shot.

While he has deep taking pictures vary, he wasn’t fairly as elite total as highlights make it appear, hitting 39.7 % from 3 and 79.6 % from the road. Wagler partly offset that by drawing fouls at a surprising charge for any person together with his construct.

The system at Illinois undoubtedly benefited Wagler, with a surfeit of pick-and-pop bigs surrounding him, and I’m notably to see him play at NBA velocity after strolling the ball up the court docket each play for the Illini. Forget getting sped up by opponents; he’s going to be sped up by the eight-second rule.

Wagler additionally solely shot 47.1 % on 2s in Big Ten play and didn’t have the sterling help charge of Flemings or Darius Acuff Jr. (beneath), and his low steal charge stands out (in a foul manner) for a guard prospect, though he did use his size to dam bounce pictures on a number of events.

One different factor I like about Wagler is that he has a number of pathways to success; he’s such a great shooter that he can fill an off-ball function fairly simply if being the principle engine is an excessive amount of for him. In that sense, he has a excessive diploma of security.

7. Darius Acuff Jr., freshman, 6-2, PG, Arkansas

Offensively, Acuff confirmed greater than the opposite two level guards in his lone faculty season, burning defenses with deep taking pictures vary and a powerful pull-up sport whereas additionally proving himself a deft passer. (He led the SEC in each factors and assists.) In addition to his half-court pick-and-roll sport, he’s nice at throwing alley-oops in transition.

However, questions stay as to how that scales to the NBA sport. Acuff must be a high-usage, high-volume offensive engine as a result of his protection is terrible. Both his steal and rebound charges are in red-flag territory for a guard prospect, though he did no less than block pictures with some frequency. He’s not as small as, say, Trae Young, however the defensive projection won’t be a complete lot higher. Additionally, I’ll word that steals are normally a “feel” indicator for offensive growth; even Young had a a lot greater steal charge as a collegian than Acuff.

Offensively, Acuff was a magician in Arkansas’ SEC match run, however the full-season tape had a number of warts when you look shut sufficient – he’s very right-handed within the open court docket and acquired his dribble picked in transition greater than you’d anticipate.

Still, Acuff grades out as an offensive engine with Damian Lillard-esque upside. If he’s merely “good” offensively, although, his protection could restrict his total worth case.

Darius Acuff Jr. has the potential to be a high-usage offensive engine in the suitable scenario. (Troy Wayrynen / Imagn Images)

8. Brayden Burries, freshman, 6-4, SG, Arizona

When a freshman guard shoots 57.1 % on 2s within the Big 12, you are taking discover. When he does it whereas taking pictures 39.1 % from 3, rebounding like an influence ahead and taking part in stable protection for one of one of the best groups within the nation … yeah, that’s elite stuff. Burries can be a top-five choose on my board in lots of years, however the energy of this 12 months’s class pushes him to eighth.

Burries doesn’t fairly profile as a lead guard, however he can shoot and get to the cup, particularly in transition. He loves taking his personal rebounds and pushing them down the court docket, and he loves taking pictures pull-up 3s on the finish of these forays. His ending will be very right-handed, however he assaults from both facet on his push.

Oddly, Burries’ total 3-point quantity was fairly low in an Arizona system that was principally allergic to 3-pointers (Arizona was 363rd out of 365 Division I faculties in 3-point try frequency). However, he shot 80.5 % from the road, and his stroke appeared pure after I watched him pregame the 2 occasions I noticed Arizona in individual.

Defensively, Burries was stable on the ball however nothing particular; his impression was felt extra as a pest who nabbed 2.8 steals per 100 in Big 12 play. He additionally has a really stable body that ought to insulate him in opposition to NBA physicality and, as famous above, punches above his top on the glass.

Tier 3

9. Yaxel Lendeborg, senior, 6-9, SF/PF, Michigan

An athletic ahead whose profession trajectory possible will land someplace between James Johnson and Jalen Johnson, Lendeborg is a draft anomaly as an historical 23-year-old who nonetheless was so good that he needs to be a top-10 choose.

Lendeborg was arguably one of the best participant in faculty basketball whereas main Michigan to a nationwide title, and lots of what he did greatest ought to translate immediately. He is a Day 1 defensive stopper who possible shall be assigned to protect some of one of the best gamers within the league instantly. He can defend one by way of 5 and, when he’s not beginning, might need lots of use as a junk-ball middle with second items.

Lendeborg is a improbable rebounder who pushes his personal rebounds in transition and creates havoc on the different finish as a result of of it. He makes good passes on the transfer and may deal with the ball, and when you don’t cease him, he’s going to place you on a poster. Just take a look at his annihilation dunk in opposition to Saint Louis within the second spherical of the NCAA Tournament when you don’t imagine me; he ought to get drafted on that play alone.

Lendeborg’s greatest weak point is an iffy 3-point shot and a restricted one-on-one sport within the half court docket, however he’s so good in so many different areas that he’ll assist a group even when he shoots 30 % from 3. He could be fairly a bit higher, truly; he improved to 37.2 % from 3 final season on pretty important quantity and made 80.5 % from the road.

His age limits his upside considerably, however Lendeborg is a late bloomer who continues to be coming into his sport. Finding a much bigger participant who can dribble, cross and defend in house is one of essentially the most difficult areas of team-building; Lendeborg checks each field.

10. Aday Mara, junior, 7-3, C, Michigan

Mara got here to UCLA as a freshman in 2023 with lots of buzz however failed to achieve a lot instant traction, together with his first identify precisely reflecting how lengthy it took him to alter ends.

He’s come a great distance since then, actually taking part in an enormous function in Michigan’s run to the nationwide title. Mara’s dimension makes him a helpful rim-runner, however he additionally maximizes his offensive impression with nice short-range contact on hook pictures and floaters. He has a pleasant really feel for passing out of the block as effectively and is aware of find out how to really feel strain on his again and spin away from it to get to this shot.

Mara is fairly gradual on the perimeter and certain shall be far more snug in drop protection however instructions the lane and posted a 12.0 % block charge with out being notably foul-prone.

His different large subject is taking pictures; he has contact, however his kind from the perimeter continues to be a piece in progress. Mara shot 56.4 % from the road final season and 58.5 % for his faculty profession.

Mara is one of the best “true” middle on this draft, by a mile (versus smaller, hybrid bigs like Boozer or Mara’s Michigan teammate Morez Johnson). If a group has a necessity for a middle that it needs to fill on a managed wage for the subsequent 4 years, its choices are just about Mara and Mara.

Tier 4

11. Nate Ament, freshman, 6-10, SF, Tennessee

A real wing at 6-10 who can deal with the ball and shoot, Ament suits essentially the most desired talent archetype, which pushes his standing forward of a number of different one-and-dones who arguably had higher faculty seasons. He additionally didn’t get to point out his greatest on the scout-packed convention tournaments and NCAA rounds, as a result of he was gutting his manner by way of a late-season ankle sprain.

The greatest impression of Ament’s dimension was on the heaps of fouls he drew. Despite a skinny body and restricted explosion he averaged 14.3 free-throw makes an attempt per 100 possessions in convention video games, essentially the most of any prospect on this 12 months’s draft cycle. He likes to get into gradual Euro steps across the basket, and if he doesn’t draw a foul, he struggles to complete (simply 44.9 % on 2s in SEC video games – yikes!). But he additionally didn’t get a lot assist from Tennessee’s constipated spacing that normally had two non-shooting bigs clogging the paint on his drives. Improving his left hand across the basket would additionally assist.

As a shooter, Ament has good footwork for his dimension catching on the transfer and taking pictures however didn’t take an enormous quantity of 3s and made 33.3 % for the season and 79.0 % from the road. Defensively, the story is comparable; he had low charges of blocks and steals and principally let his size do the work, though he held up on the glass (11.6 % rebound charge in convention video games).

As an Atlantan, I can’t assist however see lots of Zaccharie Risacher in Ament’s sport; the important thing distinction is that Ament has much more on-ball juice for self-creating pictures. I had Risacher slotted thirteenth within the 2024 draft and see Ament equally, though I’m a bit rosier on Ament — a late lottery choose with plus starter upside if his outdoors taking pictures develops.

12. Karim Lopez, 6-8, SF, New Zealand Breakers

I’m an enormous fan of drafting large wings and forwards since they’re typically essentially the most troublesome commodity to seek out in free company or trades. As I’ve typically mentioned, abroad league stats are a a lot better inform on a participant’s NBA potential than lots of folks appear to suppose. That Lopez was a great participant in a midway respectable league as a youngster is a constructive sign.

Lopez’s stats from the Australian NBL aren’t overwhelming, however they appear lots higher when you think about that he solely turned 19 a month in the past. The standout options are that he shot 58.1 % on 2s and averaged over three “stocks” (steals + blocks) per 36 minutes, roughly evenly break up. He additionally had a stable 13.1 % rebound charge in a bodily league.

At this level, he depends lots on energy and athleticism and continues to be refining his talent degree, though he does have a pleasant midrange stepback he can get to when he has a bonus within the paint. He shot 32.2 % from 3 and 73.9 % from the road; the shot continues to be a piece in progress, however he’s on a trajectory to develop into moderately threatening from distance. Compared to Ament above, he’s higher ending within the paint proper now however not fairly as far alongside as a shooter.

13. Mikel Brown, freshman, 6-5, SG, Louisville

Brown had top-five buzz coming into the season, however a again harm and a few inconsistent play dampened the passion for him a bit. Team medical staffs might want to get a learn on his again on the mix, however assuming it’s not a deal-breaker, he’s nonetheless clearly a lottery expertise. (I additionally talked to Brown about his prospects in January.)

Brown performed as an on-ball guard at Louisville however was wracked by an enormous turnover charge. However, very like Peterson above, I believe he has a backstop as a powerful 3-and-D man. While his protection wasn’t constant, the tape confirmed he has a extremely good first slide that persistently lower off an opponent’s first transfer, and he’s good in passing lanes.

Offensively, he has an excellent left hand across the rim, however his different sport contained in the paint wants work; along with the huge turnover charge, he solely shot 47.4 % on 2s in ACC play.

However, the taking pictures piece is maybe getting underrated. Brown made 38.1 % from 3 on practically the best 3-point quantity of any participant on this draft cycle, and he shot 82.2 % from the road. Watching his taking pictures kind makes it clear that wasn’t a fluke; this man can stroke it. That piece of his sport figures to be a weapon regardless of whether or not he is usually a high-usage on-ball participant on the subsequent degree.

Mikel Brown suffered a again harm through the season however is clearly nonetheless a lottery expertise.  (Jim Dedmon / Imagn Images)

Tier 5

14. Dailyn Swain, junior, 6-8, SF, Texas

I’m unsure he’s actually going to measure 6-8 on the mix, however Swain checks the field for small ahead dimension and talent that’s so laborious to seek out within the NBA. I’ve had my eyes on him since his freshman 12 months at Xavier, and he’s lastly developed sufficient of a fringe menace to make a go of it on the subsequent degree.

Swain is an efficient athlete who can get downhill and create pictures on the rim for himself and others; he shot 60.2 % on 2s in SEC play, whilst he left cash on the desk at occasions with some wild finishes that would use additional refinement. He’s additionally a beast on the glass who posted a 13.6 % rebound charge and a continuing menace as an off-ball ballhawk who swiped a formidable 3.0 steals per 100 possessions in league play.

The most notable growth has come as a shooter. Swain nonetheless has a flicky set shot that takes him some time to load up, however he made a good 34.4 % of them this season after hardly ever taking 3s at Xavier. More notably, his profession 81.5 % free-throw mark augurs effectively for his continued growth as a 3-point weapon.

Realistically, Swain is an vitality bench participant when he first will get to the league. His on-ball protection isn’t fairly ok to mark him as a stopper, and he nonetheless wants to ascertain himself extra firmly as an open 3-point shooter. But he has comparatively clear starter upside at what is continually a place of want, and he’s principally the final high quality large wing left on the board.

No. 15. Sergio de Larrea, 6-5, SG/PG, Valencia

De Larrea being a great participant in a troublesome league (Spain) as a youngster isn’t getting sufficient consideration. He doesn’t have the overwhelming athleticism that will have groups fawning over him and shall be common at greatest on protection. Historically, nevertheless, gamers who play this effectively in good abroad leagues at this age find yourself being impression gamers within the NBA.

De Larrea can’t rank any greater as a result of he most likely doesn’t profile as a real on-ball lead guard; he struggles to get separation and will most likely velocity up the windup on his shot. However, he’s a real combo guard reminiscent of any person like Bogdan Bogdanović, a threatening shooter (42.1 % from 3, 80.6 % from the road) who can also deal with the ball and throw spicy passes out of pick-and-rolls. He chilled on the recent sauce a bit this season after an enormous turnover charge in 2024-25 put a damper on an in any other case stable 12 months, however he nonetheless makes an attempt some daring passes.

De Larrea’s taking pictures mechanics look good, however he appears to have that gradual windup. He nonetheless managed to take a couple of each seven minutes in Spain; he’ll possible want to spice up that quantity additional within the NBA. Overall, I see a rotation flooring for him with the upside to be a plus starter.