Cooper Flagg, Ace Bailey, and other rising basketball stars are eagerly preparing to join the NBA. With time ticking, the 2025 NBA playoffs will soon be set, followed by crowning the league champion.
While the 2024 draft wasn’t considered very strong, next year’s draft promises to be loaded with talent. One standout is Egor Demin, who ranks in the top 10 according to leading sports publications. So, who will shine brightest in the 2025 draft?
The NCAA basketball season starts in early November, and players are gearing up for one of the biggest moments in their careers—playing in the top college league in the world. Well-known draft analyst Jonathan Givony appeared on NBA Today, sharing his thoughts on this impressive group of prospects.
“If the draft were today, Cooper Flagg would likely be the first overall pick. But there’s a long season ahead, and it’s an outstanding group of prospects. If you’re looking for competition for that No. 1 spot, Ace Bailey is an amazing athlete. NBA scouts I spoke with last week were blown away by him. They think he could be the biggest long-term talent in this draft,” Givony said.
Givony continued, saying, “Cooper Flagg is a special prospect, but his competition is strong. This is the best draft class I’ve seen in 20 years, and I’m excited to see how things play out.”
After his analysis, Givony shared his ranking of top 2025 draft prospects: Flagg at 51%, Bailey at 25%, Dylan Harper and VJ Edgecomb each with 10%, and French player Nolan Traore at 4%.
These are just the top names according to Givony, but many other talented players are part of the 2025 draft class. For example, Haman Maluach, only 17, has already competed in the Olympics for South Sudan and played in the World Championship a year before.
Tre Johnson and Liam McNeely are also making waves in American college basketball. And let’s not forget Egor Demin, who has joined Brigham Young University under the guidance of former NBA coach Kevin Young.
Demin received a star welcome when introduced to his team, but as Givony pointed out, there’s a long and challenging season ahead. Hugo Gonzalez, Demin’s former teammate at Real Madrid, also stands out.
The Spanish player chose to stay in Europe for another season before heading to the NBA.
These are just a few of the top 10 picks in the draft, but plenty of other talents could emerge as future stars. After all, it’s not about where you’re picked; it’s what you do once you’re in the league that counts. Keep working, keep improving, and keep pushing forward.
