NBA Draft prospects 2025: Final big board of top 60 players overall, ranked with player comparisons

NBA Draft week is here, meaning 59 draft hopefuls are one step closer to learning where their new NBA home will be.

Since before the process officially began, Cooper Flagg has been viewed as a generational prospect and the consensus No. 1 in the 2025 NBA Draft class. After the combine and pre-draft process, that much has remained the same. While the class features many talented players, it is headlined by Duke's consensus All-American.

With Flagg headlining the class, several other prospects stand to make an immediate impact at the next level. Recent history reminds us that game-changers can be found throughout the draft, placing the breadth of each draft class into focus — from elite prospects at the top to sleepers who may not hear their names called until Day 2.

📲 Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp

With the draft on the horizon, here's Sporting News' final big board of 60 prospects based on combine measurements and feedback from the pre-draft process.

MORE NBA DRAFT NEWS:

• Full list of all 59 picks in 2025 NBA Draft
• Examining the 6 safest NBA Draft picks in 2025
• Who are the riskiest picks in the 2025 NBA Draft?

NBA Draft prospects 2025

1. Cooper Flagg, Duke

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

Any conversations about the 2025 draft class begin with Flagg, the 6-9 All-American from Duke.

The youngest player in the draft class, Flagg averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists during his lone season with the Blue Devils. He's got the skills and physical tools to make an immediate impact in the league, with his most NBA-ready skills lying on the defensive end. 

MORE: Why Cooper Flagg is a can't-miss No. 1 pick | Inside Cooper Flagg's top NBA comparisons

2. Dylan Harper, Rutgers

• Age: 19
• Position: G
• Height: 6-6

Harper has long been viewed as the second-best prospect in this year's draft class and that remains the same in the final days before selections are made.

Team success wasn't there in Piscataway, N.J., last season, but Harper displayed his pro readiness with the Scarlet Knights. In a time where big lead guards are in, Harper has a 6-6 frame and an innate feel for the game, which can be attributed to the NBA DNA inherited from his father, five-time champion Ron Harper.

3. VJ Edgecombe, Baylor | Bahamas

• Age: 19
• Position: G
• Height: 6-4

With exceptional athleticism and an NBA-ready frame, Edgecombe has the potential to be a game-changer on defense from Day 1. Offensively, he's still raw, but he has shown the potential to figure it out in the right situation.

Thanks to time with the Bahamian Senior Men's National Team, Edgecombe has experience competing at a high level, and he's unfazed by big moments. His league-ready skill and potential land him at No. 3.

MORE: How VJ Edgecombe's athleticism sets him apart from other draft prospects

4. Ace Bailey, Rutgers

• Age: 18
• Position: G/F
• Height: 6-7

When it comes to talent, there's no denying that Bailey has a ton of it. He's a polarizing prospect due to his inclination to take tough shots, but his talent and skill level allow him to make them.

Bailey is a few inches shorter than initially listed, a fact that has slightly impacted public perception. Still, he's a long, rangy wing that scores with ease and averaged 17.6 points and 7.2 rebounds last season with Rutgers.

5. Jeremiah Fears, Oklahoma

• Age: 18
• Position: G
• Height: 6-4

Fears is a gamer, something he put on display while being the guy for the Sooners in 2024-25.

Despite turning 18 just weeks before the season began, Fears was one of the SEC's top performers, finishing his lone season at Oklahoma averaging 17.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game. Teams will be enamored with Fears' competitive nature and the ability to get downhill to create for himself and others.

6. Kon Knueppel, Duke

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

Knueppel is an elite 3-point shooter who does much more than shoot the 3 well. His skills encapsulate what is valued most in today's game.

During his lone season at Duke, Knueppel sank 94 3-pointers at a 40.6 percent clip and shot 91.4 percent from the free-throw line. He also displayed his playmaking by ranking third on the team with 107 assists in 2024-25. His ability to make plays off the bounce separates him from other typical shooters.

MORE: How Kon Knueppel proved his standing as a lottery pick at Duke

7. Tre Johnson, Texas

• Age: 19
• Position: G
• Height: 6-6

Johnson's got a strong case to be the best scorer in this draft class, and he's got a case to be the class' best shooter, too.

As talented as the loaded SEC was last season, Johnson led all players with 19.9 points per game, turning in the best season from a Texas freshman since a guy named Kevin Durant. Situations often impact rookies' ability to put their prolific scoring on display right away, but Johnson will figure it out. How soon is the question. 

8. Khaman Maluach, Duke | South Sudan 

• Age: 18
• Position: C
• Height: 7-2

The potential with Maluach is endless. As a relative newcomer to the game, the big man is gaining his bearings on the court.

He fits the modern-day mold of a rim-protecting lob threat and may continue to add wrinkles to his game, like the 3-point shot he briefly displayed while representing South Sudan internationally. In many ways, Maluach is a blank canvas, which should excite teams in the top 10.

MORE: How Khaman Maluach's measurements compare to Victor Wembanyama

9. Kasparas Jakucionis, Illinois | Lithuania

• Age: 19
• Position: G
• Height: 6-6

The big lead guard is in, and Jakucionis is another member of this class who fits the mold.

With a game that is equal parts style and substance, Jakucionis led Illinois to a 22-13 record in 2024-25. He finished his only season of college basketball with averages of 15.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game. As someone who has competed internationally, Jakucionis' transition to the NBA could be smoother than that of a typical rookie.

10. Noa Essengue, Ratiopharm Ulm (Germany) | France

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

The trend of French prospects making an impact in the league will continue with Essengue, an 18-year-old with worlds of potential. 

In his second season of professional basketball with Ulm in Germany, Essengue has come on strong with some standout performances. While he's still raw and developing physically, Essengue has the feel and physical tools to become the type of rangy two-way player that is valued in the modern game.

MORE NBA DRAFT NEWS:

• Ranking the 16 biggest NBA Draft busts of all time
• Every NBA team's biggest draft regret in team history
• Who are the biggest Duke busts in NBA history?
• Everything to know about how the NBA Draft works

Final 2025 NBA Draft big board