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April 2025

2025 NBA Mock Draft 2.0

by Carl Berman
written by Carl Berman

Version 2.1 (May 3, 2025)

This is still basically a Big Board. We will base some selections on team needs after the draft lottery is completed.

Round 1

  1. Utah – Cooper Flagg, 6’9/205, CF, Duke, Freshman
  2. Washington – Dylan Harper, 6’6/220, PG, Rutgers, Freshman
  3. Charlotte – V.J. Edgecombe, 6’4/180, SG, Baylor, Freshman
  4. New Orleans – Ace Bailey, 6’9/200, CF, Rutgers, Freshman
  5. Philadelphia – Tre Johnson, 6’6/185, SG, Texas, Freshman
  6. Brooklyn – Kasparas Jakucionis, 6’6/205, PG, Illinois (Lithuania), Freshman
  7. Toronto – Kon Knueppel, 6’7/215, SF, Duke, Freshman
  8. San Antonio – Khaman Maluach, 7’2/245, C, Duke (South Sudan), Freshman
  9. Houston (via PHX)  – Derik Queen, 6’10/245, C, Maryland, Freshman
  10. Portland – Jeremiah Fears, 6’4/185, PG, Oklahoma, Freshman
  11. Miami – Egor Demin, 6’9/190, PG, BYU (Russia), Freshman
  12. Dallas – Jase Richardson, 6’3/185, CG, Michigan State, Freshman
  13. Chicago – Noa Essengue, 6’9/195, SF, France, International
  14. Atlanta (via SAC) – Carter Bryant, 6’8/225, CF, Arizona, Freshman
  15. San Antonio (via SAC) – Liam McNeeley, 6’8/185, SF, UConn, Freshman
  16. Orlando – Nolan Traore, 6’3/185, PG, France, International
  17. Minnesota (via DET) – Nique Clifford, 6’6/200, SG, Colorado State, Senior
  18. Miami (via GSW) – Thomas Sorber, 6’10/250, C, Georgetown, Freshman
  19. Washington (via MEM) – Collin Murray-Boyles, 6’7/230, CF, South Carolina, Soph.
  20. Brooklyn (via MIL) – Asa Newell, 6’10/205, Georgia, Freshman
  21. Utah (via MIN) – Rasheer Fleming, 6’9/245, PF, St. Joseph’s, Junior
  22. Atlanta (via LAL) – Walter Clayton Jr., 6’3/195, PG, Florida, Senior
  23. Indiana – Labaron Philon, 6’4/180, CG, Alabama, Freshman
  24. Orlando (via DEN) – Ben Saraf, 6’5/200, PG, Israel, International
  25. Oklahoma City (via LAC) – Will Riley, 6’9/195, SG, Illinois, Freshman
  26. Brooklyn (via NYK) – Karter Knox, 6’6/225, SF, Arkansas, Freshman
  27. Brooklyn (via HOU) – Hugo Gonzalez, 6’6/205, SF, Spain, International
  28. Boston – Yaxel Lendeborg, 6’9/240, PF, UAB, Senior
  29. Phoenix (via CLE) – Kam Jones, 6’5/200, CG, Marquette, Senior
  30. LA Clippers (via OKC) – Danny Wolf, 7’0/250, C, Michigan, Junior

31. Minnesota (via UTAH) – Boogie Fland, 6’2/185, PG, Arkansas

32. Boston (via WAS) – Sergio de Larrea, 6’6/200, PG, Spain, International

33. Charlotte – Joan Beringer, 6’10/230, PF, France, International

34. Charlotte (via NOP) – Tahaad Pettiford, 6’1/175, PG, Auburn, Freshman

35. Philadelphia – Johni Broome, 6’10/240, C, Auburn, Senior

36. Brooklyn – Darrion Williams, 6’6/225, SF, Texas Tech, Junior

37. Detroit (via TOR) – Alex Condon, 6’11/250, C, Florida, Sophomore

38. San Antonio – Ryan Kalkbrenner, 7’1/250, C, Creighton, Senior

39. Toronto (via POR) – Drake Powell, 6’6/195, SF, North Carolina, Freshman

40. Washington (via PHX) – Adou Thiero, 6’8/220, CF, Arkansas, Junior

41. Golden State (via MIA) – Tyrese Proctor, 6’5/185, CG, Duke, Junior

42. Sacramento (via CHI) – Bojoljub Markovic, 6’11/190, CF, Serbia, International

43.  Utah (via DAL) – Maxime Raynaud, 7’1/245, C, Stanford (France), Senior

44. Oklahoma City (via ATL) – Chaz Lanier, 6’5/210, SG, Tennessee, Senior

45.  Sacramento – Noah Penda, 6’7/225, CF, France, International

46.  Orlando – Alex Toohey, 6’8/225, SF, Australia, International

47.  Milwaukee (via DET) – Cedric Coward, 6’6/206, SF, Washington State/Duke, Senior

48. Cleveland (via) MIL – Hansen Yang, 7’1/250, C, China, Iternational

49. New York (via MEM) –  Izan Almansa, 6’10/215, PF/C, Spain, International

50. Memphis (via GSW) – Milos Uzan, 6’4/210, PG, Houston. Junior

51. LA Clippers (via MIN) – Sion James, 6’6/220, SG, Duke, Senior

52. Utah (via LAC) – Rocco Zikarsky, 7’3/230, C, Australia, International

53. Phoenix (via DEN) – Dink Pate, 6’8/210, SF, G-League

54. Indiana – John Tonje, 6’5/218, SG, Wisconsin, Senior

55. LA Lakers – Koby Brea, 6’7/215, SG, Kentucky, Senior

56. Memphis (via HOU) – Max Shulga, 6’5/210, SG, VCU, Senior

57. Orlando (via BOS) – Payton Sandfort, 6’8/215, SF, Iowa, Senior

58. Cleveland – Eric Dixon, 6’8/260, PF, Villanova, Senior

59. Houston (via OKC) – Hunter Sallis, 6’5/175, CG, Wake Forest, Senior

This mock draft is the work of Carl Berman, Managing Partner of NetScouts Basketball.

Top Players from USA’s OT Win at the Nike Hoop Summit

by Carl Berman
written by Carl Berman

Portland, OR – The USA men’s team needed overtime to get past the World team 124-114 at the Nike Hoop Summit which was held at the Moda Center on Saturday evening. The USA was led by 24 points from both AJ Dybantsa (BYU) and Darius Acuff Jr. (Arkansas). Dybantsa scored most of his points in the first half while Acuff Jr. came on in the second half. Cameron Boozer (Duke) added an impressive 22 points, 16 rebounds, six assists and three steals. Trey McKinney (Michigan) also came on late and finished with 22 points.  6’5 Tounde Yessoufou (Baylor) led the World team with 24 points.

Most of us who were at the practices during the week thought the USA team would likely win the game by a fairly large margin, so the competitiveness of the game was a bit of a surprise. The World team took a nine-point lead into halftime. Then the USA used a 37-point third quarter to storm out to a 15-point lead. The World team then made a late comeback and tied the game at 98 on a Yessoufou layup to send the game to overtime. McKinney helped the USA take control in  overtime with nine points and Mikel Brown Jr. (Louisville) closed the game out with ten points at the foul line. The 124 points scored by the USA was a Hoop Summit record.

Much has been written about the top USA players (Dybantsa, Cameron Boozer, Acuff Jr. etc.) so we’ll review some of the World players that impressed us during the game and at the practices earlier in the week.

Yessoufou was the most impressive World player, both in the game and at the practices. At 6’5”+ and 216 pounds he’s a strong lead guard who can score on penetration as well as from outside. The Baylor commit has the strength and ability to step right into a starting role as a freshman. Yessoufou is from Benin and is ranked No. 14 in the 2025 class.

Dame Sarr, a 6’7.5” shooting guard from Italy impressed with 17 points and four rebounds. Sarr checks all the boxes for an NBA level shooting guard and has a 6’11.75” wingspan. He has been in the Barcelona club system since 2022 and played for their top team in Liga Endesa this season, averaging 5.8 points in 13.4 minutes per game. Sarr has excelled in the European youth championships he played in, averaging in double-figures. Sarr appears likely to play in college next season with Illinois, Duke and other high majors in the picture.

Bogoljub Markovic, a 6’11 forward from Serbia was solid with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Markovic showed the ability to score inside and out, connecting on 3-of-4 three-pointers and 6-of-7 from the field overall.  This season he averaged 13.7 points on 39.1% three-point shooting, with 6.7 rebounds and 2.6 assists playing for Mega in the Adriatic League. He’s projected as an early second round pick in the upcoming NBA Draft.

UConn recruit Eric Reibe, a 6’11.75” center from Germany showed a nice skill set during the week and had 11 points and eight rebounds in the game. Reibe is another big who can score inside and out and runs the floor well. He’s had some injury problems in the past but if he can stay healthy, he’ll be in UConn’s rotation next season.

This article was written by Carl Berman, Managing Partner of NetScouts Basketball. You can follow us on Facebook, or on twitter.

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