2025 NBA Draft: Top 50 Prospects to Watch in March Madness

March Madness is finally here as college basketball’s top players enter the NCAA tournament spotlight, giving NBA scouts the platform to get one last look at the many 2025 draft prospects competing before spring combines.

The top of the class has been occupied all season by Duke’s Cooper Flagg, who is the projected No. 1 pick in June’s draft.

Along with Flagg, who are the tournament’s players whom NBA scouts have their eyes on?

ESPN NBA draft insiders Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo provide their list of the top 50 prospects to watch over the next few weeks. This list only includes players participating in the NCAA tournament, not to be confused with ESPN’s Top 100 rankings. Players such as Rutgers freshmen Dylan Harper (No. 2 in the Top 100) and Ace Bailey (No. 3) were omitted because of their team not qualifying for the field of 68.

Notes: All times are ET. True shooting percentage (TS%) is a formula that blends field goal percentage with free throw shooting and 3-point shooting into one catch-all ratio.

Augustas, the son of Basketball Hall of Famer Sarunas Marciulionis, has carved out his own niche, winning West Coast Conference Player of the Year back-to-back. The 6-foot-4 point guard is a skilled ball handler who plays with pace and feel. He controls tempo while using and rejecting ball screens and finding teammates, unselfishly whipping the ball all over the court.

Marciulionis is a competitive defender with high-level intensity and smarts, playing a key role in Saint Mary’s top-10 ranked defense. Not blessed with elite explosiveness or scoring prowess, his streaky perimeter shooting and finishing ability will be tested against Vanderbilt. — Givony

Ivisic became one of the most underrated big men in college basketball this season after following his twin brother, Zvonimir (who plays for Arkansas), to the United States. He made the jump to Illinois from the Adriatic League, supplying plus-passing ability operating in the middle of the floor and playing a reliable brand of basketball.

While not a clear-cut case for this year’s draft — another year in college would prove beneficial to sharpen his game and better showcase his offense — there are NBA teams already drawn to his size and skill level at the center position. If Illinois can string tournament wins together, Ivisic should benefit from more exposure. — Woo

Moore broke out in a major way during his final season in college, putting his tremendous physical tools to use while scoring from all over the floor for the Sooners. He is powerful running the floor, attacking in a straight line and drawing fouls with his ripped frame; he converted a strong 39% of his 3-pointers, albeit on a small sample of makes (43 in 33 games).

Moore isn’t as impactful a defender or rebounder as one might hope despite his length and explosiveness. He’s a step slow with his awareness, which also manifests with his lack of passing ability. He’s undersized for a power forward and will need to buy into that end of the floor more consistently as a pro. — Givony

After starting his college career at North Dakota State, Nelson has become a much better all-around player after two seasons at Alabama, and he will likely get a chance to earn a back-end roster spot in the NBA.

While not a great shooter (29% from 3 over five college seasons), Nelson has some legitimate perimeter functionality at his size and has upped his effort and toughness as a rebounder and defender. The dearth of 6-foot-11 players with his skill set will earn him looks from pro teams. — Woo

Arriving at Kentucky after winning three straight Coastal Athletic Association Defensive Player of the Year awards at Drexel, Williams has been a solid performer with NBA-caliber size and length. While not a polished scorer by any means, he has shown plus-passing ability at his position.

Williams has put himself in the mix for a two-way contract, with NBA teams constantly searching for depth at center — a position that could turn out somewhat thin in this draft class. His tools, rebounding ability and chance to be a passable defender, should see him make the back end of a pro roster. — Woo

Swain passes the eye test as a future NBA wing with an intriguing frame (220 pounds). Most of his value comes on the defensive end, where he fills up the stat sheet with rebounds, steals and blocks. He brings strong versatility guarding all over the floor in Xavier’s switch-heavy scheme. Swain made significant strides this season, mostly pushing in the open floor and operating in pick-and-roll, but he has a long way to go with his jump shot, hitting 4-for-22 3s in the season (but 83% of his career free throw attempts).

He has a huge opportunity matching up with a projected top-five pick in Texas and Tre Johnson in the First Four in Dayton, Ohio. Most scouts consider Swain a 2026 draft prospect, but it’s never too early to build his candidacy by showing how he can shut down an elite scorer such as Johnson. — Givony

Milicic transferred from Charlotte and became an immediate lineup fixture at Tennessee, offering inside-out versatility that’s not easy to find at the college level. Though not a big-time scorer, he proved to be an effective complement to the Vols’ guards and has solid feel and skill level at his size, capable of knocking down the occasional shot from range (35% for his career).

Milicic doesn’t truly excel in any one area in an NBA sense, but he offers appeal as a potential two-way contract option thanks to his frame and flashes of potential defensively. — Woo

The American Athletic Conference player of the year, Haggerty is one of college basketball’s best scorers, putting pressure on opposing defenses with his dynamic ballhandling and lethal first step. He’s a menace one-on-one and pushing in the open court, drawing free throw attempts almost at will. With a slight frame, a low release on his jumper (taking only 2.9 3-pointers per game compared with 11.6 2s) and inconsistent decision-making and defensive engagement, Haggerty has questions to answer about how his bucket-getting prowess could translate to the NBA.

There is a market for players with his scoring instincts and aggressiveness, though, and the fact that his style of play has driven winning all season bodes well for his outlook. How he performs in the tournament will help scouts determine if he can make the jump to the pros or if he is best suited to return for his final season of eligibility, likely as one of the highest-paid guards in college. — Givony

Clayton, a first-team All-SEC member and All-American, was the leading scorer and offensive engine of Florida’s No. 1 seed NCAA tournament ranking and SEC championship run. One of the best shotmakers in college, he leans into his role of creating chaos for opposing defenses with his speed and unpredictable nature. Boasting average size, length and strength, and somewhat feast or famine with his defense and passing, Clayton’s ability to make good decisions in Florida’s biggest moments during the tournament will be scrutinized by NBA teams.

There isn’t a huge appetite among scouts for smaller combo guards, but Clayton’s scoring instincts, productivity and the way he has driven winning all season shouldn’t be ignored. — Givony

Three-point shooting (43% for his career) has been Brea’s calling card for five college seasons, something that translated immediately after transferring from Dayton to play a season at Kentucky. While it’s the only NBA-caliber skill he has at this stage, it’s an important one, and he offers enough size on the wing to get his shot off and potentially hold his own as a specialist.

That should be enough to get him in the mix for a potential two-way contract as he works to earn a spot on the end of an NBA bench. — Woo

The Big East Player of the Year, Luis did a little bit of everything helping coach Rick Pitino claim a No. 2 seed along with the regular-season and conference tournament championships. He generates rebounds, steals and blocks prolifically, playing hard on both ends and getting to the free throw line in bunches off his aggressiveness and willingness to seek out contact. He has made big plays for St. John’s all season off his fearless nature, embodying the Red Storm’s bully-ball style with the way he punishes opponents and flies over the court.

Luis’ shooting, with wonky mechanics and career 31% 3-point accuracy, raises questions about how his game translates to higher settings, as his decision-making inside the arc also can leave much to be desired. The 22-year-old has another year of eligibility and will have a difficult decision ahead of him considering his team’s season and the individual accolades he garnered. — Givony

Ivisic has been on the radar of NBA teams for years, entering and withdrawing from the 2022 and 2023 drafts before enrolling at Kentucky (and then landing at Arkansas). He has long intrigued scouts with his unicorn potential at his height, hitting 3-pointers in bunches, blocking shots prolifically and, every so often, exploding for huge games.

Ivisic has been frustratingly inconsistent simultaneously, with wild swings in productivity, struggling to play through contact and showing concerning lapses in awareness on both ends of the floor. He seems likely to return to college next season, but he has the type of talent that will be closely monitored, as stretch bigs in this mold are difficult to come by. — Givony

Smith, the Big Ten Player of the Year, has turned heads from a pro perspective in spite of his major limitations with size (170 pounds) and physicality. He starred this season with Zach Edey off to the pros and Purdue playing a more guard-friendly style, shooting close to 40% from 3 on good volume and leading the conference in assists.

One of the toughest and smartest floor leaders as a junior, Smith could likely make more money returning to college but has forced NBA scouts to think harder about his candidacy as a potential depth player. — Woo

Playing at his third school in six years, Tonje broke out as an All-American for Wisconsin, improving his NBA outlook significantly despite turning 24 next month. Tonje’s combination of size, strength, aggressiveness and scoring instincts are difficult to match up with at the college level, especially when he is making perimeter shots like he did in several impressive outings this season. He is a load getting downhill in the open court, attacking closeouts and with straight line drives out of pick-and-roll, absorbing contact in the lane and living at the free throw line, helping him score with impressive efficiency.

Tonje is an average passer and not showing great awareness off the ball defensively. There are questions about how Tonje’s style will translate, as the track record of older NBA players in his mold isn’t great, historically speaking. — Givony

Tugler, the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, brings an exceptional combination of length (7-foot-6 wingspan), mobility and versatility, leading all draft prospects with his 13% block percentage. No college player is asked to do more with the way he frenetically shows on ball screens nearly out to half court in Houston’s stifling defensive system and then flies back to the paint, recovering to contest shots, requiring an incredible amount of energy.

The rest of Tugler’s game is a work in progress, as he is not a skilled or prolific scorer (5.6 points per game in 22 minutes), struggles from the free throw line (54% free throw percentage) and can be mistake-prone due to the reckless abandon he plays with. At 19 years old, another year in college to polish his skill set might prove beneficial, but a deep NCAA tournament run with big outings along the way might boost his stock enough to keep him in this year’s class. — Givony

James transferred from Tulane and became an essential role player for Duke, functioning as a versatile ball handler, defender and energy source while supplying experience on a young team. His skill set coupled with his physical strength makes him an unorthodox but intriguing back-end roster candidate for the NBA level, provided he can continue to make enough 3s (35.9% for his college career) to comfortably space the floor.

There should be some appeal on a two-way contract at minimum, with the exposure he has gained at Duke helping his cause. — Woo

Jackson saw his role and playing time dwindle from February on, making him more of a fringe prospect for 2025 who might benefit from more time in college. He’s a natural scorer but can be streaky due to his shot selection. He isn’t much of a playmaker for others. With his minutes trending in the wrong direction, it’s unclear how big an impact Jackson will have on UNC’s success in the tournament. — Woo

Proctor’s stay at Duke has been longer than initially expected, but he has shown gradual improvement as a three-year starter. He has played a useful complementary role for the Blue Devils, shooting 37% from 3 and doing a good job limiting turnovers. NBA teams have always been drawn to his positional size and offensive flashes, but he has plateaued to an extent, lacking the playmaking chops to play point guard full-time at the next level and never quite delivering on his early one-and-done hype.

He’ll play a big role in whatever success Duke has this month and might be best served using another year of his eligibility before turning pro. — Woo

Few players in college basketball demonstrate the versatility and feel for the game Williams does, sliding between the point guard and power forward spots. He makes the game easy for teammates with the way he moves the ball, operating out of ball screens patiently, finding cutters on the move, making skip passes, playing out of the post and attacking closeouts. He shows a nice blend between scoring and facilitating with clutch plays down the stretch.

Williams is a career 39% 3-point shooter despite a low volume of makes (121 in 95 games) and is 85% from the free throw line. But funky mechanics raise questions about just how good a shooter he is. He is not blessed with elite explosiveness or the most appealing frame, and NBA teams will want to get a better feel for this part of his game, as he is also not a lockdown defender. The fact that he is intelligent, competitive and instinctual helps, but his team struggles to get stops, and he plays a role. Williams’ health has been a concern the past few weeks and it remains to be seen how healthy he’ll be this weekend. — Givony

Byrd is an analytics darling who caught NBA scouts’ eyes in November at the Players Era tournament in Las Vegas, where San Diego State posted wins against Creighton and Houston, ultimately paving the way for the Aztecs’ tourney inclusion. Byrd has impressive instincts on both ends of the floor; no college player has posted a similar assist/block/steal rate since 2010, with his defensive event percentages comparing favorably with the likes of Tari Eason and Matisse Thybulle.

Byrd’s inconsistent perimeter shooting (31% 3P%), rudimentary ballhandling, thin frame and struggles putting on weight are things scouts want to learn more about in the predraft process. He was especially cold late in the season for the Aztecs and has a fascinating matchup with another defensive specialist wing prospect in Drake Powell, who is also vying for first-round consideration. — Givony

Stirtz, the player of the year in the Missouri Valley Conference, leads all Division I players averaging over 40 minutes per game. His size, feel for the game, unselfishness and competitiveness are attractive traits with the advanced playmaking ability he displays operating out of pick-and-roll. NBA analytics models love his statistical profile. His production and efficiency sparkle, adjusting for Drake’s tempo — ranked as the slowest-paced team in college basketball, putting his per-possession ability to rack up points, assists, rebounds, steals and free throw attempts (while hitting 39% of his 3s and 79% of his free throws) in a different light.

Facing just one other NCAA tournament team all season (Vanderbilt), teams are interested in getting a better gauge on Stirtz’s ability to create efficient offense against longer, more athletic opponents, as he struggles to separate from his first step and finish in traffic in the paint, as well as hold his own defensively with his thin frame. — Givony

Fland has been out of action since Jan. 18, suffering a thumb injury that required surgery. Arkansas was 0-5 in the SEC at that point but went 9-6 without him, turning around its season around to earn an at-large bid. Fland has resumed practice and is expected to play ‘barring any setbacks,’ adding another talented backcourt scorer to a team lacking depth. Fland brings shot creation prowess, shotmaking and aggressiveness moving the defense and dishing, but he struggled to score efficiently inside the arc and was a target for opposing teams to attack with his thin frame.

Fland doesn’t have much to lose at this point as returning to college was appearing his best bet, considering his injury and how much better his team played without him. So it will be interesting to see how much he’ll be utilized as the hierarchy of the squad has shifted back toward veteran guard Johnell Davis. — Givony

Evans has seen his role fluctuate for much of the season, giving the Blue Devils microwave scoring when called upon but lacking consistency as a defender and a decision-maker to entrench himself as a go-to option on a deep team. A highly regarded high school recruit, his potent shooting ability will keep him on NBA rad