College Coaches Share Reactions to the 2025 NBA Draft

Following the conclusion of the 2025 NBA Draft, college basketball coaches offered their perspectives on the results, shedding light on the top prospects and the draft`s key storylines. Lingering questions included potential on-court challenges for Ace Bailey at the professional level, how the games of Tre Johnson and Jeremiah Fears might translate, and whether international prospect Egor Demin and Division III transfer Cedric Coward truly warranted their lottery selections.

To provide answers to these and other pressing questions, ESPN sought the insights of nearly a dozen college coaches. These are the individuals who have spent the past few years watching, scouting, and devising game plans specifically tailored to counter these very players, offering a unique viewpoint on their transition to the NBA.

Ever since Cooper Flagg announced his decision to reclassify to the 2024 high school class in August 2023, there has been minimal doubt about who would top this draft class. Widely hailed as one of the most exceptional high school talents in recent memory, Flagg remained the undisputed favorite for the number one pick over the last two years, a forecast made official by the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday. He distinguished himself as the premier player in college basketball last season, securing the Wooden Award and steering Duke to the Final Four. His season averages of 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists were complemented by a noteworthy improvement in his shooting, hitting 38.5% from beyond the arc.

College coaches who have faced Flagg expressed zero reservations about his capacity to transition effectively to the NBA stage.

He`s got a swagger to him, a toughness and he`s physically ready to make an impact. For a young kid going to the NBA, if he`s never been in a situation where he`s been the guy, it`s hard to flip a switch. But he`s been in every single one of those situations. Playing off ball screens, coming off pindowns, rebounding and going. Showed his versatility all year long. He`s done all that stuff at the highest level of college basketball.

Flagg`s shooting was initially a point of scrutiny coming out of high school, but the Maine native progressively honed this aspect of his game throughout his freshman season. He connected on 44% of his three-point attempts during ACC play, achieving multiple made threes in nine different games.

Early in the year, you could go under a ball screen against him. You weren`t doing that by the end of the year. The NBA is a big isolation league. So when it comes to individual wiggle and being able to get by guys, he`ll have to figure those things out.

Coaches also felt that Flagg`s destination would be advantageous for his growth, largely because he will be playing alongside experienced veterans like Kyrie Irving.

I think he fits in well. He won`t be keyed on as the main guy every single night. For a young guy, that can shake your confidence. I`m not worried about that with him.

Even without being the Mavericks` primary offensive engine, Flagg is overwhelmingly favored to win Rookie of the Year.

[If he can] just be a well-rounded 15 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, a block [contributor] … he`ll win Rookie of the Year, because Dallas should be good, assuming health.

A near-unanimous sentiment among the college coaches interviewed was the perceived talent gap between Flagg at number one, Dylan Harper at number two, and the rest of the draft class, viewing each in their own distinct tier.

[Harper is] as good a player as we`ve played against in the last 10 years, whether you`re going back to Markelle Fultz or talking about Paolo Banchero. He`s better than Jabari Smith. I`m super, super high on him. I think he`s closer to Flagg than No. 3 is to him. He`s a pick-and-roll maestro. It doesn`t matter what coverage you throw at him, it might take him a possession or two but he`ll find a way to beat it.

Flagg and Harper are the only two to me that have an All-NBA ceiling. There`s such a big drop-off — it`s almost like those next guys are not Tier 3, it`s Tier 4. That`s how big I think the gap is between Dylan and everyone else.

The Next Tier

VJ Edgecombe benefited significantly from Ace Bailey`s slight draft slide. The prospect from the Bahamas demonstrated remarkable athleticism throughout his single season at Baylor, progressively improving his offensive consistency and playmaking abilities as the season wore on. He now joins a promising backcourt in Philadelphia alongside Tyrese Maxey and Jared McCain.

Until I saw him in person, I was critical of him. `He`s a lock to be a top-five guy?` And then we played him and he was just relentless. His athleticism, his shot got a lot better as the season went on. Started getting more consistent from the perimeter.

He has to be the most athletic player or prospect in the draft. He`s a high-flyer, he plays bigger than what he is. He can defend 1 through 5, at least in college. He can probably do the same because the 5s are more mobile. Positional versatility, athleticism and just the way he defends.

Concerns exist regarding Edgecombe`s offensive fit with Maxey and McCain, although some coaches noted that questions about his primary offensive role might have arisen regardless of his landing spot.

Can he be a primary guy? He`s not a guy where you can put the ball in his hands and say go get a bucket. He just isn`t that. He`s a slasher, a pick-and-roll guy, great in transition, offensive rebounding, does all the little things. But if there`s one negative, it`s just how is he going to score in the NBA.

As the second of three Duke players selected in the top 10, Kon Knueppel saw his draft stock soar last fall and maintained a high position throughout Duke`s strong season. Playing a complementary role to Cooper Flagg, Knueppel averaged 14.4 points and shot above 40% from three-point range, standing out as a potent shotmaker late in the season and during the NCAA tournament. He was widely regarded as the draft`s best catch-and-shoot perimeter player. His comfort in not being the main offensive option could be highly appealing to Charlotte, where he will play alongside talents like LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller.

He was such a difference-maker for Duke last season, being the Robin to Cooper Flagg`s Batman. When you have a guy capable of dropping 30 in a game and isn`t the main guy on scouting reports, that`s dangerous. The NBA loves guys that can make shots, and if you can do that, you`ll be in the league for a long time.

While Knueppel appears to have a high floor, making him a safe pick for the Hornets, opposing coaches suggested he might not possess the same high ceiling as others in this tier. His development moving forward will likely focus on the defensive end.

Guys can get played off the floor [in the NBA]. Can Kon stay on the court guarding in one-on-one situations? He`s got the size and frame, but does he have the footspeed? That`s the one thing you don`t get to see against Duke, with how much they mask things, how much they`re helping. They don`t allow offensive teams a lot of space, so rarely did he have to guard in space. He has to prove he can do that.

Just a year ago, Ace Bailey was widely projected to be in contention for the top overall pick alongside Flagg and Harper. While he displayed flashes of that potential during his freshman year at Rutgers, persistent questions arose that led to a slight decline in his stock. Listed at 6-foot-10 in college, he measured shorter at the combine (6-7.5). Notably, he was the only U.S. prospect who reportedly did not visit any NBA team facilities before the draft.

From a purely on-court perspective, coaches understandably admired his scoring talent.

He`s versatile, he`s got size, he`s skilled like an off-guard. He`s the prototypical NBA wing. He`s a really tough cover. He can move. Not elite athleticism, but a good athlete. He can shoot over players and the ability to make contested shots adds value.

However, concerns remain about how his game will fully translate and about other aspects of his play.

If you`re [Kevin] Durant, sure, [relying on hard shots] can work. But he`s 7-1. Ace isn`t going to be a stand-in-the-corner guy.

The knock on him, whether it was in high school or at Rutgers, is that he`s disengaged defensively. He doesn`t need to become an all-NBA defender. But you need to get buy-in from him defensively.

Tre Johnson`s offensive prowess has consistently kept him within the top half of the lottery conversation throughout the draft cycle. The former top-five recruit averaged 19.9 points while shooting nearly 40% from three during his single season at Texas.

While he served as the primary offensive option for the Longhorns, most opposing coaches believe his optimal role in the NBA, assuming he isn`t immediately Washington`s focal point, is as a dynamic scorer off the bench or a specialized catch-and-shoot threat. Given the Wizards` struggles with perimeter shooting and the recent trade of Jordan Poole, Johnson appears to be a straightforward fit.

He`s a scoring guard, period. He`s one of the best shooters in the draft. He`ll have to learn that you don`t need to dribble the ball eight times before shooting, but he can be a borderline All-Star because of how well he shoots the ball. He can be a catch-and-shoot guy and shoot 50%.

Questions surrounding Johnson primarily center on other facets of his game and whether he will contribute sufficiently in non-scoring areas to positively impact winning at the highest level.

He`s a great individual talent. But if you`re not scoring, what other things are you doing that help winning? Inevitably the best players in the world are going to have off nights.

The freshman guard from Oklahoma was arguably the draft cycle`s biggest riser. A year ago, he wasn`t even part of the 2025 draft class but chose to reclassify into 2024 and commit to Oklahoma. There, he quickly established himself as one of the nation`s most dynamic guards, impressive given he didn`t turn 18 until October.

He`s wired to score. I kind of compare him a little bit to [Nets guard] Cam Thomas. He`s a better playmaker than Thomas was coming out of college. He has the ability to make reads, you can double-team him or trap a ball screen, but he`ll read it perfectly, whereas other freshmen get rattled. He`s a sneaky athlete, too.

The primary factor determining his ceiling might be his inconsistent perimeter shooting. He finished the season shooting just 28.4% from three, making only 15 threes across 18 SEC games.

He`s streaky, not a consistent shooter. He has to continue to build up his frame, but he`s a young kid, only 18 years old. As he matures physically as he gets older, he`ll be able to take a little bit greater command of the position, get into the paint, deal with physicality.

More First-Round Storylines

Had the draft occurred at the start of the college basketball season, the selection of former BYU guard Egor Demin at number 8 by the Brooklyn Nets would not have been surprising. The Russian native was ranked as high as number 7 in mock drafts after creating significant buzz upon his arrival from Real Madrid. However, a somewhat inconsistent freshman year at BYU led to fluctuations in his draft stock, placing him lower in some final projections.

Nevertheless, on Wednesday, Demin climbed back into the top 10.

Opposing coaches held mixed opinions regarding his immediate impact potential at the next level.

He`s huge. Ball pressure bothers him, he plays pretty upright, he`s methodical. But he can make every read out there. … He`s got a little bit of a burst just because he goes from slow to medium, it throws you off. He`s throwing it over the top of guards. You can say, `Oh, that`s college,` but he`s taller than most guards in the NBA, too. His passing is elite. He`s a better shooter than his percentages. And I think he`ll get better with the space of the NBA.

Conversely, another coach offered a more skeptical view:

I don`t think he shoots, I don`t think he really defends. But people see a big guard who can pass and it`s sort of intriguing.

Demin was one of five first-round selections for the Nets, with three of them — Demin, Nolan Traore (No. 19), and Ben Saraf (No. 26) — boasting substantial international experience. It was considered a fascinating draft haul, particularly given that all three were projected in the lottery earlier in the season. This suggests a strong belief from the Nets` international scouting department in the pre-college version of players like Demin.

After Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel, there was a longer wait than some expected for Khaman Maluach`s name to be called, but the Phoenix Suns ultimately selected him at number 10. He didn`t have the extensive college production of the other top-10 picks, but his physical attributes (7-2 height, 9-6 standing reach, 7-6.75 wingspan) combined with his defensive upside are highly appealing to coaches.

You can throw him out there and he`s going to be able to impact the game with his size and shot-blocking, his defensive and offensive rebounding. In the NBA game, you have to have a 5-man like that, but the young ones, it`s just going to take him time. He does have some skill, he banged in a 3 early in the year, he has the potential to step out and shoot 3s.

Another opposing coach questioned the true advancement of Maluach`s skill level and whether his perceived ceiling might be overestimated.

I think he`s a lob-catching big. He`s massive, but I don`t think he`s an unbelievable athlete. He`s not Dereck Lively II, who was a different type of mover, different athlete, had more skill. Maluach is not as good in any of those categories. I don`t think he`s got that same ceiling.

Another coach simply stated:

He`s still going to be a project at the end of the day.

Phoenix can afford to be patient with Maluach, having also acquired veteran center Mark Williams via trade. Picking him at number 10 helps mitigate some of the inherent risk.

He`s the type of archetype that usually goes up the board as time goes on. It remains to be seen whether the shot is something that`s translatable. It doesn`t look bad mechanically, but it hasn`t gotten to the point where he`s taking them or making them with any real consistency. But it wouldn`t shock me if that`s something he was able to do over time. I like the vertical threat he presents at the rim as a finisher, I love his shot blocking, the defensive versatility that he has. He has to rebound the ball better. But he`s not someone who is going to come into the league and take his foot off the gas.

Cedric Coward`s journey was among the most compelling storylines leading up to the draft. He began his college career at the Division III level at Willamette University. Just last year, he was barely on NBA draft radars after finishing his second season at Eastern Washington in the Big Sky Conference.

Coward transferred to Washington State but played only six games before a shoulder injury ended his season. However, after excelling at the NBA Draft Combine, he solidified his position as a potential top-20 pick and chose to remain in the draft rather than return to college, where he had committed to transfer to Duke. On Wednesday, the Grizzlies traded up to select him at number 11.

The thing that stuck out to me with him was he got better every year. When he first came in as a D-III transfer, we didn`t really know who he was. [He was] a skinny kid with length, developing his offensive game. He played hard as hell, impacted winning. He started to shoot the ball a little bit better, to the point now where he shot it really well in the short span last year. He kept adding to his game. Little bit more polished, little bit more refined, little bit smoother every time we played him.

Surrounded by established players like Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr., Coward won`t be tasked with significant offensive responsibility early in his NBA career. Still, opposing coaches believe he is well-suited to be a high-level role player.

He has the ability to shoot, legitimately catch-and-shoot. He`s got the in-between game, he killed us in the post. He can play with a face-up game. He`s a pretty good defender. Blocked a ton of shots. He does so much to impact winning. He doesn`t need to be a guy who carries the load offensively, and I don`t know if he ever will be.

A key question remains whether picking him at number 11 was too high for a player who started only eight career games against power-conference opponents.

Seeing him this year, he looked like a pro. He took a massive jump physically. He`s going to help you win in some capacity. He can do a lot to really impact the game, whether it`s off the bench or if he develops into a starting-caliber player. He`s a guy you`re going to bet on.

At the close of the 2024-25 college basketball season, it seemed uncertain whether Carter Bryant would declare for the draft. As a freshman at Arizona, he started only five games and reached double-figure scoring just a handful of times.

However, as the spring progressed, it became clear Bryant would stay in the draft. His stock steadily climbed, moving from a projected first-rounder into the top 20 and ultimately being selected at number 14 by the Spurs.

Measuring 6-6.5 without shoes, Bryant shot nearly 39% from three-point range in Big 12 play, making multiple threes in nine games after the calendar turned to 2025.

He`s got the positional size, the athleticism, the shooting, the defensive versatility, with potential to get better. In small doses, he showed some things offensively, that maybe he can be a little bit of a playmaker, he can make some passes. It wasn`t showcased a ton, but he did it enough. Whether it was guarded or unguarded, he`s able to get his shot off. He has room to grow in that area, he needs to continue to speed up his shot, but the NBA loves big wings that can shoot it.

The Spurs will likely need patience, as Bryant has only demonstrated his potential in flashes.

Veterans Become Higher First-Round Priorities

While the upper half of the first round was largely populated by freshmen (the first eight picks were first-year college players, and 18 freshmen went in Round 1), this year continued the trend of older college players being drafted higher. Cedric Coward, Walter Clayton Jr., Nique Clifford, Danny Wolf, and Yanic Konan Niederhauser all transferred at least once and played at least three college seasons, with Clifford, Clayton, and Niederhauser being 22 or older. Additionally, older players like Ryan Kalkbrenner (No. 34), Johni Broome (No. 35), and Chaz Lanier (No. 37) were picked relatively early in the second round.

This trend gained momentum last year with first-round selections like Zach Edey, Devin Carter, Dalton Knecht, Dillon Jones, Baylor Scheierman, and Terrence Shannon Jr.

Several factors contribute to this phenomenon. Primarily, increased financial opportunities for student-athletes at the college level incentivize more players to remain in school longer. The rise of the transfer portal also allows standout players from smaller conferences to showcase their abilities at higher levels, thereby boosting their draft stock.

Financially, they`re rewarded to stay. It allows them to be a little more ready and polished for the next level. The high-end guys, the lottery guys, you`re drafting on upside. But if I`m a playoff team, a play-in team and still growing, getting an older, mature guy that you know can help you in a role, that`s a smart bet. You`re still getting a guy in the prime of his career. You get more bang for your buck in Year 1 or 2, maybe not Year 6 or 7.

However, this trend might see a reversal soon. A significant number of players on the borderline of the first round opted to return to college by the withdrawal deadline this spring, including Yaxel Lendeborg (Michigan), Alex Condon (Florida), Tahaad Pettiford (Auburn), Labaron Philon (Alabama), and Darrion Williams (NC State). Notably, Isaiah Evans (Duke), JT Toppin (Texas Tech), and Alex Karaban (UConn) didn`t even explore the draft process this year.

Many of these players received substantial compensation for returning to school via Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) opportunities. Yet, with the implications of the House vs. NCAA settlement and potential salary caps impacting future college athlete earnings under revenue sharing, the financial incentive to stay in college might decrease, potentially pushing more borderline prospects into the NBA draft sooner.

I think it`ll flip back the other way with rev share. You look at the rev share numbers, a lot of SEC schools are putting most of their money into football. Their rev share numbers are between $2 [million] to $3 million. This year, we had collectives, some of those teams had $10 [million] to $12 million. We had a couple on our team that came back because they`re going to make more money here than going in the second round. But with those numbers going down, those potential first-rounders or high-second rounders, I can see them going to the league instead.

Another coach echoed this sentiment:

I think this will be one of the last years of it. There are a lot of really good players staying in college because of NIL. Once revenue share kicks into effect and the NIL market gets some stability, you`re going to see a lot more of these fringe first-rounders stay in the draft. It used to be where if you were top 40, 90% of those guys were staying in the draft. Now it`s shifted to where you need to be a top-20 player to stay in.

A consequence of so many players electing to stay in college rather than enter the draft this year was a perceived lack of sure-fire prospects in the second round. One coach pointed out that last year, 14 second-round picks received guaranteed contracts, whereas only two of the first 47 picks this year signed two-way deals.

This pattern might not repeat in future drafts.

It`s one of the worst second rounds of all time. A huge part of that is because of NIL. Go through all the guys that would`ve been late first, early second, it would`ve really moved things. It wasn`t a strong draft to begin with, but with all those guys going back, after No. 35 or so, I don`t know if I would give [many] of these guys a guaranteed deal.

Other Notable First-Rounders

Collin Murray-Boyles was the first non-freshman selected. He possesses a truly unique profile; despite measuring just 6-6.5 without shoes, he produced most of his offense close to the basket, attempting only 39 three-pointers across 60 games for South Carolina while excelling in the paint.

Murray-Boyles managed to overcome his size disadvantage in college, making an impact defensively and with his passing. However, he will need to expand his offensive repertoire at the next level.

He`s got sort of a unique game, and the NBA falls in love with guys who have a little bit of a lot of things. He`s a guy who has a chance to be a very good defender. He doesn`t have great height, but he has good size in terms of measurements and strength. He can do a little bit of everything, he can pass, he can rebound, he`s not a very good shooter at this point. I think he`s a good player, but I think he`s a blend player. I don`t think, individually, he`s got unbelievable talent where he`s bringing something to the table right away. If he`s on a good team, he can help it function. But I don`t know if Toronto is that.

Coaches expressed varied opinions on this trio of Big Ten picks. Derik Queen (Maryland, No. 13 to Pelicans) established himself as one of the most skilled big men in college basketball, notably hitting a buzzer-beater in the NCAA tournament. However, questions about his maturity and athleticism potentially capping his upside were raised.

He`s so skilled. I love his passing ability. You watch him on film, you think he`s not athletic. But in person, it doesn`t matter. If he`s able to develop a motor, I really think he`s got a chance to be one hell of an NBA player.

Jase Richardson (Michigan State, No. 25 to Magic) saw his draft stock fluctuate, briefly entering the lottery before dropping after measuring just over 6 feet without shoes at the combine. Orlando selected him late in the first round despite him not receiving a green room invitation.

I like Jase Richardson. He would be a nightmare to coach against in college next year, but I don`t see it [in the NBA]. He`s a 6-foot guard whose primary skill is scoring — not shooting, but scoring. He`s not a great defender, not a super dynamic playmaker for others. He`s got below-average size. So is he Trae Young? Is he T.J. McConnell? Is he Davion Mitchell?

Danny Wolf (Michigan/Yale, No. 27 to Nets) played an interesting role last season, used as a playmaker from the center position due to his decision-making and passing out of ball screens. However, questions arose about the translation of this role and skill set to the NBA.

He can play in pick-and-roll, as a big man he can make incredible passes. But he`s a high-turnover guy. With his role in the NBA, you`re not going to be able to make an incredible pass and then two bad passes. An NBA team is not going to let him just roll through his turnovers.

Another coach commented:

Part of his beauty is that he can do so many things, but none of it he`s excellent at. Will a team try to make him elite at something, or are they OK with the buffet?

Walter Clayton Jr.`s rise to pick number 18 was significantly influenced by his exceptional performance during Florida`s NCAA tournament run. He was outstanding, averaging 24.6 points through the Gators` first five tournament games, including scoring 34 points against Auburn in the Final Four and 30 against Texas Tech.

One coach highlighted this impact:

He`s a great example of what winning does for a player`s stock. He went from a mid-to-late second-round pick to a late first-round pick. Florida going on a run, him being able to be on that platform and showcase his talents. That right there made the kid millions and millions of dollars.

Kasparas Jakucionis (Illinois, No. 20 to Heat) and Liam McNeeley (UConn, No. 29 to Hornets) were among the players who fell below their projected draft positions according to some evaluations, with Jakucionis ranked significantly higher on some boards. Multiple coaches felt both players represented considerable value for the teams that drafted them.

Jakucionis impressed early in the season, averaging 16.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 5.4 assists during non-conference play, including several high-scoring outings against strong opponents.

While acknowledging the value pick and potential fit with Tyler Herro, one coach also understood the reasons for his slide:

He`s a three-level scorer. He played with a great change of pace. As the season went on and as teams scouted him, he kind of came back down to earth. But he plays with a toughness. He`s not an elite athlete. His stats tailed off the second half of Big Ten play, and he`s someone you could go at and isolate on defense.

McNeeley, a former five-star recruit, was hampered by an ankle injury during conference play. He`s known as a shotmaker with good size and delivered some standout performances as a freshman, including 26 points against Gonzaga and 38 points against Creighton.

A Big East coach believed McNeeley`s injury impacted his efficiency and defensive effectiveness, which may have contributed to his fall.

I don`t think he`s the 29th-best player in the draft. He`s 6-8 and he`s a much better shooter than his percentages suggest. He`s really competitive. I think he`s a little bit better [overall] basketball player than he gets credit for, in terms of his ability to drive the ball and pass the ball.

The selection of North Carolina wing Drake Powell at number 22 was somewhat unexpected, marking the Nets` third first-round pick. He had an inconsistent freshman season, averaging 7.4 points, but he tested as arguably the best athlete at the combine, leading participants in both max vertical leap and standing vertical leap.

Coaches expressed questions about his readiness to contribute immediately in Brooklyn.

He fits the prototype of that 3-and-D guy, but is he really good enough at either of those to actually fit that profile?

Another coach added perspectives:

A lot of what people thought about Powell dates back to some of the enthusiasm at the end of his high school career, when people saw a guy who wasn`t a good shooter but had size and versatility. Good passer, some feel, good athlete, maybe the potential to be a big point guard. And then he gets to North Carolina, and he becomes a full-time wing player with real limitations offensively.

The Penn State big man capped his dramatic ascent by being selected with the final pick of the first round. Yanic Konan Niederhauser significantly raised his stock during the predraft process, progressing from averaging 12.9 points last season for the Nittany Lions to attending the G League Elite camp and earning an invitation to the NBA draft combine. This represents a remarkable jump for a player who averaged just 7.3 points at Northern Illinois two seasons prior.

He`s just scratching the surface. He`s somebody that can be like a Dereck Lively type in the NBA. I think if he came back to college, he would`ve been a lottery pick next year.

Second-Round Notes

Several players selected in the second round were highlighted by coaches as providing good value. Johni Broome (Auburn, No. 35 to 76ers), Maxime Raynaud (Stanford, No. 42 to Kings), Javon Small (West Virginia, No. 48 to Grizzlies), and John Tonje (Wisconsin, No. 53 to Jazz) were mentioned. Two coaches specifically noted that the perceived gap between Broome, a consensus first-team All-American and a leading candidate for Player of the Year, and first-round centers like Collin Murray-Boyles, should not have been so large.

He`s a player that is limited athletically. There`s probably more things people can say about him, age, all this stuff. But he got Player of the Year in the best league in the country, he went to the Final Four. Some of that has to have some substance at the next level. He did everything that everyone asked. And he produced every night. What else is he supposed to do? He had a historic year in a conference that was historically one of the best ever.