Tag: NBA Draft

Draft prospect Boogie Fland: ‘When the game’s on the line, I want the ball in my hands – that’s where I thrive’

Boogie Fland, a projected first-round pick in the 2025 NBA Draft (No. 20 on our latest Aggregate Mock Draft), is quickly making a name for himself as a freshman under John Calipari in his first year coaching Arkansas after leaving Kentucky. Standing …

Boogie Fland, a projected first-round pick in the 2025 NBA Draft (No. 20 on our latest Aggregate Mock Draft), is quickly making a name for himself as a freshman under John Calipari in his first year coaching Arkansas after leaving Kentucky.

Standing at about 6-foot-2 and weighing just under 180 pounds, Fland will draw comparisons to a former Calipari-coached guard Rob Dillingham, the 8th overall pick in last year’s draft, or a little-known guard drafted out of Vanderbilt named Darius Garland.

Known for his shooting touch, poise, playmaking and his ability to thrive both on-ball and off-ball, Fland is already showcasing his potential as a future NBA guard.

Following a clutch performance against Miami, Fland spoke with HoopsHype and reflected on the start of his true freshman season, his ability to close games, his playstyle, playing in high-intensity situations early in the year and more.

Notre Dame losing streak at five after loss to Georgia in ACC/SEC game

The Irish are struggling right now.

Notre Dame still is adjusting to life without [autotag]Markus Burton[/autotag] as he recovers from his knee injury. It’s unknown whether he would have made a difference against Georgia in the ACC/SEC Challenge. What is known is the Irish’s 69-48 loss means they now have lost five straight after winning their first four.

The Irish (4-5) had an early 6-0 lead when the Bulldogs (8-1) missed their first nine shots. However, the Bulldogs followed that with an 18-3 run, which included 13 unanswered points, and they never trailed again after that.

Although the Irish cut the deficit to six midway through the second half, they got no closer and ended with a scoring drought that made the game look less competitive than it was a lot of the time. But they made only 19 field goals, shot 36.5% from the floor, and were crushed in the assists column, 19-5. So it’s not like they did themselves any favors.

Future NBA first-round pick Asa Newell achieved a double-double with 20 points and 11 rebounds. Dakota Leffew scored 16 points, and Silas Demary Jr. had 11 points along with five of the Bulldogs’ seven steals.

[autotag]Braeden Shrewsberry[/autotag] and [autotag]Tae Davis[/autotag] were the only two players to score in double figures for the Irish with 14 points apiece.

Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes and opinions.

Follow Geoffrey on X: @gfclark89

NBA draft analyst says he has Jase Richardson projected as a first round draft pick

NBA draft specialist Sam Vecenie says he has Jase Richardson projected as a first round draft pick

This might lead to some mixed reactions from Michigan State basketball fans but after MSU’s win over Colorado in the Maui Invitational, NBA draft analyst Sam Vecenie was asked about his thoughts on Jase Richardson.

Vecenie said that in his most recent top-100 player rankings, he has Jase Richardson ‘quite high, and in the first round’.

Richardson led MSU in scoring in the win over Colorado with a career-high 13 points. He has been the breakout star of this season so far for the Spartans and is probably getting close to earning a starting spot if he keeps playing like this.

Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan state news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Andrew Brewster on Twitter @IAmBrewster.

The latest 2025 NBA mock draft from ESPN has Spurs with Kon Knueppel and Egor Demin

San Antonio would end up with two of the best freshmen in the NCAA.

The San Antonio Spurs are one of the most interesting teams in the league due to Victor Wembanyama, and it will only get more fascinating.

San Antonio currently has two projected lottery picks in the 2025 NBA Draft, which could help them continue to retool around Wembanyama after picking Stephon Castle in the 2024 NBA Draft.

New predictions from ESPN have the Spurs with an absolute dream scenario, picking two of the freshmen who have had the best starts to the NCAA men’s college basketball season thus far: Duke’s Kon Knueppel and BYU’s Egor Demin.

Here is more from ESPN’s Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo on the selections, including thoughts on Knueppel:

“Knueppel’s ability to shoot off screens, pull up off the dribble and spot up from deep vantage points with picture-perfect footwork and mechanics should keep him prominent in draft conversations, especially with the way he has contributed in other areas as well with his physicality, feel for the game and better-than-expected shot creation and defense.”

They also added that Knueppel is “arguably the best shooter” in this draft class.

Read more from them on Demin:

“Few freshmen have been more impressive than Demin, who is utilizing a tremendous platform at BYU to showcase his outstanding size, spectacular court vision, shotmaking prowess and all-around talent against, thus far, lower-level competition.”

Demin has looked fantastic as a tall playmaker for BYU, and he could provide a spark as the point guard of the future for San Antonio.

Here is our latest NBA mock draft at For The Win, and you can expect another update very soon!

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Eric Reibe: ‘I’m like a Porzingis type of player’

Eric Reibe, the second-best center in his class, made headlines with his commitment to UConn, marking a major win for Dan Hurley and the Huskies as they secured their second top-25 recruit for the 2025 class. Reibe, a versatile 7-foot center, chose …

Eric Reibe, the second-best center in his class, made headlines with his commitment to UConn, marking a major win for Dan Hurley and the Huskies as they secured their second top-25 recruit for the 2025 class. Reibe, a versatile 7-foot center, chose UConn over powerhouse programs like Kansas, Creighton, Indiana, and Oregon, citing UConn’s proven track record in player development and their recent success in sending players to the NBA as key reasons for his decision.

Originally from Germany, Reibe’s journey has taken him through Switzerland and Maryland, where he focused on finding a program that prioritizes development for big men over geographical concerns. He models his game after stars such as Kristaps Porzingis, Nikola Jokic, Dirk Nowitzki, Bam Adebayo, Kevin Durant, and Anthony Davis.

Ranked No. 23 in ESPN’s 2025 rankings, Reibe is known for his well-rounded game, with the ability to shoot, pass, and defend, making him a coveted prospect.

Speaking with HoopsHype last August, on behalf of Under Armour’s Elite 24, Reibe discussed his playstyle as a big who can pass, dribble, and shoot, his defensive improvements, his experience moving around the world, and more.

Aggregate 2025 NBA Mock Draft 2.0: International prospects rise

HoopsHype has updated where the top prospects stand for the 2025 NBA Draft by compiling six mock drafts from ESPN, Yahoo Sports, CBS Sports, Sports Illustrated, SB Nation, and USA TODAY. A couple of quick notes on our aggregate mock draft: * Some …

HoopsHype has updated where the top prospects stand for the 2025 NBA Draft by compiling six mock drafts from ESPN, Yahoo Sports, CBS Sports, Sports Illustrated, SB Nation, and USA TODAY.

A couple of quick notes on our aggregate mock draft:

* Some freshmen are missing because they weren’t listed on all the mocks we compiled, meaning scouts don’t see them as one-and-done prospects yet.

* Additionally, the ages shown for international prospects reflect their draft-day age. These are preliminary scouting reports and are subject to change as we progress through the pre-draft process.

While some see future all-stars in Cooper Flagg, Ace Bailey, Dylan Harper, and VJ Edgecombe, others have doubts. We tend to agree with scouts who don’t see this group as generational. As the season unfolds, they’ll have a chance to prove themselves, but expectations should remain grounded.

NOTE: These rankings reflect the composite score to get a feel for the overall consensus, not our own opinion. For example, if a player was the first pick on a publication’s mock draft, he received 60 points. If a player was second, he received 59 points, and so on. We then tabulated the total number of points for each player’s consensus ranking.

The New York Knicks forfeited their 2025 second-round pick due to tampering.

Caleb Foster: ‘I came to Duke to win, and I’m living out my dream’

Caleb Foster, currently ranked No. 44 on ESPN’s Top 100 for the 2025 NBA Draft, made an immediate impact in his freshman season at Duke. Foster’s role as sixth man fit him perfectly, stepping in as the primary ballhandler when Tyrese Proctor was off …

Caleb Foster, currently ranked No. 44 on ESPN’s Top 100 for the 2025 NBA Draft, made an immediate impact in his freshman season at Duke. Foster’s role as sixth man fit him perfectly, stepping in as the primary ballhandler when Tyrese Proctor was off the court. He maintained a solid 2.0 assist-to-turnover ratio and shot 40.6 percent from deep. His season was cut short by an ankle fracture, but he started 15 games, helping Duke to a 13-2 record in those contests.

Despite missing the postseason, the 6-foot-5 guard’s efficiency and shooting made him a crucial part of the team.

During the 2024 ACC Tip-Off, Foster spoke with HoopsHype, reflecting on his offseason improvements, praising the incoming freshman class, and discussing season expectations and more.

Tyrese Proctor: ‘I don’t think basketball is all about scoring, I’m just out there trying to make winning plays’

Tyrese Proctor, currently ranked No. 28 on ESPN’s Top 100 and No. 30 on HoopsHype’s latest Aggregate Mock Draft, has rapidly established himself as one of the best lead guards in college basketball. The Australia native is known for his playmaking, …

Tyrese Proctor, currently ranked No. 28 on ESPN’s Top 100 and No. 30 on HoopsHype’s latest Aggregate Mock Draft, has rapidly established himself as one of the best lead guards in college basketball. The Australia native is known for his playmaking, defense, and leadership on the court.

Proctor’s sophomore campaign saw him named a team captain, only the fourth sophomore to achieve this in Duke’s history. His 2.95 assist-to-turnover ratio ranked 25th nationally, showcasing his ability to control the game while minimizing mistakes. He averaged 10.5 points per game and led his team in assists, asserting his role as the lead guard for the Blue Devils, who at times ran a three-guard lineup last year.

Recently, Proctor spoke with with HoopsHype to reflect on his basketball journey, his time in Australia’s NBA Global Academy, his thoughts on the modern game, his college basketball experience and more.

Jamir Watkins: ‘I feel like I could be a first-rounder, maybe even get into the lottery’

Jamir Watkins, currently ranked No. 59 on ESPN’s Top 100, has established himself as one of the nation’s top returning college players. After averaging 12.0 points and 7.8 rebounds in his first season with Florida Sate after transferring from VCU, …

Jamir Watkins, currently ranked No. 59 on ESPN’s Top 100, has established himself as one of the nation’s top returning college players. After averaging 12.0 points and 7.8 rebounds in his first season with Florida Sate after transferring from VCU, and Watkins was named All-ACC Honorable Mention.

Watkins is gearing up for his final season at FSU, where he has emerged as the team leader. Last season, he showed he was much more than a defender, he had 19 consecutive double-figure scoring games, as the 6-foot-7 wing continues to prove his versatility on both ends of the floor. After initially declaring for the NBA draft in April 2024 and entering the transfer portal in May, Watkins decided to return to Florida State, as he seeks to improve his game further with another season under Head Coach Leonard Hamilton.

The Trenton, NJ native recently sat down with HoopsHype to discuss his decision to withdraw from the NBA draft, his development as a player, and his expectations for the upcoming season.

Two time national champion point guard signs with Indiana Pacers

Former UConn Huskies point guard Tristen Newton inks two-way deal with Indiana Pacers.

The Indiana Pacers inked former UConn Huskies guard Tristen Newton to a two-way contract on Saturday.

Newton was the 49th player selected in the 2024 NBA draft, joined in the draft class by fellow UConn starters Stephon Castle, Donovan Clingan, and Cam Spencer.

The 6’5 guard averaged 9.0 points, 4.6 assists, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.2 steals across five Summer League games, although he shot just 20% from the field and 18.2% from the three point line.

“Tristen Newton, tremendous [growth] from game one to game five,” Pacers summer league head coach Jannero Pargo said. “Understanding our offense more, playing more confident. Being able to call plays and run our sets and be more comfortable out there.”

Newton averaged over 15 points, six assists, and six rebounds in his final season with UConn, leading Dan Hurley’s team to back-to-back national championships as the primary ball-handler.

Now, his experience, winning mentality, facilitation, and positional rebounding skills will give Indiana additional point guard depth available throughout the season, although Newton will likely spend most of his time in the G League with the Mad Ants.