Tag: NBA Draft

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.

Former Kentucky guard Rob Dillingham dominates in Summer League finale

Rob Dillingham dropped 25 points and 12 assists for Minnesota in his Summer League finale on Sunday.

Former Kentucky Wildcats guard Rob Dillingham’s up-and-down Summer League performance finished on a high note Sunday when the No. 8 overall pick tallied 25 points and 12 assists in Minnesota’s 115-100 win over Orlando.

Dillingham shot 11-18 from the field and 3-7 from three in the contest, also grabbing three rebounds and a pair of steals. It was far and away the rookie guard’s best Summer League performance, highlighting his exceptional scoring and facilitating ability to close out his time in Las Vegas.

Dillingham finished Summer League averaging 13.6 points on 36% shooting from the field and 30.8% from beyond the arc. His 7.6 assists per game led the entire league, with former Marquette guard Tyler Kolek coming in second at 7.0.

The 6’3 guard was among the best players in all of college basketball last year, despite coming off the bench for John Calipari in Lexington.

His outside shooting and passing skills intrigued NBA scouts, although concern about his size and defensive impact lingered and led to him falling toward the back half of the top ten where he was snagged by the Timberwolves – where he can develop as a microwave scorer off the bench behind Mike Conley and Anthony Edwards.

Performances like Sunday may not come around too often in the NBA, but it shouldn’t be a huge surprise when they do – he’s more than capable of lighting it up when he gets going.

Bronny James hits pair of threes in strong NBA Summer League performance

Bronny James had his strongest performance so far in NBA Summer League, but the Lakers guard has a long way to go to quiet the doubters.

It’s no secret Bronny James has not looked good in NBA Summer League. The Los Angeles Lakers guard, who was picked 55th in the NBA draft last month, went 0-11 from three in his first two matchups in Las Vegas before putting together a quality performance Wednesday evening in a win over the Atlanta Hawks.

James finished with 12 points on 5-11 shooting, knocking down a pair of threes – including a game-tying triple in the fourth quarter – while also flashing good pick and roll navigation in the early going.

James has been the recipient of a bevy of criticism the past year, stemming from the decision to declare for the NBA draft after a mediocre performance as a freshman at USC.

Players with his level of production (4.8 points on 36.6% shooting from the field and 26.7% from three) and lack of size (6’1 without shoes) rarely even stay in the draft process, nevermind get selected and signed to a multi-year guaranteed contract.

However, James is not your run-of-the-mill teenage basketball prospect: he’s the son of NBA superstar LeBron James, who – despite walking this statement back – made it clear at one point he wants to play with his son at the next level (side note: who wouldn’t want that?).

Still, Bronny not producing in college, or at the NBA combine, and now struggling in Summer League has given the anti-LeBron crowd, and the larger anti-nepotism crowd, plenty of ammunition to criticize the James family.

While Bronny’s solid performance on Wednesday almost certainly won’t quiet the haters – nor should one game turn the tides much – it’s at least a sign that an NBA caliber player is hidden in there somewhere.

The bar to clear as the 55th overall pick is quite low, and while he will never be judged fairly based on his draft stock, any level of NBA production would be a win for the Lakers and another incredible story to add to LeBron’s legacy before he rides off into the sunset.

Wednesday’s game was a start.

Former UConn star Cam Spencer shines for Memphis Grizzlies in Summer League

Former UConn Huskies guard Cam Spencer performed well for the Memphis Grizzlies in NBA Summer League on Tuesday.

It’s been a splashy week for Memphis Grizzlies rookies. First it was Zach Edey dominating in his NBA Summer League debut, posting a 14 point, 15 rebound double-double with the game-tying tip-in.

Then on Tuesday the headlines belonged to second round pick Jaylen Wells out of Washington State, who had a game-high 27 points including the game winning floater to secure a win for Memphis over the Philadelphia 76ers.

Wells may have had the bigger statline, but fellow second round pick Cam Spencer may have had the more impressive performance. Spencer, who helped bring a second straight national championship to UConn last season after playing the previous year at Rutgers, dropped 18 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds in about 35 minutes of action.

He shot 7-14 from the field and 3-7 from deep, with one steal and just one turnover on the night.

Spencer signed a two-way deal with Memphis on Monday in a move that already looks promising for the Grizzlies – who used this draft to add NBA-ready talent to a team hoping to compete right away with a fully healthy Ja Morant in the mix.

Edey is expected to start at the center position, while Wells has the size and outside shooting ability to be a rotation player right away. Spencer is a lights out shooter who will get a chance to contribute as a rookie right away as well.

It’s not hard to imagine Spencer’s intensity, scoring ability, winning mentality and experience leading him to a role as a floor spacer and hard-nosed energy guy for this Grizzlies team in Year 1, potentially giving them a trio of contributors out of what was widely considered a weak draft class.