With the 2024-25 men’s college basketball season in conference play and the 2025 NBA draft five months away, let’s take a closer look at some of the underrated prospects rising up the ranks.
Change is inevitable when it comes to forecasting the draft. With half the college regular season already done, strong performances from lesser-heralded players are being rewarded with attention from NBA scouts and an improved outlook with draft prognostications.
The following 10 players, divided by backcourt and frontcourt and then ranked based on their projected draft order, have caught NBA teams’ eyes thus far, despite entering this season without significant draft buzz. Continuing to produce ahead of the NCAA tournament will cause players to see their draft stock climb as June draws near.
We’ve also asked NBA scouts to share their insights on these players and why they might not be flying under the draft radar for much longer.
Come back to ESPN.com and ESPN the App on Saturday for our updated list of ESPN’s Top 100 Rankings, which was last posted on Dec. 10, 2024.
Let’s dive in.
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Backcourt | Frontcourt
Backcourt
Danny Wolf, PG/PF, Michigan
Age: 20.6 | Height: 7-0 | Weight: 255
Projected draft range: 12-25
Why there’s intrigue: The Yale transfer who represents Israel in FIBA competition has made the transition from the Ivy League to the Big Ten look seamless, helping No. 20 Michigan to a 5-0 conference record and top-10 KenPom ranking, while improbably seeing significant minutes at point guard despite standing 7-feet.
There isn’t another player in college basketball like him with his ability to push off the defensive glass, creativity operating out of pick-and-roll handling, passing and finishing skillfully with both hands, and finding teammates off a live dribble. College bigs often have no idea how to defend his ball-screen actions with 7-foot-1 center Vlad Goldin, with Wolf’s ability to play off crossovers and hesitation moves, reject screens, dish on the move and throw in 3-pointers pulling up against unders or ducking behind handoffs. He has improved his rebounding, finishing and defensive versatility from last season, showing a strong motor and sharp instincts recovering for blocks and steals while being in the right spots off the ball and generally holding his own.
What scouts are saying: “I can’t remember the last time I saw a college big play that loose and free as a ball handler and passer. Some of the s— he’s doing; right hand, left hand. He’s highly, highly skilled. … He has a skill set that everyone is trying to find. My question is, when the lights get super super bright as the season moves on, can he maintain that swagger and confidence?”
Outlook: Wolf still has things to prove with his outside shooting (35% 3-pointers, 59% free throws) and high turnover rate, leading all prospects with a 28% turnover percentage.
Michigan has some major tests the next two months in the Big Ten where defenses will be singularly focused on slowing him down, which will tell us more about the viability of his unique style of play against elite-level opponents. — Givony
Jase Richardson, SG, Michigan State
Age: 19.2 | Height: 6-3 | Weight: 185
Projected draft range: 25-45
Why there’s intrigue: The son of longtime NBA standout Jason Richardson came in 38th in last year’s RSCI index and received less national fanfare than other recent NBA sons emerging from the high school ranks. He has been a positive contributor for No. 12 Michigan State (14-2), who is leaning heavily on three-guard lineups, with Richardson rotating off the bench behind more experienced teammates.
While not gifted with great size for a guard working primarily off the ball, Richardson has been efficient scoring (70% True Shooting through 16 games), albeit on somewhat limited volume. He’s a quick processor and decision-maker who is comfortable moving the ball and cutting without it, allowing him to make the most of his physical limitations. The small offensive sample size will have to bear out over the rest of the season, but falls in line with Richardson’s play in the Nike EYBL.
Defensively, Richardson also makes the most of what he has, with length to contest shots effectively and good instincts as a team defender. He has good feet and lateral quickness. The advanced numbers have backed up his play quality, and he leads the team with a 9.9 box plus-minus score (per Bart Torvik), indicative of a strong positive impact in his minutes.
The biggest concern is what type of role Richardson can carve out in the NBA without developing more on-ball skills at his size (he’s slender, and his listed 6-foot-3 might be a tad generous). His ideal long-term role would likely be as a connective combo guard who can pinch-hit in different lineups, with high enough basketball IQ to fill in the gaps and make teammates better. But he’s not getting a ton of on-ball playmaking reps at Michigan State with Jeremy Fears entrenched at point guard, and would greatly benefit from developing further as a secondary handler in screen actions.
What scouts are saying: “I like Jase. Combo guard that has a good feel for the game and a trustworthy jumper. It’s impressive [Tom] Izzo is trusting him as a freshman. He’s getting more [playmaking opportunities] than he started with this year at least, but [I] want to see more. … He should probably take another year in school to refine his game and get stronger, but has a real chance.”
Outlook: Richardson’s statistical profile is a natural hook for analytics models. Couple that with his demonstrable feel and NBA bloodlines, and he’s a clear person of draft interest. Teams will track him the rest of the season, but with Michigan State currently tied for first in the Big Ten, there might not be much of a reason for his role to expand between now and March.
Considering him a first-rounder is more of a calculated developmental bet than a surefire addition to a team’s core. Whether he can show enough to earn guaranteed money this year, or is best off returning for his sophomore season remains to be seen, but he has helped himself quite a bit so far. — Woo
Jase Richardson elevates for slam vs. Western Michigan Broncos
Darrion Williams, SG/SF, Texas Tech
Age: 21.7 | Height: 6-6 | Weight: 225
Projected draft range: 25-45
Why there’s intrigue: Williams has jumped from role player to go-to guy for a Texas Tech team that is elite offensively and a top-20 KenPom team, emerging as one of the best players in the Big 12 and a potential first-round pick this year or next.
There aren’t many players demonstrating the versatility and feel for the game Williams does, sliding between the point guard and power forward spots for the Red Raiders. He makes the game easy for teammates with the way he moves the ball in a variety of situations, operating out of ball screens patiently, finding cutters on the move, making skip passes, playing out of the post, and attacking closeouts, showing a nice blend between scoring and facilitating with clutch plays down the stretch.
He’s a career 40% 3-point shooter despite a low volume of makes (98 in 80 games) and is 84% from the free throw line, but funky mechanics raise questions about just how good a shooter he is. Not blessed with elite explosiveness, length, or the most appealing frame, NBA teams will want to get a better feel for this part of his game to better project his role, as he is also not a lockdown defender. The fact that he’s intelligent, competitive and instinctual helps, but his team struggles to get stops — and he’s no exception.
What scouts are saying: “He’s polarizing in our group. Some of our scouts love his feel, passing, and character, as well as the way he takes over games and does a little bit of everything. Others worry about the body, the jumper, who he is going to guard, how does it translate, etc. He’s grown on me, but he might need another year to trim up and improve his 3-and-D outlook, and become like a Royce O’Neal-type.”
Outlook: After a somewhat soft non-conference schedule, we’ll find out just how good of a team Texas Tech is over the next two months with Williams leading the way, something that will tell us more about whether he’s a first-round candidate in 2025, or perhaps better suited maximizing his draft standing with another year of seasoning. — Givony
Chaz Lanier, SG, Tennessee
Age: 23.0 | Height: 6-5 | Weight: 195
Projected draft range: 31-50
Why the intrigue: Lanier has taken an unusual path to NBA prospect status, joining the Vols after four years at North Florida, where he redshirted as a freshman and bloomed late. He raised his scoring average from 4.5 as a sophomore to 19.7 points per game as a senior, a surprising breakout that made him a top transfer portal target. At Tennessee, he has stepped into much of the role vacated by 2024 first-round pick Dalton Knecht and has been one of the better transfers nationally.
Lanier has paced No. 6 Tennessee with 19.0 points per game, shooting a blistering 43.7% from 3 on 8.4 attempts. He’s a confident catch-and-shoot player with a quick release and has taken advantage of growth opportunities playing off of screens. Also a solid pull-up shooter, his scoring profile gives him a chance to be a specialist, playing off of NBA guards who will consistently find him and play off the space he generates. Lanier’s combination of elite shooting and volume — in keeping with his play last season — portends well for his immediate translation as a bench player.
However, the rest of Lanier’s game is limited, and he has ground to make up developmentally to carve out a pro role. While his role requires him to get shots up, he has never been much of a playmaker, averaging 1.2 assists per game for his college career and sometimes showing tunnel vision while hunting jumpers. His finishing is also a concern, shooting 42% on 2-point attempts entering the week, and he tends to settle for shots rather than attack downhill, likely as a result of those limitations. It’s hard to see him creating consistently off the bounce in a winning context.
While not overly tall for a wing by NBA standards, Lanier has plus length on the perimeter, measuring with a 6-foot-9 wingspan at last year’s G League Elite Camp. He’s still an adventure at times defensively, with questionable habits and tendencies both as a team defender and guarding the ball. It’s feasible some of these things change in the pros, where Lanier won’t have to be the No. 1 option and the game might come more easily on both ends, but his overall profile falls somewhat short of the 3-and-D designation.
What scouts are saying: “A bit undersized for a wing, but good strength and long arms. …Very good shooter, and can get it off quick with range. Don’t think he’s a plus defender at the next level. … I think he’s more of a wing than a combo. I’m lower on him than some — I view him as an undersized shooter/scorer.”
Outlook: There’s little question Lanier is a good enough shooter to warrant draft consideration. Scouts will be working to determine whether the rest of his game can get up to speed at his age, considering the context of his limited high-level college experience and unusual trajectory as a prospect.
If he can show improvement over the next two months, with Tennessee in position to make a strong run in March, it would strengthen his case for a guaranteed second-round deal. — Woo
Frontcourt
Alex Condon, PF/C, Florida
Age: 20.4 | Height: 6-11 | Weight: 230
Projected draft range: 20-40
Why there’s intrigue: No. 5 Florida (15-1) is one of the top teams in college basketball, led in part by the play of Condon, a sophomore big man who is in the midst of an All-SEC caliber campaign.
The Australian plays an integral role on both ends of the floor for the Gators, starting games at power forward, where he facilitates quite a bit of offense through the high post out of delay and zoom actions, showing outstanding passing ability putting his unique background as a water polo goalkeeper and Australian Football ruckman to good use. Condon isn’t a polished offensive player yet and has room to grow filling out his frame and improving his finishing around the rim (51% on 2-pointers), but he shows flashes of perimeter shooting, ballhandling pushing off the defensive glass, playmaking and natural feel for the game you don’t often see from someone who says he has only been playing organized basketball seriously since age 16.
Defensively is where Condon has been most impressive, showing mobility executing a wide variety of pick-and-roll schemes (drops, switch and shows) while sliding his feet on the perimeter, turning his hips with agility and recovering for crackdown blocks from behind with nonstop intensity. He has energy, rebounds, protects the rim at a high level and holds his own against power forwards and centers, giving him versatility to tap into long-term.
What scouts are saying: “It seems the physicality of the SEC was a bit much for him as a freshman. He still needs to get a lot stronger, but he’s been much better this year. I love guys who are late-bloomers who come from those types of backgrounds — his mom swam in the Olympics and his dad played in the AFL. I might have my son start playing water polo, maybe he’ll turn out like [Nikola] Jokic or worst case Alex Condon (laughing). Our group is in wait-and-see mode on him still — maybe he needs another year to be a sure-fire first-rounder, but I love the way he passes and how hard he competes all the time.”
Outlook: Condon’s lack of strength and experience might lead to some ups and downs this season in the SEC, but it’s time to discuss him as a potential first-round pick if he continues to grow.
Players such as Condon, a 20-year-old near 7-footer with a motor and a framework of skill as a passer, ball handler and shooter and the ability to guard inside are rare. Florida looks poised for a deep NCAA tournament run, giving Condon a huge platform to showcase his game over the next eight-to-10 weeks. — Givony
Rasheer Fleming, PF/C, Saint Joseph’s
Age: 20.5 | Height: 6-9 | Weight: 240
Projected draft range: 20-40
Why there’s intrigue: Fleming is one of college basketball’s most improved players, increasing his production in every category. Coming off the bench in high school and AAU at Camden and with the New Jersey Scholars behind Aaron Bradshaw and D.J. Wagner, few could envision Fleming surpassing his former top-10 recruit teammates as a draft prospect, but that’s exactly what has transpired.
With a 7-foot-5 wingspan, Fleming is a prototype NBA big man. He’s hitting 44% of his 3-pointers, ranks fifth among projected draft picks in dunks and is filling up the stat sheet with rebounds, steals, and blocks, making highlight-reel plays with his exceptional length.
Fleming’s lack of experience manifests itself with mistake-prone moments, running into brick walls or turning the ball over under duress. He’s a somewhat mechanical player who doesn’t process the game quickly and shows questionable awareness off the ball defensively.
What scouts are saying: “Workouts are going to be huge for him. He’s having an awesome year individually, but why aren’t they better with all that talent they have? He’s making a ton of 3s, but only 68% of his free throws, so how good of a shooter is he actually? Our analytic model loves him. Sometimes I see him and he looks like a lottery pick. Other times he looks like a G League project. He’s a tough one to figure out. Just the question is, can he actually think the game?”
Outlook: St. Joe’s is having a turbulent season, with wins against Villanova and Texas Tech interspersed with losses to Central Connecticut State and Duquesne. Making the NCAA tournament via a run in the Atlantic 10 tournament would benefit Fleming’s draft outlook but won’t be an easy task. Fleming will be well-scouted regardless.
A strong end to the season will be essential to solidify his first-round outlook. — Givony
Tomislav Ivisic, C, Illinois
Age: 21.4 | Height: 7-1 | Weight: 255
Projected draft range: 25-45
Why there’s intrigue: While not at the forefront of discussion around a strong Illinois team led by projected top-10 freshman Kasparas Jakucionis, Ivisic has been an important addition for the No. 19 Illini (12-4), starting at center in his first college season.
The twin brother of Kentucky center Zvonimir Ivisic (No. 52 on ESPN’s Top 100), Tomislav has separated himself as a draftable prospect after spending the past few years playing in Montenegro. Ivisic has been optimized by Illinois as a ball-screener with perimeter utility, pairing effectively with Jakucionis, while popping out to hit 35.8% of his 3s on more than four attempts per game. He’s their second leading scorer and top rebounder, averaging 12.8 points and 8.6 boards. While not supremely gifted creating shots out of the post, Ivisic is comfortable picking his spots and doing the work on the interior, and he doesn’t need designed touches to be useful on that end.
The long-term questions center mostly on his defense: he’s a heavy-footed mover and will likely be limited to playing drop coverage in the NBA, which might limit interest for some teams. His success will be predicated on positioning and using his size, as he’s not prolific at rejecting shots or covering ground outside his immediate area. His athletic limitations also impact his interior finishing at times while playing in traffic. Bottom line, it’s hard to find legitimate 7-footers with potential to do the array of useful things Ivisic is presently doing.
What scouts are saying: “I’m comfortable calling him the better of the twins right now. He’s more consistent, tougher, and a sneaky-good post passer and catch-and-shoot option. He has solid interior scoring touch and plays with physicality. … I see early shades of Ivica Zubac in his rebounding, screening, and consistent nightly impact.”
Outlook: The versatility Ivisic supplies at 7-1 sets him apart: he’s an effective screener, capable floor-spacer, adequate positional defender, and has flashed hints of crafty passing. Bigs who can do all those things and operate out of multiple spots on the floor offensively always earn long looks in an NBA context.
His seamless transition to college basketball has given his stock a major boost, and if he continues to make shots at a useful clip, there could be an eventual depth role for him as a stretch 5. Illinois has the talent to make noise in the postseason, giving him an excellent opportunity to improve his standing. — Woo
Thomas Sorber, PF/C, Georgetown
Age: 19.0 | Height: 6-10 | Weight: 255
Projected draft range: 25-45
Why there’s intrigue: Sorber has been a bright spot for a much-improved Georgetown (12-4) team that has turned its fortunes around in Year 2 under coach Ed Cooley.
Sorber, who turned 19 on Dec. 25, has given the Hoyas a winning backbone after entering ranked 51st on the 2024 RSCI index. He didn’t enter the season pegged as a one-and-done player but has been one of the better freshmen thus far, averaging 14.8 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.4 blocks and 1.3 steals in 30 minutes per game.
Sorber has driven team success with his intelligent play: he is frequently in the right spots on defense, uses his plus length effectively, and has been a steady, positive presence on that end, posting a 9% block rate and 2.6% steal rate. He has flashed passing ability in the frontcourt and has finished at a high clip, shooting 70.7% at the rim (per Bart Torvik). And though he is not particularly athletic by NBA standards, Sorber has made the most of his physical toolkit, working hard on the glass, battling through contact and turning that into production.
In spite of that success, he has been a bit divisive for some scouts, as his below-average speed and explosiveness, coupled with a somewhat unorthodox build, raise questions about his ceiling. His best performances have also largely come against inferior competition, and he has struggled playing against length. Not viewed as a clear-cut one-and-done case, Sorber will need to string together strong conference play to enhance his draft stock.
What scouts are saying: “He’s a super high-IQ player, and IQ wins games. He’s starting to figure things out on the fly. And it looks like you can play through him and use him as an extra facilitator as needed. He needs to show he can add weight and strength in a positive way. He can’t shoot from deep right now, but I’m not asking him to do that right away anyway.”
Outlook: NBA teams are always drawn to productive bigs who can enhance lineups on both ends without needing heavy usage. There’s little question surrounding his advanced feel for the game, and his youth and statistical indicators are working in his favor.
While front offices are still gathering information, Sorber has put himself in a position to make the leap, whether this year or down the line, and Georgetown’s improved direction as a program has come in concert with his emergence. — Woo
Seth Greenberg and Tom Crean make their picks for the Wooden Award.
Johni Broome, C, Auburn
Age: 22.4 | Height: 6-10 | Weight: 247
Projected draft range: 31-50
Why the intrigue: It would be hard to see No. 1 Auburn (15-1) enjoying this level of success without Broome, who has been one of college basketball’s most productive and consistent performers. That theory will be tested in the coming weeks after Broome sprained his ankle over the weekend against South Carolina, sidelining him for the immediate future.
Broome was excellent over the first half of the season, averaging 17.9 points, 10.7 rebounds and 2.7 blocks, with Auburn playing a challenging schedule. It’s easy to appreciate his motor and aggressiveness at his size, playing a gritty, throwback type of style that has been highly effective over five college seasons. He’s demonstrated quality touch in the paint, can pass a little bit, and bullies opponents on the glass, but still isn’t much of a jump shooter and struggles from the foul line. He consistently does a range of things well on offense.
Despite the quality block rate, Broome’s defensive value isn’t a certainty going up a level — his heavier frame and lack of truly elite length will limit some of that rim protection operating on an NBA floor. He also struggles to guard in space and move his feet, making him a potential liability in coverage as South Carolina’s Collin Murray-Boyles (No. 18 in ESPN’s Top 100) demonstrated on Saturday. Those limitations likely ticket him for a situational bench context, where his energy adds value and his limitations can be covered with the right personnel around him.
Considering all that, it’s impossible to deny Broome’s sheer impact on games of late. His 16.2 box plus-minus rating leads all qualified performers, per Bart Torvik, and his well-rounded statistical profile at least leaves the door open for him to be an outlier within his mold, even if it’s not intrinsically tailored to how most teams are currently operating.
What scouts are saying: “He’s versatile. Slightly undersized, but decently mobile. Very strong. Not an elite athlete laterally or vertically, but great IQ and feel. Good playmaker, really good rebounder, good feel as a scorer. I think he’s a great defender, especially in college. Great rim protector. Not sure he is a versatile defender in the NBA though. … If he can make shots, can he be Bobby Portis? A decent second-round bet.”
Outlook: It’s fair to question how much value an undersized center in Broome’s archetype — a bruising rebounder and scorer who doesn’t consistently make jumpers or offer defensive versatility — still holds in the NBA. But he has been arguably the best player in the SEC so far, offering the type of production that is hard for teams to look past without some scrutiny.
Presuming Broome returns to the lineup by March — leading a deep tournament run would help his stock, but he has certainly played himself into the draft conversation. — Woo
Maxime Raynaud throws down powerful dunk vs. Virginia Cavaliers
Maxime Raynaud, PF/C, Stanford
Age: 20.4 | Height: 7-1 | Weight: 245
Projected draft range: 31-50
Why there’s intrigue: Raynaud is another player who has a unique background. As a teenager, he was a highly regarded swimmer in France but didn’t fully focus on basketball until his senior year of high school. During the coronavirus pandemic, he committed to Stanford as a walk-on before receiving a scholarship upon arriving in Palo Alto.
Now a potential ACC player of the year candidate, no 7-footer in college basketball has made as many 3s as Raynaud has this season (27 in 16 games). He does it with NBA range, picking and popping and hitting deep iso pull-ups, even off slight movement at times, which you don’t often see from a player this size.
Unlike most floor-spacing bigs, Raynaud can play out of the post, push off the defensive glass, create in the mid-post, and find teammates unselfishly. He has a versatile skill set, polished footwork, and the ability to score with either hand. He crashes the glass prolifically on both ends. He also has the mobility and length to make his presence felt defensively, even if he has a long way to go.
Like many late-bloomers, Raynaud lacks physicality, has average awareness, and is often late to process what is going on around him. He is also inconsistent with his intensity level and lacks experience.
What scouts are saying: “My contact with the French national team said the coaching staff loved him last summer and were close to taking him to the Olympics. …Some people in our organization wonder how much better he can get once he can focus on basketball full-time. We’ve heard that his relationship with Victor Wembanyama is very real. It wouldn’t surprise me to see him end up on the Spurs. … Can he figure out how to play with physicality more consistently? It’s gotten better but isn’t where you need it yet.”
Outlook: Expectations were muted for Stanford after an offseason coaching change and one NCAA tournament appearance since 2008. However, the Cardinal appear competitive in a wide-open ACC, which should help Raynaud’s standing. Every NBA team is looking for skilled big men.
Teams picking late in the first round and throughout the second will study Raynaud’s backstory, especially if they feel they can coach him into being a better defender in the pros than what he has shown. — Givony
Source: espn.com