2025 NBA Draft Thread

Man I love the talent in CBB this season

George is a sniper
Miller is my fav college prospect though. Straight hooper
 


Hoophall Classic: Bronny James reconfirmed his top two-way player status

The Hoophall Classic is considered the premier high school basketball event, an annual tournament pitting the best prospects in America against each other at Springfield College, where James Naismith invented basketball in 1891.

Dozens of five-star recruits across the 2023 to 2025 classes were in attendance at Hoophall, which opened its doors to NBA teams for the first time as part of a change in philosophy from the league office allowing scouts to evaluate high school prospects live in their most natural setting.

NBA executives got to see Bronny James, Cameron Boozer, Cooper Flagg, D.J. Wagner, Isaiah Collier and Mikey Williams among others, and for many it was their first impression of some of the top prospects in the 2024, 2025 and 2026 NBA draft classes. NBA draft insider Jonathan Givony recaps what we learned over a three-day window.

Bronny James | 6-foot-4 | PG/SG
Sierra Canyon | 2023 | Uncommitted

James delivered a standout performance in the headliner of the Hoophall Classic that reconfirmed his status as one of the best two-way players in high school basketball and a surefire future NBA player.

In a class full of prospects whose development has stagnated, James is one of the few who continues to make strides physically and skill-wise, looking like a five-star recruit and potential one-and-done candidate.

Standing around 6-4 with a chiseled frame and long wingspan, James fits the bill for what NBA teams are looking for physically. He put on a clinic defensively on the ball at Hoophall with five steals and one block. He uses his frame to get over screens seamlessly, almost always makes the right rotations plugging gaps off the ball, is smart about using verticality to protect the rim and generates countless deflections with his excellent mobility. He possesses strong hands and an instinct for jumping passing lanes, making him an absolute pest by putting intense pressure on the ball.

Offensively, James has made strides as a perimeter shooter, hitting 3-for-8 attempts from 3 at Hoophall, including one deep pull-up from well beyond NBA range. He is a high-level connector who passes ahead in transition unselfishly, can dish off a live dribble and generally makes the right basketball play more often than not, despite not being a great ball handler or shot creator. James looks better suited playing a De'Anthony Melton-esqe secondary ballhandling role than a true go-to guy, as he went just 1-for-9 inside the arc, and is still prone to streakiness shooting off the dribble.

Despite the incredible amount of hype and outsized amount of attention he garners, James looks like an outstanding teammate who communicates at a very high level and looks consumed with playing the right way and making winning plays.

He'll be in strong consideration as a first-round prospect in our initial 2024 NBA mock draft when that is released in the coming weeks.

Cameron Boozer | 6-8 | PF
Christopher Columbus | 2025 | Uncommitted

Boozer did nothing to discourage the notion that he's the best player in high school basketball regardless of class, averaging 25.5 points, 14 rebounds, 4.5 assists with 2 blocks and 2 steals while shooting 42% for 3 and 71% for 2 in a pair of wins at Hoophall.

We wrote in October about what makes Boozer such a special long-term prospect at 15 years old, and all of those traits were on full display in Springfield. Much of his team's offense ran through Boozer's polished skill set as a ball handler, passer and outside shooter, but he also didn't shy away from making his presence felt inside by throwing his body around and crashing the glass.

Down 10 points midway through the fourth quarter in a high-profile matchup against James and Sierra Canyon, Boozer took over to help Christopher Columbus win, 47-46. Boozer made it happen with scintillating outlet passes, hitting a tough pull-up 3-pointer out of pick-and-roll, making big defensive plays and drawing fouls initiating his team's offense, hitting 10-for-11 free throws.

Not currently draft eligible until 2026, the only real question mark is how Boozer continues to challenge himself for the next 3½ years, but the incredibly competitive schedule his team is playing this season certainly helps.

Justin Edwards | 6-7 | SF
Imhotep Charter | 2023 | Committed to Kentucky

Edwards had one of the single best performances at this year's Hoophall, posting 25 points, 12 rebounds, 6 steals and 4 assists and dominating his matchup in a win over highly regarded wing prospect Ian Jackson.
Edwards' aggressiveness and intensity on both ends of the floor stood out. He got downhill repeatedly for emphatic above-the-rim finishes, made the right reads with several intelligent passes, showed his improving pull-up game while demonstrating good instincts and toughness crashing the glass and jumping passing lanes.

NBA scouts will be intrigued with Edwards' size, length, physicality, two-way versatility and productivity, especially in a class that leaves much to be desired as far as surefire NBA contributors. His ballhandling and perimeter shooting have room to grow, and while turning 20 in the first month of his college career isn't ideal, there's a lot to like about the role-playing potential and high floor Edwards already demonstrates relative to other high school seniors.

Matas Buzelis | 6-10 | SG/SF
Sunrise Christian | 2023 | Committed to G League Ignite

Playing his fourth game in five days, Buzelis did not have a great showing by his standards against No. 1 Montverde (2-for-11 FG), but still showed many of the traits that make him an interesting long-term prospect as a 6-10 guard who impacts the game on both ends of the floor.

Buzelis plays point guard for Sunrise, one of the most stacked teams in high school basketball, and brings an interesting blend of ballhandling, feel for the game, fluidity changing speeds, shot-making and instincts off the ball defensively. He's still at a very early stage of development physically, weighing just 183 pounds at the Nike Hoop Summit last April. This makes it difficult for him to play through contact on both ends of the floor, especially as a primary initiator where he's struggled at times (including at Hoophall) posting nearly twice as many turnovers as assists this season, per Synergy Sports.

After shooting just 27% for 3 in 23 Nike EYBL games last spring and summer, Buzelis is off to a much better start thus far this season, shooting 44% from beyond the arc in 15 games (and 77% from the free throw line), per Synergy. That's partially due to the fact that he's seeing more time playing off the ball, where he's really at his best as a high-level connector who passes ahead in transition, makes the extra around the perimeter, moves off the ball intelligently and uses touch passes, his heady drive and kick game. He can handle, pass and finish around the basket with both hands, even if his decision-making is still a work in progress at times, and has great touch on his short-range attempts, showing the ability to rise up over the top of smaller defenders, which is important for him since he doesn't have the strength to simply power through or the explosiveness to blow by opponents from a standstill.

Defensively, Buzelis' weak frame, upright stance and struggles getting through screens makes him somewhat of a mixed bag at the moment, especially when asked to stay in front of smaller opponents. He does play with a good motor and shows tremendous timing off the ball plugging gaps, being in the right spots and rotating for blocks instinctually -- things he should be able to harness at higher levels as his frame continues to evolve.

Buzelis' physical development over the next 18 months should give us much better insight into how he projects long-term, as he's bound to be somewhat of a polarizing prospect for some NBA executives due to his unique profile. The fact that he's showing increasingly impressive shot-making prowess and has such strong basketball instincts on both ends of the floor in addition to his tremendous size ultimately gives him a very high upside, but there will continue to be ups and downs with his productivity.

D.J. Wagner | 6-3 | PG/SG
Camden | 2023 | Committed to Kentucky

Wagner showed positives and negatives in his two-game outing at Hoophall, scoring 27 points in a loss to Corona Centennial and then struggling with efficiency and shot selection in a blowout win over Bishop Gorman.

While he hasn't grown much in the past year, Wagner is clearly working on his frame. He's one of the best shot creators in the class, showing an impressive ability to change speeds and put pressure on the rim with polished footwork, long strides and outstanding ballhandling ability using either hand, getting to the free throw line at a strong rate thanks to his propensity for seeking out and absorbing contact in the lane.

Wagner's ability to create for teammates and perimeter shooting haven't improved as much as expected since he emerged as an elite-level prospect early in his high school career. He still primarily looks for his own offense operating out of isolation or pick-and-roll with most of his assists coming off simple drive and dish plays to the strong side or extra passes along the perimeter. Considering he only stands 6-3 and is a streaky outside shooter historically (25% 3P% this season, 26% 3P% for his career), that's certainly not ideal for a player most view as a top-five prospect in this class.

Wagner's defense also is a work in progress, especially relative to his dimensions (6-5 wingspan) and the fact that he projects to play quite a bit of shooting guard next season at Kentucky alongside another undersized, ball-dominant guard in Robert Dillingham, who is also not known for his defense or outside shooting.

Not turning 18 until May, Wagner has time to continue to improve his weaknesses, even if it's fair to say his development has stagnated somewhat over the past year relative to the very high expectations he generated.

Isaiah Collier | 6-4 | PG
Wheeler | 2023 | Committed to USC

Collier dropped 30 points, 7 assists and 6 rebounds in a blowout loss to Bishop Gorman, showing his transition scoring prowess, strong change of pace game, bully-ball finishing ability, vision passing on the move and excellent competitive streak on both ends of the floor. Wheeler High School was down 43-16 at halftime, but he helped his squad fight their way back into the contest when most top prospects would have packed it in. At 6-4 with a stocky build and average length, Collier is an elite pick-and-roll manipulator with innate creativity and ballhandling prowess you can't teach. He makes the game easy seeing plays develop before they happen and delivering passes on a silver platter, even if he can be very turnover-prone at times. Collier puts his instincts to good use defensively, using his size, strength and anticipation skills to be an asset, despite not possessing much length.

The main question Collier faces projecting to the college, and eventually the NBA level, is his extremely streaky jump shot. He shoots it differently seemingly every time, sometimes with a stiff set-shot release, other times elevating and shooting on the way down. Defenders regularly go under ball screens and there's not much Collier can do to counter that at the moment, something that will be a bigger issue as the level of competition rises. Collier is enough of a gamer to throw in tough shots at opportune moments and he hit 45% of his 3-pointers in eight EYBL games last spring, but NBA teams are going to want to see him improve this part of his game significantly to project him as a surefire starting point guard.

Collier has established himself as the No. 1 point guard in the class and a candidate to finish as the top overall player; he will be heavily scrutinized next season at USC.

Aaron Bradshaw | 7-0 | C
Camden | 2023 | Committed to Kentucky

Sporting a huge size advantage in his Hoophall matchups, Bradshaw was able to dominate the offensive glass, finish emphatically when spoon-fed around the basket and even show some flashes of his improving touch from the perimeter, but did not have the most impressive overall weekend relative to his lofty standing.

Sporting a narrow frame with an extremely thin lower body, Bradshaw has a ways to go to hold his own from a physicality standpoint at the college level. He gets pushed around more than you'd like to see from a 7-footer, shying away from contact in the lane and settling for quite a few difficult turnarounds, fadeaways and face-up jumpers, to mixed results. He also isn't much of a passer, as the game often moves too fast for him.

Defensively, Bradshaw doesn't make the impact you might expect relative to his size and length. He struggles to move his feet on the perimeter due to his upright stance, is a mixed bag as a defensive rebounder and rim-protector and gets posted up and scored on frequently by players smaller than him. To his credit, he plays with a very high-intensity level, running the floor with purpose and making an effort to crash the offensive glass with his length and excellent motor. He's also shown clear improvement with his outside shot, is reliable from the free throw line and led the Nike EYBL in dunks with 45 in 25 games. He's clearly been on an upward trajectory the past two years and is a strong communicator who brings a positive spirit on and off the floor.

The margin for error in the modern NBA for thin-framed big men in Bradshaw's mold has never been thinner, as teams expect 7-footers to anchor their defense and also bring a versatile skill set offensively as passers and outside shooters. Bradshaw has a ways to go in those areas and is headed to a Kentucky Wildcats squad next season that will likely be flush with big men options.

Stephon Castle | 6-6 | PG/SG
Newton | 2023 | Committed to UConn

Castle didn't have a great Hoophall, needing 20 shots to score 15 points in a loss to powerhouse IMG Academy, but still looked like one of the most intriguing long-term prospects in the class as a 6-6 guard with a 6-9 wingspan, an ideal frame and outstanding court vision and passing creativity off a live dribble. The UConn commit has taken a different pathway than most elite prospects in emerging as a potential top-10 recruit, playing at Newton High School -- a small public school in Georgia -- and Atlanta Xpress on the Under Armour grassroots circuit. That rise was partially fueled by a 42-point performance last month against Duncanville, ESPN's No. 1 ranked team, featuring a barrage of difficult pull-up 3-pointers and bully ball finishes in the lane using both hands, highlighting his extremely high upside.

While the game comes easily for Castle thanks to his smooth ballhandling, fluidity-changing speeds and ability to make high-level reads operating out of pick-and-roll, he can still become more consistent and efficient with his approach. He plays a very casual style that includes too many live-ball turnovers and defensive lapses and is still finding his way as both a finisher and perimeter shooter. He lacks a degree of explosiveness and doesn't show much emotion on the floor, not communicating with teammates and being feast or famine from possession to possession.

Castle will be asked to ramp up his intensity significantly next season under coach Danny Hurley at UConn, which is said to be one of the main reasons he picked the Huskies. With most of UConn's backcourt rotation either graduating or potentially entering the 2023 NBA draft, Castle should be in a strong position to make his case as a one-and-done candidate in the Big East like his significant talent level suggests.

Cooper Flagg | 6-8 | SF/PF
Montverde Academy | 2025 | Uncommitted

Flagg had his best performance since the gold medal game (10 points, 17 rebounds, eight steals, four blocks) of the FIBA U17 World Cup last summer, posting 21 points, 5 rebounds, 5 steals and 3 assists in a blowout win over La Lumiere in Montverde's opening game at Hoophall. Flagg, who just turned 16 years old, looks like he's continuing to grow and diversify his skill set, which is scary since he's already regarded as one of the best players in high school.

While Flagg's outside shot has been streaky this season (24% from 3), he showed no hesitation in making shots both with his feet set and off the bounce against La Lumiere, leaving plenty of room for optimism. Despite not being an elite ball handler, he does a little bit of everything offensively, especially as a facilitator where his feel for the game shines through. Defensively, he's capable of guarding any position, filling up the stat sheet consistently with rebounds, blocks and steals thanks to his outstanding instincts and competitiveness, especially off the ball.

Not currently draft-eligible until 2026, Flagg looks to be in a strong development situation at Montverde being tasked with doing many of the things he does well, while being pushed to expand his offensive game, which should bode well from his long-term outlook.

Mikey Williams | 6-3 | PG
San Ysidro | 2023 | Committed to Memphis

Williams struggled with efficiency (7-for-22 FG) but still showed what makes him an intriguing long-term prospect at Hoophall, getting anywhere he wanted on the floor with his excellent fluidity changing gears and made several outstanding reads passing off a live dribble. It's hard to find strong-framed guards who can handle the ball on a string, use or reject screens skillfully, show creativity and touch finishing around the basket and throw in deep pull-up jumpers like Williams does.

Despite the significant talent, there are several things working against Williams that will likely be real deterrents to him emerging as a first-round caliber prospect. He shows little to no effort defensively, standing straight up off the ball and simply waits for possessions to run its course so he can get back on offense. His decision-making is very poor at times, as he doesn't have much concept for what his limitations are.

Williams' style of play will make it very difficult for him to win games if he doesn't improve his shot selection and propensity for live-ball turnovers significantly. His body language leaves something to be desired, and multiple NBA scouts in attendance pointed to the chaos around his team, with both parents sitting on the bench interacting with Williams mid-possession, something you don't often see.

The real question is how Williams will react when he's finally in a situation that doesn't entirely revolve around him, with real expectations, accountability and coaching. He's committed to playing for Penny Hardaway at Memphis next season, whose teams traditionally hang their hat on their toughness and defensive prowess, but also provides some leeway offensively like Williams will surely need to get the most of his talent. While much of the sport has already written off Williams as someone who will struggle to adapt to the demands of college basketball, it's impossible to deny the talent he possesses and the probability of him figuring things out as his career moves on, as there's some real substance to his game.

Deshawn Harris-Smith | 6-5 | PG/SG
Paul VI Catholic | 2023 | Committed to Maryland

Harris-Smith had a dominant performance picking apart two five-star recruits in Simeon Wilcher and Mackenzie Mgbako in a blowout win over Roselle Catholic, posting 23 points, 11 rebounds, 7 assists and 4 steals. Harris-Smith was one of the best guards on the Nike EYBL circuit last spring and summer and has continued in his high school season with Paul VI, leading his team to a 15-1 record and No. 1 ranking in the country per MaxPreps.
A lefty combo guard with excellent size and strength, Harris-Smith is a force in transition or getting downhill in the half court, finishing with power and touch in the lane and showing some ability to drive and dish and get teammates involved. He's a dogged defender who rebounds with purpose and had no issue putting a body on a power forward in Mgbako or slowing down smaller players with his length.

Harris-Smith is still evolving as a playmaker and decision-maker, especially when pushed to his weaker right hand, but shows vision and unselfishness and has significant potential as a big point guard as his ballhandling ability continues to evolve. Outside shooting will be a major priority for Harris-Smith who passes up open 3-pointers and has a ways to go mechanically to be the type of player who can consistently punish defenses for going under ball screens. He's making 33% of his 3-pointers in 17 games this season, per Synergy Sports, and just 66% of his free throw attempts.

Despite not being the most highly regarded prospect (ESPN's No. 52 recruit) in this class, Harris-Smith did an excellent job taking advantage of the Hoophall platform and looks like someone NBA scouts will want to monitor closely at Maryland.

Liam McNeeley | 6-7 | SG/SF
Montverde Academy | 2024 | Uncommitted

McNeeley had an outstanding weekend at Hoophall, posting 23 points and 11 assists in 47 minutes over two games. At 6-7, he looks like one of the most dynamic shooters in high school, converting 46% of his 3-pointers this season, showing the ability to run off screens or operate out of handoffs and a quick release spotting up on the hop.

Unlike most excellent high school shooters, McNeely also shows the ability to create offense for himself and others off the dribble, changing speeds smoothly to get in the lane and doing so with his head up looking to dish off to teammates when the defense rotates. He plays a low-usage, high-efficiency role for a stacked Montverde team effectively, taking what defenses give him and rarely forcing the issue, committing just 12 turnovers in 15 games this season while leading the team with his 61% EFG%. On top of that, he's a smart and committed defender who executes Montverde's schemes effectively and shows strong awareness and positioning off the ball.

While not possessing the type of high-end length, explosiveness or traditional upside you might hope to see from elite-level recruits, McNeeley's shooting, feel for the game and ability to play a coveted role in modern basketball gives him one of the highest floors of any player in his class. He's continuing to make strides with his skill set and frame and should see his role increase next season as a senior at Montverde.

Jared McCain | 6-3 | PG/SG
Corona Centennial | 2023 | Committed to Duke

McCain continues to produce like one of the best guards in his high school class and a clear-cut five-star caliber recruit. At Hoophall, McCain was again a standout, posting 27 points (6-for-10 3P) in a win over Wagner's Camden squad, coming up huge in the fourth quarter.

McCain is an outstanding shooter who excels coming off screens, pulling up out of isolation or punishing defenders for going under in pick-and-roll. He's expanded his game in recent years with his ability to create with either hand and use sharp footwork, strength and touch in short-range and midrange spots too, using hesitation moves to get inside the paint and improving his drive and kick game and ability to make the right reads out of pick-and-roll, which he needs to continue to build on since he's not the most explosive finisher.

He plays with a huge amount of swagger, constantly directing traffic, communicating and leading teammates in a very positive way. He's also a competitive defender who makes up for his lack of elite length with toughness and smarts. McCain will be a fan favorite and should make an instant impact at Duke, where his evolution as a playmaker, efficiency and ability to impact winning will ultimately dictate how long his stay in Durham ends up being.

Miro Little | 6-4 | PG/SG
Sunrise Christian | 2023 | Committed to Baylor

Coming off an outstanding summer playing alongside Lauri Markkanen at the FIBA Eurobasket with the Finnish senior national team, Little is making the adjustment to a different style of basketball on a stacked Sunrise Christian team. That process appears to be going well thus far, as Little was the best player on the floor in stretches in a high-profile matchup against Montverde at Hoophall, posting a game-high 17 points (7-for-9 FG) with 4 rebounds and 3 assists, keying a second-half comeback that came up short.

Despite playing out of position at small forward, Little leads Sunrise in assists and has been their most efficient high-volume scorer, shooting 40% for 3. Little has excellent size and strength for a 6-4 guard, with long arms that give him multi-positional defensive potential and the ability to change speeds powerfully and play above the rim in space.

Little showed several parts of his game that should help him carve out an immediate role at Baylor next season, with his intelligence using and rejecting ball screens, his willingness to make the extra pass unselfishly, his ability to play through physicality on both ends of the floor, his smarts as an off the ball defender and his increasingly polished jump shot. He's not the most explosive or dynamic ball handler and is still figuring out what his go-to skill is, but is making strides as a defender and shooter which is important for the Swiss Army knife guard role he's trying to carve out. He's a fiery competitor who plays the right way and has been productive in every setting he's played in.
 
He'll be in strong consideration as a first-round prospect in our initial 2024 NBA mock draft when that is released in the coming weeks.

First time hearing this about Bronny
 
pmatic said:


Hoophall Classic: Bronny James reconfirmed his top two-way player status

The Hoophall Classic is considered the premier high school basketball event, an annual tournament pitting the best prospects in America against each other at Springfield College, where James Naismith invented basketball in 1891.

Dozens of five-star recruits across the 2023 to 2025 classes were in attendance at Hoophall, which opened its doors to NBA teams for the first time as part of a change in philosophy from the league office allowing scouts to evaluate high school prospects live in their most natural setting.

NBA executives got to see Bronny James, Cameron Boozer, Cooper Flagg, D.J. Wagner, Isaiah Collier and Mikey Williams among others, and for many it was their first impression of some of the top prospects in the 2024, 2025 and 2026 NBA draft classes. NBA draft insider Jonathan Givony recaps what we learned over a three-day window.

Bronny James | 6-foot-4 | PG/SG
Sierra Canyon | 2023 | Uncommitted

James delivered a standout performance in the headliner of the Hoophall Classic that reconfirmed his status as one of the best two-way players in high school basketball and a surefire future NBA player.

In a class full of prospects whose development has stagnated, James is one of the few who continues to make strides physically and skill-wise, looking like a five-star recruit and potential one-and-done candidate.

Standing around 6-4 with a chiseled frame and long wingspan, James fits the bill for what NBA teams are looking for physically. He put on a clinic defensively on the ball at Hoophall with five steals and one block. He uses his frame to get over screens seamlessly, almost always makes the right rotations plugging gaps off the ball, is smart about using verticality to protect the rim and generates countless deflections with his excellent mobility. He possesses strong hands and an instinct for jumping passing lanes, making him an absolute pest by putting intense pressure on the ball.

Offensively, James has made strides as a perimeter shooter, hitting 3-for-8 attempts from 3 at Hoophall, including one deep pull-up from well beyond NBA range. He is a high-level connector who passes ahead in transition unselfishly, can dish off a live dribble and generally makes the right basketball play more often than not, despite not being a great ball handler or shot creator. James looks better suited playing a De'Anthony Melton-esqe secondary ballhandling role than a true go-to guy, as he went just 1-for-9 inside the arc, and is still prone to streakiness shooting off the dribble.

Despite the incredible amount of hype and outsized amount of attention he garners, James looks like an outstanding teammate who communicates at a very high level and looks consumed with playing the right way and making winning plays.

He'll be in strong consideration as a first-round prospect in our initial 2024 NBA mock draft when that is released in the coming weeks.

Cameron Boozer | 6-8 | PF
Christopher Columbus | 2025 | Uncommitted

Boozer did nothing to discourage the notion that he's the best player in high school basketball regardless of class, averaging 25.5 points, 14 rebounds, 4.5 assists with 2 blocks and 2 steals while shooting 42% for 3 and 71% for 2 in a pair of wins at Hoophall.

We wrote in October about what makes Boozer such a special long-term prospect at 15 years old, and all of those traits were on full display in Springfield. Much of his team's offense ran through Boozer's polished skill set as a ball handler, passer and outside shooter, but he also didn't shy away from making his presence felt inside by throwing his body around and crashing the glass.

Down 10 points midway through the fourth quarter in a high-profile matchup against James and Sierra Canyon, Boozer took over to help Christopher Columbus win, 47-46. Boozer made it happen with scintillating outlet passes, hitting a tough pull-up 3-pointer out of pick-and-roll, making big defensive plays and drawing fouls initiating his team's offense, hitting 10-for-11 free throws.

Not currently draft eligible until 2026, the only real question mark is how Boozer continues to challenge himself for the next 3½ years, but the incredibly competitive schedule his team is playing this season certainly helps.

Justin Edwards | 6-7 | SF
Imhotep Charter | 2023 | Committed to Kentucky

Edwards had one of the single best performances at this year's Hoophall, posting 25 points, 12 rebounds, 6 steals and 4 assists and dominating his matchup in a win over highly regarded wing prospect Ian Jackson.
Edwards' aggressiveness and intensity on both ends of the floor stood out. He got downhill repeatedly for emphatic above-the-rim finishes, made the right reads with several intelligent passes, showed his improving pull-up game while demonstrating good instincts and toughness crashing the glass and jumping passing lanes.

NBA scouts will be intrigued with Edwards' size, length, physicality, two-way versatility and productivity, especially in a class that leaves much to be desired as far as surefire NBA contributors. His ballhandling and perimeter shooting have room to grow, and while turning 20 in the first month of his college career isn't ideal, there's a lot to like about the role-playing potential and high floor Edwards already demonstrates relative to other high school seniors.

Matas Buzelis | 6-10 | SG/SF
Sunrise Christian | 2023 | Committed to G League Ignite

Playing his fourth game in five days, Buzelis did not have a great showing by his standards against No. 1 Montverde (2-for-11 FG), but still showed many of the traits that make him an interesting long-term prospect as a 6-10 guard who impacts the game on both ends of the floor.

Buzelis plays point guard for Sunrise, one of the most stacked teams in high school basketball, and brings an interesting blend of ballhandling, feel for the game, fluidity changing speeds, shot-making and instincts off the ball defensively. He's still at a very early stage of development physically, weighing just 183 pounds at the Nike Hoop Summit last April. This makes it difficult for him to play through contact on both ends of the floor, especially as a primary initiator where he's struggled at times (including at Hoophall) posting nearly twice as many turnovers as assists this season, per Synergy Sports.

After shooting just 27% for 3 in 23 Nike EYBL games last spring and summer, Buzelis is off to a much better start thus far this season, shooting 44% from beyond the arc in 15 games (and 77% from the free throw line), per Synergy. That's partially due to the fact that he's seeing more time playing off the ball, where he's really at his best as a high-level connector who passes ahead in transition, makes the extra around the perimeter, moves off the ball intelligently and uses touch passes, his heady drive and kick game. He can handle, pass and finish around the basket with both hands, even if his decision-making is still a work in progress at times, and has great touch on his short-range attempts, showing the ability to rise up over the top of smaller defenders, which is important for him since he doesn't have the strength to simply power through or the explosiveness to blow by opponents from a standstill.

Defensively, Buzelis' weak frame, upright stance and struggles getting through screens makes him somewhat of a mixed bag at the moment, especially when asked to stay in front of smaller opponents. He does play with a good motor and shows tremendous timing off the ball plugging gaps, being in the right spots and rotating for blocks instinctually -- things he should be able to harness at higher levels as his frame continues to evolve.

Buzelis' physical development over the next 18 months should give us much better insight into how he projects long-term, as he's bound to be somewhat of a polarizing prospect for some NBA executives due to his unique profile. The fact that he's showing increasingly impressive shot-making prowess and has such strong basketball instincts on both ends of the floor in addition to his tremendous size ultimately gives him a very high upside, but there will continue to be ups and downs with his productivity.

D.J. Wagner | 6-3 | PG/SG
Camden | 2023 | Committed to Kentucky

Wagner showed positives and negatives in his two-game outing at Hoophall, scoring 27 points in a loss to Corona Centennial and then struggling with efficiency and shot selection in a blowout win over Bishop Gorman.

While he hasn't grown much in the past year, Wagner is clearly working on his frame. He's one of the best shot creators in the class, showing an impressive ability to change speeds and put pressure on the rim with polished footwork, long strides and outstanding ballhandling ability using either hand, getting to the free throw line at a strong rate thanks to his propensity for seeking out and absorbing contact in the lane.

Wagner's ability to create for teammates and perimeter shooting haven't improved as much as expected since he emerged as an elite-level prospect early in his high school career. He still primarily looks for his own offense operating out of isolation or pick-and-roll with most of his assists coming off simple drive and dish plays to the strong side or extra passes along the perimeter. Considering he only stands 6-3 and is a streaky outside shooter historically (25% 3P% this season, 26% 3P% for his career), that's certainly not ideal for a player most view as a top-five prospect in this class.

Wagner's defense also is a work in progress, especially relative to his dimensions (6-5 wingspan) and the fact that he projects to play quite a bit of shooting guard next season at Kentucky alongside another undersized, ball-dominant guard in Robert Dillingham, who is also not known for his defense or outside shooting.

Not turning 18 until May, Wagner has time to continue to improve his weaknesses, even if it's fair to say his development has stagnated somewhat over the past year relative to the very high expectations he generated.

Isaiah Collier | 6-4 | PG
Wheeler | 2023 | Committed to USC

Collier dropped 30 points, 7 assists and 6 rebounds in a blowout loss to Bishop Gorman, showing his transition scoring prowess, strong change of pace game, bully-ball finishing ability, vision passing on the move and excellent competitive streak on both ends of the floor. Wheeler High School was down 43-16 at halftime, but he helped his squad fight their way back into the contest when most top prospects would have packed it in. At 6-4 with a stocky build and average length, Collier is an elite pick-and-roll manipulator with innate creativity and ballhandling prowess you can't teach. He makes the game easy seeing plays develop before they happen and delivering passes on a silver platter, even if he can be very turnover-prone at times. Collier puts his instincts to good use defensively, using his size, strength and anticipation skills to be an asset, despite not possessing much length.

The main question Collier faces projecting to the college, and eventually the NBA level, is his extremely streaky jump shot. He shoots it differently seemingly every time, sometimes with a stiff set-shot release, other times elevating and shooting on the way down. Defenders regularly go under ball screens and there's not much Collier can do to counter that at the moment, something that will be a bigger issue as the level of competition rises. Collier is enough of a gamer to throw in tough shots at opportune moments and he hit 45% of his 3-pointers in eight EYBL games last spring, but NBA teams are going to want to see him improve this part of his game significantly to project him as a surefire starting point guard.

Collier has established himself as the No. 1 point guard in the class and a candidate to finish as the top overall player; he will be heavily scrutinized next season at USC.

Aaron Bradshaw | 7-0 | C
Camden | 2023 | Committed to Kentucky

Sporting a huge size advantage in his Hoophall matchups, Bradshaw was able to dominate the offensive glass, finish emphatically when spoon-fed around the basket and even show some flashes of his improving touch from the perimeter, but did not have the most impressive overall weekend relative to his lofty standing.

Sporting a narrow frame with an extremely thin lower body, Bradshaw has a ways to go to hold his own from a physicality standpoint at the college level. He gets pushed around more than you'd like to see from a 7-footer, shying away from contact in the lane and settling for quite a few difficult turnarounds, fadeaways and face-up jumpers, to mixed results. He also isn't much of a passer, as the game often moves too fast for him.

Defensively, Bradshaw doesn't make the impact you might expect relative to his size and length. He struggles to move his feet on the perimeter due to his upright stance, is a mixed bag as a defensive rebounder and rim-protector and gets posted up and scored on frequently by players smaller than him. To his credit, he plays with a very high-intensity level, running the floor with purpose and making an effort to crash the offensive glass with his length and excellent motor. He's also shown clear improvement with his outside shot, is reliable from the free throw line and led the Nike EYBL in dunks with 45 in 25 games. He's clearly been on an upward trajectory the past two years and is a strong communicator who brings a positive spirit on and off the floor.

The margin for error in the modern NBA for thin-framed big men in Bradshaw's mold has never been thinner, as teams expect 7-footers to anchor their defense and also bring a versatile skill set offensively as passers and outside shooters. Bradshaw has a ways to go in those areas and is headed to a Kentucky Wildcats squad next season that will likely be flush with big men options.

Stephon Castle | 6-6 | PG/SG
Newton | 2023 | Committed to UConn

Castle didn't have a great Hoophall, needing 20 shots to score 15 points in a loss to powerhouse IMG Academy, but still looked like one of the most intriguing long-term prospects in the class as a 6-6 guard with a 6-9 wingspan, an ideal frame and outstanding court vision and passing creativity off a live dribble. The UConn commit has taken a different pathway than most elite prospects in emerging as a potential top-10 recruit, playing at Newton High School -- a small public school in Georgia -- and Atlanta Xpress on the Under Armour grassroots circuit. That rise was partially fueled by a 42-point performance last month against Duncanville, ESPN's No. 1 ranked team, featuring a barrage of difficult pull-up 3-pointers and bully ball finishes in the lane using both hands, highlighting his extremely high upside.

While the game comes easily for Castle thanks to his smooth ballhandling, fluidity-changing speeds and ability to make high-level reads operating out of pick-and-roll, he can still become more consistent and efficient with his approach. He plays a very casual style that includes too many live-ball turnovers and defensive lapses and is still finding his way as both a finisher and perimeter shooter. He lacks a degree of explosiveness and doesn't show much emotion on the floor, not communicating with teammates and being feast or famine from possession to possession.

Castle will be asked to ramp up his intensity significantly next season under coach Danny Hurley at UConn, which is said to be one of the main reasons he picked the Huskies. With most of UConn's backcourt rotation either graduating or potentially entering the 2023 NBA draft, Castle should be in a strong position to make his case as a one-and-done candidate in the Big East like his significant talent level suggests.

Cooper Flagg | 6-8 | SF/PF
Montverde Academy | 2025 | Uncommitted

Flagg had his best performance since the gold medal game (10 points, 17 rebounds, eight steals, four blocks) of the FIBA U17 World Cup last summer, posting 21 points, 5 rebounds, 5 steals and 3 assists in a blowout win over La Lumiere in Montverde's opening game at Hoophall. Flagg, who just turned 16 years old, looks like he's continuing to grow and diversify his skill set, which is scary since he's already regarded as one of the best players in high school.

While Flagg's outside shot has been streaky this season (24% from 3), he showed no hesitation in making shots both with his feet set and off the bounce against La Lumiere, leaving plenty of room for optimism. Despite not being an elite ball handler, he does a little bit of everything offensively, especially as a facilitator where his feel for the game shines through. Defensively, he's capable of guarding any position, filling up the stat sheet consistently with rebounds, blocks and steals thanks to his outstanding instincts and competitiveness, especially off the ball.

Not currently draft-eligible until 2026, Flagg looks to be in a strong development situation at Montverde being tasked with doing many of the things he does well, while being pushed to expand his offensive game, which should bode well from his long-term outlook.

Mikey Williams | 6-3 | PG
San Ysidro | 2023 | Committed to Memphis

Williams struggled with efficiency (7-for-22 FG) but still showed what makes him an intriguing long-term prospect at Hoophall, getting anywhere he wanted on the floor with his excellent fluidity changing gears and made several outstanding reads passing off a live dribble. It's hard to find strong-framed guards who can handle the ball on a string, use or reject screens skillfully, show creativity and touch finishing around the basket and throw in deep pull-up jumpers like Williams does.

Despite the significant talent, there are several things working against Williams that will likely be real deterrents to him emerging as a first-round caliber prospect. He shows little to no effort defensively, standing straight up off the ball and simply waits for possessions to run its course so he can get back on offense. His decision-making is very poor at times, as he doesn't have much concept for what his limitations are.

Williams' style of play will make it very difficult for him to win games if he doesn't improve his shot selection and propensity for live-ball turnovers significantly. His body language leaves something to be desired, and multiple NBA scouts in attendance pointed to the chaos around his team, with both parents sitting on the bench interacting with Williams mid-possession, something you don't often see.

The real question is how Williams will react when he's finally in a situation that doesn't entirely revolve around him, with real expectations, accountability and coaching. He's committed to playing for Penny Hardaway at Memphis next season, whose teams traditionally hang their hat on their toughness and defensive prowess, but also provides some leeway offensively like Williams will surely need to get the most of his talent. While much of the sport has already written off Williams as someone who will struggle to adapt to the demands of college basketball, it's impossible to deny the talent he possesses and the probability of him figuring things out as his career moves on, as there's some real substance to his game.

Deshawn Harris-Smith | 6-5 | PG/SG
Paul VI Catholic | 2023 | Committed to Maryland

Harris-Smith had a dominant performance picking apart two five-star recruits in Simeon Wilcher and Mackenzie Mgbako in a blowout win over Roselle Catholic, posting 23 points, 11 rebounds, 7 assists and 4 steals. Harris-Smith was one of the best guards on the Nike EYBL circuit last spring and summer and has continued in his high school season with Paul VI, leading his team to a 15-1 record and No. 1 ranking in the country per MaxPreps.
A lefty combo guard with excellent size and strength, Harris-Smith is a force in transition or getting downhill in the half court, finishing with power and touch in the lane and showing some ability to drive and dish and get teammates involved. He's a dogged defender who rebounds with purpose and had no issue putting a body on a power forward in Mgbako or slowing down smaller players with his length.

Harris-Smith is still evolving as a playmaker and decision-maker, especially when pushed to his weaker right hand, but shows vision and unselfishness and has significant potential as a big point guard as his ballhandling ability continues to evolve. Outside shooting will be a major priority for Harris-Smith who passes up open 3-pointers and has a ways to go mechanically to be the type of player who can consistently punish defenses for going under ball screens. He's making 33% of his 3-pointers in 17 games this season, per Synergy Sports, and just 66% of his free throw attempts.

Despite not being the most highly regarded prospect (ESPN's No. 52 recruit) in this class, Harris-Smith did an excellent job taking advantage of the Hoophall platform and looks like someone NBA scouts will want to monitor closely at Maryland.

Liam McNeeley | 6-7 | SG/SF
Montverde Academy | 2024 | Uncommitted

McNeeley had an outstanding weekend at Hoophall, posting 23 points and 11 assists in 47 minutes over two games. At 6-7, he looks like one of the most dynamic shooters in high school, converting 46% of his 3-pointers this season, showing the ability to run off screens or operate out of handoffs and a quick release spotting up on the hop.

Unlike most excellent high school shooters, McNeely also shows the ability to create offense for himself and others off the dribble, changing speeds smoothly to get in the lane and doing so with his head up looking to dish off to teammates when the defense rotates. He plays a low-usage, high-efficiency role for a stacked Montverde team effectively, taking what defenses give him and rarely forcing the issue, committing just 12 turnovers in 15 games this season while leading the team with his 61% EFG%. On top of that, he's a smart and committed defender who executes Montverde's schemes effectively and shows strong awareness and positioning off the ball.

While not possessing the type of high-end length, explosiveness or traditional upside you might hope to see from elite-level recruits, McNeeley's shooting, feel for the game and ability to play a coveted role in modern basketball gives him one of the highest floors of any player in his class. He's continuing to make strides with his skill set and frame and should see his role increase next season as a senior at Montverde.

Jared McCain | 6-3 | PG/SG
Corona Centennial | 2023 | Committed to Duke

McCain continues to produce like one of the best guards in his high school class and a clear-cut five-star caliber recruit. At Hoophall, McCain was again a standout, posting 27 points (6-for-10 3P) in a win over Wagner's Camden squad, coming up huge in the fourth quarter.

McCain is an outstanding shooter who excels coming off screens, pulling up out of isolation or punishing defenders for going under in pick-and-roll. He's expanded his game in recent years with his ability to create with either hand and use sharp footwork, strength and touch in short-range and midrange spots too, using hesitation moves to get inside the paint and improving his drive and kick game and ability to make the right reads out of pick-and-roll, which he needs to continue to build on since he's not the most explosive finisher.

He plays with a huge amount of swagger, constantly directing traffic, communicating and leading teammates in a very positive way. He's also a competitive defender who makes up for his lack of elite length with toughness and smarts. McCain will be a fan favorite and should make an instant impact at Duke, where his evolution as a playmaker, efficiency and ability to impact winning will ultimately dictate how long his stay in Durham ends up being.

Miro Little | 6-4 | PG/SG
Sunrise Christian | 2023 | Committed to Baylor

Coming off an outstanding summer playing alongside Lauri Markkanen at the FIBA Eurobasket with the Finnish senior national team, Little is making the adjustment to a different style of basketball on a stacked Sunrise Christian team. That process appears to be going well thus far, as Little was the best player on the floor in stretches in a high-profile matchup against Montverde at Hoophall, posting a game-high 17 points (7-for-9 FG) with 4 rebounds and 3 assists, keying a second-half comeback that came up short.

Despite playing out of position at small forward, Little leads Sunrise in assists and has been their most efficient high-volume scorer, shooting 40% for 3. Little has excellent size and strength for a 6-4 guard, with long arms that give him multi-positional defensive potential and the ability to change speeds powerfully and play above the rim in space.

Little showed several parts of his game that should help him carve out an immediate role at Baylor next season, with his intelligence using and rejecting ball screens, his willingness to make the extra pass unselfishly, his ability to play through physicality on both ends of the floor, his smarts as an off the ball defender and his increasingly polished jump shot. He's not the most explosive or dynamic ball handler and is still figuring out what his go-to skill is, but is making strides as a defender and shooter which is important for the Swiss Army knife guard role he's trying to carve out. He's a fiery competitor who plays the right way and has been productive in every setting he's played in.
Click to expand...


All of the Duke frosh have taken a crazy hit to their draft stock.
 
It’s supposedly Oregon - idk how Draft Express could mock him in the first but he’s definitely improving.
 
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