With the 2024-25 NBA Draft rapidly approaching, the latest [**Sports Illustrated mock draft**](https://www.si.com/nba/draft/mock-drafts-big-boards/2025-nba-mock-draft-two-round-projections-with-one-week-remaining) is giving Big Blue Nation a reason to tune in — and maybe raise an eyebrow or two.
Koby Brea to the Pistons
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Kentucky v Tennessee | Gregory Shamus/GettyImages
Koby Brea, the sharpshooting transfer who made his name as one of the most efficient three-point threats in college basketball last season, is projected to be picked No. 37 overall by the Detroit Pistons. Brea’s silky stroke and veteran poise made him a valuable piece for Mark Pope’s new-look Wildcats, and his draft stock has quietly risen thanks to strong workouts and measurable consistency.
Amari Williams to the Lakers
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Further down the board, Amari Williams is slotted to go No. 55 to the Los Angeles Lakers. The 6-foot-10 center from Drexel brought a much-needed interior presence to Kentucky last season, showcasing shot-blocking instincts, soft touch around the rim, and the kind of defensive awareness NBA teams covet in backup bigs.
And speaking of the Lakers — that’s where the story gets even more dramatic.
In a stunning development, [**the Buss family is reportedly selling the team for 10 BILLION**,](https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/45539931/buss-family-agrees-sell-lakers-mark-walter-sources-say) ending a decades-long chapter of one of the NBA’s most iconic dynasties. The timing couldn’t be more surreal, with a Kentucky Wildcat potentially joining the franchise during its biggest transition since Dr. Jerry Buss bought the team in 1979. If the mock draft holds, Amari Williams might be entering a franchise searching not just for its next star, but its next identity under new owner Mark Walter.
While neither Brea nor Williams was ever a one-and-done headliner in Lexington, both could soon call the NBA home — proof that Pope’s first UK squad didn’t just entertain, it developed pros.
As the draft nears, expect more movement, more buzz, and perhaps a few more Wildcats sneaking into the spotlight.e