The 2025 NBA Draft features a loaded guard class led by Dylan Harper, VJ Edgecombe, and Tre Johnson — all potential top-10 picks. Each brings elite offensive tools, but shooting consistency, strength, and turnovers remain common areas of concern.
Credit: AP Photo/Jerry Larson; Nam Y. Huh
The 2025 NBA Draft is stacked with elite guard talent. After projected No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg, a deep pool of backcourt stars — including Rutgers' Dylan Harper, Baylor’s VJ Edgecombe, Texas’ Tre Johnson, Oklahoma’s Jeremiah Fears, and Illinois’ Kasparas Jakucionis — are expected to hear their names called early in the first round.
Dylan Harper
Dylan Harper
Position: SG
Age: 19
Height: 198 cm
Weight: 98 kg
Birth place: United States of America
Here’s a breakdown of the top guard prospects entering Wednesday’s first round of the NBA Draft, per the Associated Press' Aaron Beard:
Dylan Harper, Rutgers
Projected Pick: Top 3
Height/Weight: 1.96 m / 97 kg
Strengths: Son of five-time NBA champion Ron Harper, Dylan Harper brings NBA pedigree and a complete two-way skill set. The left-handed guard averaged 19.4 points, using his athleticism to finish at the rim, pull up for step-backs, and hit spot-up threes. He averaged 4.0 assists and 1.4 steals, including six steals vs. USC.
Concerns: Harper shot 33.3% from 3-point range on high volume and played for a team that underperformed despite NBA-level talent.
VJ Edgecombe, Baylor
Projected Pick: Top 10
Height/Weight: 1.93 m / 88 kg
Strengths: An athletic standout, Edgecombe recorded a 38.5-inch (97.8 cm) vertical at the NBA Combine. He’s an electric finisher, solid defender (11 games with 3+ steals), and capable shooter (seven games with 3+ threes).
“The size, length, speed is one thing, but just to be able to compete each and every play, it’s a different level. And VJ has that,” said coach Scott Drew.
Concerns: Shot 34% from 3, but only 25% on off-dribble jumpers, per Synergy — showing room to grow as a creator.
Tre Johnson, Texas
Projected Pick: Top 10
Height/Weight: 1.96 m / 86 kg
Strengths: Johnson led all Division I freshmen in scoring (19.9 PPG) and broke Kevin Durant’s Texas freshman scoring record with 39 points vs. Arkansas. He shot 39.7% from three, 87.1% from the line, and 52.1% off screens (91st percentile).
Concerns: Needs to add muscle to a lean frame to compete physically at the NBA level.
Jeremiah Fears, Oklahoma
Projected Pick: Mid-1st Round
Height/Weight: 1.91 m / 82 kg
Strengths: Fears averaged 17.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 4.1 assists, with elite ball-handling and clutch playmaking. He made 183 free throws (T-11th in D-I) and had game-winning plays vs. Michigan and Kentucky.
Concerns: Shot just 28.4% from 3 with nine games under 1 made 3-pointer. Needs to reduce turnovers (3.4 per game).
Kasparas Jakucionis, Illinois
Projected Pick: Late Lottery
Height/Weight: 1.96 m / 93 kg
Strengths: A strong, versatile perimeter player who averaged 15 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 4.7 assists. One of the best freshman foul-drawers in the country (5.1 FT attempts/game).
Concerns: Struggled with 3-point shooting (31.8%) and had turnover issues (3.7 per game, most among D-I freshmen).
Other notable guard prospects
Egor Demin (BYU) – 2.03 m / 90 kg | Russian guard with elite court vision, ranked 2nd among D-I freshmen in assists (5.5).
Jase Richardson (Michigan State) – 1.85 m / 81 kg | Son of Jason Richardson, shot 41.2% from 3.
Nolan Traore (France) – 1.96 m / 79 kg | French guard with scoring/playmaking upside, recruited by Duke and Alabama.
Nique Clifford (Colorado State) – 1.96 m / 92 kg | 23-year-old breakout senior: 18.9 PPG, 9.6 RPG, 4.4 APG, 37.7% 3PT.
Ben Saraf (Ratiopharm Ulm) – 1.98 m / 91 kg | Lefty from Israel, averaged 12.8 PPG, 4.6 APG in Germany.
Cedric Coward (Washington State) – 1.96 m / 97 kg | D-III transfer turned combine standout.
Walter Clayton Jr. (Florida) – 1.88 m / 90 kg | Final Four MOP, clutch guard, first-round talent.
Drake Powell (North Carolina) – 1.98 m / 88 kg | Athletic wing with 7-foot (2.13 m) wingspan, elite leaper.
Kam Jones (Marquette) – 1.93 m / 87 kg | Senior PG, 19.2 PPG, 5.9 APG, Cousy Award finalist.
Thank you for reading us! We have even more content for you.