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NEW YORK – In the 2025 National Basketball Association Draft held Wednesday and Thursday at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., the BIG EAST had five players selected over the course of the draft, with two in the first round. It marks the 43rd time in 46 years, the BIG EAST had at least one player selected in the first round. Overall, all five players were selected within the first 40 picks.
The Georgetown Hoyas were the first BIG EAST team to have a player selected, as star freshman center Thomas Sorber was selected 15th overall by the NBA Champions Oklahoma City Thunder. Sorber became the first Hoya draft selection since 2013 when Otto Porter Jr. was selected by the Washington Wizards with the third overall pick. The Hoya big man earned BIG EAST Freshman of the Week seven times before undergoing surgery in February, capping the season averaging 14.5 points per game and 8.5 rebounds per game. He is the 14th Hoya to be selected in the first round of the NBA Draft.
At pick 29, BIG EAST Freshman of the Year Liam McNeeley of UConn was selected by the Charlotte Hornets in a reported trade by way of the Phoenix Suns. McNeeley became only the third Husky to go ‘one-and-done’ from his freshman year in Storrs straight to the NBA. He led the Huskies in scoring with 14.5 points per game, to go along with 6.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists. McNeeley became the 24th first round pick in UConn history – all coming since 1990 – and the 52nd NBA Draft selection in program history. He is the ninth NBA draft pick in Dan Hurley's first seven years at the helm of the Huskies, the fifth first round pick and the seventh selection over the last three seasons.
On Thursday, three more BIG EAST players were drafted within the first 10 picks, starting with four-time BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year Ryan Kalkbrenner of Creighton. The 7-foot-1 center heard his name called at pick No. 34 and will join McNeeley as a member of the Charlotte Hornets. Kalkbrenner is Creighton's 10th Second Round pick in history, which includes former NBA All-Stars Paul Silas (1964) and Kyle Korver (2003). Kalkbrenner is also the first Creighton product ever drafted by the Hornets franchise. Kalkbrenner turned in one of the most decorated careers in Creighton Basketball history, ranking second in program history in points (2,443), rebounds (1,146), blocks (399), field goals made (984) and field goal percentage (.658).
All BIG EAST First Team member Kam Jones of Marquette was the next BIG EAST player to hear his name called as the San Antonio Spurs traded the right’s to the 38th pick to the NBA runner-up Indiana Pacers. Jones is the 61st player in program history to be drafted. Jones was a Consensus Second Team All-America honoree and unanimous All-BIG EAST First Team selection as a senior in 2024-25. He averaged 19.2 points per outing and his 5.9 assists per game ranked among the national leaders. He was a finalist for the Bob Cousy Award (nation's top point guard) in his first season playing the position and finished second all-time at Marquette in scoring (2,044 points).
Rounding out the selections for the Conference, Georgetown’s leading scorer in 2024-25 Micah Peavy was selected 40th overall by the Washington Wizards in a trade to the New Orleans Pelicans. Joining Sorber, it marks the first time a Hoya duo has been drafted in the same year since 2008. Peavy played in all 32 games last season, averaging 17.2 points per game overall and 19.2 ppg in BIG EAST play. The graduate student finished the regular season leading the BIG EAST conference in steals per game. He managed 2.31 spg and added 5.8 rpg and 3.6 apg.
BIG EAST Players in 2025 NBA Draft
Round (Overall) Player Team
1 (15) Thomas Sorber, Georgetown, C Oklahoma City Thunder
1 (29) Liam McNeeley, UConn, G Phoenix Suns (Traded to Charlotte Hornets)
2 (34) Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton, C Charlotte Hornets
2 (38) Kam Jones, Marquette, G San Antonio Spurs (Traded to Indiana Pacers)
2 (40) Micah Peavy, Georgetown, G Washington Wizards (Traded to New Orleans Pelicans)