March Madness tips off (for real) today with plenty of stars coming to NBA teams near you in action. This year's draft boasts what could be one of the best lottery classes in a decade, with versatile wings and dynamic guards stacked up.
Darryn Peterson was regarded as the can't-miss No. 1 pick going into the season, but questions about his health and bizarre availability issues at Kansas this season have opened the door for AJ Dybantsa, Cam Boozer and even Darius Acuff Jr. to be in line for the top pick.
As Kansas coach Bill Self said, the narrative for Peterson is still yet to be written. The same goes for all of the prospects hooping in the NCAA Tournament.
Lets take a look at how the first round of the NBA Draft projects.
Note: Order based on NBA Draft Lottery odds through games played on Wednesday, March 18
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NBA Mock Draft 2025
1. Indiana Pacers: Darryn Peterson, G, Kansas
Peterson's talent is undeniable, and the Pacers desperately need a true wing scorer. His freshman season at Kansas with Bill Self has "30 for 30" potential, with cramping issues, exiting games at halftime and a strange dynamic between his family and agent lingering in the background. That might be enough to give some teams pause as has been reported, but he makes too much sense for Indiana to pass up.
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2. Washington Wizards: Cam Boozer, F, Duke
Carlos Boozer's son was even better than expected as a freshman at Duke. He has a high skill-level offensively, able to post, face up and even extend to the 3-point line. He is also a very good passer, has great hands and rebounding instincts. His ceiling might not be as high as several other players in this draft, but the floor is very high. Washington needs a player who will take things seriously and make his teammates better. Boozer is a perfect fit.
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3. Brooklyn Nets: AJ Dybantsa, F, BYU
Dybantsa plays with an incredible amount of force and assertiveness, which allows his athleticism to shine. Despite being surrounded by a mediocre BYU roster that got worse after the Richie Saunders injury, the Cougars were competitive in the Big 12. Dybantsa can take over games, and more importantly, he wants to take over games. He can handle the ball at a high level, and his length and athleticism helps him be a plus defender. His shot could use polish and he isn't perfect offensively, but he has what it takes to be a franchise-changing selection.
4. Sacramento Kings: Caleb Wilson, F, North Carolina
Wilson's season was cut short due to multiple injuries, but when he was on the floor he was a difference maker for North Carolina. He played well against Darryn Peterson and Kansas, and was a problem in ACC play before breaking his hand. The Kings still have Keegan Murray but need help everywhere else. Wilson and Murray would be interchangeable at the three and four, with Wilson able to score inside, draw fouls, and assert himself on both ends.
5. Utah Jazz: Darius Acuff Jr., G, Arkansas
Jazz fans who are missing Donovan Mitchell are about to be very, very happy. Acuff accounts for over 30 percent of Arkansas' offense, which is especially impressive because he is freshman. Utah's future is fascinating with draft capital stacked high, and they would love to move up to take Dybantsa who has connections to team ownership. If that doesn't materialize, Acuff will give the Jazz the lead guard they desperately need. He's a dynamic scorer who can get his shot against anyone.
6. Dallas Mavericks: Kingston Flemings, G, Houston
The Texas kid stays home, landing in Dallas with Cooper Flagg. He is dynamic athletically and will defend at a high level. Most importantly, like anyone who suits up for Kelvin Sampson at Houston, he plays hard. His midrange game is decent, but his outside shot still needs a lot of work. He has room to add strength to his lanky 6-4 frame, which could put him on a Russell Westbrook-esque trajectory early in his NBA career.
Keaton Wagler
7. Atlanta Hawks (from Pelicans): Keaton Wagler, G, Illinois
Wagler is a late bloomer who still hasn't fully bloomed. He didn't have high-major offers until his final year of high school, and wasn't necessarily expected to be more than a role player for a loaded Illinois team. Instead, became one of the best players in the entire Big Ten as a freshman. Right now, his three-point shooting is what will get him paid, shooting over 40 percent with a high volume of attempts. He still needs to get much stronger, so he might not be a big contributor right away. Interestingly, despite being 6-6, he has zero dunks as a freshman this season. He will never wow athletically, but he can get better there, too.
8. Memphis Grizzlies: Labaron Philon Jr., G, Alabama
The Grizzlies are a mess, and the future probably doesn't include Ja Morant for much longer. Philon is a dynamic shot creator who has improved his outside shot fairly dramatically. Like many in this draft class, he needs to get stronger to maximize his offensive game. Memphis could go with a big here, but a guard like Philon seems to make more sense.
9. Chicago Bulls: Nate Ament, F, Tennessee
Not a ton of what Chicago does makes sense, so this seems like a logical selection at 10. In a perfect world, Ament becomes a floor-spreader to complement Matas Buzelis attacking the paint. In reality, Ament is a project with tools that NBA teams love, but he might never develop into a top-level player. Lacking strength and shooting under 35 percent from three are the biggest concerns with him.
10. Milwaukee Bucks: Brayden Burries, G, Arizona
If Milwaukee indeed keeps Giannis Antetokounmpo, selecting a high-floor prospect like Burries makes sense. He probably will never be a great NBA player, but he definitely will be solid and fit well with stars in his role. At 6-4, he can defend both guard spots effectively and create just enough to be a starter from the jump. Even if his career arc is similar to say, Quentin Grimes, that is a solid selection at No. 9 overall.
11. Golden State Warriors: Braylon Mullins, G, UConn
Klay Thompson has been gone for two years now and Golden State is still looking to fill his spot at shooting guard. Mullins could return to school, but if he goes, his size and shooting could make him a steal at 12. His skillset probably will make him a better NBA player than college player, with optimum floor spacing and movement in Golden State's system.
12. Portland Blazers: Karim Lopez, F, New Zealand Breakers (NBL)
Portland looks to add another forward here, taking Lopez for his considerable upside. He lacks polish offensively, but will defend and was known for competing hard in the NBL against older, more rugged players. The Blazers are not that far away from being a perennial playoff team, so they could also look to take a more proven commodity here instead of another "upside" selection.
13. Charlotte Hornets: Jayden Quaintance, F/C, Kentucky
Physical gifts are aplenty with Quaintance, in terms of size, movement and a ton of upside as a result. At the same time, there are also questions about his health. He rushed back, probably too quickly, from a torn ACL suffered last February while playing for Arizona State, and NBA teams will be curious if there is still structural damage.
Imagn Images
14. Oklahoma City Thunder (from 76ers): Thomas Haugh, F, Florida
The son of a college football middle linebacker, Haugh plays with an edge you might see on the gridiron. He fits what OKC likes to do with its frontcourt players, with the ability to switch on defense and play multiple spots on offense. He probably will never be a great offensive player in the NBA, but is a perfect role player, especially for a team like the Thunder.
15. Oklahoma City Thunder (from Clippers): Christian Anderson, G, Texas Tech
Another role player goes back-to-back to OKC at 15, with Anderson rising up boards in part to his play following the injury to star teammate JT Toppin at Texas Tech. He shoots over 40 percent from three, and has consistently put up solid assist numbers as well. He probably fits better with the Thunder than Jared McCain, who was acquired from the Sixers this year.
16. San Antonio Spurs (from Hawks): Hannes Steinbach, F/C, Washington
The talented freshman was a double-double machine for a Washington team that basically ran out of players this season. A gifted offensive rebounder, he would pair well with San Antonio's young core of versatile athletes.
17. Miami Heat: Mikel Brown Jr., G, Louisville
There are parallels between Brown Jr. and Darryn Peterson in terms of injury and availability questions. Brown's freshman season at Louisville was bumpy, and he will miss at least the first week of the NCAA Tournament, where he could have improved his draft stock. He fills a need with Miami and has high-lottery level talent, but expect him to slide down draft boards more than expected.
18. Memphis Grizzlies (from Magic): Yaxel Lendeborg, F, Michigan
The former UAB star has fit right in at Michigan during his lone season with the Wolverines. The reason he slides to 18? He will be 24 when he plays his first NBA game. Capable of playing the three or four, he has the makings of a solid NBA player who might not be great at one thing, but well-rounded enough to be a starter or top rotational guy for years to come.
19. Charlotte Hornets (from Sun): Chris Cenac Jr., F, Houston
The starter kit is strong with Cenac, who still needs time to develop his skills on the offensive end especially. He's long and moves incredibly well for his size, and should be an instant help for a Hornets team that could use willing defenders up front. His shot mechanics are very inconsistent at this point, but he could end up being a steal at No. 19. And, like his college teammate Kingston Flemings, there won't be any questions about his motor.
Bennett Stirtz
20. Toronto Raptors: Bennett Stirtz, G, Iowa
Stirtz burst onto the scene last year while playing for Drake in the NCAA Tournament, then followed his coach Ben McCollum, who recruited him to Northwest Missouri State at the D-II level, to Iowa. Life in the Big Ten has been a grind but Stirtz proved he could in fact level up, averaging 20 ppg and shooting nearly 50 percent. Drake was one of the slowest paced teams last year, as is is Iowa this year. NBA scouts are curious if playing in a more uptempo system would actually maximize some of Stirtz's shot creation and playmaking abilities.
21. Denver Nuggets: Koa Peat, F, Arizona
Peat has a similar frame to fellow Arizona Wildcat Aaron Gordon, who he would pair with on Denver's frontline. At 6-8, he is rock solid and able to defend quicker players on switches. Any offense he provides will be a bonus, at least early in his career.
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22. Atlanta Hawks (from Cavaliers): Cameron Carr, G, Baylor
Carr is a three-and-D guard that would fit well with a team that loves drafting three-and-D type wings. He did more than just score for Baylor this season, contributing more than five rebounds per game as well.
23: Detroit Pistons (from Timberwolves): Alex Condon, F, Florida
The Australian native was a key piece for Florida's national title last year. He has had an up-and-down sophomore campaign for the Gators. The skillset is unique, with impressive playmaking abilities that don't necessarily match his physical frame. He would fit well with Cade Cunningham and Detroit's other young pieces.
24: Philadelphia 76ers (from Rockets): Isaiah Evans, G, Duke
Evans has a slender build and is somewhat limited as an all-around player, but he has become an elite shooter for Duke who plays well off others. He'd fit perfectly on the Sixers as a spot up player, with Tyrese Maxey's shot creation and VJ Edgecombe's slashing ability.
25. Los Angeles Lakers: Morez Johnson, F, Michigan
Johnson is an interesting prospect at 6-9 with very long arms. He likely will be able to play the five effectively in the modern NBA, and seems willing to accept a role as a defender and rebounder first. He isn't a high volume 3-point shooter at Michigan, but could expand his range once he gets to the next level.
26. New York Knicks: Aday Mara, C, Michigan
Another sophomore from Michigan goes off the board to the Knicks, who could use size even though Mara is a project of sorts at this point. Standing 7-3, he is fairly agile for his size and has a nice touch. He plays stronger than he looks, but could struggle in pick and roll defense, especially early in his pro career.
27: Boston Celtics: Motiejus Krivas, C, Arizona
The Celtics needs bigs and Krivas definitely has ideal size, and a decent amount of skill. At 7-2 he can be a solid rim protector and rebounder right away in the NBA. Luke Kornet found a place in the league with the Celtics before going to the Spurs, and Krivas will too.
Meleek Thomas Razorbacks 102525.
IMAGN
28: Minnesota Timberwolves (from Pistons): Meleek Thomas, G, Arkansas
The quest to find solid guards not named Anthony Edwards continues in Minnesota, with the lesser-known member of the Arkansas backcourt sneaking into the first round. Thomas is a rangy 6-5 and probably more of a two guard in the NBA, but he can create and handle effectively. If he turns into a player like Malik Monk, Minnesota will finally get a capable NBA starter to flank Ant.
29: Cleveland Cavaliers (from Spurs): Tyler Tanner, G, Vanderbilt
The Cavs sent Darius Garland to the Clippers earlier this year, and look to add another Vanderbilt guard with Tanner. He is a good defender and the engine that makes Vandy go. He could return to school and slide up in next year's draft, but a strong NCAA Tournament likely gets him into the first round this year.
30: Dallas Mavericks (from Thunder): Henri Veesaar, C, North Carolina
Veesaar transferred to UNC from Arizona and played well for the Tar Heels. He won't be a scorer in the NBA, but can do the little things the Mavericks need to take a step forward. Dallas likes igs who can move, and Veesaar fits that mold perfectly.
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