Our annual breakdown of the draft’s most intriguing traits is again. From the quickest end-to-end burners to the highest leapers, high-risk/high-reward swings, and purest scorers, we highlight the 5 finest prospects in every defining class. Right here’s a have a look at which 2025 NBA Draft hopefuls stand out by superlatives throughout quite a few attributes together with athleticism, ability, and upside.
SPEED
1. Jeremiah Fears, Oklahoma
Jeremiah Fears is the quickest participant within the 2025 draft class, each by the attention check and in measurable phrases. He ranked third total amongst all prospects within the 3/4 court docket dash on the NBA Draft Mix with a blazing 3.05-second time, confirming what exhibits up on movie. He’s practically unattainable to comprise within the open flooring, constantly blowing by defenders and attending to his spots with ease. Fears places fixed stress on defenses in transition, and his quickness provides him a dynamic edge as a lead ball-handler. He’s a tough project with game-changing velocity on the level of assault.
2. Nolan Traore, France
Nolan Traore acquired robust consideration for the title of quickest participant within the class, however he is available in simply behind Jeremiah Fears. Whereas Traore didn’t put up elite mix numbers—ending simply outdoors the highest 10 within the shuttle run—his sport velocity paints a special image. In dwell motion on the Nike Hoop Summit and in European professional leagues, he routinely blew by defenders with a Tony Parker-like burst. His first step is explosive, and he alters tempo with ease. Although his mix numbers could have dropped him barely on this class, Traore’s in-game quickness is among the many easiest within the draft.
3. Drake Powell, North Carolina
4. Walter Clayton, Florida
5. Yanic Konan Neiderhauser, Penn State
ATHLETICISM (backcourt)
1. Drake Powell, North Carolina
Powell posted the very best vertical numbers on the 2025 NBA Draft Mix with a 37.5″ standing vertical and a 43.0″ max vertical. Mixed together with his 7-foot wingspan, his explosiveness is actually distinctive. That blend of size and leaping skill is uncommon and pushes his athletic profile into elite territory. Powell confirmed his vertical pop in spurts all year long, ending lobs with ease and altering photographs on the rim. His skill to raise shortly in visitors, particularly off two toes, provides him main potential as a disruptive presence on each ends of the court docket.
2. VJ Edgecombe, Baylor
3. Nique Clifford, Colorado State
4. Jeremiah Fears, Oklahoma
5. Chaz Lanier, Tennessee
ATHLETICISM (frontcourt)
1. Cooper Flagg, Duke
Flagg could not have posted jaw-dropping vertical numbers on the mix (29.0″ standing, 35.5″ max), however his in-game athleticism far surpasses these measurements. He’s essentially the most athletic frontcourt participant within the 2025 Draft when contemplating his fluidity, coordination, and relentless rim assaults. Flagg’s skill to alter tempo, management his physique within the air, and improvise when performs break down exhibits a special degree of athleticism that numbers can’t absolutely seize. His 7-foot wingspan enhances his bodily impression, permitting him to contest photographs, rebound in visitors, and end via contact with explosive purposeful athleticism not often seen in his place.
2. Participant: Yanic Konan Neiderhauser], Penn State
3. Ace Bailey, Rutgers
4. Joan Beringer, France
5. Asa Newell, Georgia
STRENGTH
1. Collin Murray-Boyles, South Carolina
Murray Boyles will get the nod because the strongest participant within the 2025 NBA Draft, constantly imposing his will within the paint. With bull-in-a-china-shop energy, he creates area within the put up, finishes via contact, and dominates bodily on each ends. What makes his energy much more spectacular is his age—having simply turned 20, he nonetheless has loads of room to develop. His broad body, core energy, and skill to soak up and ship contact give him a serious benefit. Few prospects can match his bodily presence, and he’s solely scratching the floor of how dominant he may grow to be as his physique matures.
2.. Derik Queen, Maryland
3. Vladislav Goldin, Michigan
4.- Eric Dixon, Villanova
5 .Johni Broome, Auburn
SHOOTING
Kon Knueppel Duke
With Cooper Flagg commanding many of the consideration as Duke’s headline prospect, it’s simple to miss simply how elite a shooter Kon Knueppel is. In his lone season at Duke, Knueppel performed a pivotal position within the group’s Ultimate 4 run, capturing a formidable 47.9% from the sector and 40.6% from three. His clean, compact stroke interprets throughout all ranges, and he bolstered his status on the NBA Draft Mix with standout marks in spot-up drills and free throws. Knueppel’s mixture of effectivity, contact, and poise makes him the highest pure shooter within the 2025 draft class.
2. Tamar Bates, Missouri
3. Mark Sears, Alabama
4. Tre Johnson, Texas
5. Walter Clayton, Florida
PASSING
1. Ryan Nembhard, Gonzaga
Ryan Nembhard is our high passer within the 2025 draft class. The youthful brother of Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard, he led all of school basketball with 9.8 assists per sport whereas committing simply 2.5 turnovers, leading to an elite assist-to-turnover ratio close to 4-to-1. His court docket imaginative and prescient, timing, and skill to govern defenses set him aside as a real flooring normal. At 6’0″ and 175 kilos, there are questions on how his dimension will maintain up on the subsequent degree, however his IQ and command of the sport give him each probability to thrive as a lead guard within the NBA.
2. Egor Demin, BYU
3. Dylan Harper, Rutgers
4. Kasparas Jakucionis, /> 5. [Player: Thomas Sorber, Georgetown
PERIMETER DEFENDER
Micah Peavy, Georgetown
Micah Peavy makes a strong case as the top perimeter defender in the 2025 NBA Draft, edging out fellow standouts like VJ Edgecombe and Draft Powell. His elite combination of size, strength, and lateral quickness allows him to smother ball handlers and switch effectively across multiple positions. At Georgetown, he averaged a career-high 2.3 steals per game, including a six-steal performance that highlighted his defensive instincts. Peavy further cemented his status at the NBA Draft Combine, where he stood out in both athletic testing and scrimmages. His defensive IQ, versatility, and toughness give him the edge as the premier perimeter defender in this class.
2. VJ Edgecombe, Baylor
3. Drake Powell, North Carolina
4. Dylan Harper, Rutgers
5. Jeremiah Fears, Oklahoma
POST DEFENDER
Cooper Flagg, Duke
Cooper Flagg is the top post defender in the 2025 class thanks to his rare defensive versatility and relentless motor. While not a traditional rim protector, he makes plays all over the floor—jumping passing lanes, blocking shots in transition, and rotating instinctively. At 6’9″ with a 7-foot wingspan, Flagg can switch across multiple positions and gives maximum effort defensively. His anticipation, footwork, and timing make him a disruptive force in the paint despite lacking ideal bulk. As he adds strength, Flagg could evolve into a dominant interior presence. If he fills out physically, his all-around skill set evokes shades of a young Chris Webber.
2. Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton
3. Joan Beringer, France
4. Khaman Maluach, Duke
5. Yanic Konan Neiderhauser, Penn State
FIRST ROUND SLEEPER
1. Nolan Traore, France
Nolan Traore is our top first-round sleeper in the 2025 class. Once viewed as a top-five prospect, his early-season shooting struggles caused him to fall from consensus top-10 status into the mid-first-round range, with some projecting a slide into the late teens. While Jeremiah Fears is likely to be selected several spots ahead of him, Traore’s elite speed, creativity, and upside as a lead guard give him a real chance to outperform his draft position. If he refines his jumper and tightens his decision-making, the French floor general could prove to be one of the true steals of this year’s class.
2. Asa Newell, Georgia
3. Thomas Sorber, Georgetown
4. Rasheer Fleming, St. Joe’s
5. Walter Clayton Jr., Florida
SECOND ROUND SLEEPER
1. Chaz Lanier, Tennessee
With age comes maturity, and Lanier used that to his advantage during a breakout season in the SEC. He was a key piece in making Tennessee one of the top teams in the country, showcasing efficient scoring and smart decision-making. Lanier also impressed at the NBA Draft Combine with strong athleticism testing numbers. Despite his productivity and physical tools, being 23 years old may cause him to slip into the second round. If that happens, he could be one of the draft’s best value picks—ready to contribute immediately with a polished, well-rounded offensive game.
2. [Player: Tamar Bates, Missouri
3. Hansen Yang, China
4. Noah Penda, France
5. Jaxson Robinson, Kentucky
LOW RISK
1. Cooper Flagg, Duke
Flagg is as close to a “can’t miss” prospect as the NBA Draft has seen in years. While there hasn’t been a ton of noise around him in the lead-up, that’s only because there’s so little to question. Flagg does it all—defends, passes, scores, and competes with elite instincts and toughness. He’s polished, mature, and should adjust quickly to the pro game. Even as a rookie, he’ll impact winning from day one. With the league preparing for the arrival of the “Maine Event,” Flagg stands out as the safest bet in the 2025 class.
2. Dylan Harper, Duke
3. VJ Edgecombe, Baylor
4. Asa Newell, Georgia
5. Nique Clifford, Colorado St.
HIGH RISK/HIGH REWARD
1. Ace Bailey, Rutgers
Bailey is a consensus top 3–5 talent with enormous upside, but many scouts still view him as a high risk/high reward prospect. His maturity has been questioned at times, particularly in terms of body language and overall demeanor. Some players simply mature at different rates, and there are plenty of examples across sports of late bloomers turning into stars. Bailey’s decisions to skip certain high-profile events at the high school level should be noted, but so should the strides he’s made in sharpening his game. He thrives with the ball in his hands and could be a major steal if he slips on draft night.
2. Khaman Maluach, Duke
3.[ Player: Noa Essengue], France
4. Cedric Coward, Washington State
5. Carter Bryant, Arizona
FRONTCOURT LENGTH
1. Khaman Maluach[, Duke
Maluach owns the most dominant measurements in the 2025 draft class, headlined by a towering 9’6″ standing reach, one of the highest ever recorded for a prospect. That kind of reach allows him to impact the game defensively without needing elite leaping ability. He consistently altered far more shots than he officially blocked, providing massive rim protection just by being present. At 7’0.75” barefoot with a 7’6.75” wingspan, Maluach’s sheer size and length make him a natural paint anchor. At only 18, he offers rare physical tools and long-term upside as a defensive />
2. [Player: Mohamed Diawara, France
Worth noting based on plus length: Diawara is a physical specimen with truly elite measurements, checking in at 6’7” without shoes and an astounding 7’4” wingspan, a plus-nine inch difference (topping Maluach by 3 inches) . He also posted a 9’2” standing reach, giving him the kind of physical profile that makes life difficult for opponents on both ends. While his efficiency numbers were modest, his combination of length, athleticism, and defensive tools keeps him firmly on the draft radar. Despite flying under the radar for much of the season, Diawara has the upside to carve out a role quickly and could hear his name called on draft night.
3. Thomas Sorber, /> 4. [Player: Joan Beringer
5. Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton
BACKCOURT LENGTH
1. [Player: Cedric Coward, Washington State
Cedric Coward possesses eye-popping length for a wing, with a 7’2” wingspan that stretches a whopping nine inches beyond his 6’5” height without shoes. That elite frame gives him major defensive upside and positional versatility, and it’s part of what’s driving his rapid rise up draft boards. More mysterious than many international prospects, Coward declined to participate in the combine scrimmages. Cowardly or calculated? Depends who you ask. But with his efficient scoring, size, and tools, if he lands near the lottery, the decision looks wise. Coward’s length is truly rare, and the intrigue surrounding his upside has surely helped him.
2. Drake Powell, North Carolina
3. Nique Clifford, Colorado State
4. Player: Adou Thiero], Arkansas
5. Egor Demin, BYU
**Adam Pietrzak contributed to this report.
