2025 NBA Draft: Hidden Gems Poised to Surprise After Round One Reveal
30 talented players were selected in round one, and 29 more will be selected in round two. Here are the 10 best available players, with the Timberwolves making the next selection.Watkins will be 24 years old at the start of Summer League, which likely made some teams shy away. However, he averaged 18.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.7 three-pointers per game last season and will certainly be ready to contribute next year. He isn’t a dynamic offensive player, but the defensive ability should get him some minutes.HLs: Jones’ best from Marquette’s 24-25 seasonThe most surprising move of the night was the Trail Blazers trading back to select Hansen Yang with the No. 16 pick. Prior to the draft, I was planning to have Yang on this list. Instead, he went just outside the lottery. One wonders if Portland would’ve taken him at 11 if they couldn’t trade back.
F Rasheer Fleming, Saint Joseph’s
Look back on the top moments from Rasheer Fleming’s 2024-25 season for the St. Joseph’s Hawks ahead of the 2025 NBA Draft.
I don’t understand the Fleming slide to the second round. He’s an older prospect, and he isn’t the most dynamic shot creator, but he is a legitimate three-and-D wing with a 7’5” wingspan. Those players don’t grow on trees. He averaged 14.7 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.4 steals, 1.5 blocks and 1.8 three-pointers per game last season. He should be one of the first few players selected in round two.
Look back on the top moments from Kam Jones’ 2024-25 season for the Marquette Golden Eagles ahead of the 2025 NBA Draft.
C Maxime Raynaud, Stanford
I thought Raynaud had a case to be selected on night one, but a handful of other bigs went instead. Raynaud is at least a better shooter than all of them and could be a better overall offensive player than most of them. He averaged 20.2 points, 10.6 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.9 three-pointers per game last season. Boston has pick 32, and Charlotte has picks 33 and 34. Both teams need center help.
F Adou Thiero, Arkansas
Jones is an older prospect at 23 years old, but he is one of the best playmakers in this class. He averaged 19.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.9 three-pointers per game last season. He wasn’t a great shooter, and he isn’t an explosive athlete, which may have forced teams to shy away from him in round one. But getting a reliable lead ball handler in round two is a great value selection.
F Noah Penda, Le Mans (France)
The uber-athletic wing isn’t a great shooter, but he is ready to make an impact in the NBA immediately. He averaged 15.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.6 steals per game last season. Adding a player of his caliber in the second round is going to be a great pickup, and he’ll be able to be part of a team’s rotation immediately. If he finds himself on a team that needs him to play big minutes, he should wreak havoc on defense and provide plenty of steals.
G Kam Jones, Marquette
As another 23-year-old prospect, Kalkbrenner enjoyed a productive 2024-25 season with averages of 19.2 points, 8.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 2.7 blocks per game. The 7’2” center may not have the same upside that other bigs in this draft have, but he should be able to play a solid role in the NBA, even if he is a reserve.
Fleming’s top moments from Saint Joseph’s season
Martin certainly has a case to be the best defender in the class. He isn’t the most dynamic offensive player, but he does enough on that end to not be a liability, specifically as a floor spacer. Teams will be far more interested in what he does defensively. He averaged 14.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.5 steals and 2.1 three-pointers per game last season. He’s a bit undersized at 6’3”, but a 6’7.5” wingspan helps make up for it.
C Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton
Penda is a playmaking forward that can really defend on the perimeter. He isn’t a great scorer, but he can fill a number of holes for whatever team takes him. He averaged 10.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.2 steals, 0.9 blocks and 1.0 triple per game in 37 appearances last season. He is a well-rounded prospect that will make any team happy to take him in the second round.
G Alijah Martin, Florida
The 6’11” forward is an intriguing offensive player, but there are some major question marks on the defensive end. Still, there is enough there for a team to select him early in round two. He truly has the potential to be a dynamic offensive stud, mostly as a shooter, but also as a playmaker. He averaged 13.9 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.0 three-pointer per game last season.
F Bogoljub Marković, KK Mega Basket (Serbia)
The curtain has fallen on the first night of the NBA draft, and what a rollercoaster it turned out to be. The initial selections went mostly as anticipated, but soon after, things spun into a frenzy that kept everyone on their toes. Interestingly enough, only one player—Mark Williams—found a new home through a trade, while the remainder were straightforward picks. One of the evening’s biggest head-scratchers? The Trail Blazers’ decision to trade back and nab Hansen Yang at No. 16, just slipping outside the coveted lottery spots. It really makes you wonder if Portland might have snapped him up earlier, say at No. 11, had the trade not been on the table. With thirty fresh faces now officially drafted and twenty-nine still waiting in the wings for round two on Thursday, the excitement is far from over. As the Timberwolves gear up for their next move, let’s dive into the top ten players still on the board who could shake things up in the upcoming round. LEARN MORE
F Jamir Watkins, Florida State
Every team needs shooting, and the 23-year-old can help with that. He averaged 3.2 three-pointers per game last season while shooting 39.5 percent from beyond the arc. There are some intriguing measurables, such as a 39” vertical and a 6’9” wingspan, but he wasn’t a great defender in college, and he isn’t a dynamic offensive force. Still, a reliable shooter in round two is always a nice addition.
G Chaz Lanier, Tennessee
It was a good day to be the Mavericks, not so much for Trail Blazers fans.
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