The calendar has flipped, and college basketball is back in full swing through the early goings of 2025.
Since our last check-in, not a ton has changed in the rankings — although No. 1 Tennessee losing to No. 8 Florida was quite the surprise — but there has been some fluctuation in terms of specific prospects.
And that'll be of particular interest to fans of teams such as the Toronto Raptors, who are amid a five-game skid and tied for the second-worst record in the league. In nicer terms, the Raptors have a near 80 per cent chance of landing a top-five pick as things stand.
This is why an up-to-date look at the top NCAA talent, the likes of which are set to hear their names called at the NBA Draft in June, is a worthwhile exercise.
Here's how they've been doing.
1. Cooper Flagg, F, Duke — Six-foot-nine, 205 pounds, 18 years old
It seems ridiculous to say the freshman has somehow raised his stock higher than the astronomical peaks it was already reaching, but that's exactly what he's done since we last wrote.
Flagg has played four games since, put up at least 24 points in three of them, logged double-doubles in two and just set the ACC freshman scoring record in his latest outing on Saturday.
Before the start of 2025, there was talk about his offensive ceiling being capped because of poor shooting splits (50.5 per cent true shooting in 2024). Well, that doesn't appear to be the case anymore. After going eight-of-36 from beyond the arc through his first 10 NCAA games, the 18-year-old has hit 12 of his last 22 three-point attempts. The added shooting gravity has opened up more lanes for Flagg, and it's led to some stellar highlight-reel slams at the basket.
His performance against Notre Dame over the weekend was the crescendo of his college career to this point. Flagg did practically everything. Scoring? How about 42 points — the most by a Blue Devil since JJ Redick in 2006 — on 11-of-14 shooting from the field, four-of-six from distance and 16-of-17 from the charity stripe. Passing? He was good for seven assists, including a slick lob pass to fellow freshman Khaman Maluach (more on him below) off a short roll for the game's opening basket.
And it would be a disservice not to mention the freshman's defensive impact. He's been a major catalyst for why Duke has the second-best defensive rating (and net rating) in all of college basketball, per KenPom. Flagg's 2.9 stocks per game lead the ACC, his 81.3 defensive rating ranks second in the NCAA and his 1.7 defensive win shares lead the nation.
If there was any doubt that the kid from Maine was going to be drafted No. 1 overall in June, there should be zero after his performance against the Fighting Irish. Flagg did things not seen by a Blue Devil since the 1950s, and that's saying something, given the program's prestige.
2. Dylan Harper, G, Rutgers — Six-foot-six, 220 pounds, 18 years old
The Scarlet Knights' struggles as a whole, both on the season and since we last wrote — losing three straight — appear to be taking a toll on the freshman guard.
In their first game back from the break, Harper looked stellar as he logged his first collegiate triple-double (16 points, 11 rebounds and 12 assists) in a 91-64 drubbing of Columbia on Dec. 30.
Since the calendar flipped, however, it's been a rough go for the 18-year-old. He's played in two of his team's three games this year and went scoreless for the first time in a loss to Wisconsin, then followed it up with six points on two-of-nine shooting against Purdue.
Why doesn't any of that drop him in the rankings? Well, it's clear the flu that kept him out of Rutgers' loss to Indiana on Jan. 2 is still bugging him, or at least it was during said rough patch. In the two games he did suit up for after that absence, Harper logged just 15 and 28 minutes, the only times he's played fewer than at least 30 minutes all season.
His father, 15-year NBA veteran and five-time champion Ron Harper, said online that Dylan has been "playing at 30 per cent" of his usual output while battling illness.
If anything, the Scarlet Knights struggling as badly as they have without the freshman at 100 per cent speaks volumes to his undeniable impact. Rutgers' matchup against No. 22 UCLA on Monday will be telling. If Harper is back to full strength, I expect his usual shot-creating prowess and sharp playmaking to be on display.
3. Kasparas Jakucionis, G, Illinois — Six-foot-six, 205 pounds, 18 years old
Illinois has won three games in a row since we last wrote, including a 109-77 thrashing of No. 9 Oregon, which feels like no coincidence given Jakucionis' impressive play in that span.
His biggest knock in the NCAA has been ball security, previously averaging 4.1 turnovers a game, but the 18-year-old has gotten that under control as of late. In the last two weeks, Jakucionis has brought that number down to 3.6 while managing to avoid giving the ball away more than three times in any of his three appearances.
He did miss Wednesday's game with a left forearm injury, and his status remains up in the air. However, the kid's impact and improved efficiency were certainly on display in the Fighting Illini's big win against the Ducks. He finished with 16 points on six-of-11 shooting from the field and two-of-three shooting from downtown, grabbed six rebounds and dished six assists.
The ball is in his hands a ton (23.4 per cent usage rate), and the Lithuanian freshman has looked incredibly poised. His scoring has dipped since that hot streak of six straight 20-plus point games — averaging 16 points per game since Dec. 29 — but he's getting to his spots with the same ease and craft while controlling the pace of play like a veteran floor general.
4. Ace Bailey, F, Rutgers — Six-foot-10, 200 pounds, 18 years old
It's been a weird two weeks for Bailey. While he's had some monster performances — like scoring 39 points on better than 50 per cent shooting from the field and distance, along with eight assists and four blocks against Indiana — the burden of scrutiny for Rutgers' three-game skid has fallen largely on him.
The 18-year-old's upside as an offensive talent is undeniable. Bailey is having one of the best mid-range scoring seasons in college basketball history and is extremely comfortable in isolation as a shot-creator. The freshman even showed off some new wrinkles as a driver against the Hoosiers, displaying greater diversity with his shot diet.
But it really does feel like a game-to-game, possession-to-possession roller coaster when watching him, though. Sometimes, his insatiable appetite for scoring thrills you into believing in All-Star-level potential, and at other times, his questionable shot selection gives off the stench of a high-volume, low-efficiency wing at the next level.
All the while, his impact on defence needs to be greater if the Scarlet Knights are going to turn things around. Rutgers' 101.1 defensive rating is 84th in the nation, and Bailey's 103.1 individual rating on that end and 0.8 defensive box-plus-minus surely aren't helping.
5. VJ Edgecombe, G, Baylor — Six-foot-five, 180 pounds, 19 years old
Welcome to the list! It's the guard's first time being featured here, and I may be biased, but I've been a fan of his game since the summer when he shined while representing the Bahamas during Olympic qualifying — standing out on a team that featured NBA vets Buddy Hield, Eric Gordon and Deandre Ayton.
Edgecombe is uber-athletic, and if not for some of the names above him on this list, he might've been considered the most athletic prospect this year.
Like Flagg, he started his freshman campaign in a shooting slump but has since picked things up. In the last two weeks, Edgecombe is shooting 41.2 per cent from distance (seven-of-17), well above his season mark of 25 percent, all while his impressive burst and driving ability have remained on full display.
The freshman Bear did struggle against No. 3 Iowa State on Jan. 4, going one-of-nine from the field for just four points, but he bounced back quickly in his next outing. Against Cincinnati, Edgecombe had one of his best offensive showings as he logged 16 points on seven-of-13 shooting while nailing half of his four attempts from deep — both catch-and-shoot threes. He then hit a season-best three triples on a 50 per cent clip in Baylor's overtime win against Arizona State on Saturday. While his offensive upside remains limited until there's more consistency (and arguably more volume), the improved strides are worth noting.
Defence is where he truly shines as a prospect. Despite a six-foot-five wingspan to pair with his slender six-foot-six frame, he's been a vaunted point-of-attack defender. Edgecombe has averaged 4.6 stocks while anchoring Baylor to a 97.4 defensive rating. His individual 91.7 rating on that side of the floor and 1.1 defensive win shares are elite, to say the least.
Prospect to watch: Khaman Maluach, C, Duke — Seven-foot-two, 250 pounds, 18 years old
Not necessarily our sixth-ranked prospect, just one who has intrigued me!
Hidden in the fanfare of Flagg's stellar performance against Notre Dame was another Blue Devils' season-high scoring night.
Maluach had his best game in the college ranks as he finished with 19 points, 10 rebounds and a block while shooting six-of-seven from the field.
His touch for someone of that size is stellar and his efficiency is frankly eye-popping. Sporting an 80.2 per cent true shooting and 13.8 per cent offensive rebound rate, the South Sudanese youngster is doing exactly what you want out of an NBA-level big man. And given the lack of traditional centres in the talent pool heading into June's draft, his stock appears to be steadily rising.
The 18-year-old's reach makes him a constant threat at the rim, and on defence, he's been plenty intimidating.
Maluach's game is understated but incredibly impactful — again, signs of a great pro big. His usage rate is just 16 per cent, and he plays only about 20 minutes a game, but his net rating is a monster plus-63.1. Advanced analytics like win shares (2.3) and box-plus-minus (10.8) love his game, and as one of the youngest prospects in the class, there's still plenty of room for growth.
And for a Raptors connection, Maluach is good friends with the NBA's youngest player and this year's 57th overall pick, Ulrich Chomche. The two spent time together at NBA Academy Africa and even formed a dynamic duo while representing at the Nike Hoop Summit last year. Toronto's rookie considers Maluach a "brother," and given the Raptors' lack of long-term depth at the centre position, it could make for an intriguing reunion.
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