Draft Stock Surge: NBA Trailblazer set to recruit 3 wildcats
After just a handful of games, there are several players who are popping up on the NBA radar. Now just four or five games into the college basketball season, it is still too soon to update the 2025 NBA Draft Big Board, but there are several players pinging the NBA radar and worth talking about. Some have been surprising freshmen, some veterans taking their games to new levels and other evolving into national stars right before our eyes. A larger sample size of games, particularly against better competition is needed, but here are the college players who are on NBA Draft stock watch already. RELATED: NBA Draft Big Board: Freshmen from Duke, Rutgers, UNC headline top names entering the 2024-25 season. BYU’s Egor Demin looking like a Draft darling. You always question how an international player will adapt and adjust in the United States but Egor Demin has come in and is taking Provo by storm. The 6-foot-8 Russian looks to be in the same category as homegrown stats Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper in what is a stacked and exciting freshmen class.
Demin is averaging 17.0 points, 3.5 rebounds and 7.5 assists per game while shooting 55.0% from three on five attempts per contest Granted, BYU has had a cakewalk schedule through four games but the numbers are staggering and the talent is eye-popping. Every year, you hear hype about a “6-foot-8 point guard” and it’s almost always fool’s gold but in Demin’s instance, it appears to be real. His ability to create off the bounce, see the floor, pass off the live dribble, get to his spots, and score with skill at his size makes for must-see TV. BYU won’t have its first power conference game until Nov. 28 against Ole Miss but Kevin Young looks to have a special one in Demin. Alabama’s Labaron Philon throws redshirt plans in the dumpster. When Labaron Philon committed to Alabama, he joined a program with a seemingly loaded and filled backcourt.
In fact, the plan for Philon when he committed was to redshirt this season. He clearly had other things in mind. Shortly after enrolling at Alabama this summer, the buzz out of Tuscaloosa was that the Crimson Tide had something special in Philon and the plan to redshirt was now void. Since then, Philon has backed the hype and much more, proving to be among the best freshmen performers in the country already this season and forced Nate Oats to give him a starting spot. What shined about Philon in high school, his raw talent and pure instincts on the court, has translated extremely early at Alabama. Philon is a dynamic guard with fluidity as a ball handler who gets to his spots, scores from all three levels and creates scoring opportunities for those around him. His length and playmaking on both sides of the ball have been outstanding for Alabama and NBA teams have taken serious notice. On Wednesday night against Illinois, Philon tallied 16 points, seven rebounds, nine assists, one block, two steals and just one turnover. Illinois’ Will Riley beating the odds of reclassified freshmen. When looking back on history, the number of players having a real immediate impact after reclassifying in high school is very few. Almost all re-class freshmen need more time t0 adjust to the college game both from a maturity and physicality standpoint.
That was my expectation for Illinois freshman Will Riley. When watching Riley in high school and this summer on the AAU circuit, the talent was undeniable. He stood 6-foot-8 with a versatile skillset and a multidimensional game but was rail thin and lacked strength. Despite the strength limitations, Riley has been great for Illinois this season and a major bright spot on the offensive side of the ball. The size, length, and multidimensional skillset have all translated right away this season against some real competition. Against Alabama on Wednesday night, Riley scored 18 points and added nine rebounds and four assists while connecting on 3-of-4 from three. I expected Riley to need time to find his footing as a freshman and then thrive as a sophomore and be projected as a lottery pick in 2026. But I am wrong and Riley already looks well ahead of schedule. Kam Jones shows new dimensions in Tyler Kolek’s absence.
Kam Jones has been a star at Marquette for the last two seasons but was undervalued playing alongside star point guard Tyler Kolek. While playing alongside Kolek, Jones’ primary role was to score and defend for the Golden Eagles. He became one of the best scorers in the Big East. With Kolek now in the NBA, Jones has expanded his role beyond scoring and is now operating as a key playmaker for Marquette, something he has always had in his game going back to high school. As a senior, Jones is looking like an early First-Team All-American. He is putting up gaudy numbers against real competition already this season — Jone is averaging 22.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, and six assists. When Marquette took down No. 6-ranked Purdue on Tuesday, Jones tallied the first triple-double since Dwyane Wade was in a Marquette uniform . Adou Thiero levels up at Arkansas. Adou Thiero has long been one of the most intriguing prospects in the SEC. He entered Kentucky as a late-bloomer but steadily found his role and identity as a versatile defender, rebounder, and athletic finisher with a projectable handle and jumper. Now at Arkansas, the ball-handling and jumper are coming along while he polishes other areas of his game. Thiero is averaging a career-high in points, rebounds, assists and steals this season while shooting a career-high 36.4% from three on nearly three attempts a game. Against Baylor, Arkansas’ only power conference opponent, Thiero was at his best leading the Razorbacks with 24 points, six rebounds, two assists, and two blocks, and shooting 10-of-15 from the field. The physical tools, athleticism, utility and versatility are all there and if the jumper and scoring persist, Thiero is looking like a first-round pick this June. Otega Oweh at his best as a Wildcat. After two good seasons with the Oklahoma Sooners, Otega Oweh made his way to Kentucky to play for Mark Pope. While at Oklahoma, Oweh was a versatile defender and an effective offensive slasher. However, going back to high school, Oweh’s biggest area for development has been his jumper. He has clearly improved that in his short time in Lexington. Oweh is shooting 54.5% from three so far this season and while that numbers are bound to come down, the improvement is clear in that department. Oweh is a winner who makes winning plays on both sides of the ball. While he is much more confident shooting the ball, he is looking even more effective and comfortable as a driver who can drive and kick to shooters around the perimeter. Dillon Mitchell finding himself again as a Bearcat. Dillon Mitchell’s time at Texas did not go according to plan. The change of scenery is what he needed. Mitchell hit the portal and committed to Cincinnati.
He is already looking much more like the player we expected out of high school. The 6-foot-8 forward is a premier athlete with instincts on both sides of the ball and his usage as a defender, cutter, dunker-spot finisher and lob-catcher are highlighting the best aspects of his game. The southpaw still hasn’t figured out his jumper but the other areas of his game are back. Mitchell is averaging a career-best in points, rebounds, steals, assists, and field goal percentage in four games this season. Others to monitor. Donnie Freeman (freshman, Syracuse): Donnie Freeman exited high school on an upward trajectory and it is continuing under head coach Adrian Autry. The 6-foot-9 power forward is a terrific athlete with a budding offensive game who can be an impact defender and rebounder. Things are off to a good start with Freeman at Syracuse but competition has been lacking. The Orange’s first real test comes tonight vs. Texas. Jaland Lowe (Sophomore, Pittsburgh): Jeff Capel found two gems in the 2023 recruiting class with Bub Carrington and Jaland Lowe. Carrington is off to the NBA while is Lowe back for a second season. Capel has given Lowe the keys to the program. Lowe exited high school as a highly skilled, smart, and savvy guard but had a very slight and thin frame. The questions surrounding him were whether he could handle the physicality of high-major basketball but he has been tremendous as a Panther and is on the verge of a big sophomore campaign. Collin Murray-Boyles (Sophomore, South Carolina):
Collin Murray-Boyles had a very strong freshman campaign that generated lots of NBA interest but he needed to come back another year to elevate scouts’ confidence in his stock. Murray-Boyles’s averages are great this season but his first real test on the road at Indiana was less than stellar. Against the Hoosiers, ‘CMB’ tallied just two points, six rebounds, and fouled out in 19 minutes. He has missed the only three he has taken this season. There’s still a lot to like about Murray-Boyles’ versatility but we need to keep monitoring. Kanon Catchings (Freshman, BYU): Kanon Catchings exited high school as one of the more interesting prospects in the class. The talent and tools were all there but the consistency in his on-court production hadn’t come together. Piece that with his last-second departure at Purdue and you were left wondering which direction his career would take. Well, since he has been at BYU, there has been a lot of optimism surrounding his trajectory Catchings is a 6-foot-8, long and athletic wing with a baby face who can make shots off the catch and pull. Despite averaging more than ten points a game, he is still only shooting 24.1% from three against poor competition. With his talent and production, he is one to keep a close eye on to see if this persists as his shooting numbers are expected to rise. This article originates on ScoutHoops.com.