25 For 25: 9 potential 2025 NBA Draft prospects that made Elite 8

We are currently in the best time for basketball in the calendar year. We are now down to eight teams that can take home the National Championship crown in men’s college basketball–with a number of potential 2025 NBA Draft prospects you should know!

Earlier this month, I released a “25 For 25” series: 25 potential prospects (for the Miami Heat) that I’m keeping tabs on. A total of nine players that I mentioned have helped lead their teams to the Elite 8. Pressure makes diamonds, and the stakes are only continuing to raise for each of these individuals.

As you relish in the fun that is March Madness, let’s examine those nine prospects again, shall we?

Jase Richardson, G, Michigan State

While did struggle against New Mexico, he more than made up for it Friday against Mississippi, scoring a team-high 20 points on 6-of-8 shooting and 4-of-6 from 3-point range. He also hauled down multiple massive rebounds down the stretch of that game.

I love guards who can rebound. I also love guards who consistently make good decisions. Richardson does both and is a lights-out shooter. His measurables come May will be interesting, but he’s a player.

Here’s what I wrote on March 17:

“Richardson, the son of former 13-year NBA veteran Jason Richardson, has continued to blossom as the season’s gone on. At the start of the season, he wasn’t featured much in Tom Izzo’s offense. However, since entering the team’s starting 5 on Feb. 8, he’s averaging 17.3 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.7 assists on 50.0/42.3/82.1 shooting splits. There are far more playmaking chops than his assist numbers may indicate too–Richardson has excellent feel. He’s pretty creative with his shot creation–possessing an array of stepbacks, crossovers and spin moves–especially when he gets within 15 feet. He’s a very efficient player and doesn’t make many mistakes, which matters if you’re playing under Izzo. Don’t be surprised if he goes on a heater, where he can score in bunches with a smooth, quick left-handed shooting stroke.”

JT Toppin, F, Texas Tech

Toppin’s been relentless over these first three games. He turned into a total mismatch nightmare against Drake, where he had 25 points and 12 rebounds. And then he followed suit with a dominant two-way performance against Arkansas in their comeback win, scoring 20 points with 10 rebounds and five blocks. Here’s what I wrote on March 17:

“Toppin was another player who made this list from last year! The former Mountain West Freshman of the Year transferred to Texas Tech last summer, where he won the conference’s Big 12 Player of the Year after he averaged 24.4 points, 11.0 rebounds, one steal and 1.4 blocks on 56.4/36.0/74.0 shooting splits over his final nine regular season games. While I worry about his tendency to go over his right shoulder–that’s going to be atop of NBA scouting reports–the 6-foot-10 big has trusted his 3-point shot more as conference play went on, attempting 2.8 3-point attempts per game over that aforementioned sample. He shot the corner 3-ball well in combine scrimmages last year, but his trust in his long-range shot didn’t come until late in the season. At worst, Toppin has an outstanding motor and projects to be scheme versatile defensively at the NBA level, where he’s very disruptive.”

Khaman Maluach, C, Duke

What I wrote on March 17:

“Maluach is a mammoth. Few players are as large as Duke’s 7-foot-2 rising star, who’s one of the best bigs in this class. He’s got a ginormous wingspan and moves well for a player of his size. His numbers don’t jump off the page. Most of his baskets aren’t self-created, but Maluach is an immense lob threat with incredibly soft hands. He parlays the latter to being arguably the best (offensive) rebounder in this class, having corralled 21.3 percent of his team’s misses (!!!) in conference play. Jon Scheyer has tinkered with screen coverage in drop, at or near the level and as a switch defender–and he’s shown flashes in all three! He’s still very raw, but he has a perfect skillset to fit the modern-day rim-running big man with improving shooting touch.”

Kon Knueppel, G, Duke

Cooper Flagg will take all the headlines–and rightfully so. But there are few times where Knueppel’s not one of the most impactful players on the court. Whether it’s his advantage creation off secondary actions, connective playmaking, pick-and-roll passing or physical defense, he’s going to impact games in a positive way.

What I wrote on March 17:

“I’ve been a fan of Knueppel’s game since before his first regular season game and he’s parlayed his well-rounded game into being a potential top-6 prospect. He was one player who helped his stock a lot during conference tournament play after Cooper Flagg’s ankle injury. Knueppel is a deadeye shooter off movement or as a stand-still threat. He will leverage his shooting into attacking closeouts and making smart decisions when journeying downhill; he’s a very good passer. The 6-foot-7 guard is an exceptional, competitive and physical one-on-one defender despite lacking above-average foot speed. I don’t think he will ever become a primary creator, but he has a malleable modern-day skillset.”

Alex Condon, C, Florida

What I wrote on March 17:

“Condon, a 6-foot-11 Australian big with a rugby background, has a fierce motor with excellent feel as a passer in the mid-to-high post. He’ll need to continue to get stronger, but he’s not going to back down from anyone at the next level. I think there could be room for him to grow as a shooter, too.”

Chaz Lanier, G/F, Tennessee

Lanier has been incredible in March. Over his last nine games, he’s averaging 18.7 points on 47.8 percent shooting and 37.5 percent from 3-point range. He can score efficiently off movement or as a spot-up threat. I am beginning to love his prospects as a late-round sleeper.

What I wrote on March 17:

“A stone-cold sniper: That’s what the fifth-year senior provides. He shot 40.2 percent from 3-point range on 8.2 3-point attempts per game and has a lightning-quick release; he’ll get a handful of shots off before you even blink. He’s also improved as a playmaker and a multi-level scorer, but his main skill is long-range shooting–which he’s exceptional at.”

Darrion Williams, F, Texas Tech

What I wrote on March 17:

“Williams is currently injured with a lower-body injury, which will be something to monitor. I’ve watched Williams closely since his first career game. This season was his first as a true “point forward” in Texas Tech’s offense, where it’s been a mixed bag of results. He has good feel, is a solid rebounder, possesses solid shooting touch and instincts defensively–but his athletic limitations could limit his upside at the next level. Keep an eye on him come the NBA Draft Combine in May, at the very least.”

Tyrese Proctor, G, Duke

He wasn’t great against Arizona but maybe no player in the country has been as hot as Proctor has been over the last two weeks. He’s 20-of-34 from deep since March 14. Is that good? Anyway, here’s what I wrote on March 17:

“Proctor is one of the few mainstays on Duke’s loaded, young roster. He’s improved as a secondary creator and has continued to improve as a 3-and-D combo guard. That will be his role–more or less–at the next level. He’s one of Duke’s top connector tissues.”

1 Additional Player Worth Mentioning:

Walter Clayton Jr., G, Florida

I considered Clayton, a consensus All-American, but he did not make the final cut. Well, he’s surging up my board as I type. He’s got some playmaking chops, but he’s an ignitable scorer with NBA range. I do have some concerns about his defense. Though he’s improved his finishing nearly 10 percentage points (up to 63 percent) this year while shooting 41.1 percent on long 2s and 38.6 percent from deep. The 6-foot-3 guard possesses ridiculous body control and tough shot-making capabilities. His shot selection sometimes leaves plenty to be desired, but Clayton will be getting buckets for someone at the NBA level. I’m not sure where, but it will be somewhere. That’s his most translatable skill.