Forwards to watch in the 2025 NCAA Basketball Tournament.
March 18, 2025. We believe in forwards that can make, at minimum, a third of their three-point attempts. Here are the forwards, including some that may not be obvious choices, that we are watching closely from a NBA prospect standpoint. Please always understand that we strongly believe defense is HALF of the game. Winning basketball is so much more than having guys that can score.
Cooper Flagg is the real deal.
SMALL FORWARDS:
You may not find a better 'under-the-radar' two-way forward than Mouhamed Dioubate of Alabama (6'7", 215 lbs.). For our eyes, the 21 year-old is the best perimeter defender in college basketball. He is worth watching because of his continued development on offense. He can finish above the rim. He doesn't shoot a high volume of three-point shots but he is making 38% this season. We doubt that number is sustainable for a 60% free throw shooter but when you consider that Dioubate shot 47% FT last season, you can see that he IS making strides. He is a hustler that gives consistent effort at both ends. He has slightly more assists than turnovers.
Devin McGlockton of Vanderbilt is a 6'7", 220 lb., plus-defender that has made 36.5% of his career three-point shots. He has an NBA body and a nose for the ball. McGlockton led the SEC in offensive rebound percentage this season. He spent two seasons at Boston College before transferring to Vandy. This season he averages 10.4 points, and 7.9 rebounds per game.
The UCLA Bruins have an interesting prospect in Eric Dailey Jr. At 6'8", 230 lbs, he has a frame ready for the NBA. He is shooting 40% from three-point range this season. He averages 11.6 points, and 4.1 rebounds per game. Dailey may fool some folks with his calm demeanor and poker face but we've seen him get after loose balls like few do. He plays a physical game.
FOUR MORE: Kon Knueppel - Duke. Arthur Kaluma - Texas. Jakobe Coles - Grand Canyon. Chad Baker-Mazara - Auburn.
FOURs
In our 26 years of obsessing about the Draft, we have learned that the FOUR spot is the hardest to fill at the NBA level. Finding guys that can contribute size, toughness, rebounding, and shooting accuracy all while being nimble enough to guard perimeter players, is a tough ask. But this year, there is a real one! Cooper Flagg (6'9", 205 lbs.) has a chance to step into the NBA and be among the very best big forwards in the pros. The Duke freshman is far and away the number one prospect in the 2025 NBA Draft class. Flagg is averaging 18.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.1 assists as a 18 year-old. He shoots 36.8% 3-pt., and 83% FT. He owns a 1.89-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio. He leads the NCAA in boxscore plus/minus.
Trey Kaufman-Renn (Purdue) may or may not make it in the NBA. It will all come down to him being able to make a higher volume of three-point shots. One thing he CAN do is score in the post. He leads the NCAA in two-point field goals made. "TKR" is listed at 6'9", 225 lbs. He is 22 years-old.
Nate Bittle of Oregon is a talented 7'0", 215 lb. player that shoots 82% from the free throw line. He is a rare college athlete that has played all four of his seasons at the same school. Bittle improved with each season. He finished second in Big Ten boxscore plus/minus this season. His DEFRTG is 4.8 points better than the Oregon team DEFRTG.
Sometimes we are not sure of a prospects eventual pro position. Nolan Winter looks a like a FOUR to us in 2025. Going forward, it is unknown how much "man-weight" could change his body and make him strictly a Center. He is listed at 6'11", 220 lbs. He runs well and he showed us the good hands we like to see in ANY prospect. Winter can stroke the three-ball (36%), and he makes his free throws at a 78% rate. Wisconsin needs to play Winter much more than the 21.2 minutes he averages.
FOUR MORE: Danny Wolf - Michigan. Joshua Jefferson - Iowa St. Viktor Lakhin - Tennessee. Ben Gregg - Gonzaga.
Next up: We will look at the Centers, and the low-percentage shooters that are still efficient. (Should be posted by Wednesday afternoon 03/19/25).
