Then and Now: My 2025 NBA Draft Rankings Revisited

Let’s be honest — drafting a player isn’t like ordering a pizza. You don’t just pick your favorite topping and call it done. It’s more like trying to predict the future while being bombarded by smoke from every direction. That’s why I went back to my very first list from December — before any combine runs, before personal workouts, before the ‘influencers’ started chanting names on Twitter.

And wow. Did things shift.

The Rise of a King: From Contender to Crown

Back in December, Cooper Flagg was almost on equal footing with Dylan Harper. Yes — you heard me right. One of the most scrutinized players in recent memory was not an automatic #1 pick in my book.

But then… he just kept playing. And improving. And leading.

Now? He’s not just the consensus top pick — he’s become one of the strongest candidates for Rookie of the Year since Jayson Tatum. His offensive maturity during high-pressure moments? Unreal. His defensive versatility? A dream for any coach stacking lineups around him.

So yeah — once you see him lock down Kasparas Jakucionis in open space or hit step-backs over bigger guards… you stop asking questions.

The Case for Dylan Harper: Not Just Flashy Feet…

Meanwhile, Dylan Harper didn’t get dethroned — he got re-evaluated.

The “Is he really that good or just fast?” debate raged all season. Some called his athleticism deceptive; others said he lacked real power play strength.

But here’s what I found: Harper posted an 8.6 net rating at Rutgers — which is insane for a freshman guard who wasn’t even supposed to be their primary ball-handler early on.

His vision? Smooth as butter. His decision-making under pressure? Better than many pros out there.

He might never be a 30-point scorer overnight — but if he sharpens that mid-range pull-up (and let’s face it: he can), we’re looking at an All-NBA guard-in-the-making by Year 4.

The Quiet Climbers: When Grit Outshines Hype

Now let me talk about some guys who didn’t get headlines but made me nod slowly at night:

• Carter Bryant – A guy who quietly became elite behind the arc (37% from deep) while playing limited minutes? That kind of efficiency doesn’t happen by accident.
• Ace Bailey – Y’all keep comparing him to Porter Jr., but let’s not ignore this: his defense screams role player with star potential if he adds weight and polish.
• Kon Knueppel – Remember when I thought he’d fade after Flagg got injured? Nahhh… turned out he filled in like a pro and even elevated Duquesne without missing a beat.
• Nique Clifford – Age-wise, yes; stats-wise, no excuse needed. Solid all-around production with improved decision-making = perfect fit for bench rotation roles across multiple teams today.

These aren’t flash-in-the-pan kids anymore — they’re late bloomers with real value chains built in.

Still Watching Closely…

The biggest lesson here isn’t about rankings per se — it’s about patience versus panic in scouting.