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Breaking Down the Top 2025 NBA Draft Prospects in the South Region Mar 20, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board podcast, Rafael Barlowe and Leif Thulin break down the top NBA prospects in the South region of the 2025 NCAA Tournament, analyzing how strong performances could impact their draft stock. Leif starts by making the case for Michigan State freshman Jase Richardson as the top prospect in the region, comparing him to a younger version of Marquette’s Kam Jones. The discussion then shifts to the anticipated matchup between Jones and New Mexico’s Donovan Dent, with Leif and Rafael highlighting Dent as an underrated prospect who could significantly boost his stock. They also examine Jones’ development and his role as Marquette’s offensive engine. Despite earning the No. 1 overall seed after playing one of the toughest schedules in NCAA history, Auburn enters the tournament struggling, losing three of its last four games. Rafael and Leif discuss Johni Broome’s role in Auburn’s Final Four aspirations while also debating his NBA draft outlook, with Leif hesitant to place him in the first round. The conversation continues with Auburn freshman Tahaad Pettiford, one of the few first-year players making a major impact on a contending team, followed by an analysis of Michigan’s Danny Wolf, a unique prospect generating first-round buzz. Creighton’s Ryan Kalkbrenner, a four-time Big East Defensive Player of the Year, is also highlighted ahead of his early-round matchup against Louisville. The duo then shifts to Yale’s John Poulakidas, whom Rafael considers the best shooter in the country. Poulakidas was instrumental in Yale’s upset over Auburn last year, and with another first-round matchup against Texas A&M, he has an opportunity to spark another Ivy League Cinderella run. The episode wraps up with a discussion on North Carolina’s Drake Powell and Ian Jackson, two freshman prospects who began the season with first-round buzz but have struggled to live up to expectations. A strong NCAA Tournament could help solidify their draft case.

Time Stamps:
2:07 – Jase Richardson
5:35 – Kam Jones
8:13 – Kam Jones vs. Donovan Dent
13:40 – Auburn & Johni Broome
17:20 – Tahaad Pettiford
18:46 – Danny Wolf
24:57 – Ryan Kalkbrenner
28:51 – John Poulakidas
31:01 – Drake Powell & Ian Jackson

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Breaking Down the Top 2025 NBA Draft Prospects in the East Region Mar 20, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board podcast, Rafael Barlowe and Richard Stayman break down the top NBA draft prospects in the East region of the 2025 NCAA Tournament and how strong performances could boost their draft stock. They kick things off with Duke, discussing Cooper Flagg’s ankle injury and how his health could impact both Duke’s title hopes and the tournament as a whole. Flagg is expected to return for the first round, but the duo also evaluates Duke’s other NBA prospects, including Kon Knueppel, Khaman Maluach, Isaiah Evans, and Tyrese Proctor. The conversation then shifts to Alabama, the region’s No. 2 seed, and which Crimson Tide player has the best chance to improve his draft standing. They also highlight Robert Morris’s Alvaro Folgueiras, a sleeper prospect quietly putting up big numbers and earning NBA attention. Another key matchup in the region features BYU vs. VCU, where freshman lottery talent Egor Demin faces off against fifth-year senior Max Shulga, a potential matchup problem for BYU, especially with Demin’s minutes fluctuating late in the season. The discussion then turns to projected top-five pick VJ Edgecombe and his intriguing test against Mississippi State. The episode wraps up with Stayman sharing his thoughts on Arizona, where he believes Jaden Bradley has the best chance to elevate his draft stock with a strong tournament showing.

2:00 – Cooper Flagg
4:10 – Kon Knueppel
5:15 – Khaman Maluach
7:32 – Isaiah Evans
15:15 – Alabama prospects
16:57 – Alvaro Folgueiras
20:25 – BYU vs. VCU / Egor Demin vs. Max Shulga
23:12 – Egor Demin’s recent play
24:43 – VJ Edgecombe
26:55 – Arizona prospects / Jaden Bradley

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Breaking Down the Top 2025 NBA Draft Prospects in the West Region Mar 19, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board podcast, Rafael and James Barlowe break down the top NBA prospects in the West region of the 2025 NCAA Tournament. The Barlowe Brothers discuss Florida’s Alex Condon and his rapid rise up draft boards, analyzing what has fueled his breakout season. They also highlight the intriguing 8-9 matchup between Oklahoma and UConn, where freshman guards Jeremiah Fears and Liam McNeely will look to make a statement. Another key battle features mid-major standouts Nique Clifford and P.J. Haggerty in the Colorado State vs. Memphis clash. The duo also covers notable prospects such as Derik Queen, J.T. Toppin, and Bennett Stirtz while breaking down key matchups, including Kansas vs. Arkansas and the potential impact of St. John’s in the region.

Time Stamps:
1:50 – Alex Condon’s rise up draft boards
4:15 – Oklahoma vs. UConn: Jeremiah Fears vs. Liam McNeely
12:16 – Mid-major battle: Nique Clifford vs. P.J. Haggerty
16:55 – Derik Queen
21:20 – J.T. Toppin’s defensive impact and draft stock
25:01 – Bennett Stirtz’s game and long-term potential
27:37 – Kansas vs. Arkansas: Boogie Fland & Zvonimir Ivišić breakdown
32:49 – St. John’s outlook: RJ Luis & Kadary Richmond’s NBA potential

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MARCH MADNESS: Biggest NBA Draft Takeaways & Prospect Showdowns from the 2025 NCAA Tournament Part 2 Mar 17, 2025

Show notes

In MARCH MADNESS: Biggest NBA Draft Takeaways and Prospect Showdowns from the 2025 NCAA Tournament, Part 2, the Locked On NBA Big Board team—Rafael Barlowe, James Barlowe, Leif Thulin, and Richard Stayman—continue breaking down the biggest NBA Draft storylines from the tournament field. They analyze key first-round matchups, highlight potential breakout prospects, and discuss which players need a strong tournament to maintain their draft stock. The crew also makes their Final Four predictions, shares thoughts on the San Diego State vs. North Carolina showdown in the First Four, and dives into Jase Richardson’s draft outlook. Plus, Leif drops a bold take on who the best NBA prospect from Florida really is.

NBA Draft analyst Rafael Barlowe from NBA Draft Junkies and current author of the NBA Big Board newsletter is joined by Richard Stayman (@MavsDraft), James Barlowe, and Leif Thulin to breakdown the NBA Draft. Rafael & Team gives passionate NBA Draft fans a deep look into the NBA Draft with great guests, Mock Draft, player rankings, and of course BIG BOARDs. Part of the Locked On Podcast Network.

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MARCH MADNESS: Biggest NBA Draft Takeaways & Prospect Showdowns from the 2025 NCAA Tournament Part I Mar 17, 2025

Show notes

In Part 1 of this two-part series, the Locked On NBA Big Board team—Rafael Barlowe, James Barlowe, Leif Thulin, and Richard Stayman—shared their biggest NBA Draft takeaways from the 2025 NCAA Tournament field. They broke down some of the most intriguing NBA Draft matchups in the first round and potential prospect battles in the second round. The crew also discussed a possible Arkansas vs. Kansas showdown and which program faces more pressure to win. Additionally, they touched on Duke’s Cooper Flagg, who is sidelined with an injury, and highlighted standout performances from conference tournaments leading up to Selection Sunday.

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NBA DRAFT WATCH: Jeremiah Fears shines, Cooper Flagg’s Injury & JT Toppin’s Dominance and more.. Mar 14, 2025

Show notes

On the latest Locked On NBA Big Board Podcast, Rafael Barlowe and Leif Thulin break down the standout performances from Wednesday and Thursday's NCAA Conference Tournament action. They discuss Jeremiah Fears’ back-to-back strong showings in the SEC Tournament and how his stock is rising. The duo also dives into Cooper Flagg’s ankle injury, debating whether Duke should sit him until the Round of 32, and how his absence could expand Kon Knueppel’s role, especially after his impressive game against Georgia Tech. They also highlight three Texas-based prospects—Texas Tech’s JT Toppin, Texas’ Tre Johnson, and Baylor’s VJ Edgecombe—analyzing Toppin’s dominant three-game stretch and why his rising NBA buzz doesn’t fully align with his production. They address Johnson’s shooting slump while noting Texas' continued tournament run and discuss Edgecombe’s draft range as the postseason unfolds. Additionally, they talk about Collin Murray-Boyles, whose season and likely his career at South Carolina has come to an end, but how his late-season flashes of improved shooting range could influence his draft stock.

Time Stamps:
2:14 – Thursday's Games
3:40 – Jeremiah Fears
9:53 – Collin Murray-Boyles
13:24 – Cooper Flagg
15:06 – Kon Knueppel
20:32 – JT Toppin
25:46 – Tre Johnson
30:14 – VJ Edgecombe

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Rookie Watch Vol. 12: Stephon Castle Shines, Jaylen Wells Impresses and Risacher’s Hot Shooting Mar 13, 2025

Show notes

In Rookie Watch Volume 12 of the Locked On NBA Big Board Podcast, hosts Rafael and James Barlowe revisit their thoughts on the 2024 NBA Draft class, which was widely considered weak. They discuss whether their perception has changed and highlight some standout rookies.

Stephon Castle headlines the conversation as the front-runner for Rookie of the Year. The Barlowe brothers then turn their attention to Memphis Grizzlies rookie Jaylen Wells, who, as a second-round pick, has far exceeded expectations and is now a starter for a Memphis team sitting third in the Western Conference.

Next, they break down Zaccharie Risacher’s recent hot shooting, a promising sign for the No. 1 overall pick. They also discuss Chicago Bulls rookie Matas Buzelis, whose increased minutes have played a key role in Chicago’s four-game winning streak.

Alex Sarr, the No. 2 pick, has had an up-and-down start, struggling with efficiency, but Rafael explains why he remains high on Sarr’s long-term potential. The episode wraps up with a look at Utah Jazz rookies Cody Williams, Isaiah Collier, and Kyle Filipowski. While Williams has been a major disappointment, Collier and Filipowski have exceeded expectations, emerging as potential steals for the Jazz.

Thoughts on the 2024 Draft Class – 2:00
Stephon Castle’s ROY Case – 4:00
Jaylen Wells Exceeding Expectations in Memphis – 11:59
Zaccharie Risacher’s Hot Shooting Stretch – 15:45
Matas Buzelis’ Increased Role in Chicago – 18:51
Alex Sarr’s Struggles and Long-Term Outlook – 24:23
Utah Jazz Rookies (Cody Williams, Isaiah Collier, Kyle Filipowski) – 28:26

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FROM LOTTERY BUZZ TO UNCERTAINTY: Can These Players Use March to Rebuild Their NBA Stock? Mar 12, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of Locked On NBA Big Board, host Rafael Barlowe breaks down six former top prospects—Dillon Mitchell, DJ Wagner, Riley Kugel, Aday Mara, Aaron Bradshaw, and Baba Miller—who entered college with first-round NBA expectations but have struggled to maintain their draft stock. With March Madness and conference tournaments offering a final opportunity to impress NBA scouts, Barlowe analyzes what went wrong for each player, where they stand now, and what they need to do in postseason play to get back on the NBA radar. Can these once-hyped prospects salvage their stock, or is their path to the league shifting toward another year in college?

Time Stamps for the Episode:
2:39 - Dillon Mitchell
7:00 - DJ Wagner
12:55 - Aaron Bradshaw
16:47 - Riley Kugel
21:46 - Baba Miller
26:57 - Aday Mara

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DRAFT STOCK PULSE CHECK: Who’s Surging at the Right Time? Mar 10, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board podcast, Rafael and James Barlowe break down five prospects whose draft stock is soaring as they head into their respective conference tournaments. The Barlowe brothers start with Michigan State freshman Jase Richardson, who has turned heads with his recent play. They then dive into Florida big man Alex Condon, who Rafael believes is the fastest-rising prospect in the country. The discussion shifts to VJ Edgecombe, who has worked his way back into his preseason projected draft range after an up-and-down start. Rounding out the episode, the brothers analyze two Texas Tech standouts—J.T. Toppin, who is having a monster sophomore season for the Red Raiders, and Christian Anderson, a quietly impactful freshman earning valuable minutes on a top-10 team. With conference tournaments approaching, these prospects are building serious NBA draft momentum.

Jase Richardson – 2:45
Alex Condon – 12:01
VJ Edgecombe – 17:48
J.T. Toppin – 23:31
Christian Anderson – 30:56

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Ace Bailey vs. Tre Johnson: Johnson’s Case for the No. 3 Pick in the 2025 NBA Draft Mar 08, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of Locked On NBA Big Board, brothers Rafael and James Barlowe debate the potential battle for the No. 3 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft between Rutgers freshman Ace Bailey and Texas freshman Tre Johnson. They discuss why many scouts view Bailey as a near-lock at No. 3, citing his elite upside if he puts it all together, but also acknowledging his inconsistencies. In contrast, Johnson has been more efficient and productive, showcasing better playmaking and shot-making, even if he lacks Bailey’s defensive versatility. The Barlowes also explore best-case player comparisons for both prospects and break down why each could warrant the No. 3 spot. Ultimately, while Bailey has long been considered the frontrunner, Johnson’s strong play has forced his way into the conversation.

2:00 – Ace Bailey vs. Tre Johnson
4:55 – Ace Bailey's upside and why he could be the best long-term prospect in the 2025 NBA Draft
10:27 – Tre Johnson and the numbers to support why he could be the third pick in the 2025 NBA Draft
20:30 – Who’s No. 3?
22:40 – Best NBA player comparisons for Ace Bailey and Tre Johnson

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