Locked On NBA Draft with No Ceilings

Latest Episodes:

Ace Bailey's Big Night and Rafael Barlowe's Live Scouting Insights from Oregon vs. Illinois Jan 03, 2025

Show notes

In the latest episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board Podcast, brothers Rafael and James Barlowe break down Ace Bailey’s monster 39-point, 8-rebound, and 4-block performance in a game without Dylan Harper, as well as Rutgers' tough loss to Indiana. In the second segment, Rafael shares live scouting insights from the Oregon vs. Illinois game in Eugene, with a deep dive into Illinois freshman Kasparas Jakucionis. The Barlowe brothers engage in a spirited debate over Jakucionis' skillset, comparisons, and long-term upside. In the final segment, Rafael evaluates Illinois’ Ben Humrichous, Will Riley, and Tre White before shifting focus to Oregon’s TJ Bamba and Kwame Evans Jr., highlighting their potential as NBA prospects.

Timestamps:

Ace Bailey - 2:38
Kasparas Jakucionis - 12:34
Ben Humrichous - 26:56
Tre White - 30:56
Kylan Boswell - 31:27
Will Riley - 32:35
TJ Bamba - 33:20
Kwame Evans Jr. - 34:26

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Jordan Holiday Classic Review: Boozer Twins, Mingo Brothers, Jordan Smith, Amare Bynum and more... Jan 01, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board Podcast, host Rafael Barlowe and co-host Krysten Peek recap the top performances from the Jordan Holiday Classic. Krysten, who provided play-by-play commentary for the games, offers her firsthand analysis of standout prospects, including Cameron and Caden Boozer, the Mingo Brothers, Jax Richardson, Jordan Smith Jr., Amare Bynum, and Ryan Hampton. The discussion highlights the names to watch from the event, as Krysten shares her thoughts on the performances and potential of these young players.

Timestamps
1:55 – Jordan Brand Classic
3:18 – The Boozer Twins
8:30 – Cameron Boozer as an NBA Prospect
12:24 – The Mingo Brothers: A Strong Performance
16:34 – Off-Topic: Jace Richardson Discussion
17:39 – Jax Richardson
22:15 – Jordan Smith Jr.
27:20 – Amare Bynum
30:59 – Ryan Hampton

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Rookie Watch Vol. 11: Jared McCain’s Injury, Jaylen Wells’ Emergence, and Alex Sarr’s Quiet Growth Dec 31, 2024

Show notes

In the latest episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board Podcast, host Rafael and James Barlowe revive their popular Rookie Watch series after a month-long focus on college basketball. The episode begins with a spotlight on Jared McCain, whose stellar play was interrupted by injury. They then dive into Jaylen Wells, the Memphis Grizzlies rookie who’s exceeded expectations as a surprise starter for one of the league’s top teams. The brothers also highlight the quiet yet steady improvement of Alex Sarr, Yves Missi’s emergence in New Orleans, and weigh in on rookies like Stephon Castle, Donovan Clingan, Bub Carrington, Zaccharie Risacher, and Tristan da Silva.

Timestamps:
Jared McCain – 3:46
Jaylen Wells – 8:28
Zach Edey --- 13:00
Yves Missi – 17:15
Alex Sarr – 22:09
Stephon Castle – 24:02
Donovan Clingan – 26:57
Bub Carrington – 29:43
Zaccharie Risacher – 29:59
Tristan da Silva – 33:45

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Mailbag Monday: Prospects, Predictions and a Fan-Powered Q&A Dec 30, 2024

Show notes

In this episode of the LockedOnNBA Big Board podcast, Rafael Barlowe and James Barlowe team up for a special Mailbag Monday live Q&A session, where they answer your burning questions about the 2025 NBA Draft and beyond. Drawing from Twitter DMs, emails, and YouTube comments, the duo provides in-depth analysis of the latest prospects, debates the rankings, and shares insights into the scouting process. Whether you’re curious about international standouts, college players on the rise, or sleeper picks for the upcoming draft, this episode has it all. Tune in for an interactive discussion and expert breakdowns of everything NBA Draft-related.

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Basketball Santa: Holiday Gifts for NBA Prospects Dec 25, 2024

Show notes

In this festive episode, we play the role of basketball Santa, handing out personalized "gifts" to some of the top NBA prospects to help them unlock their full potential. From Cooper Flagg to Donovan Dent we tailor each present to address the areas that could take their game to the next level. Tune in as we spread holiday cheer and basketball insight to the next generation of stars.

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Experience Over Hype? Seniors Shining in a Freshmen-Heavy Draft Class Dec 25, 2024

Show notes

In this episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board podcast, hosts Rafael Barlowe and Krysten Peek reflect on the impact of Dalton Knecht, who went from a standout senior at Tennessee to a key rotation player for the Los Angeles Lakers playing on Christmas Day. Inspired by Knecht's journey, Rafael and Krysten dive into six senior prospects who may not be dominating like Knecht did but could outperform their draft projections in the 2025 NBA Draft. The duo discusses Johni Broome, Kam Jones, Nique Clifford, Hunter Sallis, Ryan Kalkbrenner, and Maxime Raynaud, highlighting their strong starts, developmental progress, and how returning to school has impacted their stock. With in-depth analysis, the hosts explore whether teams will value these seasoned prospects over unproven upside and speculate on which senior could be the first selected come draft night.

Timestamps:

3:50: Rafael and Krysten discuss overlooked seniors in the NBA Draft.
5:13: Question: Who will be the first senior off the board in the 2025 NBA Draft?
6:17: Breakdown of Johni Broome’s game and draft outlook.
13:15: Analysis of Kam Jones’ early-season impact.
18:28: Nique Clifford’s development and sleeper potential.
25:00: Discussion on Hunter Sallis’ decision to return and his projected role in the NBA.
28:35: Ryan Kalkbrenner’s elite efficiency and two-way value.
31:11: Maxime Raynaud’s blend of size, skill, and international intrigue.

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City of Palms Standouts: Boozer Brothers, Darius Acuff, and More Dec 24, 2024

Show notes

In this episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board podcast, Rafael Barlowe is joined by Richard Stayman to discuss standout performances from the prestigious City of Palms Tournament in Fort Myers, Florida. Renowned for producing future NBA stars, the event offered scouts and fans an early glimpse at several top high school prospects. Stayman breaks down the performances of Cameron and Cayden Boozer, who led their team to the championship, and explains why he believes Cameron Boozer is his favorite to be the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. The conversation also highlights other rising talents, including Darius Acuff, Cam Holmes, Caleb Holt, Jaden Toombs, and Dante Allen, with Stayman offering insights into what makes each player special and their potential to thrive at the next level.

Timestamps:
5:07 - Why it is important to scout the City of Palms
8:32 - Cameron and Cayden Boozer discussion
12:25 - Why Cameron Boozer is the number one pick in the 2026 NBA Draft
15:07 - Caden Boozer analysis
18:53 - Darius Acuff evaluation
24:31 - Cam Holmes scouting report
26:42 - Caleb Holt insights
29:54 - Jaden Toombs breakdown
32:10 - Dante Allen review

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Draft Stock Movers? Key Performances from Ian Jackson, Jalil Bethea, and Dink Pate Over the Weekend Dec 23, 2024

Show notes

In the latest episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board Podcast, hosts Rafael and James Barlowe recap standout performances from the weekend, starting with a discussion on the race for the number one pick. They dive into the games of Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper, and Ace Bailey, as well as their teammates, highlighting Duke’s dominance over Georgia Tech and impressive outings from Kon Knueppel and Khaman Maluach. The Barlowe brothers also break down Rutgers’ surprising loss to Princeton, shining a spotlight on Xaivian Lee’s strong play. In the second segment, they discuss Ian Jackson’s role at North Carolina, emphasizing how the Tar Heels’ season may hinge on maximizing the freshman’s scoring ability. Finally, the Barlowes analyze Jalil Bethea’s best game of the year for Miami, where he dropped 17 points, and Dink Pate’s breakout 26-point performance in the G League Showcase, showing improved shooting but raising concerns about his playmaking. Throughout the episode, the brothers assess how these performances might influence each player’s draft stock.

Timestamps:

Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper, Ace Bailey, Kon Knueppel, Khaman Maluach and Xaivian Lee - 2:16

Ian Jackson - 11:47
Jalil Bethea - 22:51
Dink Pate - 28:54

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The Recruiting Revolution: How NIL and Fit Could Spark the Rise of Non-Blue Blood Schools Dec 21, 2024

Show notes

In the latest Locked On NBA Big Board podcast, Rafael Barlowe and Krysten Peek dive into the shifting landscape of college recruiting, exploring whether high-level prospects are increasingly bypassing traditional basketball powerhouses like Duke, Kentucky, Kansas and North Carolina. They highlight A.J. Dybantsa, the projected 2026 top pick, choosing BYU for its NBA-style offense, as well as Rutgers' standout freshmen Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey. The duo discusses how NIL opportunities and individual fit are influencing decisions, drawing comparisons to recent top picks like Markelle Fultz and Cade Cunningham, who thrived at non-blue blood programs due to higher usage rates. They also examine Jeremiah Fears, whose breakout season has bolstered his draft stock, paralleling Trae Young’s rise at Oklahoma. On the flip side, they address prospects like Emoni Bates and Isaiah Collier, whose non-traditional choices hurt their draft status. Wrapping up, they analyze players like AJ Storr and Kam Jones, as well as 2025 recruits poised to follow Harper's path, and ponder Darius Acuff’s decision to commit to Arkansas rather than a Trae Young-esque route.

Timestamps and Key Topics

1:40 – Krysten's schedule calling high school games.
4:08 – NBA scouts evaluating talent at college games.
6:10 – Are we seeing a shift in how top recruits choose their schools?
19:38 – What is the deciding factor for most high-level recruits?
22:14 – Markelle Fultz, Anthony Edwards, and Cade Cunningham: Three high-usage guards who became No. 1 picks after bypassing blue blood programs.
23:10 – The flip side: Highly touted recruits for whom non-traditional choices didn’t work out.
25:48 – Jeremiah Fears following the path of Trae Young by committing to Oklahoma.
31:52 – Darius Acuff’s decision to play for Arkansas.

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Jeremiah Fears’ Game-Winning Heroics vs. Michigan: How High Can He Go? Dec 19, 2024

Show notes

In the latest episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board podcast, Rafael and James Barlowe break down Jeremiah Fears’ electrifying performance against Michigan in the Jumpman Invitational. Fears dropped a career-high 30 points, capped by a clutch, heavily contested three-pointer with 11.5 seconds remaining. Adding to the drama, Fears was fouled on the shot, completing a four-point play to seal Oklahoma’s thrilling 87-86 victory. The Barlowe brothers discuss Fears’ draft stock, with James reiterating his belief in Fears’ lottery talent—having ranked him at No. 7 on his big board as early as December—while Rafael notes the broader draft community is finally catching up. They also dive into NBA comparisons, with James likening Fears’ skillset and game-winning poise to Sacramento Kings star De’Aaron Fox.

Fears performance vs Michigan - 2:03
Best NBA comparison - 21:42
How high can he go? - 26:50

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