Locked On NBA Draft with No Ceilings

Latest Episodes:

Weekend Takeaways: Is Ace Bailey Really Better Than Tre Johnson? + Cooper Flagg, Derik Queen & more.. Dec 09, 2024

Show notes

In the latest episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board Podcast, Rafael and James Barlowe dive into their weekend observations and prospects that caught their attention. They kick things off with Texas freshman Tre Johnson, who showcased his elite shot-making ability in a strong performance against UConn despite the loss. This leads to a debate comparing Tre to Ace Bailey, with the brothers questioning why Ace is considered a better NBA prospect. They highlight Tre’s efficiency after concerns about both players’ playing styles entering the season. The conversation shifts to Dylan Harper, who continues solidifying his case as a potential 2025 No. 1 pick after a strong outing against Ohio State. They then focus on Cooper Flagg, projected as the top pick in 2025, debating his long-term NBA position and his clear role as Duke’s offensive anchor. Rafael and James also critique the underwhelming seasons of Duke freshmen Kon Knueppel and Khaman Maluach, who were projected lottery picks. Next, they discuss Derik Queen’s dominance and share a scout's concern that his lack of measurables and elite athleticism might make NBA teams undervalue him. The episode wraps up with praise for Georgetown freshman Thomas Sorber, who has emerged as one of the most impressive freshmen in the country, excelling as an inside scorer, passer, rebounder, defender, and potential shooter, and currently outshining Khaman Maluach.

Timestamps:

Tre Johnson: 3:02

Tre vs. Ace Debate: 5:27

Ace Bailey: 6:24

Dylan Harper: 16:23

Cooper Flagg: 23:30

Derik Queen: 25:30

Thomas Sorber: 33:55

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James’ Big Board 1.0 (Part 2): Queen & Sanon Rising, Traore Slides, Pate Shines in G League Dec 07, 2024

Show notes

In Part 2 of James Barlowe breaking down his Big Board 1.0 on the Locked On NBA Big Board Podcast, hosts Rafael and James dive deeper into top prospects, offering detailed insights and analysis. James explains why he’s so high on Derik Queen and Noa Essengue, praising their skillsets and development trajectory. The discussion shifts to Boogie Fland, who has exceeded preseason expectations, and Joson Sanon, a rising name in draft circles. The duo also cover Ben Saraf and Nolan Traore, two international point guards experiencing a dip in stock—particularly Traore, who started the season as a projected top-five pick but now sits at number 16 on James’ board. The episode concludes with Dink Pate, who is thriving in the G League while playing for Mexico City.

Timestamps:

Derik Queen: 3:37
Noa Essengue: 8:02
Boogie Fland: 12:05
Joson Sanon: 15:41
Ben Saraf: 21:56
Nolan Traore: 24:31
Dink Pate: 29:52

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Leif Thulin's Draft Fallers: Who’s Losing Momentum? Dec 05, 2024

Show notes

In part two of the Locked On NBA Big Board Podcast, hosts Rafael Barlowe and Leif Thulin examine four prospects who Leif believes have seen their draft stock fall through the first month of the college basketball season. The episode starts with a breakdown of Baylor freshman VJ Edgecombe’s struggles and Leif questions whether he’s still worthy of a Top 20 selection. They then discuss Duke’s Kon Knueppel, a prospect many expected to be a lottery pick, with Leif explaining why he was hesitant to rank him that high and the concerns holding Knueppel back. The conversation shifts to French point guard Nolan Traore, once projected as a Top 5 pick, but now struggling with consistency in his performances. The final segment features Grand Canyon’s Tyon Grant-Foster, whose production dip this season, along with age and health concerns, may complicate his path to the 2025 NBA draft.

Timestamps VJ Edgecombe (Baylor): 1:52

Kon Knueppel (Duke): 7:59, 14:28

Nolan Traore (France): 19:08

Tyon Grant-Foster (Grand Canyon): 25:08

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NBA Draft Risers: Leif Thulin’s First Month Standouts Dec 05, 2024

Show notes

In this episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board Podcast, hosts Rafael Barlowe and Leif Thulin kick off part one of a two-part series highlighting the biggest risers and fallers among NBA draft prospects after the first month of the season. Thulin highlights the standout performances and draft stock boosts of several impressive freshmen, including Illinois’ Kasparas Jakucionis, Alabama’s Labaron Philon, North Carolina’s Drake Powell, Rutgers’ Dylan Harper, and Texas’ Tre Johnson. The duo also discusses the emergence of Arkansas junior Adou Thiero, breaking down how his development has captured the attention of scouts. It’s a must-listen for fans tracking early draft trends and future stars.

Timestamps

Kasparas Jakucionis (Illinois): 3:28

Labaron Philon (Alabama): 8:53, 13:45

Drake Powell (North Carolina): 16:16

Dylan Harper (Rutgers): 19:22

Tre Johnson (Texas): 23:40

Adou Thiero (Arkansas): 29:03

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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James’ Big Board 1.0: Rising Stars, Falling Stocks, and a Spirited Debate On the Race for No. 1 Dec 03, 2024

Show notes

In the latest episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board Podcast, Rafael Barlowe challenges James Barlowe on his recently released Big Board 1.0, sparking a spirited debate over the 2025 NBA Draft's potential number one pick. Rafael argues that the top spot remains a three-man race between Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper, and Ace Bailey, while James contends it’s narrowed to just Flagg and Harper, questioning Bailey’s viability as a true contender. The discussion transitions to rising and falling prospects, with both hosts offering insights on players like Egor Demin, Khaman Maluach, Tre Johnson, Jeremiah Fears, and VJ Edgecombe. Rafael highlights the meteoric rise of certain prospects, while James defends his rankings, sharing his top 10 players and the reasoning behind his evaluations. The episode delivers a dynamic mix of prospect analysis and draft debate, offering a must-listen for NBA scouting enthusiasts.

Timestamps:

2:50 - The race for number one.

15:14 - Egor Demin.

16:50 - Khaman Maluach.

18:55 - Tre Johnson.

22:23 - Jeremiah Fears.

26:06 - VJ Edgecombe.

29:25 - Kasparas Jakucionis.

31:52 - Kasparas Jakucionis vs Noa Essengue.

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Dylan Harper Makes His Case for No. 1 Pick, Ace Bailey Finds His Groove! Nov 28, 2024

Show notes

In the latest episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board podcast, hosts Rafael Barlowe and James Barlowe break down Dylan Harper’s electric performance against Alabama, where the high school phenom dropped 37 points, capping off a jaw-dropping 73 points in back-to-back games in Las Vegas against Notre Dame and Alabama.

The hosts revisit their earlier discussion about Harper's potential to overtake Cooper Flagg as the projected No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, emphasizing how his dominant showing against Alabama strengthens that case.

In the final segment, Rafael and James shift gears to Ace Bailey’s standout performance. Bailey, another top prospect, had his best outing of the year with 22 points on 9-of-18 shooting against Alabama.

They analyze his performance, his upside as an NBA prospect, and discuss how critical it is for highly-touted recruits like Bailey to choose the right college program to maximize their development and draft stock. This episode is packed with insights for NBA draft enthusiasts, with in-depth evaluations of two elite prospects and their growing cases as future top picks.

Timestamps

Dylan Harper - 5:31

Ace Bailey - 23:25

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Can Dylan Harper Pass Cooper Flagg? Thoughts on Harper, Flagg, and Ace Bailey's Tuesday Performances Nov 27, 2024

Show notes

In the latest episode of Locked On NBA Big Board, Rafael and James Barlowe break down the projected top three prospects of the 2025 NBA Draft—Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper, and Ace Bailey—following their Feast Week performances on Tuesday night. The episode kicks off with Rafael posing the question: could Dylan Harper surpass Cooper Flagg as the consensus number one pick? The Barlowe brothers analyze Harper's stellar 36-point showing against Notre Dame and the versatility that has scouts buzzing. Next, they shift to Cooper Flagg, reaffirming his status as the likely top pick, while exploring areas of his game that keep him in elite territory or what could hold him back. The final segment focuses on Ace Bailey, with James reiterating his doubts about Bailey's long-term outlook. Rafael highlights Bailey’s recent shooting struggles and draws a comparison to a former NBA star, suggesting it’s not an ideal trajectory for the young forward.

Timestamps:

Dylan Harper - 3:03

Cooper Flagg - 12:26

Ace Bailey - 24:30

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Weekend Stock Watch: Cooper Flagg, Ace Bailey, Dylan Harper, Chaz Lanier and more.. Nov 25, 2024

Show notes

In this episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board podcast, hosts Rafael and James Barlowe dive into the weekend's top performances from NBA prospects. They start with Cooper Flagg's dominant outing against Arizona, highlighting his ability to exploit mismatches, his competitive fire, and his toughness at just 17 years old.

The conversation shifts to Kon Knueppel, as the Barlowe brothers question his scoring consistency outside of three-pointers. In the second segment, they break down Rutgers’ freshman duo, Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper, after their performances in a loss to Kennesaw State.

While Harper shined with 21 points and 9 assists, Bailey’s inefficiency on 17 shots raised concerns, especially as Rutgers might have been caught looking ahead to their big game against Alabama.

Later, Rafael and James dissect VJ Edgecombe’s "empty calorie" numbers from a blowout loss and praise Chaz Lane's explosive first-half performance for Tennessee, scoring 25 points. Finally, they highlight Derik Queen's standout showing and Hunter Sallis’ best game of the season to close out the episode.

Timestamps:

2:23 - Cooper Flagg
7:25 - Kon Knueppel
13:17 - Ace Bailey
15:54 - Dylan Harper
22:18 - VJ Edgecombe
27:45 - Chaz Lanier
29:37 - Derik Queen
32:28 - Hunter Sallis

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Under-the-Radar NBA Prospects: Ersin Demir’s Hidden Gems You Need to Know Nov 24, 2024

Show notes

In this episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board Podcast, hosts Rafael Barlowe and Ersin Demir dive into a fascinating discussion on under-the-radar sleeper NBA prospects. Ersin shares his carefully curated list of hidden gems, featuring Elijah Mahi, Finley Bizjack, Michael Ajayi, Johann Grunloh, and Joan Beringer. The episode highlights why these players have the potential to surprise scouts and NBA front offices, with a particular focus on Elijah Mahi, who has turned heads with standout performances early in the college basketball season. Barlowe and Demir share differing opinions on Finley Bizjack's NBA potential, leading to a lively debate. They also discuss Michael Ajayi's new role coming off the bench at Gonzaga and analyze how the adjustment could impact his development. The two hosts then cover the international bigs, Johann Grunloh and Joan Beringer, debating whether they should declare for the 2025 or 2026 NBA Draft.

Timestamps:

Elijah Mahi: 4:24

Finley Bizjack: 11:34

Michael Ajayi: 15:22

Johann Grunloh: 20:51

Joan Beringer: 26:06

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Duke vs. Arizona Headlines the Weekend Watch for NBA Draft Prospects Nov 23, 2024

Show notes

On the latest Locked On NBA Big Board Podcast, hosts Rafael Barlowe and Leif Thulin previewed some of the top games to watch over the weekend and the prospects to keep an eye on. They kicked things off with Friday night’s marquee matchup between Duke and Arizona, highlighting key players like Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel, and Khaman Maluach, and what they’re looking to see from each. The discussion then shifted to VJ Edgecombe, who has struggled early this season, with Rafael and Leif debating how he might fare against Tennessee’s tough defense. JT Toppin, off to a fantastic start this year, was also identified as a player they’ll be watching closely. Other prospects discussed included Ryan Kalkbrenner, who is shooting a scorching 89% from the field and looking to sustain his hot streak, Tre Johnson, who aims to rebound from a rough shooting night against Syracuse, and Kam Jones, fresh off a triple-double performance, with the hosts analyzing his emerging playmaking skills ahead of his matchup against Georgia.

Timestamps:

Cooper Flagg: 3:02
Maluach vs. Krivas: 12:48
Kon Knueppel: 16:14
VJ Edgecombe: 17:20
JT Toppin: 19:57
Ryan Kalkbrenner: 21:53
Tre Johnson: 26:11
Kam Jones: 27:49

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