10 favorite returning college prospects for the 2025 NBA Draft

With college basketball returning this week, who are some returning college prospects that could break out as 2025 NBA draft prospects?

College basketball starts this week with high-powered exhibition matchups that are spread across the month. Every year, we see prospects return to school and make extraordinary improvements to become bonafide NBA prospects. Who could be next?

I break down my favorite returning college prospects with what intrigues me and what developments I’m monitoring with an eye on the 2025 NBA Draft.

1. Collin Murray-Boyles, Forward, South Carolina. Murray-Boyles had the most productive season of all freshman prospects not named Reed Sheppard. His passing, defensive tools, and efficient finishing pop off the page — as he projects upside as this 1-5 switchable defender with superb lateral quickness, as well as a super connector in Delay, Zoom, short-roll actions offensively. His skillset fits perfectly next to a big rim protector that can also stretch the floor. He not only needs to show shooting prowess, but shooting willingness. He’s a reluctant shooter, just taking 5 three’s last season. With his size and skillset, he needs to keep defenses honest. Otherwise, teams will sag off him, which is a ceiling limiter.

2. Alex Karaban, Forward, Connecticut. Karaban is a winning-plays machine that checks so many boxes of what teams want out of role players on the wing: optimal size (6’6.5” with a 6’11” wingspan), good jumper, smart passing, and incredibly active on both sides of the ball. He will face an athleticism disadvantage on the wing in the NBA, which could create questions about his playoff malleability when evaluating him. However, he’s a smart defender that leverages his length to contain his opponent, block shots off closeouts, and jump in passing lanes. If he continues to offset his lack of elite athleticism with smart team defense and defensive disruption, he’ll be seen in a different light as a potential NBA wing, which could solidify him into the top-20 of this year’s draft — and a premier target for teams outside the lottery looking for cheap depth.

3. Kwame Evans Jr., Forward, Oregon. Evans possesses an enticing blend of size and defensive upside. At 6’9” with a 7’0” wingspan, he’s a disruptor defensively that can wreak havoc in passing lanes and cover multiple positions. With an enhanced role, he can tap into his defensive upside after averaging 2.2 stocks in just 22.5 minutes per game his freshman year. He has to find an offensive role though — whether it’s as a play-finisher, outside shooter, or connector. If he pairs his defensive impact with sound offensive efficiency, then he could easily become the best returner in college basketball, as 6’9” wings with positional versatility are commodities in today’s NBA.

4. Mackenzie Mgkabo, Wing, Indiana. Mgbako has the requisite skillset to be a coveted 3-and-D player. At 6’7”, he found his shooting touch in conference play and has good defensive tools. He can even put the ball on the deck and finish on tough drives. For him to make a sophomore leap, he’ll not only need to sustain his outside shooting, but I’d like to see Mgbako and Wooden test his defensive limits with his role. He’s a frequent low-man, but he should be put into more stopping situations — in the process, showcasing defensive versatility, physicality, and event creation.

5. JT Toppin, Big, Texas Tech. Quietly producing one of the most efficient freshman years in the country (9.0 BPM), Toppin could be the best transfer prospect in this class. His activity is off the charts, as he wreaks havoc as a play-finisher, second-chance scorer (3.7 offensive rebounds per game in just 26.6 minutes) and defensive event creator (3.0 stocks). I’d love for his activity to parlay into more versatility — shooting more 3’s (34.4 on 34 total attempts), defending in space more, and improving as a playmaker (0.9 assists per game against 1.4 turnovers). If his production continues at Texas Tech, and he expands his game, he’ll have a lot of eyeballs on him as a first-round prospect.

6. Kam Jones, Guard, Marquette. Jones might project more as a quintessential college bucket-getter. However, he’s such a malleable scorer with his prowess as a finisher (67% at the rim), live-dribble shooter (60.5 effective field goal percentage), and catch-and-shoot (39.4% on c&s 3’s). His shot diet is ideal for a NBA perimeter role player. He has good size for a player that can guard 1-3, and if he taps into those tools and defends at a high level, he projects as a 3-and-D guard that can put the ball on the deck — a good role player to have off the bench.

7. Sion James, Wing, Duke. James emerged as a Swiss-Army knife for Tulane with his shooting, playmaking, and defense. At 6’6” and 220 pounds, he’s built like a tank and leverages his strength as a point-of-attack defender and as a low-man defender. Now at Duke, he’ll be in a role most tailored to his potential one in the NBA as a 3-and-D wing. Sustaining his shooting progression from last year and excelling as Duke’s premier stopper could do wonders for his draft stock, as he has the skillset and frame to play right away in the 2025-26 season.

8. Jarin Stevenson, Forward, Alabama. Stevenson is an intriguing breakout candidate due to his perimeter skill, defensive versatility, size, and age (won’t be 19 until December). At 6’11”, he’s comfortable defending in space and can hold his own down low. Offensively, he’s an easy target as a play-finisher and spot-up shooter. Showcasing offensive consistency and finding a signature skill on either side of the ball will be key not only to boost his NBA stock, but to emerge as a pivotal rotation player for a loaded Alabama team.

9. Hunter Sallis, Guard, Wake Forest. After a breakout campaign last season, eyes will be on Sallis for how he produces at a sustainable level. He became a go-to scorer that predicated his game on tough buckets and improved catch-and-shoot abilities. His stock can swing in either direction based on how he scales his game. Can he trim the contested mid-range jumpers down and shoot more 3’s — or improve upon his separation abilities to become a better advantage creator to generate cleaner looks. In addition, he has to find a defensive role, and the potential is there with his length and activity. He’s someone that can thrive either as a secondary stopper or as an event creator in the gaps, though will need to improve upon his screen navigation and his isolation defense to do so.

10. Koby Brea, Wing, Kentucky. Brea became a sleeper prospect for me after his performance last season at Dayton — shooting 49.8% from 3-point range last season (201 attempts), and making a sizzling 53.8% on catch-and-shoot 3’s. After a 12-percent bump from downtown, staying in that efficiency ballpark is pivotal for his NBA trajectory, as he doesn’t have a standout skill aside from his shooting. Mark Pope’s motion-centric offense that generates three’s could be a pathway for him to accomplish sustainability. Nonetheless, he could be a coveted depth piece on a two-way with his size (6’6”) and outside shooting.

Honorable mention: Mark Sears, Guard, Alabama; Zvonmir Ivisic, Big, Arkansas; Johni Broome, Big, Auburn; Saint Thomas, Forward, USC; Brice Williams, Wing, Nebraska.

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