The 2025 NBA Draft is coming, and fans of every sport love to dive into the draft to find players that they fall in love with. It could be that they are higher on certain athletes than the consensus, a specific player archetype they like, or players they enjoy watching. There is no single, correct definition for a “My Guy”, as everyone has a different reason for wanting a prospect.
I personally have specific archetypes that stand out, but there are always exceptions. The players listed below are exceptional for various reasons. They range from projected top-ten picks, all the way to projected second-rounders. They are not ranked in any specific order.
*The NBA Comparison is a comparison between play styles and skill sets, not a prediction of who they will become.
Player Summary- Derik Queen is a 6’10 big man who moves like a perimeter player. He was a walking mismatch for opposing teams, as he was too quick for bigger players, but too big for smaller defenders. He has a great touch around the basket, but he can also step out and score from the mid-range.
Despite averaging just two assists per game, Queen showcased a great feel for the game as a playmaker and offensive hub. The primary concern surrounding his offensive game is whether he can effectively space the floor. He shot just 20% from deep last year, but the shot looked good, and there is hope that he will develop more consistency.
Defensively is where the concerns come from due to his lack of quickness and overall athleticism. He doesn’t offer much as a rim protector as he isn’t exactly a high flyer. However, he has great hands and a knack for securing the ball without fouling. He moves his feet well when matched up with smaller defenders. Queen is also a great rebounder on both ends of the court as he uses his size to his advantage when battling underneath.
Strengths-
Weaknesses-
NBA Comparison- Alperen Sengun
My Guy Reasoning- When it comes to centers, I typically gravitate towards the athletic, rim-running bigs with immense defensive upside and the ability to handle the ball. Players such as Jalen Duren and Derrick Lively have been my guys in previous years, and Derrick Queen couldn’t be more different than those two, but there is just something about him.
The way he moves for a 6’10 big man is truly special, and he is a joy to watch because of it. Between the smoothness of his offensive game, the clear upside as a passer, and the confidence with which he plays, it is hard not to like Queen, and for those reasons, he is my favorite player in the class.
Player Summary- VJ Edgecombe is a long, athletic, supercharged 3-and-D guard. He is arguably the best athlete in the entire class, and while he is a capable shooter from deep, he is at his best when getting downhill and attacking the basket. As seen in the picture above, anyone in the way of Edgecombe on his way to the basket is in danger of being put on a poster.
Edgecombe is a fierce competitor on both sides of the ball and was Baylor’s best perimeter defender last year. At the moment, he doesn’t offer much as far as pure shot creation goes, but as he learns how to use his athleticism, he will grow as an all-around scorer. He can enter the league and immediately contribute due to his defensive ability.
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Weaknesses-
NBA Comparison- Victor Oladipo
“My Guy” Reasoning- I have a hard time seeing how Edgecombe doesn’t succeed at the next level. He feels extremely safe because of his floor as a defender and connector on offense, but his upside as a two-way player is tantalizing. He is the type of player every team would love to have because of his unselfishness and competitiveness.
Last year, Stephon Castle was my favorite player in last year’s class, and it was in large part due to his upside as a defender. I see a lot of this year’s rookie of the year in Edgecombe’s game in multiple areas, especially on the defensive end. You can’t teach athletic ability, and Edgecombe has more of it than any player in the class; he is just scratching the surface of how to utilize it.
Player Summary- Egor Demin is the best passer in the class, and it isn’t particularly close. At 6’9, he can see over his defenders and read the defense in ways that a 19-year-old shouldn’t be able to. The rest of his offensive game is a work in progress, but he has real upside as a shooter, despite shooting just 27% from three-point range last season.
Demin demonstrated the ability to excel both on and off the ball last year, consistently making the right play. Along with improving as a scorer, he needs to limit his turnovers, as he averaged 2.9 per game in just 27.5 minutes per game last season. Defensively, he isn’t a stopper by any means, but he plays with effort, reads the game well, gets into passing lanes, and causes disruptions.
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Weaknesses-
NBA Comparison- Josh Giddey With More Juice
“My Guy” Reasoning- Two of my favorite player archetypes are bigger guards and elite passers, and Demin is both of those. His ability to read the floor at 19 is truly special. Watching someone pick apart a defense and drop dimes all game is as enjoyable to watch as someone taking over as a scorer. His size is something that can’t be taught, and it gives him an advantage as a playmaker.
Demin’s ability to consistently make shots will ultimately define his career, and I believe that he will develop into a legitimate shooter. His shot looks great, and there were flashes of a strong shooter at BYU last year that make it easy to buy into his long-term upside as a shooter.
Player Summary- The days of Carter Bryant being the best-kept secret in the draft are long gone. He is the ideal 3-and-D wing in today’s NBA, and at this point, it is a matter of how high he goes in the lottery, not if he goes in the lottery. On the offensive end of the court, Bryant does most of his damage as a shooter and cutter, but he has shown flashes as a passer and all-around connector on offense.
On the defensive end, Bryant is a playmaker, as well as a switchable wing who can guard 1-4. He makes the right play on both ends of the court at all times and has a skill set that every team needs.
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Weaknesses-
NBA Comparison- Nicolas Batum
“My Guy” Reasoning- Every team wants 3-and-D wings, but there are only so many truly effective ones, and Carter Bryant feels like he will be one. Despite his lack of production in college, I can see the upside in Carter Bryant on both ends of the court, as well as his role for immediate production.
He was always making the right play, and he was always in the right place at the right time. His upside as a defender is sky-high due to his athleticism, but it also provides him with a higher offensive ceiling than some would expect.
His feel for the game sticks out on both ends of the court, and every team should fall in love with Bryant during the draft process. Every time I watched Arizona play, Carter Bryant would stick out in limited minutes, and he should pop in a larger role at the next level.
Player Summary- Jase Richardson is one of the smoothest scorers in the entire draft. He is a crafty finisher around the basket, as well as a strong shooter from deep. He demonstrated the versatility to play both on and off the ball last season, which will help his game translate at the next level. He doesn’t profile as a lead playmaker at the moment, but he is a good facilitator, as the ball doesn’t stick when he gets it, and he reads the defense well.
Defensively, he moves well and is a strong off-ball defender, thanks to his instincts. The biggest concern around Richardson is his size. He is listed as 6’3″, but after measuring in at just above 6’0 “without shoes at the combine, the 6’3 “number appears to be generous. The size is a bit of a concern as he is not the most explosive athlete, but he makes up for it with his high basketball IQ and feel for the game. He has the talent of a lottery pick, but someone may get a steal further down the board.
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Weaknesses-
NBA Comparison- Immanuel Quickley
“My Guy” Reasoning- Normally, I wouldn’t buy into the smaller scoring guards because it is harder for them to make a major 2-way impact, but Jase Richardson is the exception. He showcased his ability to be effective without the ball on offense, as well as his pure scoring ability.
He showed his urge to push the pace in transition, but slow things down in the half-court and get a good shot. Teams were not able to take advantage of Richardson on the defensive end of the court, despite his size, and that is an encouraging sign for his transition to the NBA.
His all-around offensive arsenal stood out last year on a Michigan State team that lacked scoring, and he showcased why he should be an impactful player at the next level. I love players who show a great feel for the game and can play under control on offense, and Richardson is that type of player.
Player Summary- No player gained more traction as a prospect during March Madness than Walter Clayton Jr. did. He was originally viewed as a fringe first-rounder who would likely go early in round two, but now he could go in the top twenty. To call him a sharpshooter would be selling him short after the run he had this past season. Clayton Jr. was one of the toughest shot-takers and makers at the college level last year, as well as one of the most clutch players.
He showcased the ability not only to create for himself as the lead guard but also to score off the ball. His shooting drew so much attention from opposing teams that it would lead to better looks for the rest of the team. He does tend to take bad shots at times, but his questionable shot selection makes Clayton Jr. the player he is.
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Weaknesses-
NBA Comparison- Payton Pritchard
“My Guy” Reasoning- Every year, there is a player or two who rise in my rankings late in the process, and Clayton Jr. is one of them. His March Madness run will go down in history, but he was playing at an elite level all year long.
I loved Payton Pritchard when he was at Oregon, and Clayton Jr. is such a similar player. He competes on defense despite being undersized and is a willing passer, but at heart, he is a prolific shooter who can swing a game at any moment. He single-handedly won the games against UConn and Texas Tech down the stretch in the tournament, and he did so with some of the most ridiculous shots you will see.
Any team that needs a scoring punch should be targeting Clayton Jr. on draft night. There weren’t many players that I enjoyed watching more than the Gators’ star, and over time it became clear that he could have an immediate impact in the NBA.
Player Summary- Aduo Thiero is an athletic specimen who is still developing as a player. On the defensive end, he is tenacious and physical, especially off the ball, and a strong rebounder. On offense, he aims to operate in the paint and draw fouls, as evidenced by his increased free-throw attempts per game, which jumped from 2.2 in 2023-2024 to 6.5 last season. He wants to get out and run in transition, getting downhill.
His shot is still a work in progress at the moment, and teams would leave him open, daring him to take the shot. His form does look good, and there is hope he can turn into a good enough shooter not to be a liability on the offensive end at the next level. Thiero also displays a guard-like feel to the game, thanks to his quick decision-making with the ball.
Strengths-
Weaknesses-
NBA Comparison- Tari Eason
“My Guy” Reasoning- There is so much to like about Thiero, and his potential is through the roof. He is a game-wrecker on defense who needs to develop an offensive strategy. Tari Eason is one of my favorite prospects in recent memory, and I see so much similarity between him and Thiero. Both players are long and athletic with elite motors, but they both lack a real offensive identity in terms of go-to scoring. They are both aggressive rebounders on both ends of the court as well as disruptors on defense.
Thiero is the type of player that teams should take a chance on, and I would absolutely take a chance on him in the late first round, given his upside. Defensive-minded wings who are full of athleticism and upside are one of my favorite archetypes, and Thiero fits that to a tee.
Player Summary- I would like to introduce everyone to the most underrated player in the draft: Amari Williams. He is everything a team could want in a two-way, rim-running center. He is an athletic big who can switch onto smaller defenders, control the glass, run a fast break, facilitate, and function as a hub on the offense.
Williams can do just about everything on the court, but he lacks true scoring ability. He can catch a lob or take a slower-footed big off the dribble, but he is not a shooter, and he doesn’t have a go-to move in the post. For some reason, his lack of offensive firepower has caused him to be discussed as a late second-rounder at best, but his skill set fits the mold of a first-rounder in years past.
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Weaknesses-
NBA Comparison- Joakim Noah
“My Guy” Reasoning- There is no player in this class that I rate higher than Amari Williams, according to consensus. He put his entire skill set on display at Kentucky this season. He showcased a great feel for the game on offense, and he displayed his versatility on the defensive end.
He averaged 11 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 3.2 assists in just 22.8 minutes per game, but those numbers don’t do him justice. He had a triple-double against Ole Miss during conference play, 16 games of at least 10 rebounds, and six games of at least five assists. He demonstrated that, despite his limited scoring ability, he can impact the game in numerous ways.
He should be able to come in and be a reliable backup center immediately, and possibly develop into a long-term starter. I don’t see any glaring issues with his game other than his lack of scoring, but that shouldn’t drop him to a late second-round pick or possibly undrafted. Williams is the most underrated prospect in the draft, and if it were up to me, he would be a first-round pick.
To me, “my guys” are not supposed to be the top players in the draft, because more often than not, everyone likes them as a prospect. For example, I think Cooper Flagg is an awesome player, but so does everyone else. “My guys” should be players that you strongly believe in despite their flaws. Players like Derik Queen and VJ Edgecombe are looked at as top prospects, but plenty of people have questions about them. All prospects have flaws, but it comes down to whether or not you believe they can overcome them or improve in those areas.
All of “My Guys” have flaws that people like to point out. Derik Queen isn’t a strong defender. VJ Edgecombe doesn’t offer much in terms of shot creation. Egor Demin isn’t a consistent shooter. Carter Bryant doesn’t offer anything off the dribble. Jase Richardson is too small. Walter Clayton takes too many bad shots. Adou Thiero can’t shoot. Amari Williams has no offensive game. These are all flaws that people have pointed out regarding these players’ games. They are all fair points to make, but I believe their pros will outweigh these flaws, and they will work on making them a strength.
These are all players, in my opinion, who will be impactful at the next level compared to their draft slot. These players are my 2025 NBA Draft “My Guys”.
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