2025 NBA Draft: Sleepers to know

Because the NBA draft kicks off Wednesday, the names of a number of fringe prospects will start percolating by the tip of the evening and absolutely simmer to the floor earlier than the ultimate choice is made Thursday.

Listed here are 5 gamers effectively beneath the radar we would classify as “sleepers” to maintain your eye on.

Bogoljub Markovic, Mega Basket (Serbia)

A Serbian large man who donned the identical vibrant pink jersey as a younger Nikola Jokic as soon as did, Markovic is flirting with late first-round consideration. Déjà vu apart, the 6-11, 190-pound featherweight energy ahead posted 13.9 factors and 6.9 rebounds per sport on 38.8 % 3-point capturing in Serbia’s Liga ABA. Bogoljub displays nice submit footwork, connects dots as a passer within the halfcourt, and is comfy placing the ball on the deck to ignite quick breaks. Defensively, he’s spatially astute and slides his toes nimbly for his measurement. However, bulking up and filling out his body shall be precedence primary.

Rocco Zikarsky, Brisbane Bullets (Australia)

Zikarsky’s measurables turned heads on the NBA Draft Mix, clocking in at 7-foot-3 barefoot with a virtually 10-foot standing attain. Each marks topped all different members. Rocco has spent the previous two seasons off the bench for the NBL’s Brisbane Bullets. He was a mountain within the center in a league plagued by each blisteringly fast guards and bodily inclined bigs. Regardless of his wiry body, Zikarsky is an all-purpose choose and roll defender with immense defensive upside as a colossus who can execute coverages and guard in area. With little capturing or playmaking glimpses to talk of, Rocco has the makings of a defensive anchor who can relieve stress within the halfcourt offensively with vertical spacing.

Yanic Konan Niederhauser, Penn State

The Draft Mix labored wonders for Swiss-born Konan Niederhauser, who finally forewent his Senior yr at Penn State. He dominated on the inside to the tune of 12.9 factors, 6.3 rebounds and a couple of.3 blocks as a junior. Yanic is an explosive leaper with gentle arms and a well-proportioned body. He typecasts as a dependable rim reader and play finisher within the painted space who leverages an array of contact finishes or rim-rattling dunks. Defensively, Konan Niederhauser is a swat machine who is ready to shut in on drivers with well timed rotations. He tasks as a mainstay within the mid to late second spherical.

Hunter Sallis, Wake Forest

A 6-5 combo-guard with a 6-foot-10 wingspan, Sallis’ instruments are simple. There are few within the class as artful with the ball of their arms. Hunter is a herky-jerky dribble driver who can get by his man with both hand. A plethora of counters, from hesitations to crab dribbles, permit him to get to his spots contained in the arc with aplomb. A slithery finisher and deadly pull-up shooter, the lengthy ball stays his greatest query. Sallis’ 3-point share dropped from 40.5 % as a junior to 27.7 % as a senior, the previous of which seems to be the aberration. Hunter’s on-ball poise and level of assault protection measure up, however the iffy leap shot could relegate his draft inventory to the second spherical.

Micah Peavy, Georgetown

Peavy vaulted himself into NBA Draft discourse by the use of a breakout fifth yr in school. He parlayed his newfound primacy at Georgetown into profession bests in each main statistical class. A 6-foot-7, two-way wing who’s a weapon in transition and isolation, Peavy is usually a scoring menace from all three ranges.

A lot of Peavy’s attract stems from his protection, outfitted with the bottom energy, fast toes, and rapturous power to magnetize and shut down opposing wings. Micah displayed capturing upside for the primary time as an excellent senior, drilling 40.8 % of his 4.1 3-point makes an attempt per sport. His robotic capturing kind begs the query of whether or not that mark was a flash within the pan.

–Ethan Ward, Area Stage Media