The men's college basketball regular season begins Nov. 4, and teams are already hitting the practice courts in preparation for the 2024-25 season. In looking ahead to how the college basketball season impacts the 2025 NBA draft, I went on the road for a university tour, ultimately hitting four programs that are sure to impact the college season and the draft.
All eyes will be on Duke's Cooper Flagg, a freshman who is projected to be the No. 1 pick in ESPN's latest mock draft, as well as two top-five projected prospects in Dylan Harper and Airious "Ace" Bailey at Rutgers. Drake Powell, a 6-foot-6 wing at North Carolina, will undoubtedly be a projected top-10 pick in our next mock draft. And let's not forget about the defending champions UConn Huskies, who have three potential first-rounders in Liam McNeeley, Jaylin Stewart and Alex Karaban.
I talked to players, coaches, execs and scouts along the way, and here's what I learned:
Jump to a team's notes:
Rutgers: NBA eyes on Piscataway
Duke: Lottery picks in Durham
UNC: Scouts are back in Chapel Hill
UConn: Three-peat in Storrs?
2025 NBA mock draft | Way-Too-Early Top 25
Rutgers Scarlet Knights: NBA eyes are on Piscataway
Location: Piscataway, New Jersey
Date visited: Friday, Sept. 27
How will the Scarlet Knights be different from last year's team?