Locked On NBA Big Board - NBA Draft Podcast

In Part 2 of James Barlowe’s Big Board 4.0, the Locked On NBA Big Board Podcast wraps up its two-part breakdown of the projected 2025 NBA Draft lottery. After sharing his top 7 picks in Part 1, James returns to reveal prospects ranked 8 through 14. Rafael Barlowe challenges James not just on why he’s high on each player, but also asks him to unpack the red flags and developmental concerns that could shape each prospect’s draft future. The discussion features Duke’s Khaman Maluach and Kon Knueppel, France’s Noa Essengue, Michigan State freshman Jase Richardson, St. Joe’s Rasheer Fleming, Illinois’s Kasparas Jak...

In the latest episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board Podcast, host Rafael Barlowe is joined by James Barlowe to unveil Part 1 of his Big Board 4.0, highlighting the top 14 prospects he believes should be lottery picks in the 2025 NBA Draft. This installment focuses on the top 7 players, with a heavy freshman presence dominating the early ranks. James shares his thoughts on Duke’s Cooper Flagg, Rutgers duo Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey, Oklahoma’s Jeremiah Fears, Baylor’s VJ Edgecombe, Texas’ dynamic scorer Tre Johnson, and Maryland’s versatile big man Derik Queen. Tune in as James breaks down what...

On this episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board Podcast, Rafael Barlowe is joined by James Barlowe, who’s got an agenda to push: Derik Queen can be as good as Alperen Şengün. With Şengün earning his first All-Star nod in 2025 and leading the Houston Rockets to the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference, James believes Queen shares a similar offensive profile and playmaking IQ. The duo dives into a detailed comparison of Queen and Şengün’s pre-draft scouting notes, exploring how both were doubted for their defense but praised for their touch, feel, and interior c...

In this episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board Podcast, Rafael Barlowe is joined by Leif Thulin to spotlight the safest bets in the 2025 NBA Draft class — the prospects with the highest floors. Leif breaks down why he believes Duke’s Kon Knueppel, Rutgers’ Dylan Harper, Arizona’s Carter Bryant, and UConn’s Liam McNeeley project as reliable long-term pros. Things get especially interesting when Rafael and Leif dive into a spirited debate about McNeeley — while Leif views him as a steady, high-floor forward, Rafael pushes back, expressing concerns about McNeeley’s inconsistent shooting and defensive limitations. It's a floor-focuse...

In this episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board Podcast, host Rafael Barlowe is joined by Leif Thulin for a deep dive into the top high-upside prospects in the 2025 NBA Draft class. The conversation centers around the players Leif believes have the highest ceilings, with in-depth breakdowns of Ace Bailey’s shot making, Derik Queen’s advanced skill set for a big, VJ Edgecombe’s two-way potential, and Jeremiah Fears’ dynamic scoring and playmaking tools. It’s a ceiling-focused episode spotlighting the names that could headline the 2025 draft with continued development.

Timestamps:

1:40 – Leif Thulin’s thoughts on...

On the April 23rd episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board Podcast, Rafael Barlowe breaks down a busy day of NBA draft declarations, headlined by projected top-three pick Ace Bailey officially entering the 2024 NBA Draft. Rafael shares his analysis on Bailey’s explosive athleticism, scoring upside, and long-term ceiling. He then pivots to North Carolina freshman Drake Powell, who also declared after one season—Barlowe offers insight on Powell’s defensive tools and developing offensive game. International prospects Michael Ruzic and Malique Lewis join the list of early entrants, and Rafael provides context on their upside and intrigue. The ep...

In this episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board podcast, Krysten Peek joins Rafael Barlowe to recap her experience covering the 2025 Jordan Brand Classic in Washington, D.C.—a premier all-star showcase for high school seniors. Peek shares her on-site impressions of several top prospects, including Kiyan Anthony, Caleb Wilson, AJ Dybantsa, and Cameron Boozer. She offers insights into their performances, skillsets, and how they stacked up against elite competition in one of the year’s most high-profile prep basketball events.

Timestamps

2:00 – Jordan Brand Classic, Carmelo Anthony
3:52 – Kiyan Anthony
8:26 – Caleb Wilson
12:30 – AJ Dybantsa<...

In this episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board podcast, Rafael Barlowe dives into a packed slate of draft declarations and breaking news, headlined by Cooper Flagg officially entering the 2025 NBA Draft. Widely projected as the No. 1 overall pick, Flagg is now fully committed to the NBA, and Barlowe breaks down what makes him a generational prospect while also spotlighting the three teams with the best odds to land him.

Barlowe then shifts to Baylor freshman VJ Edgecombe, who officially declared over the weekend. He details why Edgecombe, with his explosive athleticism and two-way versatility, could...

In a recent episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board podcast, host Rafael Barlowe welcomed Richard Stayman, who provided firsthand insights from the 2025 Portsmouth Invitational Tournament (PIT). As a historic four-day event, the PIT serves as a premier showcase for graduating seniors aiming to elevate their NBA draft stock. Stayman highlighted standout performances from the tournament, noting players who seized the opportunity to impress scouts and potentially secure spots in upcoming NBA combines. His observations offered listeners a glimpse into the prospects making waves at this pivotal pre-draft camp.​

2:20 – Why the P.I.T?
5:00 – Standouts
5...

On this episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board Podcast, host Rafael Barlowe delivers an updated 2025 NBA Draft tracker loaded with key names and fresh intel on where things stand. Rafael breaks down the top prospects who have officially declared for the draft, including Dylan Harper, Tre Johnson, Derik Queen, Jeremiah Fears, and more. He also highlights the big names still holding off on a formal announcement—Cooper Flagg, Khaman Maluach, and Ace Bailey—who are all expected to make decisions soon. The episode takes a deep dive into the players currently testing the waters, like Thomas Sorber, Taha...