Locked On NBA Draft with No Ceilings

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, Rut...

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 de...

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 Raf...

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, an...

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...

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 performan...

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...

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 playe...

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...

In this episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board Podcast, brothers Rafael and James Barlowe dive deep into the game of projected top-five pick VJ Edgecombe. While Edgecombe’s elite athleticism and defensive upside make him one of the most tantalizing prospects in the 2025 NBA Draft, the Barlowe brothers take a trainer’s-eye view to highlight where the 6’5” wing still needs polish. From his struggles...

In this episode of Locked On NBA Big Board, Rafael and James Barlowe dive into the big decision looming for Washington State’s Cedric Coward. Despite being limited to just six games due to a shoulder injury, Coward has generated real first-round buzz thanks to his intriguing blend of positional size and shooting ability. NBA scouts have taken notice—but so have college powerhouses. Programs like D...

In this episode of Locked On NBA Big Board, brothers Rafael and James Barlowe dive into the stay-or-go dilemma facing Arizona freshman Carter Bryant. Despite modest averages of six points and four rebounds per game, Bryant remains on NBA radars due to his impressive physical profile and defensive potential. The conversation explores whether that upside is enough to warrant a first-round selection...

In this episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board podcast, Krysten Peek sits down for exclusive one-on-one interviews with five standout prospects from the 2025 Nike Hoop Summit—offering an early look at players expected to make noise in the 2026 NBA Draft cycle. Krysten speaks with Nate Ament about his rapid rise up the rankings and remaining uncommitted. She talks to Mikel Brown Jr. about his perfo...

In this episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board, host Rafael Barlowe is joined by Krysten Peek to recap the 2025 Nike Hoop Summit. Krysten was live in Portland for the event, attending practices throughout the week and offering inside scoop on which prospects impressed behind the scenes. She explains why what happens in practice often carries more weight than the actual game and shares her thoughts...

On this episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board Podcast, James Barlowe joins his brother and host Rafael Barlowe to spotlight a group of under-the-radar prospects he believes the scouting community needs to take a closer look at. James makes the case for Stanford’s Maxime Reynaud, Chinese big man Hansen Yang, California sophomore Andrej Stojakovic, and Penn State’s Yanic Konan Niederhauser—four nam...

In this episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board Podcast, Rafael Barlowe continues his “Eye Test vs. The Numbers” series with a deep dive on Rutgers freshman and potential top 3 pick Ace Bailey. In the first segment, Barlowe shares his personal scouting notes, highlighting what stands out on film. In the second segment, he compares those observations with the analytics—breaking down Bailey’s shot se...

In a recent episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board Podcast, hosts James Barlowe and Leif Thulin delved into Leif's Big Board 1.0, released shortly after the Final Four. They provided in-depth analysis of several top prospects, including Cooper Flagg, Tre Johnson, Derik Queen, and Thomas Haugh.​ #NBADraft #LockedOnNBABigBoard #NBADraft2025 #CooperFlagg #TreJohnson #DerikQueen #ThomasHaugh #CollegeB...

​In this episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board Podcast, host Rafael Barlowe initiates his "Eye Test vs. The Numbers" series by focusing on Rutgers freshman Dylan Harper. Barlowe presents his personal scouting insights on Harper's performance, then examines whether statistical analytics align with his observations. The discussion delves into Harper's shooting efficiency and finishing abilities, co...

In the latest episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board Podcast, hosts Rafael and James Barlowe share their firsthand insights from attending the 2025 McDonald's All-American Game in Brooklyn. They provide in-depth evaluations of top prospects for the 2026 NBA Draft, including AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, and Cameron Boozer, discussing their performances and potential impacts. Additionally, the Barl...

In a recent episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board Podcast, host Rafael Barlowe welcomed analyst Leif Thulin to discuss three standout players who significantly boosted their draft stock during the Elite Eight. Thulin began by expressing his long-standing belief in Thomas Haugh as a first-round talent, noting that Haugh's impressive NCAA tournament performance has garnered increased attention from...

In this episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board Podcast, Rafael and James Barlowe continue their SWEET 16 X-FACTORS series with a breakdown of the Texas Tech vs. Arkansas matchup, where unpredictability defines the Razorbacks. They spotlight Arkansas’ trio of freshmen—Billy Richmond, Karter Knox, and Boogie Fland—as potential X-factors, noting their up-and-down seasons and the likelihood that one c...

In Part 2 of the SWEET 16 X-FACTORS series, Rafael and James Barlowe turn their attention to the highly anticipated Duke vs. Arizona matchup, spotlighting the NBA prospects who could tilt the outcome and shift their draft stock. The episode opens with Arizona freshman Carter Bryant, who faces a tough challenge defending projected No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg, and then transitions to Duke’s Tyrese Proct...

In the latest episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board Podcast, hosts Rafael and James Barlowe dive into the potential X-factors in today’s Sweet 16 matchups, spotlighting NBA prospects who could swing games—and their draft narratives—with strong performances. The duo breaks down key players like Grant Nelson and Egor Demin from the BYU vs. Alabama clash, along with Walter Clayton Jr., Alex Condon,...

In this episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board Podcast, Rafael Barlowe and Krysten Peek highlight the prospects who’ve helped themselves the most with strong showings through the first two rounds of the 2025 NCAA Tournament. Krysten breaks down why Derik Queen’s clutch play and offensive versatility have caught scouts’ attention, while Jeremiah Fears has impressed with his dynamic shot creation an...

In this episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board podcast, Rafael Barlowe, James Barlowe, and Leif Thulin continue their deep dive into the 2025 NCAA Tournament with a more conversational breakdown of prospect performances. The trio opens with Kasparas Jakucionis, expressing concern over his inability to turn the corner against quality defenders and his turnover issues—raising doubts about his lotter...