Every year there are great NBA players drafted outside of the top 10 or the lottery. Here are 10 of our favorite prospects projected to be selected in the mid-first through the second round.

Nique Clifford, SG/SF, Colorado State

Age on draft night: 23 – Class: Senior – Listed height and weight: 6’6, 200 lbs

Shades of: Josh Hart, Derrick White

Source: @otn_nique

Clifford is an older prospect at 23, but he has a strong 6’6 frame and was dominant in his senior season at Colorado state. A great scorer (18.9 ppg), phenomenal rebounder (9.6 rpg), and strong passer (4.4 apg) who shoots at a good clip (37.7% from three, 77.77% from the line) and is also a really good defender (96.1 defensive rating), Clifford does a lot well. It is extremely rare to see a guy at his size, who plays as well as he does on the perimeter, rebound the basketball with such tenacity. He is legitimately good at almost every aspect of the game of basketball, and while he isn’t absolutely special at shooting, scoring, or passing, he is so good at all of those things that it’s easy to gloss over the lack of evident flaws or holes in his game you see with most prospects taken outside the top five picks in the draft.

On tape, he displays clear NBA athleticism, and looks like a decisive and involved leader on the floor, always playing with intensity and passion. In March, his outside shooting left something to be desired, but he showed very clearly that he can still impact the game in a big way even when his shot isn’t falling, setting up his teammates, getting rebounds, and playing impact defense. The biggest concern surrounding his game is ultimately his age and the fact that he wasn’t playing in an elite college conference in the Mountain West, but in reality, if he develops minimally from the player he currently is, he should still be a really good NBA role player.

This is as close to a can’t miss contributor as you can get, and his ceiling is legitimately quite high to go along with his high floor because he has the scoring and creation upside, both for himself and others, that many defensive-oriented prospects lack. A good teammate willing to do the dirty work like Clifford is invaluable to any competitive NBA franchise, and could move the needle towards a better culture instantly for a struggling team. He has the incredible rebounding ability and hard-nosed, all-out effort of a guy like Josh Hart, and will remind you of Derrick White as a long, defensive-oriented guard who can also go out and get you a bucket and shoot the three. Any fanbase should be thrilled to get this guy anywhere from the late lottery through the end of the first round.

Danny Wolf, PF/C, Michigan

Age on draft night: 21 – Class: Junior – Listed height and weight: 7’, 250 lbs

Shades of: Kelly Olynyk, Kyle Filipowski

Source: @danny.wolf6

Wolf is a versatile big man at a legit 7 feet. He passes at a very high level for his size (3.6 APG), and also rebounds well (9.7 RPG). The Yale transfer was great at Michigan this year, blocking a good amount of shots (1.4 BPG) and playing good overall defense too (96.1 defensive rating). There are, however, some concerns about his defensive skills translating to the league due to his lacking vertical athleticism (rim protection could be an issue against elite athletes event though he held his own in college). He has also shown some ability to shoot it from deep (33.6% on 3.1 3PA/G), although his free throw shooting has been bad for his entire college career (career 64.6% FT shooter), indicating that he is unlikely to be a reliable shooter to start his pro career.

That being said, there is some upside with the potential that he might eventually develop into a stretch big in some capacity. He also has played well alongside another big man in Vlad Goldin, something teams who hope to pair him with another big, maybe one whose skill-set will compliment his unique strengths and weaknesses, will love to see. He is also surprisingly good working from the perimeter on both sides of the ball, able to guard guys pretty well outside the paint, and handle the basketball and make passes outside the post on offense.

You also will see him move well for his size on tape, running the floor with ease, showing that he does have strong movement skills for his size despite not being a high flier. Also, his ability to run the floor and handle the basketball, as well as his elite anticipatory passing at his size, make him an exciting switchable piece as a 7 footer who is comfortable being the ball handler in pick and rolls. Like Olynyk and Filipowski, he makes up for what he lacks in leaping ability with movement skills, passing, and effort on both sides of the floor.

Rasheer Fleming, PF, Saint Joseph’s

Age on draft night: 20 – Class: Junior – Listed height and weight: 6’9, 240 lbs 

Shades of: Larry Nance Jr., Dorrian Finney-Smith

Source: @rasheerfleming

Junior forward Fleming has flown under the radar as he’s grown into a great player at a program that is not often in the national spotlight, but this year he’s caught a lot of eyes with stellar play. A good scorer (14.7 PPG) and rebounder (8.5 RPG) who is also an active defender (1.5 BPG, 1.4 SPG), Fleming does a lot well, but the skill that has catapulted him into first round conversations is his three point shooting, which greatly improved on solid volume this year (39% on 4.5 3PA/G in 2024-25 versus 32.4% on 3.0 3PA/G in 2023-24).

The shooting may still be a question when it comes to his transition to the NBA though, as his career free throw percentage is only 68%, and his three-point shooting numbers were only excellent in his Junior season, suggesting that while his improvement as a catch and shoot threat is indicative of better shooting potential, his percentages may not be quite so high in the league. He also is ultimately only a fantastic shooter when he is open, and he’s catching a pass from a teammate, something that is a viable and positive skill for an NBA big, but also something that other teams will try to take away as he carves out a role in the league. As a great athlete and capable defender with prototypical size and rebounding though, he still should have a role in the league, the shooting will just be the difference between him being a serviceable role player and a starter on a really good team.

His plus athleticism is evident on tape, as he runs the floor and flies to the rim with authority on a consistent basis, making him an exciting guy to have in the dunker spot or in transition in the NBA as a lob threat. You would also like to see him create more offense for himself, but his likely role in the league shouldn’t demand much of that from him, although it would certainly make him a more complete player if he could create for himself. Fleming profiles as a similar player to guys like Larry Nance Jr. or Dorrian Finney-Smith as a really good athlete who can impact the rim on both ends and also has outside shooting in his bag.

Yaxel Lendeborg, PF, UAB/Michigan (transferred after this year)

Age on draft night: 22 – Class: Senior – Listed height and weight: 6’9, 240 lbs

Shades of: Tari Eason, Tobias Harris, Paolo Banchero

Source: @yaxellendeborg

Lendeborg is a fascinating story. The 22-year-old 6’9 forward barely even played high school basketball in New Jersey due to academic eligibility issues, but he did enough in 11 varsity games as a high school senior to commit to play JUCO ball at Arizona Western College. He went on to dominate at the JUCO level, and then at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where he put up monster numbers this past year, averaging 17.7 points, 11.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.8 blocks and 1.7 steals per game. Following the season, he entered the transfer portal and committed to play for Dusty May at Michigan, but he also remains open to the NBA draft, and will likely never play at Michigan if it looks like he can earn a first round selection (he should).

His skillset is impressive. He moves well at great size and has shown some ability to shoot it from outside (35.7% on 1.9 3PA/G) and the line (75.7%). He also is a skilled passer for a big bodied player and a dominant rebounder. There is a ton to like with this dude, and he is a strong candidate to fly up NBA draft boards in the months leading up to draft night. In a draft with multiple notable versatile bigs (Derick Queen and Danny Wolf leading the pack), Lendeborg is a sleeper to be the best value where he ends up being selected. His NBA profile is pretty unique because he is a big, strong, player who can play inside and out better than most, but his best comps are guys like Tari Eason, Tobias Harris, and even Paolo Banchero, big forwards who impact the game on both ends, and have the ability to score both from outside and in the paint.

The biggest questions with him are ultimately if his game translates against higher level competition, and his shot. The first concern is understandable, as he wasn’t playing an elite schedule in the American Athletic Conference, and we can’t know for sure if he would have been so dominant in college playing in a power conference if he doesn’t go back to school next year, but ultimately he was too good at too many different skills to believe it won’t largely translate. The bigger question is the shooting, because while he was good, his volume was low, and his looks were mostly catch and shoot. That ultimately means we want to see improvement, but the promise is there. If everything comes together, this guy could easily be a high-level NBA starter hiding in plain sight.

Carter Bryant, SF/PF, Arizona

Age: 19 – Class: Freshman – Listed height and weight: 6’8, 220 lbs

Shades of: Jalen Johnson, Devin Vassell

Source: @carterdbryant

Arizona Freshman Bryant didn’t have a massive role for the Wildcats this past season, playing only 19.3 minutes per game, but he flashed some tantalizing skills in the time he was on the floor. He scored (6.5 PPG) and rebounded (4.1 RPG) pretty well, shot the 3 at a good percentage (37.1%), has great size, and was active on defense (1 BPG, 0.9 SPG). His free throw percentage was low though (69.5%), which should concern teams a bit about his shot. The shooting is going to factor into his evaluation, with his standstill three point shot looking fairly legitimate, but given that he doesn’t create those shots very well for himself, and that he isn’t an elite shooter, his potential could be capped as more of an offensive role player than the second or third option you would ideally like to see him become.

His best skill, and his most exciting attribute, is his high-flying athleticism, a trait that isn’t commonly found in players projected to be taken beyond the very top of this draft class. Overall, this is a guy who could potentially be a fantastic 2 way player in the NBA. Early in the season, he looked like a potential draft riser when he wasn’t heavily projected to go in the first round, but over time draft analysts and pundits have caught on. This guy was one of the single most underrated players in this class, but he has started to rise up mocks to the mid-teens post-March Madness, and that’s where he’ll likely be taken.

On tape he shows obvious, legit NBA athleticism, and finesse scoring in the lane. He also looks good shooting the three. He is a definite developmental player who will take some years to reach his true potential, but he easily has one of the highest ceilings of guys who are projected to go outside of the lottery. His potential ceiling is the definition of what NBA teams want in a 3 and D wing. There is always going to be some doubt about him reaching that potential until he proves it, but he could become a guy like Jalen Johnson or Devin Vassell, a plus defender with high-level athleticism and a strong option on the offensive end, if he develops well.

Noah Penda, SF/PF, Le Mans Sarthe (France)

Age: 20 – Listed height and weight: 6’8, 225 lbs

Shades of: Naji Marshall, Cody Martin

Source: @p9nd3

Penda is one of many high level French international prospects in this year’s class, which can mean he’ll be lost in the shuffle for average NBA fans (Noa Essengue and Nolan Traore are perhaps more notable names), but he’s worth significant consideration for teams picking in the second half of the first round. He is a well-built forward at 6’8 who plays for Le Mans Sarthe Basket in France’s top tier of professional basketball. While he is playing a role rather than leading a squad as a young player on a high-level professional team, he is making the most of his 25.8 minutes per game. This season he’s proven to be a strong passer (2.5 APG), good rebounder (5.2 RPG) and active defender (1.4 SPG) who has shown flashes as a shooter, although he has a lot of room to improve there (29.2% from three).

On tape you see a serious athlete who is also a willing passer and good slasher. His shot also doesn’t look too bad to the eye, but it certainly falls less than you would hope it would. The outside shooting is ultimately going to be a sticking point with him like it is with many guys in this range, as becoming a reliable shooter will make it much easier for him to earn consistent minutes in the league. It remains to be seen if that will happen, but his defensive upside is apparent regardless. On that side of the floor he uses his speed and anticipation really well to get blocks and steals, and gets out in transition assertively. Comparisons like Naji Marshall and Cody Martin make sense as versatile defenders who play hard and get minutes because of what they do on that side of the floor, but you’re ultimately looking for him to become a better NBA player than those guys by turning into at least an average outside shooter at decent volume.

This is a guy who has really high-level potential due to his stature and play style to be a great two-way player in the league, but isn’t projected to go extremely high because he’s not yet a polished player on both ends or an elite vertical athlete. He does however, show that he’s willing to do the little things right, playing with effort and energy on every possession, which sets up his teammates for success, and that is absolutely a skill that will excite NBA teams trying to build or maintain a winning culture. He may never be a superstar, but he could easily be an extremely valuable role player, and a good value in the late first where he’s projected to go. 

Walter Clayton Jr., PG/SG, Florida

Age: 22 – Class: Senior – Listed height and weight: 6’3, 195 lbs

Shades of: Payton Pritchard, Fred Van Vleet

Source: @w.cjr

Everyone who didn’t yet know Walter Clayton Jr. was introduced to him during his dominant run to an NCAA Championship with Florida this season. A former high-level football recruit who started his college basketball career for Rick Pitino at Iona, Clayton Jr. became one of the best offensive weapons in college basketball this year (18.3 PPG for a loaded National Championship Team, including eight 25 point games).

The biggest thing that makes Clayton intriguing in the late first is his elite level shot-making and shot-creation (38.6% from 3 on 7.8 3PA/G). This guy can get a shot off from anywhere, and makes difficult shots really often. He doesn’t have elite size, he’s not a plus vertical athlete, and his defense at the college level was average at best, but ultimately, he has a special skill, and we know he’s a competitor and a winner. An efficient shooter who is comfortable with a majority of his shots being threes, and finding unique ways to get them off, could be a really valuable bench player immediately for any NBA team, and could easily develop into one of his team’s primary offensive options. 

Some have thrown out Steph Curry comparisons for Clayton Jr., a lofty one for any prospect to live up to, but he does realistically profile similarly to fantastic NBA players like Payton Pritchard and Fred Van Vleet, guys who are a bit smaller than Clayton, but have a similar ability to get off tough shots, especially from outside, pass and rebound well, and fight hard enough on defense to earn a lot of minutes. His offensive game is simply so good that he’s worth a swing in the first round, even if there is no guarantee that he is ever that great of an NBA defender.

Tahaad Pettiford, PG, Auburn

Age on draft night: 19 – Class: Freshman – Listed height and weight: 6’1, 175 lbs

Shades of: Brandon Jennings, Scotty Pippen Jr. 

Source: @haad.0

Like Clayton, Pettiford is an electric guard who won over fans during a deep tournament run, but he is his own player. First and foremost, he’s a lot younger with more room to develop, which is both a pro and a con for him when it comes to the NBA. Pettiford was a phenomenal player for a fantastic Auburn team this year, a sixth man contributing to winning rather the go-to star he would have been for many teams across the country. While his college role may hurt him somewhat in the draft process as he didn’t have the chance to put up monster numbers or dominate games, having proven that he can be a successful complimentary piece for a winning team puts him in a good spot with playoff teams picking in the late first looking to project his role for them.

He has proven to be a really good scorer (11.6 PPG in only 22.9 MPG) and shooter who can get buckets from outside (36.6% from three). He also is solid at getting steals (0.9 SPG), and playmaking (3 APG), although that was not his primary responsibility in college. The biggest question about him is size. He’s only listed at 6’1, 175 lbs, which would make him pretty small for an NBA guard. Overall, he’s been a very good offensive player and a serviceable defensive player in college at his size, but that will limit him, at the very least on the defensive end in the NBA.

On tape, you see a lefty shooter who moves really well and shoots the ball with touch. He looks like a really fluid athlete and a real competitor out there on the floor. Despite his size, this guy has legit potential. His best comps are guys who play the one, but are more score-first than pass-first despite being solid passers. He has a similar build and game to a guy like Scotty Pippen Jr., who has become an excellent NBA role player, and he plays with a similar swagger and style to former phenom Brandon Jennings. At just 19, Pettiford has shown more than enough to be worth a swing for NBA teams if he keeps his name in the draft. If his shot selection can develop with experience, this is a guy who will be a great piece, and his competitive fire will instantly add energy to any young core around the league.

Maxime Raynaud, PF, Stanford

Age on draft night: 22 – Class: Senior – Listed height and weight: 7’1, 250 lbs

Shades of: Naz Reid, Chris Boucher

Source: @maxime.raynaud_

French big man Raynaud was ultra productive in his senior year at Stanford, putting up fantastic scoring (20.2 PPG) and rebounding (10.6 RPG) numbers. He also shot the 3 pretty well on high volume (34.5% on 5.5 3PA/G), which is impressive, especially considering his massive size at 7’1. He will be 22 on draft night, which is a bit of a drawback for future development, but also, drafting older players is coming back around in the NBA in the age of NIL, and he has shown a lot of good skills in college. He’s also not a bad defender who will get you some steals (0.9 SPG) and blocks (1.4 BPG). At his size you would like to see better overall performance on that side of the ball, and it is a legitimate concern that his defense won’t hold up terribly well in the NBA.

At the same time, he had enough production at the college level to warrant thinking that he can play the average defense that will be needed to keep him on the floor, especially if you pair him with a rim protecting big. That idea makes a lot of sense if you think about playing him at the 4, where he doesn’t have to be a primary rim protector, and he gets to give you plus rebounding and outside shooting that may compensate for your 5 man or bolster what he already does.

On tape, you’ll see a good athlete who moves really well for a 7 footer. He has the ability to get to the rim with speed and power, with his slashing enabled by his threat as a shooter and vice versa. While this guy likely won’t have elite scoring volume in the NBA like he did in college, he could be an exciting stretch big who also has some legitimate traditional big man skills, in the mold of guys like Naz Reid and Chris Boucher.

Bennett Stirtz, PG, Drake/Iowa (transferred after this year)

Age: 21 – Class: Junior – Listed height and weight: 6’4, 180 lbs

NBA Comparisons: Ty Jerome, TJ McConnell 

Source: @bennett_stirtz

Stirtz is another great story we’ve gotten in this new era of NIL and the transfer portal, a guy who started at the Division II level and climbed up to high-level D1 program and serious NBA draft looks through stellar play in college. He started his career at Northwest Missouri State, and then moved to Drake, and now Iowa with his coach Ben McCollum. In his Junior year at Drake he was electric, and played great in the tournament. He was phenomenal offensively, especially as a lead scorer (19.2 PPG) and solid defensively, especially impressing with his outside shooting, averaging 39.5% from three on 4.6 attempts per game. He also passed (5.7 APG) and rebounded (4.3 RPG) well, and used his height at 6’4 to get to the rim, although he does have a slender frame that may hinder his slashing potential in the NBA. His defense is the biggest concern though when it comes to transitioning to NBA basketball, but his ability to see the game and his high-level conditioning should allow him to become somewhat serviceable on D.

When you watch him play, the elite shooting pops, but so does his feel for the game. He is an elite pick and roll conductor who sees plays developing before they happen, and makes sure that his team gets the best possible shot a vast majority of the time. This skill catapults him from projecting as a fringe rotation guy to a borderline NBA starter. He also moves well off ball and can create his own shot off the dribble.

This is a guy who could be a really exciting offensive role player in the league who can hold his own enough on defense to stay on the floor. His best NBA comps are guys who shoot the three ball at a high level, play hard, and have to be respected as great passers capable of setting their teammates up if they aren’t open. Think of a bigger TJ McConnell, or one of the NBA’s most consequential role players on a great team this year, the Cavs’ Ty Jerome.