Quick Thoughts on Seniors Part I - 2025 NBA Draft

All stats and measurements current as of February 23, 2025.

Kam Jones is a 6'5, 200-pound guard who plays at Marquette. He will be 23.3 years old at the time of the NBA Draft. I project him as an NBA rotation player. Jones has had a great college career and has performed at a draftable level for three of his four collegiate seasons. Although his burst and quickness are below average for the NBA, he effectively gets to the paint and finishes with touch. He combines his ability to penetrate the defense with good 3PT shooting, solid passing, and zealous energy on team defense.

Jones is older for a prospect, his athleticism indicators are poor, and his career 68% FT shooting is somewhat concerning. Nevertheless, he has the tools to be an E'Twuan Moore-style role player in the NBA—capable of hitting open shots, moving the ball, guarding his position, and contributing to team defense.

Chucky Hepburn is a 6'2, 190-pound point guard who plays at Louisville. He will be 22.4 years old at the time of the NBA Draft. I project him as a fringe NBA player. Hepburn pairs great on-ball defense and an impressive steal rate with efficient scoring, solid passing, and decent 3PT shooting. The challenge is that he is small and older for a prospect, with only one collegiate season where he produced at an NBA-caliber level.

I'm tempted to compare him to other "3-and-D" NBA guards like Jevon Carter and Mario Chalmers, but both had stronger collegiate track records. Hepburn is probably more similar to former Louisville guards Russ Smith and Peyton Siva, who never carved out NBA careers. Still, Hepburn has a path to establishing a role in the NBA—I just wouldn’t bet on it.

Igor Milicic Jr. is a 6'9, 225-pound power forward who plays at Tennessee. He will be 22.8 years old at the time of the NBA Draft. I project him as a fringe NBA player. For a big, he's a good shooter, with a career 79% FT and 35% 3PT shooting on decent volume. His shooting provides a solid foundation within a statistical profile that lacks elite strengths but also avoids glaring weaknesses. He rebounds well, has a positive A/TO ratio, and posts a good block rate for a 4. He gets to the line a reasonable amount and avoids excessive fouling. His steal rate is a bit low for someone who will need to defend on the perimeter in the NBA, but it’s not a fatal flaw. Although he’s slightly inefficient as a scorer for his role, it’s not a major concern.

Like Hepburn, my main concern is that Milicic’s senior year was his first collegiate season producing at an NBA-prospect level. When watching Tennessee, he doesn’t consistently stand out on tape. The team’s success is driven more by Zakai Zeigler, Chaz Lanier, and their overall defensive intensity than by Milicic’s contributions. Tennessee also has a tendency to make its prospects look better than they are. Still, Milicic’s valuable stretch-big skillset makes him worth taking a shot on.