In this festive episode, we play the role of basketball Santa, handing out personalized "gifts" to some of the top NBA prospects to help them unlock their full potential. From Cooper Flagg to Donovan Dent we tailor each present to address the areas that could take their game to the next level. Tune in as we spread holiday cheer and basketball insight to the next generation of stars.

In this episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board podcast, hosts Rafael Barlowe and Krysten Peek reflect on the impact of Dalton Knecht, who went from a standout senior at Tennessee to a key rotation player for the Los Angeles Lakers playing on Christmas Day. Inspired by Knecht's journey, Rafael and Krysten dive into six senior prospects who may not be dominating like Knecht did but could outperform their draft projections in the 2025 NBA Draft. The duo discusses Johni Broome, Kam Jones, Nique Clifford, Hunter Sallis, Ryan Kalkbrenner, and Maxime Raynaud, highlighting their strong starts, developmental progress, and how returning to school has impacted their stock. With in-depth analysis, the hosts explore whether teams will value these seasoned prospects over unproven upside and speculate on which senior could be the first selected come draft night.

Timestamps:

3:50: Rafael and Krysten discuss overlooked seniors in the NBA Draft.
5:13: Question: Who will be the first senior off the board in the 2025 NBA Draft?
6:17: Breakdown of Johni Broome’s game and draft outlook.
13:15: Analysis of Kam Jones’ early-season impact.
18:28: Nique Clifford’s development and sleeper potential.
25:00: Discussion on Hunter Sallis’ decision to return and his projected role in the NBA.
28:35: Ryan Kalkbrenner’s elite efficiency and two-way value.
31:11: Maxime Raynaud’s blend of size, skill, and international intrigue.

In this episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board podcast, Rafael Barlowe is joined by Richard Stayman to discuss standout performances from the prestigious City of Palms Tournament in Fort Myers, Florida. Renowned for producing future NBA stars, the event offered scouts and fans an early glimpse at several top high school prospects. Stayman breaks down the performances of Cameron and Cayden Boozer, who led their team to the championship, and explains why he believes Cameron Boozer is his favorite to be the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. The conversation also highlights other rising talents, including Darius Acuff, Cam Holmes, Caleb Holt, Jaden Toombs, and Dante Allen, with Stayman offering insights into what makes each player special and their potential to thrive at the next level.

Timestamps:
5:07 - Why it is important to scout the City of Palms
8:32 - Cameron and Cayden Boozer discussion
12:25 - Why Cameron Boozer is the number one pick in the 2026 NBA Draft
15:07 - Caden Boozer analysis
18:53 - Darius Acuff evaluation
24:31 - Cam Holmes scouting report
26:42 - Caleb Holt insights
29:54 - Jaden Toombs breakdown
32:10 - Dante Allen review

In the latest episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board Podcast, hosts Rafael and James Barlowe recap standout performances from the weekend, starting with a discussion on the race for the number one pick. They dive into the games of Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper, and Ace Bailey, as well as their teammates, highlighting Duke’s dominance over Georgia Tech and impressive outings from Kon Knueppel and Khaman Maluach. The Barlowe brothers also break down Rutgers’ surprising loss to Princeton, shining a spotlight on Xaivian Lee’s strong play. In the second segment, they discuss Ian Jackson’s role at North Carolina, emphasizing how the Tar Heels’ season may hinge on maximizing the freshman’s scoring ability. Finally, the Barlowes analyze Jalil Bethea’s best game of the year for Miami, where he dropped 17 points, and Dink Pate’s breakout 26-point performance in the G League Showcase, showing improved shooting but raising concerns about his playmaking. Throughout the episode, the brothers assess how these performances might influence each player’s draft stock.

Timestamps:

Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper, Ace Bailey, Kon Knueppel, Khaman Maluach and Xaivian Lee - 2:16

Ian Jackson - 11:47
Jalil Bethea - 22:51
Dink Pate - 28:54

In the latest Locked On NBA Big Board podcast, Rafael Barlowe and Krysten Peek dive into the shifting landscape of college recruiting, exploring whether high-level prospects are increasingly bypassing traditional basketball powerhouses like Duke, Kentucky, Kansas and North Carolina. They highlight A.J. Dybantsa, the projected 2026 top pick, choosing BYU for its NBA-style offense, as well as Rutgers' standout freshmen Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey. The duo discusses how NIL opportunities and individual fit are influencing decisions, drawing comparisons to recent top picks like Markelle Fultz and Cade Cunningham, who thrived at non-blue blood programs due to higher usage rates. They also examine Jeremiah Fears, whose breakout season has bolstered his draft stock, paralleling Trae Young’s rise at Oklahoma. On the flip side, they address prospects like Emoni Bates and Isaiah Collier, whose non-traditional choices hurt their draft status. Wrapping up, they analyze players like AJ Storr and Kam Jones, as well as 2025 recruits poised to follow Harper's path, and ponder Darius Acuff’s decision to commit to Arkansas rather than a Trae Young-esque route.

Timestamps and Key Topics

1:40 – Krysten's schedule calling high school games.
4:08 – NBA scouts evaluating talent at college games.
6:10 – Are we seeing a shift in how top recruits choose their schools?
19:38 – What is the deciding factor for most high-level recruits?
22:14 – Markelle Fultz, Anthony Edwards, and Cade Cunningham: Three high-usage guards who became No. 1 picks after bypassing blue blood programs.
23:10 – The flip side: Highly touted recruits for whom non-traditional choices didn’t work out.
25:48 – Jeremiah Fears following the path of Trae Young by committing to Oklahoma.
31:52 – Darius Acuff’s decision to play for Arkansas.

In the latest episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board podcast, Rafael and James Barlowe break down Jeremiah Fears’ electrifying performance against Michigan in the Jumpman Invitational. Fears dropped a career-high 30 points, capped by a clutch, heavily contested three-pointer with 11.5 seconds remaining. Adding to the drama, Fears was fouled on the shot, completing a four-point play to seal Oklahoma’s thrilling 87-86 victory. The Barlowe brothers discuss Fears’ draft stock, with James reiterating his belief in Fears’ lottery talent—having ranked him at No. 7 on his big board as early as December—while Rafael notes the broader draft community is finally catching up. They also dive into NBA comparisons, with James likening Fears’ skillset and game-winning poise to Sacramento Kings star De’Aaron Fox.

Fears performance vs Michigan - 2:03
Best NBA comparison - 21:42
How high can he go? - 26:50

In this episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board podcast, Rafael Barlowe and grassroots/NBA draft expert Krysten Peek dive into the 2026 NBA Draft class, a group they believe has the potential to surpass even the highly anticipated 2025 class. While the 2025 cycle is still in full swing, the duo takes an exciting look ahead at the future stars that scouts and fans should already have on their radar.

Leading the discussion is BYU commit AJ Dybantsa, widely regarded as the top prospect in the 2026 class. They highlight his advanced scoring ability, physical tools, and poise well beyond his years. Kansas commit Darryn Peterson also earns high praise for his versatile offensive skillset and potential as the No. 1 pick in 2026.

The conversation then shifts to Duke commit Cameron Boozer, whose combination of basketball IQ, skill, and pedigree has him in the conversation as a potential future No. 1 pick. Rounding out the list of names to know, Barlowe and Peek discuss the upside of undecided prospects Nate Ament and Koa Pete. Ament's length and positional versatility have scouts intrigued, while Pete’s athleticism and defensive prowess make him one of the most physically dominant players in the class.

Rafael and Krysten emphasize that while these prospects are still a few years away from hearing their names called on draft night, the 2026 class is already shaping up to be an exciting storyline for NBA fans and front offices alike.

Timestamps:

2025 vs 2026 - 2:16
AJ Dybantsa - 5:28
Darryn Peterson - 7:36
Darryn Peterson - 11:13
Cameron Boozer - 16:27
Cameron Boozer - 22:32
Nate Ament - 25:18
Koa Pete - 30:37

In part two of Leif Thulin’s Top 10 NBA Prospects series on the Locked On NBA Big Board Podcast, Leif and Rafael Barlowe dive into the next wave of top-tier talent for the 2025 NBA Draft.

They kick things off with Jeremiah Fears and Nolan Traore, discussing the contrast between Fears' polished game and Traore’s recent struggles in Europe. The duo also break down Egor Demin’s inconsistencies against Power 5 competition, before shifting focus to Noa Essengue and his intriguing long-term upside. They round things out with an in-depth look at Derik Queen’s fit in the modern NBA and Khaman Maluach’s unique blend of size, mobility, and potential. It’s an episode packed with insight, debate, and critical scouting notes on the 2025 class.

Timestamps

• Jeremiah Fears - 1:44
• Nolan Traore - 3:39
• Egor Demin - 6:18
• Noa Essengue - 10:38
• Derik Queen - 13:57
• Khaman Maluach - 20:44