Mock Draft Monday 5/19 '25
Jumpman
Jumpman
- NBA Conference Finals Preview
- NBA Draft ‘25 Prospects
- NFL Building a Board
- YouTube Rabbithole
Alright @YouTheReader,
Today’s tune is Drake & Future’s Jumpman.
Don’t need much of an intro here. This was the biggest song off the album and featured prominently on an amazing Apple Music commercial.
On to the sports…
The NBA Conference Finals get underway this week with the Minnesota Timberwolves vs the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers vs the New York Knicks.
Minnesota and OKC split their regular-season series at two apiece. These two up-and-coming young teams represent a changing of the guard in the NBA. The only time these teams met in the playoffs was in the 1st Round in 1998. A 21-year-old Kevin Garnett and a 20-year-old Stephon Marbury lost to prime Gary Payton’s Supersonics 3-2 in a best-of-5. The last and only time OKC ever reached the NBA Finals was in 2012, while the T’Wolves have never reached the NBA Finals, but have made their 2nd consecutive Western Conference Final.
When Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals tips off on Tuesday, the Minnesota will not have played a game in nearly a week. The 6-seeded T’Wolves handled both the Lakers and Warriors in 5 games. Minnesota was able to exploit LA’s lack of rim protection and was gifted a Steph Curry hamstring injury. After a shaky start to the playoffs from behind the arc, Anthony Edwards has hit 18 of his last 38 3-pointers (47.3%). Edwards will need to not only continue his hot streak from deep, but also needs to be aggressive in attacking the basket against OKC. The T’Wolves have also gotten great playoff runs from Julius Randle and Jaden McDaniels. The former Knicks’ stat line (23.9 ppg, 50% FG%, 5.9 apg, & 5.9 rpg) has only been replicated by LeBron James and Kawhi Leonard in their first 10 playoff games with a new team this century. McDaniels is one of the league’s top defenders who has developed into a legitimate offensive threat. One player Minnesota needs to get going against OKC is Donte DiVincenzo. The shooting guard is hitting on just 25% of 3-pointers this postseason, and the T’Wolves can’t afford him missing open looks against OKC.
The OKC Thunder survived their first postseason scare with flying colors in Game 7 against Denver. After a shaky 1st Quarter, OKC’s defense began to dominate the Nuggets, who were on their last legs. The Thunder made it so difficult that it was an effort to get the ball over half-court. Their decision to have Alex Caruso guard Nikola Jokic paid off big-time. Caruso may not start for the Thunder, but he always does productive things during the game’s most important minutes. My guess is that the Thunder will send Caruso to double-team Edwards, with either Lou Dort or Jalen Williams as the primary defender. OKC also has Cason Wallace off the bench as yet another excellent option as an on-ball defender. Offensively, it’s still tough to trust Williams or Chet Holmgren as secondary scoring options in a half-court setting. Holmgren is from Minnesota, so this is a bit of a homecoming for the 23-year-old. I’m also burying the lead in that SGA, after winning the MVP award, will have to carry the scoring load to the same degree as Edwards will for Minnesota. SGA averaged a clean 35 points per game in their 4 regular season matchups, but expect Minnesota’s defensive intensity to be up another level.
Prediction: Rooting for the Minnesota, but I’ll go Thunder in 5.
During their regular-season series, New York took two of three games from Indiana. These two franchises have plenty of playoff history against each other, making for an under-the-radar great rivalry. During the ‘90s, the Pacers and Knicks met six times in postseason play, with each side advancing in 3 series each. The most famous matchup took place in 1995, when Reggie Miller went at it with Spike Lee, who was sitting courtside. The Pacers’ shooting guard infamously scored 8 points in 8.9 seconds while gesturing to the choke sign to Lee. Reggie Miller will be calling all the games for the TNT Broadcast, and unless there is another Met Fashion Gala, expect Spike to be in attendance.
The Pacers and Knicks have played each other twice in the 2nd Round of the NBA Playoffs since the ‘90s. This includes the 2013 and last year's series, in which the Pacers advanced in both. The last time the Pacers made the NBA Finals was in 2000, when they beat the Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals. The last time the Knicks made the NBA Finals was in 1999, when they beat the Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals. Time is a flat circle.
The Pacers may have defeated the Knicks last year with some injury luck, but after rolling over the Bucks and Cavs this year, they’ve proven to be the real deal. Indiana’s offense is simply unreal, as all 8 of their top rotational players are shooting 47.4% or better from the field, and the guy shooting it worst is their best player in Tyrese Haliburton. As a team, the Pacers are shooting 50.1% from the floor and 40.6% from 3-point range during these playoffs. Aside from Haliburton, Pascal Siakam, and Myles Turner’s fairly consistent production, any one of Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith, and Bennedict Mathurin can go off for 20+ points. TJ McConnell is a playoff knat that killed the Knicks last year, averaging what felt like a crucial 11.9 points per game in the 7-game series. Lastly, there is also the very minor storyline of Obi Toppin's return to New York. The Knicks drafted the Ossining product with the 8th Pick in the ‘20 NBA Draft. He has become a solid bench option for Indiana, not just as a high-flyer but also as a decent 3-point shooter. While the Pacers aren’t a great defensive team, as the much deeper team, they’re likely going to try to play at such a back-breaking pace to wear down the Knicks.
The Knickerbockers have fully captured New York City’s attention. Nobody outside New York gave them a chance to beat the defending champs and they did just that. The biggest thing entering this Eastern Conference Finals is to avoid the hangover. It’s undoubtedly a good thing that they can get a chance at enacting revenge on the Pacers after last year. Aside from the obvious in Jalen Brunson continuing his MVP play, I think the 3 keys for the Knicks this series come down to the following…
1) At least one of the OG or Bridges needs to score 20+ points. The Knicks are 6-0 this postseason when either of them chips in 20+ points with their elite defense on the other end of the court.
2) Karl-Anthony Towns must win his matchup with the Indiana Bigs. Pascal Siakam and Myles Turner are great Pacers. It wouldn’t be a surprise if both had their numbers in the rafters at Indiana when all is said and done. While KAT is a different type of cat, the way he carries himself, he expects to be in the Hall of Fame one day. This is the sort of series that proves there are levels to this. He’ll need to attack Indiana’s bigs the same way he did in Game 6 against Boston. If he does, his shot will eventually drop from beyond the arc. Knicks can’t afford any no-shows in the ECF.
3) Dare Tyrese Haliburton to be a 40-point scorer. It sounds counterintuitive, but I think they gotta stay at home on Indiana’s other perimeter shooters. Haliburton is a great point guard who prefers to be a pass-first player. He loves to drive to set up open 3s for his teammates. If there is one element of his game that they could make him uncomfortable with, it is finishing around the rim on drives rather than setting people up.
Prediction: Pacers in 7. (I went 0-4 in the 2nd Round.)
Kon Knueppel, SF, Duke
Kon Knueppel is from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Both of his parents were star basketball players in the area. His mother, Chari, is the leading scorer in UW-Green Bay history with 1,964 points. His father, Kon, scored over 2,000 points at Wisconsin Lutheran College and is a member of the school’s Hall of Fame. The 5-star recruit had his pick of the litter of schools to play for and chose to team up with Cooper Flagg at Duke. As a freshman with the Blue Devils, Knueppel averaged 14.4 points, 4 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and a steal per game while shooting 41% from beyond the arc. Knueppel was voted to the 2nd Team All-ACC and was named the ACC Tournament’s MVP after Flagg went down with an ankle injury. Knueppel is the best off-ball offensive player in this draft class. He is always moving without the ball and gets himself into a great position to catch-n-shoot. That sounds very simple, but it’s a coach’s clinic type of stuff. While I don’t necessarily believe Kon Knueppel is the type of player an NBA team will build solely around, he projects as an excellent secondary option. With similar size and shooting ability, Knueppel reminds me of a young Klay Thompson.
Dylan Harper, PG, Rutgers
Dylan Harper is from Franklin Lakes, New Jersey. He is the son of former NBA champion, Ron Harper, who won NBA titles with MJ’s Bulls and the Shaq&Kobe Lakers. Dylan Harper’s older brother, Ron Harper Jr., played for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and was an All-American in ‘22, averaging 15.8 points per game. Dylan Harper played high school hoops for Don Bosco Prep, averaging 23 points per game while being named the Gatorade High School Player of the Year in New Jersey. The 6’6” lefty PG became the first player in Rutgers history to win the McDonald’s All-American Game’s MVP award. During his freshman year at Rutgers, Harper lived up to the hype, averaging 19.4 points, 4 assists, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per game. Despite Rutgers’ rough season, Harper was named an AP All-American honorable mention and earned 3rd Team All-Big Ten recognition. In the NBA, the Jersey kid’s game most closely resembles the former MVP, James Harden.
Liam McNeeley, PF, UConn
Liam McNeeley is from Richardson, Texas. After playing 2 seasons of high school hoops in Texas, McNeeley transferred to Montverde Academy in Florida, where he played alongside Cooper Flagg. The consensus 5-star prospect and Top 10-rated recruit decided to play for the UConn Huskies. McNeeley was named the 2025 Big East Freshman of the Year as he led UConn in scoring at 14.5 points per game. The Huskies’ forward also chipped in 6 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game while shooting 87% from the free throw line. McNeeley was a bit underwhelming from 3-point range last season with UConn, shooting just 32% after being sold as one of the best shooters of his recruiting class. That said, he surprised as an effective all-around player with plenty more elements to his game than just a catch-and-shoot wing. The 6’7” still has good shooting form, and if he can improve upon his efficiency, he could maybe turn out like a Mike Miller type in the NBA.
Khaman Maluach, C, Duke
Khaman Maluach is from Rumbek, South Sedan. The 7’2” center is a 5-star recruit and the #1 international recruit in his class. Maluach will be representing South Sedan at the Paris Olympics starting next week. In South Sedan and Team USA’s final tune-up, South Sedan nearly beat Team USA, losing by only a point. Last summer, he was named the MVP of the NBA’s Basketball Without Borders Africa camp. As a freshman at Duke, Maluach averaged 8.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game. Much of his offensive game is predicated on offensive rebounds, plus catching lobs for dunks off pick-and-rolls. By season’s end, Maluach was also an elite rim protector as he averaged 2.1 blocks per game in the ACC and the March Madness Tournaments. He earned ACC All-Rookie Team recognition and was also an honorable mention for the All-ACC team. While Khaman Maluach’s offensive post-game may never be great by NBA standards, his 7’7” wingspan with excellent athleticism could make him a bigger version of Clint Capela in The Association.
Jase Richardson, SG, Michigan St.
Jase Richardson is from Denver, Colorado. His father, Jason Richardson, starred at Michigan State the last time they won a National Championship in 2000. He was also a 2-time NBA Slam Dunk Champion and had an excellent 13-year career in The Association. Jase’s mother, Jackie, was also a collegiate basketball player and coached Jase’s youth teams while Jason Richardson was in the NBA. Jase Richardson finished his high school hoops at Columbus in Florida, where he was a 4-star recruit selected to both the Jordan Brand and Iverson Classics. His first choice appears to have always been Michigan State, as he wanted to play for Coach Tom Izzo, just like his father. As a freshman at Michigan State, Richardson began the season off the bench before he was inserted into the starting role in February. For the season as a whole, Richardson averaged 12.1 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game (16.1 ppg + 4.6 rpg as a starter). He was named 3rd Team All-Big Ten and was a member of the Big Ten All-Freshman Team. While he may not be the same high-flying dunker like his dad, the lefty guard is a better shooter (41.2% from 3) and may potentially be a better isolation scorer as well.
Building A Board ‘26
Anthony Hill Jr., LB, Texas
Anthony Hill Jr. is from Denton, Texas, but was born in the same hospital as Barry Sanders in Wichita, Kansas. The top linebacker of his recruiting class, Hill Jr. recorded 303 tackles, 13 sacks, 9 forced fumbles, 378 rushing yards, and 13 TDs while also playing running back. As a freshman at Texas in ‘23, Hill Jr. was named co-Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year as he totaled 66 tackles, 8 TFLs, and 5 sacks. During his sophomore season in ‘24, Hill Jr. continued to impress as he was named 2nd Team AP All-American. The star linebacker racked up 113 tackles with 8 sacks, while leading the SEC in TFLs (17) and forced fumbles (4). The Longhorn linebacker has elite speed for the position and returns as a leader on one of the nation’s top defenses. He’ll likely be the top linebacker taken in the ‘26 NFL Draft.
Peter Woods, DT, Clemson
Peter Woods is from Alabaster, Alabama. He played high school football for Thompson HS, leading them to 4 straight state titles while making 260 tackles, 72 TFLs, and 29.5 sacks. The 5-star prospect decided to join the Clemson Tigers. In 2023, Woods was named the CFN Freshman Interior Defender of the Year, credited with 27.5 tackles, 2.5 TFLs, and 18 QB Hurries. As a sophomore in ‘24, Woods showed positional versatility playing all over the Clemson defensive line at tackle and end. He finished his sophomore season with 32 tackles, 8.5 TFLs, 3 sacks, 4 QB Hits, and 13 QB Hurries. At 6’3” and 315 lbs., Peter Woods is one of the top interior line disruptive forces in the nation.
LaNorris Sellers, QB, South Carolina
LaNorris Sellers is from Florence, South Carolina. He played high school football at South Florence, where as a senior he led them to an SC state title while throwing for 45 TDs and rushing for 17 TDs. After only playing mop-up duty in blowouts in ‘23, Sellers decided to designate the season as a redshirt year. As a redshirt freshman in ‘24, Sellers took over the Gamecocks’ starting QB role thanks to a strong offseason where he was awarded the team’s Joe Morrison Offensive Player of the Spring. After a slow start to his season, Sellers came on strong during the 2nd half of the year and nearly led South Carolina to the College Football Playoff. Sellers finished ‘24 as the National Freshman Offensive Player of the Year with 2,534 passing yards, 18 passing TDs, 674 rushing yards, and 7 rushing TDs. LaNorris Sellers is one of the top dual-threat QBs in the nation, boasting elite escapability as a scrambler. While his passing accuracy remains a bit of a question mark, from Week 9 to the end of the season, Sellers had a completion percentage of 72%.
Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
Avieon Terrell is from Atlanta, Georgia. He played high school football at Westlake HS, where he caught 6 INTs at corner while averaging 32.1 yards per kick return. The younger brother of AJ Terrell of the Atlanta Falcons, Avieon, also chose to play for Clemson. As a freshman in ‘23, Terrell made 5 starts for the Tigers, came down with a one-handed interception, and had 4 pass breakups. During his sophomore season in ‘24, Terrell returned as the Day 1 starter and earned 2nd Team All-ACC recognition. Terrell finished ‘24 with 2 INTs and 13 pass breakups. Not just good in pass coverage, Terrell was one of the best run-defending corners in CFB in ‘24 as he made 64 tackles with 4.5 TFLs and caused 3 fumbles. A physical corner not afraid to tackle, Terrell returns as one of the top corners in College Football.
Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn
