Mock Draft Monday 6/9 '25
Truffle Butter
Truffle Butter
- NBA Draft ‘25 Prospects
- Building A Board (‘26 NFL Draft)
- YouTube Rabbithole
Alright @YouTheReader,
After a lyrically deep song like The Weight, today’s tune is Nicki Minaj’s Truffle Butter featuring Drake and Lil Wayne.
This was a hit rap record that landed at #14 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
Truffle Butter is said to pair well with pasta, risotto, eggs, potatoes, bread, cheese, and steak.
On to the sports…
Last week, mistakes were made when I had Tahaad Pettiford on the list; however, the Jersey City PG has elected to go back to Auburn after participating in the NBA Draft Combine. Therefore, we have 6 NBA prospects today…
Cedric Coward, SF, Washington State
Cedric Coward is from Fresno, California. His grandfather, Maxie Parks, won a Gold Medal in the 4x400 relay at the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games. Coward played for Central High School, being named team MVP and captain twice. His first stop in college was at Willamette University, where, as a freshman, he averaged 19.4 points and 12 rebounds per game for the Division III school. After being named the Northwest Conference Freshman of the Year, Coward transferred to Eastern Washington. As a sophomore in 22-’23, Coward came off the Eagles’ bench to average 7.3 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. The following season, Coward earned a starting role and was named to the 1st Team Big Sky, as his numbers improved to 15.4 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. This past season, the 6’6” wing player played his senior year at Washington State. For the Cougars, Coward averaged career-highs with 17.7 points, 7 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.7 blocks per game while shooting 40% from beyond the arc. Cedric Coward has excellent 3&D potential in the NBA and should continue to contribute as a rebounder at the next level. His game reminds me a bit of Caron Butler’s.
Mark Sears, PG, Alabama
Mark Sears is from Muscle Shoals, Alabama. As a senior in high school, Sears transferred to Hargrave Military Academy, where he averaged 14 points, 3 assists, and 5 rebounds per game. Initially a 3-star prospect out of high school, Sears chose to play for Ohio University. After a freshman season where he came off the bench to average 8.5 points and 3.4 assists per game, Sears earned a starting role in ‘21-’22. As a sophomore, his points increased to 19.6 per game as he shot 41% from 3. After his All-MAC First Team recognition, Sears transferred to Alabama in ‘22. During his first season with the Tide, Mark Sears averaged 12.5 points per game as more of a combo guard. He then shifted over to the Tides’ primary ball-handler in his senior year and became a 2nd Team All-American with a scoring output of 21.5 points per game while leading ‘Bama to the ‘24 Final Four. As a 5th-senior this past season, Sears averaged a career-high 5.1 assists per game while maintaining 18.6 points per game as a scorer. A career 38% shooter from beyond the arc, Sears’ game in the NBA will rely heavily on his 3-point shot. While the obvious lefty PG pro comparisons would be Jalen Brunson or Damon Stoudamire, the odds are that Sears has more of a Travis Best career as a combo guard off the bench.
Chaz Lanier, SG, Tennessee
Chaz Lanier is from Nashville, Tennessee. Both of his parents, Thomas (Lipscomb) and Stacey (Alcorn State), played D1 College hoops. In high school, Chaz Lanier was a late bloomer who came off the bench his first 3 seasons but averaged 22.8 points on 45% from 3-point range as a senior. Lanier was overlooked in high school as he wasn’t on many recruiting sites’ radar. The 6’4” guard spent 4 seasons at North Florida. After coming off the bench in his first 3 seasons with the Ospreys, Lanier was inserted into their starting lineup last season, and the results immediately followed. Lanier averaged 19.7 points and 4.8 rebounds per game as he shot 44% from deep. This past season, Lanier transferred to Tennessee and proved he could excel in SEC competition, winning the SEC Newcomer of the Year. He also earned 1st Team All-SEC recognition, averaging 18 points per game while shooting 40% from 3-point range. Chaz Lanier’s shooting should translate in the NBA, as he fits in as a Buddy Hield type.
Ryan Kalkbrenner, C, Creighton
Ryan Kalkbrenner is from Florissant, Missouri. He attended Trinity Catholic High School, where he had 10 or more blocked shots in 7 games his senior season. Kalkbrenner spent the past 5 seasons at Creighton. After starting his collegiate career off the Blue Jays’ bench as a freshman, Kalkbrenner won 4 straight Big East Player of the Year awards, an accomplishment only Patrick Ewing shares. This past season, the 7’1” center also won the Naismith National Defensive Player of the Year. In his 4 seasons as a starter, Kalkbrenner averaged 16.4 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per game. While Ryan Kalkbrenner won’t go #1 like Andrew Bogut did in ‘05, I expect the Creighton center to have a similar career as a defense-first rim protector in the NBA.
Egor Demin, PG, BYU
Egor Demin is from Moscow, Russia. A 5-star recruit overseas, Demin played for Real Madrid’s junior team, where he averaged 13.0 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game in the EBA. This past season, the 6’9” point guard decided to play college hoops stateside at BYU. Demin made the Big 12 All-Freshman Team as he averaged 10.6 points, 5.5 assists, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per game. His 180 assists last season were the most ever by a freshman Cougar. Demin has excellent guard skills and the passing ability to be a floor general at the next level. That said, his jump shot needs some work. The Russian tall guard shot 27.3% from beyond the arc, and his 69.5% free-throw percentage is a troubling indicator that it may not improve much. With his size and guard skills, he reminds me a bit of Marko Jarić.
Eric Dixon, PF, Villanova
Eric Dixon is from Willow Grove, Pennsylvania. While attending Abington High School, Eric Dixon was named the Pennsylvania Player of the Year by USA Today as he averaged 27.6 points per game as a senior. He chose to play for Villanova, redshirting during his true freshman season. He earned some minutes off the bench the following season as a redshirt freshman, but it wasn’t until ‘21-’22 that he was inserted into the Wildcats’ starting lineup. From ‘21 to ‘24, Eric Dixon averaged 13.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per game while shooting 37% from beyond the arc. This past season, the 6’8” southpaw 6th-year senior led the nation in points per game as he averaged 23.3 ppg along with 5.1 rebounds while shooting 41% from deep. While his age of 24 is a bit older for NBA prospects, Dixon should be able to contribute off the bench of an NBA team right away. Being a lefty power forward with plenty of isolation scoring, Dixon’s closest player comparison has to be Michael Beasley.
Building A Board ‘26
Eli Stowers, TE, Vanderbilt
Eli Stowers is from Denton, Texas. He attended Denton Guyer High School, where he was a 4-star QB prospect who led the team to a state title in ‘19. His first college stop was at Texas A&M, where he served as the Aggies’ backup QB for 2 seasons. As a sophomore in ‘22, Stowers was named the Offensive Scout Team award at the annual team banquet. As a junior in ‘23, Stowers decided to transfer to New Mexico State and became an all-around offensive weapon known as “Go-Go Gadget Eli.” With the New Mexico State Aggies, Stowers converted mostly into a TE, but also played RB and WR. He finished his ‘23 season with 5 total touchdowns as he had 35 catches for 366 receiving yards, 28 rushes for 108 rushing yards, and threw for 99 passing yards. In ‘24 as a redshirt junior, Stowers transferred once more to Vanderbilt and focused more so on TE. With Vandy, Stowers earned 1st Team All-SEC Honors as he caught 49 passes for 638 receiving yards and 5 TDs, while also throwing a 17-yard passing TD on some trickery. After earning AP 2nd Team All-American status in ‘24, Eli Stowers returns to school as the most accomplished TE of the ‘26 NFL Draft class.
Ar'maj Reed-Adams, OG, Texas A&M
Ar’Maj Reed-Adams is from Dallas, Texas. A 3-star recruit out of DeSoto High School, Reed-Adams’ first stop in college was at Kansas. In 5 games as a true freshman in ‘20, the AMRA didn’t give up a sack at Right Guard but allowed 11 QB Hurries and wasn’t too effective in the run game either. After mainly playing special teams in ‘21 and limited action at RG in ‘22, Ar’Maj Reed-Adams earned a starting role on the Jayhawks’ offensive line in ‘23. Playing mostly Left Guard and some Right Tackle, Reed-Adams showed a bit of versatility enough for Texas A&M to come calling in the NIL. In ‘24 with the Aggies, Reed-Adams started every game at RG while allowing just 2 sacks. He was also one of the premier run-blockers in the SEC, helping Texas A&M average 195.5 rushing yards per game. At 6’5” and 340 lbs., Ar’Maj Reed-Adams should have the size and strength to compete at the next level.
Cayden Green, OG, Missouri
Cayden Green is from Lee’s Summit, Missouri. Touted as one of the top tackles from his recruiting class, Green’s first stop out of Lee’s Summit North HS was at Oklahoma. As a freshman with the Sooners in ‘23, Green made 5 starts at Left Guard. In ‘24 as a sophomore, Green decided to transfer to Missouri, where he got to play alongside his former high school teammate, Armand Membou. Green and Membou made up one of the more formidable offensive lines in the SEC. The sophomore guard in ‘24 graded out as a 76.7 Pass Block and 75 Run Block by PFF College, while only giving up a single sack all season. The 6’5” and 320 lbs. offensive guard is projected to be a consensus 1st Round pick in most early Mock Drafts.
Dominic Zvada, K, Michigan
Dominic Zvada is from Chandler, Arizona. At Valley Christian High School, Zvada served as the team’s kicker and punter while earning all-state recognition. His first stop out of high school was at Arkansas State. During his 2 seasons with the Red Wolves, Zvada was named to the Lou Groza Award Watch List as the top kicker in the nation. During his time at Arkansas State, Zvada went 34 of 40 on Field Goal attempts and missed just one extra point attempt in 71 chances. As a junior in ‘24, Dominic Zvada transferred to Michigan and became an All-American kicker. Zvada hit on 21 of his 22 Field Goal attempts, breaking the Michigan single-season FG percentage record of 96% while going 7 of 7 on kicks 50+ yards out. Odds are, Dominic Zvada won’t get drafted until Day 3 of the NFL Draft, but if any kicker gets selected in ‘26 it’ll be the Wolverine kicker.
Brett Thorson, P, Georgia
