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Matt Able showed enough as a freshman at NC State to put himself on the NBA radar, and a strong pre draft process only added to the intrigue before he ultimately returned to college. Now the sophomore transfers across the state to North Carolina, where he'll play for former NBA championship coach Mike Malone and have an opportunity to turn last year's flashes into consistent production. Rafael and James break down Able's strengths, concerns and NBA projection, while James explains why he's particularly high on the UNC sophomore and believes the consensus may be significantly underrating him entering the season.  Could Matt Able become one of the biggest breakout prospects in the 2027 NBA Draft? #MattAble #UNC #UNCBasketball #TarHeels #GoHeels #CarolinaBasketball #2027NBADraft #NBADraft #NBADraft2027 #NBADraftJunkies #NBAProspects #NBADraftProspects #NBAScouting #MikeMalone #NCState #CollegeBasketball #CollegeHoops #ACCBasketball #BasketballScouting #NBADraftAnalysis #DraftProspects

It's Mailbag Wednesday, which means you control the conversation. Rafael and James take questions live from the audience while discussing some of the biggest topics across the basketball world, including early NBA Rookie of the Year candidates, what to make of the wide open 2027 NBA Draft and whether comparisons to the 2024 class are actually fair. They'll also preview the upcoming Border League in Las Vegas, where many of the country's top high school teams and prospects will give scouts an early look at what they've added to their games, and break down some of the measurements and takeaways from the OTE Combine. Prospects, rankings, scouting, high school hoops and NBA questions...It's all on the table.

Hugo Yimga entered the season as one of the most intriguing international prospects in the 2027 NBA Draft, but what makes his development particularly interesting is how much his game continues to change. Once viewed largely through the lens of his physical tools, athleticism and defensive potential, Yimga has steadily added more skill to his offensive game. One of the biggest developments has been his shooting. After previously being viewed as a non-shooter, Yimga made a major jump as a 17 year-old professional, connecting on around 40% of his three point attempts. A strong performance this past weekend provided glimpses of offensive skill and versatility that haven't always been associated with Yimga's game. In this episode, Rafael and James break down Yimga's strengths, weaknesses, shooting development, expanding offensive game and overall NBA projection.  If he continues adding new dimensions to his game, how high could his NBA Draft stock eventually climb? #HugoYimga #2027NBADraft #NBADraft #NBADraft2027 #NBADraftJunkies #NBAProspects #NBADraftProspects #NBAScouting #InternationalProspects #InternationalBasketball #FranceBasketball #FrenchBasketball #BasketballFrance #EuropeanBasketball #DraftProspects #NBADraftInternational #BasketballScouting #NBADraftAnalysis #NBAFuture #FrenchProspects

The NBA season is officially getting underway, and Media Day gave us plenty to talk about. Rafael and James break down the latest Jalen Duren saga, including his absence from Pistons Media Day, Detroit's desire to keep him and reports of teams potentially exploring sign-and-trade possibilities.  They also discuss the surprising news that Brandon Ingram underwent heel surgery and was found to have a partially torn Achilles, which will delay his Clippers debut following the Kawhi Leonard trade. Then it's time for some of the lighter Media Day storylines: baldy Lebron, which players showed up looking like they spent the entire offseason in the weight room, and what should we make of Ja Morant potentially coming off the bench for a crowded Portland backcourt?  #NBA #NBAMediaDay #NBAMediaDay2026 #NBADraftJunkies #JalenDuren #DetroitPistons #Pistons #TrajanLangdon #BrandonIngram #LAClippers #JaMorant #TrailBlazers #RipCity #KawhiLeonard #NBAOffseason #NBASeason #NBANews #Basketball #NBAUpdates

Rob Dillingham is headed back home to North Carolina, but this could be much more than a homecoming. After beginning his career in Minnesota and being traded to Chicago during his second season, the former No. 8 overall pick now gets another fresh start as he approaches a critical third NBA season.  NBA In this emergency episode, Rafael and James discuss whether Charlotte is finally the right situation for Dillingham to showcase the  creativity that made him a lottery pick. They also examine what the move means for Charlotte's young backcourt, particularly 2026 first-round pick Christian Anderson, and whether Dillingham will actually receive the minutes and freedom necessary to establish himself as an NBA rotation guard.  #RobDillingham #CharlotteHornets #Hornets #BuzzCity #ChicagoBulls #Timberwolves #KentuckyBasketball #BBN #ChristianAnderson #NBA #NBATrade #NBAYoungCore #NBADraft #NBADraftJunkies #NBADraftProspects #NBAScouting #Basketball #NBANews

It’s time for another NBA Draft Junkies Friday Rundown, where Rafael and James step outside the usual one-prospect format to cover some of the biggest stories from across the basketball world. This week, the conversation starts in the NBA with Jalen Duren betting on himself after reportedly turning down a massive extension from Detroit. What is Duren ultimately worth, and how much money is he risking by waiting? The guys also discuss Kawhi Leonard and Toronto, what the move means for the Raptors in the Eastern Conference and whether betting on Kawhi’s health is worth the potential upside. From there, the show shifts to college basketball and the NBA Draft, where Miikka Muurinen has finally been declared eligible at Arkansas. His situation opens up a larger conversation about the changing pathway for international prospects, as the lines between European professional basketball, NIL and the NCAA continue to blur. Rafael and James also discuss the controversy surrounding Rivals offering paid prospect evaluations and ranking consideration, including the backlash over whether families should have to spend hundreds of dollars simply to get their film evaluated and potentially put themselves on the recruiting radar. Finally, it’s time to hit the recruiting trail. Beckham Black, Jordan Page and other highly regarded prospects are making important college visits as the next wave of recruiting begins to take shape. And we'll finish with a quick hit on Cooper Flagg, who says he's grown again, and what additional size could mean for an already unique young NBA talent. From NBA contracts to the NBA Draft, college basketball, international prospects, grassroots recruiting and everything in between, this is the NBA Draft Junkies Friday Rundown.

Stefan Joksimović enters this season with a reputation as the top international prospect in the 2027 NBA Draft. The question now is whether he'll actually get the opportunity to show why. After a strong summer representing Slovenia at the FIBA U18 European Championship, Joksimović returned to Baskonia with significant NBA Draft expectations. But early in the season, his minutes have been limited, creating an interesting evaluation dilemma for NBA scouts. In this episode, Rafael and James break down Joksimović's game, what made him stand out this summer and why he's viewed as one of the premier international talents in the class.  They also discuss his situation at Baskonia, whether consistent playing time will eventually come and how scouts should evaluate a young prospect competing for minutes at one of Europe's highest levels. Ultimately, the question is simple: Joksimović has the reputation. Will he get enough opportunity this season to prove he deserves it? #StefanJoksimovic #2027NBADraft #NBADraft #NBADraft2027 #NBADraftJunkies #NBADraftProspects #NBAProspects #NBAScouting #InternationalProspects #InternationalBasketball #SloveniaBasketball #Slovenia #Baskonia #EuroLeague #LigaEndesa #ACB #FIBAU18 #FIBA #EuropeanBasketball #DraftProspects #BasketballScouting #NBADraftAnalysis

Tonight is all about your questions. Rafael and James are going LIVE on YouTube and Facebook for an NBA Draft Junkies Mailbag, taking questions directly from the audience about the 2027 NBA Draft and more. Which prospects are we too high or too low on? Who are the potential sleepers? Which returning players could make a major jump? Which freshmen could emerge as lottery picks? And who belongs in the conversation at the top of the draft? There’s no set prospect tonight. You control the conversation. Drop your questions in the live chat, give us your takes, challenge our evaluations and tell us which prospects you want to discuss. Rafael and James will be reading comments and answering questions throughout the show. If you love talking NBA Draft, scouting and prospects, pull up and join the conversation. #NBADraftJunkies #2027NBADraft #NBADraft #NBADraft2027 #NBADraftMailbag #NBADraftLive #NBAProspects #NBADraftProspects #NBAScouting #DraftProspects #NBADraftTalk #NBADraftAnalysis #CollegeBasketball #CollegeHoops #BasketballScouting #NBADraftQandA

Colben Landrew arrives at UConn as a consensus five-star recruit with a decorated résumé from Wheeler High School in Georgia, one of the country's most respected high school basketball programs. Now he steps into a UConn program loaded with talent and potential NBA prospects, creating one of the more interesting situations to follow in the 2027 NBA Draft. The question isn't simply whether Landrew is talented enough. It's how quickly can he separate himself on a roster where touches, minutes and opportunities may have to be earned? In this episode of NBA Draft Junkies Live, Rafael and James break down what makes Landrew intriguing as an NBA prospect, what they want to see from him as a freshman and whether he has the game to emerge as a one-and-done candidate. #ColbenLandrew #UConn #UConnBasketball #UConnMBB #Huskies #UConnHuskies #BleedBlue #WheelerBasketball #WheelerHighSchool #2027NBADraft #NBADraft #NBADraft2027 #NBADraftJunkies #NBADraftProspects #NBAProspects #NBAScouting #OneAndDone #NBADraftLottery #CollegeBasketball #CollegeHoops #BigEastBasketball #BasketballScouting #NBADraftAnalysis

Dash Daniels has been on the NBA radar for years. The younger brother of Atlanta Hawks guard and former lottery pick Dyson Daniels, Dash has built his own reputation as a high-level defender with excellent size, instincts and feel for the game. His ability to defend multiple positions, rebound, make the extra pass and impact games without dominating the basketball has always made him an intriguing NBA prospect. But the biggest question surrounding Daniels has consistently been on the other end of the floor: How much offense is there? Early this season, we may be starting to get an answer. In this episode of NBA Draft Junkies Live, Rafael and James revisit their previous evaluations of Daniels, break down what has looked different about his offensive game and discuss how much weight should be placed on his hot start. Is the improved shooting sustainable? Is his increased offensive aggression a sign of legitimate development? And how much could his NBA Draft stock change if teams begin to believe he can consistently provide value on both ends of the floor? Because with Dash Daniels, the defense was never really the question. If the shooting and offensive confidence we're seeing early this season are legitimate developments rather than a temporary hot streak, we could be looking at a very different prospect than the one we thought we knew entering the year. So the question for this episode is simple: Do we believe in the Dash Daniels breakout, or are we getting ahead of ourselves after a small sample size? #DashDaniels #2027NBADraft #NBADraft #NBADraft2027 #NBADraftJunkies #NBADraftProspects #NBAProspects #NBAScouting #NBL #NBL27 #NextStars #SouthEastMelbournePhoenix #SEMelbournePhoenix #DysonDaniels #AustralianBasketball #BasketballAustralia #InternationalBasketball #DraftProspects #BasketballScouting #NBADraftAnalysis

We're switching things up on Fridays. Instead of focusing on one NBA Draft prospect, Rafael and James take a trip around the basketball world to discuss the biggest stories from the week across the NBA, college basketball, recruiting, the NBA Draft and international basketball. This week's show starts with some serious money being handed out around the NBA. Keyonte George, the No. 16 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, agreed to a five-year, $157.5 million extension with Utah  and Ausar Thompson, the No. 5 pick in that same draft, agreed to a five-year, $155 million extension with Detroit.  And the money wasn't limited to former lottery picks. Pelle Larsson, who wasn't selected until No. 44 in the 2024 NBA Draft, reportedly agreed to a four-year, $60 million extension with Miami.  That gives us an opportunity to revisit some of these players as prospects and talk about what their development—and their contracts—can teach us about evaluating players before they reach the NBA. We'll also look at what's next for other members of the 2023 NBA Draft class, hit the latest college recruiting news including Antonio Pemberton's commitment to Michigan State and finish by going around the world for some of the international performances and prospects worth paying attention to.   #NBADraftJunkies #FridayRundown #NBA #NBADraft #2027NBADraft #CollegeBasketball #CollegeHoops #BasketballRecruiting #HighSchoolBasketball #InternationalBasketball #KeyonteGeorge #AusarThompson #PelleLarsson #MichiganStateBasketball #BasketballNews #NBAProspects

Neoklis Avdalas entered his freshman season at Virginia Tech as a prospect Rafael and James were extremely high on, largely because there just aren't many players his size who can do some of the things he can do with the basketball.  But his freshman season wasn't always smooth. Avdalas averaged 12 points and 4.6 assists per game, showing plenty of flashes while also dealing with the inconsistencies that can come with adjusting to college basketball. Now he gets a fresh start at North Carolina. In this episode, Rafael and James revisit why they were so high on Avdalas entering college, what they learned from his freshman season and what they need to see from him in Year 2.  Most importantly, they discuss whether North Carolina and Michael Malone can finally unlock enough of Avdalas' untapped potential to put him firmly back on the NBA Draft radar.   #NeoklisAvdalas #UNC #UNCBasketball #TarHeels #CarolinaBasketball #GoHeels #MichaelMalone #2027NBADraft #NBADraft #NBADraft2027 #NBADraftJunkies #NBADraftProspects #NBAProspects #NBAScouting #DraftProspects #CollegeBasketball #CollegeHoops #ACCBasketball #BasketballScouting #NBADraftAnalysis

Tonight is all about your questions. Rafael and James are going LIVE on YouTube and Facebook for an NBA Draft Junkies Mailbag, taking questions directly from the audience about the 2027 NBA Draft and more. Which prospects are we too high or too low on? Who are the potential sleepers? Which returning players could make a major jump? Which freshmen could emerge as lottery picks? And who belongs in the conversation at the top of the draft? There’s no set prospect tonight. You control the conversation. Drop your questions in the live chat, give us your takes, challenge our evaluations and tell us which prospects you want to discuss. Rafael and James will be reading comments and answering questions throughout the show. If you love talking NBA Draft, scouting and prospects, pull up and join the conversation.

Tounde Yessoufou entered college with plenty of expectations as a McDonald’s All-American, and it didn't take long for him to establish himself as one of the country's most productive freshmen. Yessoufou averaged 17.8 points per game at Baylor and set the program's freshman single-season scoring record, showing the physicality, athleticism and scoring ability that had made him such a highly regarded prospect coming out of high school. But instead of making the jump to the NBA, Yessoufou is returning to college and beginning a new chapter at St. John’s. After becoming one of the most coveted players in the transfer portal, he'll now have an opportunity to build on an already productive freshman season while showing scouts that there are additional layers to his game. That's what makes his sophomore season particularly interesting from an NBA Draft perspective. We already know Yessoufou can score and physically compete at the college level. So what does he need to show now? Can he become a more consistent shooter? Can he improve as a decision-maker and creator? Can he impact games when the ball isn't in his hands? And can he turn another year of college basketball into a significant jump in his NBA Draft stock? In this episode of NBA Draft Junkies Live, Rafael and James break down Yessoufou's freshman season at Baylor, his scouting profile, his move to St. John’s and what they want to see from him as a sophomore. They also discuss one of the bigger questions surrounding returning prospects: When you've already been one of the most productive young players in college basketball, how much can coming back to school actually change the way NBA teams evaluate you?   #ToundeYessoufou #StJohnsBasketball #StJohns #RedStorm #SJUBasketball #BaylorBasketball #2027NBADraft #NBADraft #NBADraft2027 #NBADraftJunkies #NBADraftProspects #NBAScouting #NBAProspects #DraftProspects #CollegeBasketball #CollegeHoops #BigEastBasketball #McDonaldsAllAmerican #TransferPortal #BasketballScouting #NBADraftAnalysis

North Carolina freshman Sayon Keita enters the 2026–27 season as one of the more intriguing young big men to watch in the 2027 NBA Draft. The seven-footer from Mali arrives in Chapel Hill after developing in FC Barcelona’s youth system, where he was able to gain valuable experience in one of the best developmental environments in European basketball, including opportunities around Barcelona’s senior team and minutes against professional competition. What makes Keita especially interesting from an NBA Draft perspective is the combination of size, youth, experience and long-term upside. He will still be only 19 years old around the time of the 2027 NBA Draft, giving teams plenty of developmental runway. And in a draft class that could be relatively thin when it comes to first-round centers, Keita may not have to become the most productive big man in college basketball to establish himself as one of the most coveted center prospects in the class. In this episode, Rafael and James break down Keita's background and scouting profile, what his experience in Barcelona could mean for his transition to college basketball, the areas of his game that still need development and what a successful freshman season at North Carolina should look like. They also tackle the bigger NBA Draft questions: Could Sayon Keita be the first center selected in the 2027 NBA Draft? Does he have legitimate lottery upside? And how much production will he actually need at North Carolina for NBA teams to bet on his youth, physical tools and long-term potential?   #SayonKeita #UNCBasketball #UNC #TarHeels #CarolinaBasketball #GoHeels #2027NBADraft #NBADraft #NBADraft2027 #NBADraftJunkies #NBADraftProspects #NBAScouting #NBAProspects #DraftProspects #NBADraftLottery #CollegeBasketball #CollegeHoops #ACCBasketball #FCBarcelona #BarcelonaBasketball #EuroLeague #ACB #BasketballScouting #NBADraftAnalysis #NBADraftBigs