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

Introducing GAME NIGHT: How Giannis Powered the Milwaukee Bucks to the NBA Cup Championship from Locked On NBA – Daily Podcast On The National Basketball Association.

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The Milwaukee Bucks are the NBA Cup champions after a huge game from Giannis Antetokounmpo. Can the Bucks build off this and emerge as one of the top teams in the league? Wes Goldberg and Tony East talk about what comes next for the Bucks, a flaw  the Oklahoma City Thunder need to address and the Denver Nuggets zeroing in on a trade deadline target.

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DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to [email protected].

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

In part one of a two-part series on the Locked On NBA Big Board Podcast, Leif Thulin breaks down his top 10 NBA prospects with Rafael Barlowe for the 2025 NBA Draft. Leif kicks things off with Cooper Flagg as his clear-cut number one pick, diving into why the versatile forward leads the pack. The conversation then pivots to Dylan Harper and whether his strong play could challenge Flagg for the top spot. In a surprising twist, Leif names Texas freshman Tre Johnson at number three, followed closely by Illinois' Kasparas Jakucionis at number four, showcasing their upside and fit for the next level. The episode closes with a discussion on Ace Bailey, where the Locked On duo analyze his immense potential, while also debating areas for improvement. Despite some differing views, both agree Bailey's talent is undeniable and worthy of big-time NBA hype.

Timestamps:

Cooper Flagg – 2:32
Dylan Harper – 7:03
Tre Johnson – 11:36
Kasparas Jakucionis – 14:46
Ace Bailey – 22:37

Introducing GAME NIGHT: How Jamal Murray Powered the Nuggets Past the Kings, Pistons Overtime Win vs Miami & Every NBA Game from Locked On NBA – Daily Podcast On The National Basketball Association.

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This episode of Locked On NBA Game Night covers several exciting NBA matchups, including the Denver Nuggets' comeback win against the Sacramento Kings, highlighted by Jamal Murray's clutch performance to help Nikola Jokic.

Nick Angstadt (@NickVanExit, Locked On Mavs) & Camille Davis (@CamilleMonae, Locked On Bucks) discuss the Detroit Pistons' overtime victory over the Miami Heat, featuring Tim Hardaway Jr.'s impressive scoring flurry. They analyze the Chicago Bulls' narrow win against the Toronto Raptors and touch on the Philadelphia 76ers' victory over the Charlotte Hornets despite key injuries. The episode also covers the Cleveland Cavaliers' dominant performance against the Brooklyn Nets and the Los Angeles Clippers' blowout win over the Utah Jazz. Throughout, the hosts provide insightful commentary on player performances, team strategies, and the impact of these games on the broader NBA landscape.

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DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to [email protected].

In the latest episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board podcast, hosts Rafael Barlowe and James Barlowe break down the standout performances from the weekend in college basketball. The episode kicks off with an in-depth discussion of Dylan Harper, who delivered a game-winning shot against Seton Hall in another strong performance. In the second segment, the spotlight shifts to his teammate Ace Bailey, who impressed with an efficient first half but struggled from the free-throw line.

Later, Rafael offers a heartfelt apology to James for previously questioning his ranking of Oklahoma freshman Jeremiah Fears at No. 7 on his most recent Big Board. After watching Fears’ recent play, Rafael admits he now sees why James has him as a top-10 prospect.

The hosts then pivot to Auburn’s Johni Broome, who put on a dominant display against Ohio State with a 21-point, 20-rebound performance. In the following segment, they discuss Liam McNeeley’s career-high 26-point effort in UConn’s big win over Gonzaga. Finally, the episode concludes with a breakdown of Illinois freshman Kasparas Jakucionis, who had a solid outing in Illinois’ loss to Tennessee. Despite an off-shooting night, Rafael and James highlight Jakucionis’ ability to still leave an impact on the game.

Podcast Timestamps
• Dylan Harper: 2:10
• Ace Bailey: 11:32
• Jeremiah Fears: 20:52
• Johni Broome: 26:49
• Liam McNeeley: 28:10
• Kasparas Jakucionis: 32:03

In this episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board Podcast, Richard Stayman joins host Rafael Barlowe to provide insights into his unpublished Big Board. Stayman highlights why he is higher than the consensus on Ben Saraf, Kam Jones, Jase Richardson, and Max Shulga, diving into their standout traits and potential as prospects. On the flip side, he explains his reservations about VJ Edgecombe, Egor Demin, and Nolan Traore, detailing areas where they fall short compared to their growing hype. The duo also touch on the ongoing race for the number-one overall pick, breaking down how top-tier prospects are jockeying for position in a loaded class.

Timestamps

The Race for No. 1 - 3:58
Ben Saraf - 6:36
VJ Edgecombe - 11:54
Egor Demin - 17:11
Kam Jones - 23:27
Nolan Traore - 26:55
Jase Richardson - 30:34
Max Shulga - 33:31

In the latest episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board Podcast, brothers Rafael and James Barlowe dive into James’ top five lead ball handlers for the 2025 NBA Draft, while exploring what defines a lead ball handler in today’s game. The list features Dylan Harper, Kasparas Jakucionis, Jeremiah Fears, Egor Demin, and Boogie Fland, with James sharing his detailed evaluations of each player’s strengths and potential. Rafael complements the discussion with insightful deep dives into analytics, offering advanced metrics and context for each prospect’s performance, while also highlighting areas for improvement. The Barlowe brothers provide a balanced, in-depth breakdown of this intriguing crop of future NBA lead guards.

Timestamps

Dylan Harper - 4:35
Kasparas Jakucionis - 11:54
Jeremiah Fears - 22:04
Egor Demin - 27:03
Boogie Fland -32:28