Class of 2025 Prospects to Look Out For
In this article:
we will be looking at the advanced skills level of these young prospects from the class of 2025, highlighting the tools and skills that have led them to the success they’ve garnished so far! Each of these players is making…
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Continue Readingwe will be looking at the advanced skills level of these young prospects from the class of 2025, highlighting the tools and skills that have led them to the success they’ve garnished so far! Each of these players is making a ton of noise in their own respective way and will continue to be making a lot more noise as time moves on.
At 6’0″ Walker is a player who is able to play at his own pace. Equipped with lighting quick burst, the ability to go 0 to 100 back to 0 to blow by defenders and finish at the rim. He is rarely sped up and can maintain focus and stay calm against double teams which he is often able to make a play out of. Walker can hit 3-pointers at a consistent rate with a high release point making it difficult for smaller guards to contest. He has great court vision; always seeing the cutters and hitting the bullseye with the pass. Walker thrives on getting his paint touches and making a play out of the collapsed defense.
The 6’3″ Combo Guard can knife through defenses with great decision-making and body control to finish at the rim. Using a combination of touch and strength when attacking, Pacheco can put a ton of pressure on the rim for opposing defenses. He has a solid catch and shoot 3-pointer and has the ability to thrive just as much off-ball as on-ball due to his high-level IQ; relocating following a pass or identifying soft spots in the defense and cutting into them. Pacheco has the potential to be an elite playmaker due to his advanced reads and touch in his passes on dump-offs and kick-outs.
Highlights
At 6’10” as a freshman, McConnell towered over opponents but that is one of the smallest factors that allow him to stand out above other big men. McConnell has good instincts and timing as well as great length obviously. He can be just as explosive on the defensive end as on the offensive end. He has the ability to defend moving backward while containing drives and contesting shots at the rim for the quicker players who try to test his rim protection by attacking. He can effectively jump straight up to contest shots out of a back peddle which will be huge for the next level. McConnell also has the ability to quickly recover on defense. He can jump multiple times in a row to fight for rebounds, loose balls, or recover from shot fakes. McConnell can stretch the floor and knock down long-range jumpers, and look comfortable while doing so making him a matchup nightmare. He puts his physical tools to use when playing with his back to the basket. He can beat you with pure strength or he can shake you off of his back with his great footwork and quick flipping hips.
The 5’8″ Point Guard operates with a very crafty handle, elite ability to switch direction on the dime, and the ability to create space on the perimeter with ease. Mallory also uses a variety of head fakes and look-offs in mid-dribble to freeze defenders in their tracks. He presents himself as a true Point Guard with an elite feel for the game, he is an advanced decision maker when he enters the paint and opens up options. Mallory is a great shooter and a threat from anywhere on the court due to his good consistent shooting form and the elevation he is able to get on his jumpers, he has the ability to hit tough shots within the flow of the offense or off the dribble in iso situations. He has an advanced floater game that will be an elite tool in his future. Mallory runs the PG position with great court vision and accuracy on his passes often delivering the ball right to the chest of his teammates for open shots. Mallory is an aggressive defender who can slide his feet with an extreme motor to mirror opposing ball handlers. He’s a fearless defender, someone unafraid to put their body on the line for the success of the team by using his quick feet to cut off opposing ball handlers off resulting in charge calls.
Richardson has the vision, IQ, and feel for the game to run the Point Forward position. He is adept at finding teammates while he’s on the move; Dump-off passes, transition offense, etc. He has an extremely quick first step which allows him to get to the rim in the blink of an eye, combined with his mix of strength and craft when attacking the rim, he will be a serious problem for any opposing defense. His ability to run the breaks and convert in transition is special, at 6’5″ Richardson is beating a lot of Point Guards down the court in fast break situations and has the elite athleticism and bounce to let defenders know to not jump when he explodes at the rim. On top of all of the rim pressure Richardson puts on defenses, he also has a reliable jumper with an extremely quick release making him one of the toughest matchups in the class of 2025.