On this episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board Podcast, Rafael Barlowe is joined by James Barlowe, who’s got an agenda to push: Derik Queen can be as good as Alperen Şengün. With Şengün earning his first All-Star nod in 2025 and leading the Houston Rockets to the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference, James believes Queen shares a similar offensive profile and playmaking IQ. The duo dives into a detailed comparison of Queen and Şengün’s pre-draft scouting notes, exploring how both were doubted for their defense but praised for their touch, feel, and interior craft. James lays out the blueprint for Queen’s NBA success, argues why the defense won’t be a death sentence if the roster is built right, and highlights how Şengün’s strong playoff debut — where he hasn’t been played off the floor like many feared — reinforces that belief. Plus, James closes the episode by naming his ideal landing spot for Derik Queen.

2:00 – James's agenda: Why he believes Derik Queen can be as good as Alperen Şengün
4:29 – Breaking down the concerns with Derik Queen’s game
10:25 – The Derik Queen and Alperen Şengün comparison
11:22 – Revisiting Alperen Şengün’s pre-draft scouting report
14:43 – Full breakdown of Derik Queen’s scouting profile
20:33 – Şengün’s playoff debut and how he's holding up defensively
26:10 – The blueprint for how to build around Derik Queen
28:00 – James’s pick for the best fit for Derik Queen in the 2025 NBA Draft

#DerikQueen #AlperenŞengün #NBAProspects #NBADraft2025 #DraftTalk #NBAComparisons #BigBoard #LockedOnNBA #NBAFutureStars #NBAScouting #BasketballBreakdown #NBADraftAnalysis #Şengün #DerikQueenScouting #DraftDayDebate #NBAOffense #NBAPlayoffs #HoustonRockets #DraftBlueprint #BasketballIQ #DraftSleeper #CenterComparison #NBAHotTakes #NBADraftPodcast #BasketballAgenda #NBAComparisonContent #PlaymakingBigs #NBAProspectWatch #RafaelBarlowe #JamesBarlowe #PushingTheAgenda

In this episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board Podcast, Rafael Barlowe is joined by Leif Thulin to spotlight the safest bets in the 2025 NBA Draft class — the prospects with the highest floors. Leif breaks down why he believes Duke’s Kon Knueppel, Rutgers’ Dylan Harper, Arizona’s Carter Bryant, and UConn’s Liam McNeeley project as reliable long-term pros. Things get especially interesting when Rafael and Leif dive into a spirited debate about McNeeley — while Leif views him as a steady, high-floor forward, Rafael pushes back, expressing concerns about McNeeley’s inconsistent shooting and defensive limitations. It's a floor-focused episode filled with thoughtful back-and-forth and a scout’s lens on safety in draft evaluations.

Timestamps:

1:54 – Kon Knueppel
6:33 – Dylan Harper
11:25 – Carter Bryant
18:56 – Liam McNeeley
Hashtags:

#NBADraft2025
#HighFloorProspects
#LockedOnNBABigBoard
#KonKnueppel
#DylanHarper
#CarterBryant
#LiamMcNeeley
#DraftTalk
#CollegeBasketballProspects
#NBAFutureStars

In this episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board Podcast, host Rafael Barlowe is joined by Leif Thulin for a deep dive into the top high-upside prospects in the 2025 NBA Draft class. The conversation centers around the players Leif believes have the highest ceilings, with in-depth breakdowns of Ace Bailey’s shot making, Derik Queen’s advanced skill set for a big, VJ Edgecombe’s two-way potential, and Jeremiah Fears’ dynamic scoring and playmaking tools. It’s a ceiling-focused episode spotlighting the names that could headline the 2025 draft with continued development.

Timestamps:

1:40 – Leif Thulin’s thoughts on the latest college basketball / NBA Draft news
6:05 – Ace Bailey
8:56 – Derik Queen
13:35 – VJ Edgecombe
20:56 – Jeremiah Fears

#NBADraft2025
#DraftCeilings
#AceBailey
#DerikQueen
#VJEdgecombe
#JeremiahFears
#LockedOnNBABigBoard
#NBADraftTalk
#CollegeBasketballProspects
#FutureNBAStars