Mock Draft update: A newcomer in the top 5

It’s not late December, but if you’re a college basketball fan, this sure does feel like the holiday season. And your friends at Hoops HQ want to make sure you keep feeling that way. So today, it gives me great pleasure to announce that we have partnered with Visit San Antonio and the Hotel Valencia Riverwalk for a chance to win a trip to San Antonio for this year’s men’s semifinal and final on April 5 & 7. Free airfare, lodging and a stipend for game tickets could be yours — click here to enter the sweepstakes.*

Normally, if something sounds too good to be true, it is. In this case, it really is true. So sign up!

It’s our way of saying thank you for being part of the greatest college basketball community there is. And our editorial lineup today is loaded as usual. It includes a look at another gift coming our way — namely, the return of Dick Vitale to the microphone on Saturday. I texted with Dickie V on Tuesday to get the latest. We also have an inside look at the suddenly surging Maryland Terrapins as well as a profile of Baylor’s star freshman guard VJ Edgecombe, who will soon be coming to an NBA team near you. And yes, we have yet another submission from our outstanding new Betting Editor Justin Perri, who uses data from the analytics company ShotQuality to predict which teams will go hot (or cold) from three-point range in the coming weeks. Read, enjoy — and bet accordingly.

That’s a lot of hoopy goodness for you in a single email newsletter, but hey, you deserve it, don’t you? Have a great Wednesday, and thanks as always for your support of Hoops HQ. —Seth

2025 NBA Mock Draft: Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey Are the Top Picks

Welcome to the latest version of the Hoops HQ NBA mock draft. There has been a good degree of movement since our latest mock was published almost two months ago, but the story at the top is very much the same. Barring something really unforeseen, when the NBA holds its annual draft lottery in May, the winner will have secured the opportunity to select Cooper Flagg from Duke. Beyond that, there is still much to be decided. Here’s how we see the rest of the first round shaping up as of today.

Between the Lines

🏀 We are less than six weeks away from Selection Sunday. Repeat: less than six weeks. The closer we get to the Big Day, the more every game counts. The swings will be wild. So will the ride. Welcome to Hoops HQ's Bubble Watch.

🏀 Inside the ACC: Duke and UNC are on opposite trajectories, Clemson is inching closer to a Top 25 ranking and Virginia Tech is on a hot streak.

🏀 While March Madness favorites like Auburn and Duke dominate casual betting chatter, savvy bettors know value lies in the margins. Our Best Bets futures column maps out three long-term bets — with odds ripe for plucking — that align with sharp analytics, underappreciated résumés and tournament-tailored styles.

No. 8 Ohio State @ No. 1 UCLA: Led by superstar center Lauren Betts (20.2 points, 9.7 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game), UCLA (21-0) has a real shot to go undefeated this season. Outside of opening night against Louisville, the Bruins have won all of their games by double digits. They have a handful of tough matchups remaining on their schedule, beginning with this one. The Buckeyes are 20-1 with notable conference wins over Michigan, Maryland, Nebraska and Oregon over the past month. Can they pull off the massive upset? 9:30 p.m. ET on Peacock.

*NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. Open to legal residents of the 48 contiguous U.S./D.C., age 18+ (19+ in AL and NE, 21+ in MS). Void in AK, HI and where prohibited. Sweepstakes starts at 12:00:01 AM ET on 01/30/25; ends at 11:59:59 PM ET on 02/24/25. Total ARV of prize: $4,900. Odds of being selected a Finalist will depend on the total number of entries received. For full Official Rules, click here. Sponsor: 42-18 LLC, 1633 Broadway, 47th Floor, New York, New York 10019