In this episode of Locked On NBA Big Board, Rafael and James Barlowe dive into the big decision looming for Washington State’s Cedric Coward. Despite being limited to just six games due to a shoulder injury, Coward has generated real first-round buzz thanks to his intriguing blend of positional size and shooting ability. NBA scouts have taken notice—but so have college powerhouses. Programs like Duke, Alabama, and national champion Florida have reportedly reached out, and Coward is rumored to be...
Apr 17, 2025•34 min•Ep. 309
In this episode of Locked On NBA Big Board, brothers Rafael and James Barlowe dive into the stay-or-go dilemma facing Arizona freshman Carter Bryant. Despite modest averages of six points and four rebounds per game, Bryant remains on NBA radars due to his impressive physical profile and defensive potential. The conversation explores whether that upside is enough to warrant a first-round selection or if he’d be better served returning to Tucson, especially with the rise of lucrative NIL deals tha...
Apr 16, 2025•35 min•Ep. 308
In this episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board podcast, Krysten Peek sits down for exclusive one-on-one interviews with five standout prospects from the 2025 Nike Hoop Summit—offering an early look at players expected to make noise in the 2026 NBA Draft cycle. Krysten speaks with Nate Ament about his rapid rise up the rankings and remaining uncommitted. She talks to Mikel Brown Jr. about his performance throughout the week and his recruiting pitch to Ament. Darius Acuff discusses his commitment ...
Apr 16, 2025•29 min•Ep. 307
In this episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board, host Rafael Barlowe is joined by Krysten Peek to recap the 2025 Nike Hoop Summit. Krysten was live in Portland for the event, attending practices throughout the week and offering inside scoop on which prospects impressed behind the scenes. She explains why what happens in practice often carries more weight than the actual game and shares her thoughts on the players who stood out the most. From standout performances to under-the-radar names that cau...
Apr 15, 2025•36 min•Ep. 306
On this episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board Podcast, James Barlowe joins his brother and host Rafael Barlowe to spotlight a group of under-the-radar prospects he believes the scouting community needs to take a closer look at. James makes the case for Stanford’s Maxime Reynaud, Chinese big man Hansen Yang, California sophomore Andrej Stojakovic, and Penn State’s Yanic Konan Niederhauser—four names flying under the mainstream radar but showing flashes of NBA intrigue. From Reynaud’s touch and s...
Apr 15, 2025•36 min•Ep. 305
In this episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board Podcast, Rafael Barlowe continues his “Eye Test vs. The Numbers” series with a deep dive on Rutgers freshman and potential top 3 pick Ace Bailey. In the first segment, Barlowe shares his personal scouting notes, highlighting what stands out on film. In the second segment, he compares those observations with the analytics—breaking down Bailey’s shot selection, shooting efficiency, and finishing at the rim, using Synergy data. Finally, Barlowe outline...
Apr 09, 2025•28 min•Ep. 304
In a recent episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board Podcast, hosts James Barlowe and Leif Thulin delved into Leif's Big Board 1.0, released shortly after the Final Four. They provided in-depth analysis of several top prospects, including Cooper Flagg, Tre Johnson, Derik Queen, and Thomas Haugh. #NBADraft #LockedOnNBABigBoard #NBADraft2025 #CooperFlagg #TreJohnson #DerikQueen #ThomasHaugh #CollegeBasketball #FinalFour #DraftBoard #BigBoard1_0 #DraftStock #MarchMadness #FutureStars #BasketballPros...
Apr 08, 2025•35 min•Ep. 303
In this episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board Podcast, host Rafael Barlowe initiates his "Eye Test vs. The Numbers" series by focusing on Rutgers freshman Dylan Harper. Barlowe presents his personal scouting insights on Harper's performance, then examines whether statistical analytics align with his observations. The discussion delves into Harper's shooting efficiency and finishing abilities, comparing subjective assessments with objective data. Barlowe also identifies key areas where Harper c...
Apr 03, 2025•24 min•Ep. 302
In the latest episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board Podcast, hosts Rafael and James Barlowe share their firsthand insights from attending the 2025 McDonald's All-American Game in Brooklyn. They provide in-depth evaluations of top prospects for the 2026 NBA Draft, including AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, and Cameron Boozer, discussing their performances and potential impacts. Additionally, the Barlowe brothers highlight other standout players who caught their attention during the practice session...
Apr 02, 2025•34 min•Ep. 301
In a recent episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board Podcast, host Rafael Barlowe welcomed analyst Leif Thulin to discuss three standout players who significantly boosted their draft stock during the Elite Eight. Thulin began by expressing his long-standing belief in Thomas Haugh as a first-round talent, noting that Haugh's impressive NCAA tournament performance has garnered increased attention from NBA scouts. The conversation then shifted to Duke's Kon Knueppel, whose stellar play in the tournam...
Mar 31, 2025•27 min•Ep. 300
In this episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board Podcast, Rafael and James Barlowe continue their SWEET 16 X-FACTORS series with a breakdown of the Texas Tech vs. Arkansas matchup, where unpredictability defines the Razorbacks. They spotlight Arkansas’ trio of freshmen—Billy Richmond, Karter Knox, and Boogie Fland—as potential X-factors, noting their up-and-down seasons and the likelihood that one could swing the game with a breakout performance. On the Texas Tech side, while JT Toppin remains the...
Mar 27, 2025•23 min•Ep. 299
In Part 2 of the SWEET 16 X-FACTORS series, Rafael and James Barlowe turn their attention to the highly anticipated Duke vs. Arizona matchup, spotlighting the NBA prospects who could tilt the outcome and shift their draft stock. The episode opens with Arizona freshman Carter Bryant, who faces a tough challenge defending projected No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg, and then transitions to Duke’s Tyrese Proctor, whose hot shooting has fueled the Blue Devils through the first two rounds. They also break down...
Mar 27, 2025•30 min•Ep. 298
In the latest episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board Podcast, hosts Rafael and James Barlowe dive into the potential X-factors in today’s Sweet 16 matchups, spotlighting NBA prospects who could swing games—and their draft narratives—with strong performances. The duo breaks down key players like Grant Nelson and Egor Demin from the BYU vs. Alabama clash, along with Walter Clayton Jr., Alex Condon, and Derik Queen from Maryland vs. Florida. It’s a look at which prospects could elevate their stock ...
Mar 27, 2025•31 min•Ep. 297
In this episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board Podcast, Rafael Barlowe and Krysten Peek highlight the prospects who’ve helped themselves the most with strong showings through the first two rounds of the 2025 NCAA Tournament. Krysten breaks down why Derik Queen’s clutch play and offensive versatility have caught scouts’ attention, while Jeremiah Fears has impressed with his dynamic shot creation and confidence on the ball. Tyrese Proctor’s lights-out shooting, Nique Clifford’s two-way impact, and...
Mar 25, 2025•36 min•Ep. 296
In this episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board podcast, Rafael Barlowe, James Barlowe, and Leif Thulin continue their deep dive into the 2025 NCAA Tournament with a more conversational breakdown of prospect performances. The trio opens with Kasparas Jakucionis, expressing concern over his inability to turn the corner against quality defenders and his turnover issues—raising doubts about his lottery status. They draw comparisons to Egor Demin, who answered pre-tournament questions with a strong s...
Mar 24, 2025•37 min•Ep. 295
In this episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board podcast, Rafael Barlowe is joined by James Barlowe and Leif Thulin to break down the biggest NBA Draft takeaways from the opening weekend of the 2025 NCAA Tournament. The trio opens by comparing where their brackets stand before diving into Derik Queen’s clutch game-winner and how his performance impacts his draft stock. They then shift to Cooper Flagg’s impressive return from injury, noting how comfortable and dominant he looked despite the layoff....
Mar 24, 2025•29 min•Ep. 294
In this episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board podcast, Rafael Barlowe and Krysten Peek break down the top NBA draft prospects in the Midwest region, the final region covered ahead of the 2025 NCAA Tournament. They start with Georgia’s Asa Newell before diving into a fascinating hypothetical—how would the star-studded Montverde Academy squad featuring Newell, Cooper Flagg, Derik Queen, and Liam McNeeley fare if they were competing in the NCAA Tournament? The discussion then shifts to Illinois fr...
Mar 20, 2025•34 min•Ep. 293
In this episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board podcast, Rafael Barlowe and Leif Thulin break down the top NBA prospects in the South region of the 2025 NCAA Tournament, analyzing how strong performances could impact their draft stock. Leif starts by making the case for Michigan State freshman Jase Richardson as the top prospect in the region, comparing him to a younger version of Marquette’s Kam Jones. The discussion then shifts to the anticipated matchup between Jones and New Mexico’s Donovan D...
Mar 20, 2025•36 min•Ep. 292
In this episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board podcast, Rafael Barlowe and Richard Stayman break down the top NBA draft prospects in the East region of the 2025 NCAA Tournament and how strong performances could boost their draft stock. They kick things off with Duke, discussing Cooper Flagg’s ankle injury and how his health could impact both Duke’s title hopes and the tournament as a whole. Flagg is expected to return for the first round, but the duo also evaluates Duke’s other NBA prospects, in...
Mar 20, 2025•30 min•Ep. 291
In this episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board podcast, Rafael and James Barlowe break down the top NBA prospects in the West region of the 2025 NCAA Tournament. The Barlowe Brothers discuss Florida’s Alex Condon and his rapid rise up draft boards, analyzing what has fueled his breakout season. They also highlight the intriguing 8-9 matchup between Oklahoma and UConn, where freshman guards Jeremiah Fears and Liam McNeely will look to make a statement. Another key battle features mid-major stando...
Mar 19, 2025•36 min•Ep. 290
In MARCH MADNESS: Biggest NBA Draft Takeaways and Prospect Showdowns from the 2025 NCAA Tournament, Part 2, the Locked On NBA Big Board team—Rafael Barlowe, James Barlowe, Leif Thulin, and Richard Stayman—continue breaking down the biggest NBA Draft storylines from the tournament field. They analyze key first-round matchups, highlight potential breakout prospects, and discuss which players need a strong tournament to maintain their draft stock. The crew also makes their Final Four predictions, s...
Mar 17, 2025•37 min•Ep. 289
In Part 1 of this two-part series, the Locked On NBA Big Board team—Rafael Barlowe, James Barlowe, Leif Thulin, and Richard Stayman—shared their biggest NBA Draft takeaways from the 2025 NCAA Tournament field. They broke down some of the most intriguing NBA Draft matchups in the first round and potential prospect battles in the second round. The crew also discussed a possible Arkansas vs. Kansas showdown and which program faces more pressure to win. Additionally, they touched on Duke’s Cooper Fl...
Mar 17, 2025•34 min•Ep. 288
On the latest Locked On NBA Big Board Podcast, Rafael Barlowe and Leif Thulin break down the standout performances from Wednesday and Thursday's NCAA Conference Tournament action. They discuss Jeremiah Fears’ back-to-back strong showings in the SEC Tournament and how his stock is rising. The duo also dives into Cooper Flagg’s ankle injury, debating whether Duke should sit him until the Round of 32, and how his absence could expand Kon Knueppel’s role, especially after his impressive game against...
Mar 14, 2025•37 min•Ep. 287
In Rookie Watch Volume 12 of the Locked On NBA Big Board Podcast, hosts Rafael and James Barlowe revisit their thoughts on the 2024 NBA Draft class, which was widely considered weak. They discuss whether their perception has changed and highlight some standout rookies. Stephon Castle headlines the conversation as the front-runner for Rookie of the Year. The Barlowe brothers then turn their attention to Memphis Grizzlies rookie Jaylen Wells, who, as a second-round pick, has far exceeded expectati...
Mar 13, 2025•36 min•Ep. 286
In this episode of Locked On NBA Big Board, host Rafael Barlowe breaks down six former top prospects—Dillon Mitchell, DJ Wagner, Riley Kugel, Aday Mara, Aaron Bradshaw, and Baba Miller—who entered college with first-round NBA expectations but have struggled to maintain their draft stock. With March Madness and conference tournaments offering a final opportunity to impress NBA scouts, Barlowe analyzes what went wrong for each player, where they stand now, and what they need to do in postseason pl...
Mar 12, 2025•32 min•Ep. 285
In this episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board podcast, Rafael and James Barlowe break down five prospects whose draft stock is soaring as they head into their respective conference tournaments. The Barlowe brothers start with Michigan State freshman Jase Richardson, who has turned heads with his recent play. They then dive into Florida big man Alex Condon, who Rafael believes is the fastest-rising prospect in the country. The discussion shifts to VJ Edgecombe, who has worked his way back into h...
Mar 10, 2025•36 min•Ep. 284
In this episode of Locked On NBA Big Board, brothers Rafael and James Barlowe debate the potential battle for the No. 3 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft between Rutgers freshman Ace Bailey and Texas freshman Tre Johnson. They discuss why many scouts view Bailey as a near-lock at No. 3, citing his elite upside if he puts it all together, but also acknowledging his inconsistencies. In contrast, Johnson has been more efficient and productive, showcasing better playmaking and shot-making, even if he lacks...
Mar 08, 2025•35 min•Ep. 283
In this episode of Locked On NBA Big Board, host Rafael Barlowe revisits his Big Board 1.0 and evaluates whether his preseason concerns about the top prospects were answered during the 2024-25 season. Did Cooper Flagg prove he could carry an offense? Has Dylan Harper’s shooting improved? Is Ace Bailey’s decision-making a concern? Rafael breaks down his early projections for projected lottery picks like VJ Edgecombe, Nolan Traore, and more—analyzing who lived up to expectations, who exceeded them...
Mar 07, 2025•33 min•Ep. 282
On the latest Locked On NBA Big Board podcast, Rafael Barlowe tackles a range of 2025 NBA Draft questions from his inbox, offering insight on team needs, player fits, and draft stock movement. He breaks down the Dallas Mavericks' draft outlook following Kyrie Irving’s season-ending ACL injury, which has shifted their focus from contending to potentially landing in the lottery for the second time in three years. Barlowe explores possible options for Dallas and how they might approach the draft. H...
Mar 05, 2025•32 min•Ep. 281
In this episode of Locked On NBA Big Board, host Rafael Barlowe is joined by Richard Stayman, who shares his list of prospects he’s higher on than the consensus. After Barlowe gave his list last week, it’s Stayman’s turn to explain why he’s bullish on certain players heading into the draft. He breaks down the strengths and upside of Yaxel Lendeborg, Max Shulga, Asa Newell, Boogie Fland, and Payton Sandfort, detailing what separates them from the pack. Stayman also delivers a shocking take, revea...
Mar 01, 2025•36 min•Ep. 280
