For fans, March Madness is the time of the year when they get to fill out their NCAA Tournament brackets. For players, it’s a time to go dancing. But for scouts, it’s a major checkpoint in the season, the NBA Draft getting ever closer.
Before then, let’s take a look at one of the players whose teams will have a chance to win an NCAA Championship this year: Colorado State fifth-year senior Nique Clifford.
2025 NBA Draft: Nique Clifford Scouting Report
At 6-foot-6 and 200 pounds, Clifford is a smooth and gifted wing with a wide array of skills.
In 2024-25, the 23-year-old has averaged career-highs of 19.0 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 4.4 assists in 35.3 minutes per game. He also added 1.2 steals and 0.6 blocks per game, though both of those numbers were down from last season. Additionally, Clifford was efficient, converting 50.7 percent of his field goal attempts and 39.8 percent of his 3-point attempts. It was his second straight season shooting at least 50 percent from the floor and 37 percent from 3.
In terms of more advanced metrics, he recorded an offensive rating of 119.4, a defensive rating of 95.5 and a box plus-minus of 11.2 while having a 27.7 percent usage rate.
2025 “Swiss Army Knife” Nique Clifford 6’6 Forward
Comp: Jumbo Brandin Podziemski/Keldon Johnson + Christian Braun
Pros (percentile per 40):
-Mid range (94th)
-Rebounding (90th+ Reb)
-Playmaking (92th APG)
-Efficiency (88th TS%)
-Defender (96th in Stops)Cons:
-Age (5th Year)… pic.twitter.com/MdT7uJ7zg5— DraftCasual (@DraftCasual) March 19, 2025
Just looking at the numbers, Clifford can make his presence felt in myriad ways. However, because he’s a late bloomer, his stats will generate even more skepticism than normal. Only his career rebounding average (5.9 per game) and 3-point percentage (.372) have truly been consistent. Thus, the film is that much more important.
That being said, he truly does look like a good player.
Nique Clifford dropped 36 points on 18 shots to help Colorado State pick up a key road win at Boise State. The versatile 6-foot-6 super senior is shooting 39% from three on career-high volume this season. pic.twitter.com/edWMN7otqG
— Jacob Myers (@League_Him) March 8, 2025
Clifford excels at getting to the rim, where his touch and body control are quite impressive, but he isn’t afraid to knock down a tough jumper. He can score off of and pass out of post-ups. He can even playmake out of the pick-and-roll. Though his lack of explosiveness could make it more difficult for him to score at the next level, he knows how to exploit smaller matchups and use his natural athleticism to his advantage.
At the defensive end, he’s active and using his length to his advantage. He rebounds well not because he’s the biggest guy on the floor but because he’s tenacious.
It’s difficult to name an exact 1:1 comparison for Clifford. However, on the low end, he has shades of Cleveland Cavaliers rookie Jaylon Tyson’s game. Tyson notably spent three years in college, his best season by far coming as a junior. A more high-end comparison is Atlanta Hawks veteran Caris LeVert. LeVert spent four seasons at Michigan before being drafted 20th overall, like Tyson.
A Hidden Gem?
When might Clifford be drafted? The importance of wing players at the NBA level already adds to Clifford’s value. However, his efficiency and multifaceted game gives him a leg up on many of the prospects at his position.
The only other wing prospects averaging at least 17 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists per game while shooting at 36 percent 3 in 2024-25? Duke freshman Cooper Flagg and Washington State senior Cedric Coward.
© Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
