{"id":168600,"date":"2025-12-02T17:52:55","date_gmt":"2025-12-02T22:52:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=168600"},"modified":"2025-12-02T17:52:55","modified_gmt":"2025-12-02T22:52:55","slug":"2025-acc-sec-challenge-who-are-the-top-nba-prospects-to-watch-in-the-32-team-event","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/12\/02\/2025-acc-sec-challenge-who-are-the-top-nba-prospects-to-watch-in-the-32-team-event\/","title":{"rendered":"2025 ACC\/SEC Challenge: Who Are The Top NBA Prospects To Watch In The 32 Team Event?"},"content":{"rendered":"

The 2025 ACC\/SEC Challenge<\/a> features some of the nation’s top teams and top NBA<\/a> talent. Here is a quick look at some potential NBA draft picks i<\/a>n the ACC\/SEC Challenge, as well as whose stock is up and down from the start of the year.<\/p>\n

2025 ACC\/SEC Challenge: Who Are The Top NBA Prospects To Watch In The 32 Team Event?<\/h3>\n

Stock Up<\/h3>\n

Isaiah Evans, Duke Blue Devils<\/h3>\n

Isaiah Evans<\/a>, a top 20 consensus recruit in 2024, has taken a step forward from his freshman year. Evans, a three-level scorer, has improved his production across the board and can defend on the wing. While Evans has expanded his offensive repertoire, he is still very much a 3-point bomber. He has made at least three triples in five of eight appearances and averages 12.8 points and 2.3 treys while shooting 40.8% from the field and 35.2% from deep.<\/p>\n

Evans entered the season as a borderline first-round 2026 draft prospect and has likely moved into the top-20.<\/p>\n

Patrick Ngongba – Duke Blue Devils<\/h4>\n

Like Evans, Patrick Ngongba<\/a> entered Durham as a highly touted prospect, but he saw sparse time a season ago. However, the 6-11 center has developed into a genuine NBA prospect this season due to his efficiency around the rim and his demonstrated rim protection. He has shown the ability to pass from the high-post. But he needs to improve his rebounding and extend his shooting range.<\/p>\n

Ngongba projects to be a late first-round or early second-round selection in 2026.<\/p>\n

Thomas Haugh, Florida Gators<\/h3>\n

A year after coming into his own, Thomas Haugh<\/a> has stepped up his game. He is Florida’s top NBA prospect, likely to be selected mid- or late-first round in 2026 due to his athleticism, high energy, and defensive versatility. A strong finisher around the rim, Haugh thrives in transition as a rim-runner and cutter in the half-court.\u00a0 He is a strong rebounder and has improved as a floor spacer and passer this year.<\/p>\n

Henri Vaessar<\/a>, UNC Tar Heels<\/a><\/p>\n

Neoklis Avdalas<\/a>, Virginia Tech Hokies<\/a><\/p>\n

Darrion Williams<\/a>, North Carolina State<\/a><\/p>\n

Juke Harris<\/a>, Wake Forest Demon Deacons<\/p>\n

Malik Reneau<\/a>, Miami Hurricanes<\/p>\n

Donnie Freeman<\/a>, Syracuse Orange<\/p>\n

Mark Mitchell<\/a>, Missouri Tigers<\/p>\n

Stock Remains Steady<\/h3>\n

Cameron Boozer, Duke Blue Devils<\/h4>\n

Cameron Boozer<\/a> is arguably the top 2026 NBA prospect in the event and definitely a potential No. 1 selection. The 6-9 forward has been incredibly efficient and has demonstrated to be a three-level scorer and two-way player. He has produced four double-doubles, including against Texas and Kansas. He has four 20-point games and is coming off a career-high 35 against Arkansas.<\/p>\n

Cayden Boozer, Duke Blue Devils<\/h3>\n

Cayden Boozer<\/a> is not the prospect his twin brother is, but the 6-4 combo has shown flashes of potential. He is a solid facilitator and does a good job running the offense, though his defense is ahead of his offense. Seeing 20 minutes off the bench, Boozer does need to show consistency as a scorer and playmaker against high-level competition. He has scored in double figures three times, though none against top-level competition; he saw only eight minutes of action against Arkansas, and his season-high eight assists came against Army.<\/p>\n

Boozer could also remain in college next season. He is not a top-12 NBA prospect, as he was projected to be at the start of the season, though that could change. Instead, he is likely to be in the No. 13-25 range at this current time.<\/p>\n

Alex Condon – Florida Gators<\/h4>\n

Alex Condon<\/a> is a mid-first round pick to an early second round selection in the upcoming draft. Condon has upped his production and efficiency this year. He is a mobile, skilled frontcourt player with strong rebounding instincts and polished footwork. But the 6-11 Australian does need to improve his perimeter shooting, along with turnover and fouling issues.<\/p>\n

Caleb Wilson – UNC Tar Heels<\/h4>\n

Like Cameron Boozer, \u00a0Caleb Wilson<\/a> has been as advertised and is poised to be a top-5 selection in June. Wilson, who averages a 20-point and 10-rebound double-double, has posted a double-double in four of his last five games while scoring 18+ points in six of his seven appearances overall.<\/p>\n

Nate Ament, Tennessee Volunteers<\/h4>\n

Nate Ament<\/a> is a top-10 talent who has struggled with efficiency on occasion in the early going. Ament is a strong rebounder and defender who can stretch the floor and pass the ball. However, he is not a shot-blocker.<\/p>\n

\u00a0Jayden Quaintance<\/a>, Kentucky Wildcats<\/p>\n

Otega Oweh,<\/a> Kentucky Wildcats<\/p>\n

Kam Williams<\/a>, Kentucky Wildcats<\/p>\n

Mikel Brown Jr<\/a>., Louisville Cardinals<\/p>\n

Meleek Thomas<\/a>, Arkansas Razorbacks<\/p>\n

Darius Acruff<\/a>, Arkansas Razorbacks<\/p>\n

Paul McNeil Jr.<\/a>, North Carolina State<\/p>\n

Matt Abel,<\/a> North Carolina State<\/p>\n

Stock Down<\/h4>\n

Dame Sarr, Duke Blue Devils<\/h4>\n

Dame Sarr<\/a> has tremendous potential due to his length, athleticism, and defensive ability. He is also a decent rebounder. But the 6-8 French guard needs to add muscle, be more consistent shooting the ball, and show improvement as a playmaker.<\/p>\n

Sarr entered the season as a potential top-10 draft pick. Right now, it is not a sure thing he will declare for the 2026 draft, but his stock has dropped slightly to late-lottery to the top 20.<\/p>\n

Nik Khamenia Duke Blue Devils<\/h4>\n

Another freshman whose 2026 NBA draft status is in question, Nik Khamenia<\/a>, has first-round potential down the line, though he will need to increase his production as the season progresses. Khamenia has excellent size for a guard who is a three-level scorer with a consistent perimeter shooting stroke. He has a high basketball IQ and can guard multiple positions.<\/p>\n

Khamenia can do a little bit of everything, but he’s at his best shooting the ball. He has scored in double-figures just once in his eight appearances, averaging 7.0 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.3 threes while shooting 50% from the field and 40% from the 3-point line.<\/p>\n

Boogie Fland, Arkansas Razorbacks<\/a><\/p>\n

Jasper Johnson<\/a>, Kentucky Wildcats<\/p>\n

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\u00a9 Kamil Krzaczynski<\/a>, Imagn Images<\/p>\n

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The 2025 ACC\/SEC Challenge features some of the nation’s top teams and top NBA talent. Here is a quick look at some potential NBA draft picks in the ACC\/SEC Challenge, as well as whose stock is up and down from the start of the year. 2025 ACC\/SEC Challenge: Who Are The Top NBA Prospects To […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3146,"featured_media":168681,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1608,773,62,556],"tags":[3120,1458,861,777,776,882,2902,4735,914,1350,50337,1436,1075,1044,876,1911],"class_list":["post-168600","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-basketball","category-college-basketball","category-nba","category-nba-draft","tag-acc-basketball","tag-boston-college-eagles","tag-duke-blue-devils","tag-florida-gators","tag-kentucky-wildcats","tag-louisville-cardinals","tag-missouri-tigers","tag-nc-state-wolfpack","tag-north-carolina-tar-heels","tag-oklahoma-sooners","tag-pittsburgh-panthers","tag-sec-basketball","tag-syracuse-orange","tag-texas-longhorns","tag-virginia-cavaliers","tag-virginia-tech-hokies"],"modified_by":"Daniel Benjamin","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/168600","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3146"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=168600"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/168600\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":168684,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/168600\/revisions\/168684"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/168681"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=168600"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=168600"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=168600"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}