Tonight is the start of the NFL Draft, but we’re only two months away from the NBA Draft. In turn, ESPN’s Jonathan Givony updated his big board of prospects for the first time in a month this morning. Five Kentucky Wildcats made the Top 100, but just a few are in draft range.
Koby Brea is the only Cat to make the top 60, coming in at No. 56, down three spots from the previous update in March. Brea was No. 54 in Givony’s mock draft two weeks ago. Amari Williams made a significant jump from the last version, up 15 spots to No. 63, which puts him in draft range. Of the outgoing seniors, Jaxson Robinson and Andrew Carr are No. 81 and No. 97, respectively. Lamont Butler did not make the top 100.
Most interesting to Kentucky fans is Otega Oweh’s position. Oweh, who is currently testing the NBA Draft waters, is No. 77 in the new update, up nine spots from No. 86. The rising senior declared for the draft on April 15, noting on social media that he will maintain his college eligibility to keep the door open for a return to Kentucky.
ESPN’s Top 100 2025 NBA Draft Prospects (April 24)
By declaring for the draft, Oweh will be able to participate in the NBA Combine, go through individual workouts with NBA teams, and receive feedback on how to improve his game. He has until May 28, the NCAA’s NBA Draft withdrawal deadline, to decide if he’s staying in the draft or returning to school. All indications are he’ll do the latter, setting up a monster senior season at Kentucky.
This past season, Oweh averaged 16.2 points per game on 49.2% shooting from the field. He scored 20-plus points in 13 games, including the first-round NCAA Tournament win over Troy. He was particularly good vs. his former school, Oklahoma, scoring a combined 55 points in two games vs. the Sooners and hitting game-winners in both. With Oweh in the fold, Kentucky is projected to be a top-ten team for the 2025-26 season.
Oweh is going through the NBA Draft process with a new look. Earlier this week, Kentucky associate head coach Alvin Brooks III posted a picture of Oweh’s haircut, showing that he had shaved his dreadlocks.
NBA Draft dates to know
As mentioned, Oweh has until May 28 to pull his name out of the draft to retain his college eligibility. The top 70-80 draft prospects are invited to the NBA Draft Combine, which takes place May 11-18 in Chicago. The G League Combine takes place May 9-11, also in Chicago, which could be a big event for Kentucky’s players who aren’t in draft range.
- April 26: NBA Early Entry Eligibility Deadline (11:59 p.m. ET)
- May 9-11: NBA G League Combine
- May 12: NBA Draft Lottery
- May 11-18: NBA Draft Combine
- May 28: NCAA Early Entry Withdrawal Deadline (11:59 pm ET)
- June 15: NBA Draft Early Entry Withdrawal Deadline (5 p.m. ET)
- June 25: NBA Draft 2025 First Round
- June 26: NBA Draft 2025 Second Round
