NBA Draft 2025: Unveiling Three Hidden Gems in Long-Range Scoring
Get ready for the 2025 NBA Draft, where a swarm of sharp-shooting stars are calling their names! Players like Kon Knueppel, Tre Johnson, Ace Bailey, Liam McNeeley, and Cooper Flagg are expected to make a splash early in the draft due to their expert outside shooting skills.
Beyond the biggest names, this crop of draft prospects is bursting with promising shooters outside the first round. Let's take a peek at three hidden gems whose exceptional 3-point shooting could deliver more bang for their draft buck.
Unrivaled Marksman: Koby Brea, F, Kentucky
Brea is a one-of-a-kind wing gunner. At 6'7 and taller, he's in a league of his own, converting an impressive 43.5% of his 11.7 3-pointers per 100 possessions. The only other comparable shooter is Sam Hauser—they're both something special! Brea proved his shooting chops, firing 48% from 3 on 14.3 attempts per 100, and cruising through catch-and-shoot and off-the-dribble moments with ease.
Whether Brea's cookin' off the dribble or catching-and-shooting, his range and balance make him a deadly force at every point on the court. However, opposing teams will capitalize on Brea's lack of physicality when defending or pushing him to score inside. Still, his shooting skills are so exceptional that he warrants borderline first-round consideration.
Multidimensional Marksman: Max Shulga, G, VCU
Shulga has conquered nearly 600 triples across his college career, and sports a dynamic ability to hit from on and off-ball. While he's less of a creator than the other shooters on this list, his immense court sense shines off the ball, as he eagerly sinks and relocates to steal defensive gaps and fire.
More than most elite shooters of his caliber, Shulga's got a knack for driving, passing, and vision. He forces defenders to honor his drive, as he draws 51.4 fouls per 100 possessions and dishes out 2.4 assists per turnover. Teams covet Shulga's all-around game, creating opportunities for Shulga to add value beyond shooting.
Tenacious Marksman: Caleb Grill, G, Missouri
Grill carved out his best season to date, showering opponents with his long-range artillery for the Tigers. He converted 39.6% of an immense 14.8 triples per 100 possessions. Grill's moxie requires bold defenders, as he's fearless firing from well beyond NBA range, regardless of the level of contest.
Grill's leap year age (he turns 25 before his rookie season) makes NBA teams hesitant to invest in him. However, his remarkable shooting aptitude, vertical pop, and wingspan make him a tantalizing 2nd-round shot. Despite lacking significant upside for further improvement, Grill's versatile shooting talents, coupled with other useful skills, deserve a hard look.
- Koby Brea's exceptional shooting abilities, demonstrated by a 43.5% conversion rate on 11.7 3-pointers per 100 possessions, have earned him the title of an unrivaled marksman.
- Max Shulga, with his ability to hit from on and off-ball, is a multidimensional marksman who showcases impressive court sense and excels in driving, passing, and vision.
- Caleb Grill's fearless shooting from long range, as shown by his 39.6% conversion rate on 14.8 triples per 100 possessions, have made him a tantalizing 2nd-round shot in the NBA Draft.
- The 2025 NBA Draft promises to deliver a rookie, Caleb Grill, whose long-range shooting abilities, combined with his vertical pop and wingspan, could prove valuable in the sports-analysis of basketball games in the NBA.
