In this episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board Podcast, Rafael Barlowe and Richard Stayman dive into early impressions on key prospects as the college season kicks off.

They start with Dylan Harper’s debut at Rutgers, where Harper, a projected top-five pick, posted 20 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists, though he played without fellow top prospect Ace Bailey.

While Richard praised Harper’s performance, Rafael raised concerns over Harper’s shooting struggles, turnovers, and a tough free-throw outing (1-for-6).

The conversation then shifts to Ryan Kalkbrenner, who exploded with 49 points, 11 rebounds, and an eye-popping 20-for-22 from the field.

Turning to Arkansas, they analyze Boogie Fland’s team-leading scoring and his heavy diet of pull-up jumpers, a trend Rafael sees as one to monitor.

They also cover DJ Wagner’s early struggles, Rafael’s admiration for Zvonimir Ivisic, and Arkansas freshmen Karter Knox and Billy Richmond. The episode wraps with a critical look at Arkansas’s shooting woes, as the team went just 4-for-19 from three—a potential season-long issue.

Dylan Harper - 3:30

Ryan Kalkbrenner - 10:42

Boogie Fland - 20:53

DJ Wagner - 26:25

Zvonimir Ivisic - 28:43

Karter Knox - 31:18

Billy Richmond - 31:43

In this episode of Locked On NBA Big Board, Rookie Watch Volume 7 Rafael and James Barlowe dive into standout rookie performances from November 6th, starting with Zaccharie Risacher. The first overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, Risacher showed glimpses of his potential with a breakout 33-point night, going 6-for-10 from three. The Barlowe brothers discuss whether any rookie can top Risacher’s performance this season.

The conversation shifts to Matas Buzelis, who seized his first real opportunity for the Chicago Bulls with 13 points, nine rebounds, and two steals. With Patrick Williams struggling, Rafael and James debate whether Buzelis deserves more minutes moving forward.

In the second segment, the focus turns to Jaylen Wells, who’s been efficient as a starter for the Grizzlies. Rafael wonders if Wells can retain his spot once Memphis returns to full strength. They also cover his teammate Zach Edey, who had eight points and seven rebounds in limited minutes against the Lakers, with discussion on his fluctuating role.

Rafael and James then discuss Kel’el Ware, who finally saw action with the Miami Heat, and Ron Holland, who scored eight points and hit two of his three attempts from deep after a tough start to the season. They briefly touch on Ryan Dunn, who saw just nine minutes against the Heat.

The episode wraps up with a look at Reed Sheppard, whom the Barlowe brothers have campaigned to “free” for more playing time. Though he’s getting opportunities, Sheppard hasn’t yet made a major impact. Finally, they discuss Stephon Castle, who continues to struggle with his jumper.

Rafael emphasizes to James that Castle’s style doesn’t resemble Brandon Roy’s, adding depth to their ongoing debate about Castle’s best NBA comparison.

Zaccharie Risacher - 2:10

Matas Buzelis - 6:43

Jaylen Wells -12:19

Zach Edey - 16:46

Ron Holland - 25:08

Ryan Dunn - 29:47

Reed Sheppard- 30:54

Stephon Castle - 32:49

In this episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board Podcast, Rafael Barlowe and Leif Thulin dive into Egor Demin’s impressive debut performance for BYU, where he recorded 18 points, 11 assists, and 4 rebounds in the Cougars’ win over Central Arkansas. Barlowe and Thulin break down Demin’s playmaking and floor vision, discussing whether he showed the potential to be a full-time NBA point guard.

Barlowe particularly emphasizes that Demin made the right choice in committing to BYU, a program that fits his skill set and maximizes his strengths.

He contrasts this with other top prospects who, in his view, have not chosen schools that best showcase their NBA attributes.

The hosts also explore Demin’s draft range and his potential fit with the Utah Jazz, noting the Jazz’s familiarity with Demin and his local college ties as factors that could make him an intriguing option for the team if he’s available at their pick.

In this episode of the Locked On Big Board Podcast, hosts Rafael Barlowe, James Barlowe, and Leif Thulin dive deep into Tre Johnson’s 29-point performance against Ohio State, delivering a lively mix of praise and critique.

Rafael and James were particularly impressed, labeling Johnson a “Professional Scorer” thanks to his polished shot-making and versatility on offense. They highlighted his debut as a strong indication of his potential at the next level.

Leif, however, offered a different take, raising concerns about Johnson’s shot selection and questioning whether Texas’s offensive system might be impacting his decision-making.

The trio dissected a range of related topics, including Texas’s offensive structure, Johnson’s ability to hit tough shots, and potential NBA comparisons that reflect his game.

They also debated Johnson’s ceiling as an NBA prospect, even discussing whether he could break into the top five of the 2025 NBA Draft. To wrap things up, the hosts graded his performance, giving listeners a balanced view of where Johnson stands after his standout college debut.

In this episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board Podcast, Rafael and James Barlowe dive into the standout performances from opening night of the 2024-25 college basketball season, focusing on some of the top freshmen. They kick things off with Cooper Flagg, who impressed with an 18-point, 7-rebound, 5-assist outing in Duke’s win over Maine. They also discuss Duke teammate Kon Knueppel’s impact, as he dropped 22 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists.

In the second segment, the Barlowe brothers analyze Will Riley’s efficient 31-point performance for Illinois, followed by Asa Newell’s 26-point, 11-rebound, 3-block showing for Georgia, sparking a debate on Newell’s long-term NBA position as a 4 or a 5.

Attention then shifts to Maryland’s Derik Queen, who dominated with a record-setting 22-point, 20-rebound performance, prompting a discussion on his ranking as a prospect, with James advocating for a top-10 spot.

Finally, they close with Tre Johnson, who impressed with 29 points, 4 assists, and 5 rebounds against Ohio State, rounding out a promising night for this freshman class.

Cooper Flagg - 2:23

Kon Kneuppel - 7:51

Will Riley - 14:07

Asa Newell - 16:50

Derik Queen - 24:09

Tre Johnson - 30:38

In Rookie Watch Volume 6 of the Locked On NBA Big Board podcast, hosts Rafael and James Barlowe dive into recent performances from the league’s standout rookies.

Kicking things off, they spotlight Alex Sarr’s impressive showing against the Miami Heat, where Sarr’s poise and defensive presence turned heads.

They then shift focus to Jared McCain, who exploded for a career-high performance against the Memphis Grizzlies, and discuss Zach Edey’s first career double-double, showcasing his rebounding and scoring impact.

The second segment hones in on Reed Sheppard, as Rafael passionately advocates to “Free Reed Sheppard!” – promising to push this campaign until Sheppard gets more minutes. With veteran Fred Van Vleet struggling from the field, shooting only 28%, Rafael questions what more Sheppard needs to do to prove he deserves a bigger role.

Finally, in the last segment, the Barlowe brothers discuss Jaylen Wells, making the case that he should replace Marcus Smart in the Grizzlies’ starting lineup. They believe Smart could be a better fit in Milwaukee, where his skills might add a needed spark.

Alex Sarr - 1:54

Zaccharie Risacher - 8:18

Jared McCain - 12:48

Zach Edey - 15:16

Reed Sheppard - 16:30

Jaylen Wells - 26:40

In Rookie Watch Vol. 5 on the Locked On NBA Big Board podcast, Rafael and James Barlowe dig into the early ups and downs of this season’s rookie class. They kick off with No. 1 pick Zaccharie Risacher, dissecting his recent shooting woes after a tough 1-9 night against the Kings. Rafael points out that despite getting open looks courtesy of Trae Young, Risacher has struggled to convert, shooting just 25% on catch-and-shoot jumpers and an eye-catching 36% on layups.

The duo then highlights Tristan da Silva’s efficient 17-point effort, where he took advantage of added minutes with Paolo Banchero out. Ron Holland’s shot consistency is another talking point, with Holland scoring efficiently in the paint (77.8%) but hitting only 1-11 on jumpers.

The brothers also dive into Tidjane Salaun’s confident shot selection, Donovan Clingan’s potential as a rebounding force with more minutes, and round out the episode with insights on rookies Yves Missi, AJay Mitchell, Dillon Jones, Ja’Kobe Walter’s NBA debut, and the Raptors’ intriguing rookie class.

Zaccharie Risacher - 2:03

Keaton Wallace - 8:21

Tristan da Silva - 11:12

Tristan da Silva - 12:32

Ron Holland - 15:43

Tidjane Salaun - 23:25

Donovan Clingan - 28:16

Yves Missi - 31:26

OKC Rookies - 33:46

Ja’Kobe Walter - 34:41

In the latest episode of Locked On NBA Big Board - Rookie Watch Vol. 4, Rafael and James Barlowe dive deep into the recent developments among this season’s NBA rookies.

The Barlowe brothers kick things off by spotlighting Ryan Dunn’s surprising emergence as a three-point threat. Rafael and James discuss Dunn’s reputation as a shaky shooter in college and debate if this shooting leap could have made him a legitimate contender for the No. 1 pick had it shown up earlier in his game.

In the second segment, the attention shifts to Jaylen Wells, who impressed with a solid first start, putting up 16 points and 7 boards. James argues that Wells might deserve the starting spot permanently, potentially even taking minutes from Marcus Smart, who’s struggled to settle in.

The conversation then moves to Zach Edey, along with some praise for Kyle Filipowski’s recent strong play over the last two games. Rafael points out that Filipowski’s minutes hinge on his ability to perform consistently. By contrast, Rafael notes that Cody Williams, another Jazz rookie, will likely get developmental minutes to gain experience despite a slower start and some noticeable hesitancy.

To wrap up, they cover Stephon Castle’s recent game and the challenges Reed Sheppard faces in finding minutes. With Fred Van Vleet logging heavy playing time at 37 minutes per game, Sheppard’s path to consistent floor time remains crowded.

Ryan Dunn - 2:25

Could Ryan Dunn have been the No. 1 pick if he showed this type of shooting and offensive confidence in college? - 5:39

Jaylen Wells - 11:25

Should Wells be the starter going forward? - 12:14

What did NBA teams miss on Jaylen Wells? - 16:07

Zach Edey - 20:24

Kyle Filipowski - 24:08

Cody Williams - 25:47

Kyle Filipowski making most of his opportunity - 28:08

Stephon Castle - 31:59

Reed Sheppard - 32:46

Rookie of the Night - 34:15