In this special episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board Podcast, hosts Rafael Barlowe and Krysten Peek take a trip down memory lane, sharing their first impressions of future and current NBA stars during their high school days. The duo discusses their initial thoughts on standout prospects like Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper, VJ Edgecombe, and Jeremiah Fears, while also reminiscing about the first time they watched Deandre Ayton, Trae Young, Michael Porter Jr., and Anthony Edwards as prep stars. With a blend of storytelling and scouting insight, this episode offers a unique perspective on the early moments that defined these players’ journeys to basketball stardom.

Timestamps:

First impressions - 3:15
Cooper Flagg - 4:43
Dylan Harper - 12:19
VJ Edgecombe - 14:46
Deandre Ayton - 17:38
Jeremiah Fears - 21:55
Trae Young - 27:35
Michael Porter Jr. - 29:26
Anthony Edwards - 31:15

In this episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board Podcast, Rafael and James Barlowe dissect Rutgers’ underwhelming start to the season. Despite boasting arguably two of the top three NBA prospects in the 2025 draft class—Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper—the Scarlet Knights find themselves sitting at 8-8 overall and 1-4 in Big Ten play, putting both their NCAA and Big Ten tournament hopes in jeopardy. The Barlowes discuss how Rutgers’ struggles reflect on Harper and Bailey, questioning whether a top-five prospect can truly justify that status if he fails to elevate his team. They also consider the long-term ramifications of Rutgers' disappointing season, including the possibility of either prospect shutting down to protect their draft stock. With Harper and Bailey excelling individually but unable to translate their success into wins, the brothers weigh whether this disconnect should impact their draft positioning.

Timestamps:

3:00 - Rutgers struggles
4:15 - Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey vs Purdue
12:10 - Should their lack of team success impact draft status?
15:41 - Will Harper or Bailey shut it down if losses continue to pile up?
20:56 - Why they should continue to play instead of shutting in down

On the latest episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board Podcast, Rafael and James Barlowe tackle three key questions inspired by standout performances from Tuesday night. First, they ask, “Is Cooper Flagg getting better?” The projected number one pick in the 2024 NBA Draft has strung together strong performances, including improved efficiency from three-point range—addressing a season-long concern. Next, they discuss Baylor’s VJ Edgecombe, who had arguably his best performance of the season against Cincinnati. The brothers debate whether this signals a turning point for Edgecombe, who has struggled against top competition. Finally, they analyze the hype surrounding Danny Wolf, a 7'1" forward/center making waves with his rebounding, scoring efficiency, and playmaking. While they agree Wolf deserves first-round consideration, they highlight his alarming turnover rate (3.8 per game) and questionable assist-to-turnover ratio, raising concerns about his playmaking consistency.

Timestamps:

Cooper Flagg - 2:49
VJ Edgecombe -15:30
Danny Wolf - 25:06

In the latest episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board podcast, host Rafael Barlowe is joined by co-host Krysten Peek to recap her experience at the Hoophall West Invitational, where she provided play-by-play for 12 games. Peek breaks down the standout performances of several of the nation’s top high school prospects, including AJ Dybantsa, Tyran Stokes, and Brayden Burries, along with rising talents like Isiah Harwell, Christian Collins, and Chris Cenac. From Dybantsa’s dominance to Stokes’ physical presence, Peek offers detailed insights into these future NBA prospects and their potential impact on upcoming draft classes. Don’t miss this episode to hear Peek’s firsthand analysis of some of the most highly sought-after players in the country.

Timestamps:
6:46 - AJ Dybantsa
12:21 - Tyran Stokes
17:48 - Brayden Burries
21:44 - Isiah Harwell
24:52 - Christian Collins
27:28 - Chris Cenac

In this episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board podcast, host Rafael Barlowe and co-host Leif Thulin discuss prospects whose draft stock is trending downward. Leif shares his insights on why certain players have struggled to maintain their standing, citing recent performances that have raised concerns about their NBA potential. The conversation focuses on VJ Edgecombe’s inconsistent shooting, Egor Demin’s recent struggles, Will Riley’s thin frame, Khaman Maluach’s raw development, and Collin Murray-Boyles’ NBA fit. Thulin provides in-depth analysis of what these players need to improve to regain momentum in their draft outlooks.

Time Stamps
4:04 - VJ Edgecombe
12:45 - Egor Demin
18:57 - Will Riley
22:46 - Khaman Maluach
25:02 - Collin Murray-Boyles

In this episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board podcast, host Rafael Barlowe is joined by co-host Leif Thulin to break down the biggest risers in NBA Draft stock from recent games. Thulin shares a detailed list of players who impressed with standout performances over the weekend and highlights why their draft profiles have taken a significant leap. The discussion centers on Ian Jackson’s dynamic scoring, Ace Bailey’s 39 point performance, Carter Bryant’s improved consistency, Koby Brea’s sharpshooting, Danny Wolf’s versatility, and Donnie Freeman’s high ceiling. Thulin provides thoughtful analysis on each player’s recent success and explains how these performances have enhanced their overall draft outlook.

Time Stamps
4:54 - Ian Jackson
11:52 - Ace Bailey
17:37 - Carter Bryant
22:41 - Koby Brea
27:40 - Danny Wolf
31:18 - Donnie Freeman

On the latest episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board podcast, hosts Rafael and James Barlowe broke down Duke’s Saturday game, with James sharing live scouting insights from his near courtside perspective. The conversation spotlighted Cooper Flagg’s outstanding performance, where he posted 24 points and 11 rebounds in a statement victory. The brothers also discussed Duke standouts Tyrese Proctor and Isaiah Evans, while touching on the sharpshooting of Kon Knueppel and the intriguing potential of Khaman Maluach. James offered a detailed analysis of Flagg’s elite versatility and examined the strengths and developmental areas of other key prospects, delivering a comprehensive look at their NBA trajectories.

In the latest episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board Podcast, brothers Rafael and James Barlowe break down Ace Bailey’s monster 39-point, 8-rebound, and 4-block performance in a game without Dylan Harper, as well as Rutgers' tough loss to Indiana. In the second segment, Rafael shares live scouting insights from the Oregon vs. Illinois game in Eugene, with a deep dive into Illinois freshman Kasparas Jakucionis. The Barlowe brothers engage in a spirited debate over Jakucionis' skillset, comparisons, and long-term upside. In the final segment, Rafael evaluates Illinois’ Ben Humrichous, Will Riley, and Tre White before shifting focus to Oregon’s TJ Bamba and Kwame Evans Jr., highlighting their potential as NBA prospects.

Timestamps:

Ace Bailey - 2:38
Kasparas Jakucionis - 12:34
Ben Humrichous - 26:56
Tre White - 30:56
Kylan Boswell - 31:27
Will Riley - 32:35
TJ Bamba - 33:20
Kwame Evans Jr. - 34:26