Ace Bailey talks to media at the 2025 NBA basketball Draft Combine on May 14 in Chicago. The Associated Press

Ace Bailey has been pegged as a can’t-miss prospect, an athletic 6-foot-8 forward who can score like few players in this year’s draft.

His decisions leading up to the draft may send him slipping further down the lottery.

Once projected as a top-three pick, Bailey could find himself waiting a bit longer than his Rutgers teammate Dylan Harper after opting to decline workouts with several teams within his projected draft range.

Bailey might not see a freefall like Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders in the NFL draft, but his actions could be causing doubt among NBA executives heading into the June 25 draft.

1. Dallas Mavericks: Cooper Flagg, forward, Duke

Fresh off trading away Luka Doncic, the Mavericks luck into a versatile 6-foot-8, 221-pound forward who led the Blue Devils to the Final Four while becoming only the fourth freshman named AP men’s college basketball national player of the year. He can thrive as a scorer (Atlantic Coast Conference freshman-record 42 points against Notre Dame) or playmaker (team-best 4.2 assists).

2. San Antonio Spurs: Dylan Harper, guard, Rutgers

The son of former NBA guard Ron Harper offers size at the point (6-5, 213 pounds) and averaged 19.4 points, 4.6 rebounds and 4.0 assists as a freshman.

3. Philadelphia 76ers: VJ Edgecombe, guard, Baylor

The only benefit to injury-riddled seasons for stars Joel Embiid and Paul George was landing a high pick for a team that still has designs on contending in the Eastern Conference. The 6-4, 193-pound Edgecombe, who turns 20 in July, could help with two-way potential, rim-attacking athleticism and 3-point shooting.

4. Charlotte Hornets: Jeremiah Fears, guard, Oklahoma

The 6-3, 180-pound combo guard averaged 17.1 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.1 assists in his lone college season. Highlights included a four-point play to beat a ranked Michigan team, along with scoring 57 points in two SEC Tournament games.

5. Utah Jazz: Tre Johnson, guard, Texas

It’s a simple selling point for the league’s worst team: the 6-5, 190-pound freshman can score. He averaged 19.9 points to lead the Southeastern Conference and all freshmen nationally while shooting 39.7% on 3s. He broke Durant’s freshman Longhorns record when he scored 39 points against Arkansas.

6. Washington Wizards: Kon Knueppel, forward, Duke

The Wizards need help in multiple areas after winning 18 games. The 6-7, 217-pound Knueppel is an efficient scorer who was named ACC Tournament MVP while Flagg was sidelined by injury. Knueppel shot 40.6% on 3-pointers and ranked sixth in Division I by shooting 91.4% at the foul line.

7. New Orleans Pelicans: Ace Bailey, forward, Rutgers

The 6-8 forward is a versatile athlete capable of stretching defenses (five January games with at least four made 3s) and tools to develop defensively. He averaged 17.6 points and 7.2 rebounds, though for a losing team.

8. Brooklyn Nets: Khaman Maluach, center, Duke

With four first-round picks, the Nets could start with a long-term bet on the 7-1, 253-pound South Sudanese big man to hit his potential as a rim-protecting lob threat. Maluach had the combine’s biggest wingspan (7-6 3/4) and showed stretches of capably defending guards on switches in his lone college season.

9. Toronto Raptors: Kasparas Jakucionis, guard/forward, Illinois

The 6-5 freshman has shown an all-around floor game. He averaged 15 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.7 assists as a freshman, including one run of six straight 20-point games that featured matchups against three ranked teams — including then-No. 1 Tennessee.

10. Houston Rockets: Derik Queen, center, Maryland

The 6-9, 248-pounder earned a spot in March Madness lore by banking in a buzzer-beating runner to beat Colorado State and reach the NCAA Sweet 16. The nimble move illustrated the still-developing upside for a skilled freshman who nearly averaged a double-double (16.5 points, 9.0 rebounds).

11. Portland Trail Blazers: Collin Murray-Boyles, forward, South Carolina

The sophomore has a strong frame (6-7, 240) that could allow him to work some on the wing and bang inside with a nearly 7-1 wingspan. He contributed as a capable scorer (16.8), rebounder (8.3) and defender (1.3 blocks, 1.5 steals).

12. Chicago Bulls: Carter Bryant, forward, Arizona

The 6-7, 215-pound freshman reserve shot 37.1% on 3s and showed defensive potential by averaging a block per game despite playing just 19 minutes a night. He had one of the top max vertical leaps at the combine (39.5 inches).

13. Atlanta Hawks: Asa Newell, forward/center, Georgia

The 6-9, 224-pound freshman who helped the Bulldogs return to the NCAAs for the first time in a decade offers an upside that could allow him to contribute as a small-ball big man or alongside another big man as a power forward. He could be a home-state frontcourt boost for the Hawks.

14. San Antonio Spurs: Noa Essengue, forward, Ratiopharm Ulm (Germany)

The lanky 6-9, 194-pound forward from France has been honing versatile skills in Germany and turns 19 in December. He has the ability to run the court and attack off the dribble, averaging 12.4 points and 5.3 rebounds in Germany this season.

15. Oklahoma City Thunder: Thomas Sorber, center, Georgetown

The 6-9, 263-pound freshman offers a sturdy interior presence with a 7-6 wingspan, proving capable of operating in the post or in traffic while also flashing face-up skills. Sorber, 19, also averaged 2.0 blocks to offer defensive potential.

16. Memphis Grizzlies: Jase Richardson, guard, Michigan State

The Grizzlies added this pick after a massive trade that sent Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic. They could use it on the son of former NBA guard Jason Richardson, who’s small (6-1, 178) for a combo guard, and mentioned after a recent workout with Portland that he’s working to prove he can play the point.

17. Minnesota Timberwolves: Rasheer Fleming, forward/center, Saint Joseph’s

The 6-8, 232-pound Fleming increased his output in three college seasons and brings a sturdy frame to the NBA. He averaged 14.7 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks, and has improved his 3-pointing from 31.3% through his first two college seasons to 39% last year.

18. Washington Wizards: Egor Demin, guard/forward, BYU

A top international prospect from Russia, the 19-year-old Demin spent a season at BYU as a playmaker with size (6-9, 199). That could allow teams to run offense through him as a strong passer who had 15 assists against two turnovers in 54 minutes of work during his last two NCAA Tournament games for a Sweet 16 team.

19. Brooklyn Nets: Ben Saraf, guard, Ratiopharm Ulm (Germany)

After grabbing Maluach at eight, the Nets could bolster their perimeter with the 6-6, 201-pound lefty from Israel. Saraf has proven adept as a scoring playmaker, averaging 12.8 points and 4.6 assists this season in Germany.

20. Miami Heat: Liam McNeeley, forward, UConn

The 6-7, 215-pound McNeeley jumped right in as a freshman starter for the two-time reigning NCAA champion Huskies and projects as a floor-stretching wing, including with 22 points in the NCAAs against Florida and a 38-point showing against Creighton.

21. Utah Jazz: Danny Wolf, forward/center, Michigan

The 6-11, 252-pound junior thrived in moving from the Ivy League (Yale) to the Big Ten as a low-post presence, averaging 13.2 points and 9.7 rebounds while ranking among Division I leaders with 15 double-doubles.

22. Atlanta Hawks: Nolan Traore, guard, Saint-Quentin BB (France)

The 6-5, 175-pound guard from France is a scoring playmaker and has been regarded as a possible lottery prospect. The 19-year-old had previously drawn recruiting interest from programs like Duke, Alabama and Gonzaga.

23. New Orleans Pelicans: Cedric Coward, guard, Washington State

The Pelicans obtained the pick in a trade that sent at 2026 first-round pick to the Indiana Pacers. The 6-5, 213-pound Coward has taken an interesting path. He started his career at Division III Willamette and spent two seasons at Eastern Washington, then played six games at Washington State due to injury.

24. Oklahoma City Thunder: Nique Clifford, guard, Colorado State

The 6-5, 202-pound Clifford took his time developing as a five-year player, though the 23-year-old is coming off a huge year (18.9 points, 9.6 rebounds, 4.4 assists). He also improved his outside shot, going from making 33.8% over three seasons at Colorado to 37.7% on higher volume in two years with the Rams.

25. Orlando Magic: Walter Clayton Jr., guard, Florida

The 6-2, 199-pound combo guard was an AP first-team All-American and Final Four’s most outstanding player in the Gators’ national title run. That included monster tournament performances — notably the frantic comeback against Texas Tech in the Elite Eight and a career-best scoring effort against Auburn in the Final Four.

26. Brooklyn Nets: Will Riley, guard/forward, Illinois

The freshman from Canada worked as a top reserve averaging 12.6 points. Riley, 19, has potential as a scorer and passer with size (6-8) as he refines his game and develops physically (186 pounds).

27. Brooklyn Nets: Drake Powell, guard/forward, North Carolina

The 6-6, 195-pound freshman offers athleticism, outside shooting (37.9% on 3s) and defensive potential. Powell led all combine players in standing vertical leap (37.5 inches, 4+ inches more than anyone else) and max vertical (43.0) to go with a 7-foot wingspan.

28. Boston Celtics: Maxime Raynaud, center, Stanford

The fourth-year senior from France is a skilled 7-footer who can step outside and space the floor. He joined Flagg as the only unanimous AP all-ACC first-team picks after averaging 20.2 points and 10.6 rebounds while making 67 3s in 35 games.

29. Phoenix Suns: Joan Beringer, center, Cedevita Olimpija (Slovenia)

Beringer, who turns 19 in November, projects as a mobile threat who can work in the pick-and-roll and as a lob threat. The French big man needs time to strengthen a lean 6-11, 230-pound frame.

30. Los Angeles Clippers: Hugo Gonzalez, guard/forward, Real Madrid (Spain)

The 19-year-old with a 6-6, 205-pound frame has flashed shooting range and the ability to attack off the dribble. He earned MVP honors after helping the Under-18 Real Madrid team win last year’s Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament (ANGT) in Berlin.

Also considered (in alphabetical order): Kam Jones, guard, Marquette; Ryan Kalkbrenner, center, Creighton; Noah Penda, forward, Le Mans Sarthe Basket (France); Hansen Yang, center, Qingdao (China).