NBA Draft: Prospects to Watch in Ranked Matchups on Jan. 4.

In the four ranked matchups today in Big 12 and SEC conference action, polarizing prospects from each side of these games aim for performances.

Dec 21, 2024; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks head coach John Calipari and guard Boogie Fland during the second half against the North Carolina A&T Aggies at Bud Walton Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images / Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images

Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, brings four ranked matchups that highlight a loaded day of college basketball. Each game offers a glimpse at intriguing prospects who have helped their teams get off to strong starts and earn spots in the top 25. Whether these games are between SEC or Big 12 teams, strong performances against high-level conference opponents could shift how these prospects are viewed.

Let’s take a closer look at the most interesting prospects for each of the eight teams competing in ranked matchups today.

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No. 6 Florida at No. 10 Kentucky

Florida

Walter Clayton Jr. | Guard | 6’3” | 195 lbs | Senior

Dec 21, 2024; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Florida Gators guard Walter Clayton Jr. (1) dribbles the ball against the North Florida Ospreys during the second half at Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images / Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images

Walter Clayton Jr. has been Florida’s most consistent offensive weapon during their 13-0 start. He has led the Gators in scoring in six games and in assists in eight, serving as the team’s primary initiator. His on-ball feel and creativity have shone, steadily increasing his draft value with a career-high effective field goal percentage of 57.8%. If selected in the upcoming draft, it would likely be in the second round, but he has the potential to serve as a valuable backup guard at the next level.

Kentucky

Lamont Butler | Guard | 6’2” | 208 lbs | Senior

Kentucky Wildcats guard Lamont Butler (1) celebrates after a play during their game against the Louisville Cardinals on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024 at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Ky. / Clare Grant/Courier Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Lamont Butler is not typically the most-discussed prospect for Kentucky, but his recent two-way play has made him hard to overlook. He currently leads the Wildcats in assists (4.1 assists per game) and steals (1.5 steals per game), showcasing his impact across the floor. Known for excelling at the "little things," Butler’s explosive 33-point performance against Louisville highlighted his promising upside. In that game, he also recorded three rebounds and six assists on outstanding shooting splits of 100%/100%/58.3%.

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No. 23 Arkansas at No. 1 Tennessee

Arkansas

Boogie Fland | Guard | 6’2” | 175 lbs | Freshman

Dec 10, 2024; New York, New York, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks guard Boogie Fland (2) at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images / Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Boogie Fland has been one of the top freshman guards this season and looks ready for SEC play. He finished non-conference play as the Razorbacks’ second-leading scorer (15.9 points per game) and leader in assists (6.2 assists per game). His lead-guard upside is promising, with a shifty, lateral explosiveness reminiscent of Darius Garland that allows him to consistently find scoring opportunities. If Fland maintains his productivity against tough SEC opponents, he could climb draft boards and secure a spot in the lottery.

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Tennessee

Chaz Lanier | Guard | 6’4” | 199 lbs | Senior

Dec 31, 2024; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers guard Chaz Lanier (2) shoots a three pointer against the Norfolk State Spartans during the first half at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-Imagn Images / Randy Sartin-Imagn Images

Chaz Lanier has emerged as a key player for Tennessee after transferring from North Florida. He leads the Volunteers in scoring (19.6 points per game) and has been a consistent threat from all three levels. While he lacks ideal positional size for an off-ball scorer, his ability to knock down jumpers both off the dribble and on catch-and-shoot opportunities is intriguing. Having scored 17 points or more in every game against power-conference opponents, Lanier is poised to further raise his draft value as conference play progresses.

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No. 25 Baylor at No. 3 Iowa State

Baylor

VJ Edgecombe | Guard | 6’5” | 180 lbs | Freshman

Nov 17, 2024; Waco, Texas, USA; Baylor Bears guard VJ Edgecombe (7) steals the ball from Tarleton Texans guard Nick Krass (21) during the first half at Paul and Alejandra Foster Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Chris Jones-Imagn Images / Chris Jones-Imagn Images

VJ Edgecombe has recently improved his offensive productivity and efficiency while showcasing impressive two-way upside. As one of the best athletes in this draft class, his strides in offense have propelled him back into top-five discussions. His defensive skill set appears NBA-ready, which should help him make an early impact at the professional level. If he continues to build on his impressive performance in Baylor’s Big 12 opener against Utah, Edgecombe’s stock will continue to rise.

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Iowa State

Keshon Gilbert | Guard | 6’4” | 200 lbs | Senior

Dec 30, 2024; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Iowa State Cyclones guard Keshon Gilbert (10) lines up a shot in the first half against the Colorado Buffaloes at CU Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images / Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Keshon Gilbert has been one of college basketball’s biggest surprises this season, significantly raising his draft stock during non-conference play. After scoring 14 points in Iowa State’s Big 12 opener against Colorado, a strong showing against Baylor could reignite his ascent in the rankings. In addition to his scoring, Gilbert leads the Cyclones in assists (5.0 assists per game), enhancing his value as a secondary initiator at the next level.

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No. 12 Oklahoma at No. 5 Alabama

Oklahoma

Jeremiah Fears | Guard | 6’4” | 182 lbs | Freshman

Dec 18, 2024; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Oklahoma Sooners guard Jeremiah Fears (0) drives to the basket against Michigan Wolverines center Vladislav Goldin (50) during the first half at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images / Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

Jeremiah Fears has emerged as one of the most surprising freshman prospects this season. He excels as an on-ball creator, both for himself and his teammates. His recent performance in an 87-86 win over Michigan, where he tallied 30 points, three rebounds, four assists and one steal, showcased his ability to excel in high-stakes games. As SEC play begins, improving his three-point efficiency and reducing turnovers will be key to solidifying his position on draft boards.

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Alabama

Derrion Reid | Forward | 6’8” | 220 lbs | Freshman

Dec 14, 2024; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama forward Derrion Reid (35) gets a breakaway dunk with Creighton center Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) too far behind to defend the dunk at Coleman Coliseum. Alabama defeated Creighton 83-75. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-Tuscaloosa News / Gary Cosby Jr. / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Derrion Reid has shown flashes of two-way potential, though his production has been inconsistent. With a strong and athletic frame, he possesses tools that should translate well to the NBA. Increasing his overall productivity in conference play would significantly boost his draft stock by providing more context to his impact. This matchup offers Reid an opportunity to exploit his physical tools against Oklahoma’s guard-heavy playstyle.

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