NBA Draft: Upperclassmen Steal the Show on Wednesday, Jan. 8

While several of the most highly-touted freshmen either underperformed or miss games on Wednesday, intriguing upperclassmen produced strong games and help raise their draft value.

Jan 2, 2025; Spokane, Washington, USA; Gonzaga Bulldogs guard Khalif Battle (99) shoots the ball against the Portland Pilots in the second half at McCarthey Athletic Center. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-Imagn Images / James Snook-Imagn Images

In a loaded day of college basketball on Wednesday, Jan. 8, several of the top freshmen either underwhelmed or missed games due to injury. With draft radars moderately empty from most top prospects, several upperclassmen stepped up and stole the spotlight. Regardless of their conference, these players’ well-rounded stat lines and noticeable impacts drew attention and raised their draft value.

Let’s dive into five of the top-performing upperclassmen from last night and discuss how their strong play could translate to the NBA level.

---

Mark Sears | Guard | Alabama | 6’1” | 190 lbs | Senior

Jan 8, 2025; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide guard Mark Sears (1) brings the ball up against the South Carolina Gamecocks in the second half at Colonial Life Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-Imagn Images / Jeff Blake-Imagn Images

Mark Sears has been on a tear this season and continued his impressive performances last night in an 88-68 win over South Carolina. He finished with 22 points, three rebounds and six assists while shooting 7-of-12 from the field, 4-of-6 from three and 4-of-5 on free throws. The level of control he showed while running the offense looked great and should translate well to a backup point guard role relatively early in his NBA career. His change of pace was particularly impressive, allowing him to consistently create clean looks for himself and his teammates.

---

Eric Dixon | Forward | Villanova | 6’8” | 265 lbs | Senior

Jan 8, 2025; Villanova, Pennsylvania, USA; Villanova Wildcats forward Eric Dixon (43) drives to shoot against the Connecticut Huskies in the second half at William B. Finneran Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images / Kyle Ross-Imagn Images

Eric Dixon extended his streak of scoring at least 20 points to eight straight games and has done so in all but one game this season. He capped off this performance with 23 points, one rebound, two assists, one steal and one block. Although he struggled with efficiency—shooting 6-of-20 from the field, 2-of-8 from three and 9-of-9 from the free-throw line—he played a crucial role in the Wildcats’ 68-66 win over UConn. This game highlighted his aggression and ability to make an impact, even when his shots weren’t consistently falling.

---

Khalif Battle | Wing | Gonzaga | 6’5” | 185 lbs | Senior

Jan 8, 2025; Spokane, Washington, USA; Gonzaga Bulldogs guard Khalif Battle (99) celebrates after a basket and a San Diego Toreros foul in the second half at McCarthey Athletic Center. Gonzaga Bulldogs won 93-80. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-Imagn Images / James Snook-Imagn Images

Khalif Battle has flown under the radar in terms of his draft value, but his performance last night showcased his effectiveness. In a 93-80 win over San Diego, Battle produced a strong stat line of 20 points, six rebounds and one assist while shooting 5-of-12 from the field, 4-of-9 from three and 6-of-7 from the free-throw line. His off-ball offensive game stood out, and while he did not record any defensive stats, his two-way versatility was evident. He could serve an effective role at the next level by making an impact with small but meaningful contributions without needing a high volume of shots.

---

Adou Thiero | Wing | Arkansas | 6’8” | 220 lbs | Junior

Jan 8, 2025; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks forward Adou Thiero (3) during the second half against the Ole Miss Rebels at Bud Walton Arena. Ole Miss won 73-66. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images / Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images

Adou Thiero has been one of the biggest risers in this draft cycle and continued his strong play in Arkansas’ 73-66 loss to Ole Miss. He ended the game with 17 points, nine rebounds, two assists, two steals and one block while shooting 58.3% from the field and 60% on free throws. Although he did not attempt a three-pointer, this remains his biggest swing skill for the next level and will need further development ahead of the upcoming draft. He projects as a versatile two-way wing at the next level but will need to expand his skill set beyond his athleticism and defensive prowess to secure a larger role.

---

Oumar Ballo | Center | Indiana | 7’0” | 265 lbs | Senior

Indiana's Oumar Ballo (11) is fouled as he shoots by USC's Chibuzo Agbo (7) during the Indiana versus University of Southern California men's basketball game at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. / Rich Janzaruk/Herald-Times / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Oumar Ballo has made a significant impact after transferring from Arizona and has emerged as one of the most dominant bigs in the Big Ten. In Indiana’s 82-69 win over USC, Ballo finished with 23 points, eight rebounds, one assist and two blocks while shooting 9-of-11 from the field and 5-of-5 on free throws. He is an incredibly physical big with quick-twitch athleticism and consistently controls the paint on both ends of the floor. This game highlighted his nonstop motor, which helps him generate second-chance points and create fastbreak opportunities.

---

Want to join the discussion? Like Draft Digest on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to stay up to date on all the latest NBA Draft news. You can also meet the team behind the coverage.

---