Heading into the 2025 NBA draft, there are several players for whom it is clear when they are going to be drafted. For example, barring a massive surprise, Duke’s Cooper Flagg is going to be selected by the Dallas Mavericks with the first pick. However, draft night rarely plays out as fans and draft experts expect. There are some players who will go earlier than expected and some who will go later.
Here is a look at three players who could be surprise picks on draft night, whether it is because they go earlier or later than expected.
Top 3 Potential Surprise Picks in the 2025 NBA Draft
#1 John Tonje
One player who could rise up draft boards is John Tonje. Although he has been projected in most mock drafts to be a mid to late second-round pick, there is a chance he could rise into the late first round. The former Wisconsin star guard is coming off a strong season and has looked good at the draft combine.
Insider Gery Woelfel tweeted about Tonje’s impressive performance in mid-May:
“Just a few months ago, John Tonje was projected as a late, second-round pick in next month’s NBA draft. Now, the ex-Wisconsin star guard could be a late, first-round selection. “He had a really good season there (at Wisconsin),” said an Eastern Conference scout at the NBA Combine in Chicago. “And he’s been good here. “He’s got a wide (draft) range like from 25 to 45, but I could see him going in the first round.””
Just a few months ago, John Tonje was projected as a late, second-round pick in next month’s NBA draft
Now, the ex-Wisconsin star guard could be a late, first-round selection.
“He had a really good season there (at Wisconsin),” said an Eastern Conference scout at the NBA Combine…— Gery Woelfel (@GeryWoelfel) May 16, 2025
#2 Walter Clayton Jr.
If there is one thing that NBA executives like, it is a winner. Walter Clayton Jr. was a driving force on a Florida Gators team that won the national championship this past season. He excelled in March Madness, posting 23 points or more in four of the team’s six games. Now, he is projected to be a late first-round pick. It would not be surprising for a team to take a chance on him a little earlier because of his winning pedigree.
#3 Ace Bailey
Ace Bailey has been projected as a top three or four pick for several months. His talent still indicates he should be drafted in that range, but rumors have started to swirl that he could fall out of the top five. He is the only top American prospect who has not worked out with any teams. As a result, there is a discussion about whether Bailey’s camp is trying to tank his draft stock to get picked by a team outside the top three.
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