The 2025 rookie class is already shaping up to be one of the most hyped in recent memory, with names like Cooper Flagg, Ace Bailey, and Dylan Harper expected to dominate headlines and Rookie of the Year voting from the jump. Those three have been tagged as franchise-changers, but we won’t ignore the sleepers or those rookies who will fly under the radar.
This season, five rookies fit that exact mold. They may not have the pre-draft buzz or the national attention of Flagg, Bailey, and Harper, but their skillsets, roles, and team situations put them in position to make a real Rookie of the Year push. Let’s rank them to get an idea of what they could do.
1. Kon Knueppel
Sharpshooter Kon Knueppel could slip under many people’s ROY radar largely because he shares a roster (and a limelight) with Cooper Flagg at Duke, and because his strengths are more about skill than athleticism. He isn’t a high-flier or highlight reel player and isn’t the most exciting to watch, quite frankly.
That said, Knueppel has a real shot at being in the ROY conversation because of his shooting. With the Charlotte Hornets, assuming he gets enough opportunity, he can immediately provide floor spacing, knock down open looks, and be a secondary scorer off the wing. If he can post at least 12-14 PPG, he could be a major ROY contender.
2. Egor Demin
Demin may fly under the radar because his game is a bit unusual: tall for a lead guard type (6’8″) with playmaking instincts, but also some concerns about his scoring consistency and shooting. Yes, he isn’t a natural shooter and isn’t the most flashy player to follow.
But Demin has enough unique traits that he could become a fringe ROY contender. At that size, with guard handle and vision, he projects as someone who could stretch a defense, pick apart rotations, and contribute in multiple roles. On a struggling Brooklyn Nets team without many creators, Demin might be able to boost his stats a little more than he would have expected entering the league.
3. Jeremiah Fears
Jeremiah Fears might fly under the radar because while his counting stats are good, he doesn’t have one signature “wow” attribute like elite athleticism or off-the-charts shooting (especially from deep). His three-point percentage in college was underwhelming (a little over 28%), and some question whether his shot mechanics will translate.
However, if he lands in a spot where he can handle some offensive ball responsibilities without being forced to carry everything, he could generate enough counting stats and visible highlight plays to get ROY votes. Many were a bit down on the Pelicans for drafting Fears, but we think he will be better than most think.
4. Collin Murray-Boyles
Murray-Boyles may fly under the radar because his game is more about physicality, toughness, and defensive versatility than flash. He’s a bit undersized for a traditional power forward (6’6″) and doesn’t shoot threes at a high clip, which doesn’t help any hype that might be around him.
He’s more about the work: rebounding, finishing at the rim, interior touches, helping on defense. That tends to fly under mainstream media radar, but we won’t write him off at all. Over time, with improvements in his shooting, Murray-Boyles may take on more offensive responsibility with the Toronto Raptors, and he might surprise a few people.
5. Walter Clayton Jr.
Walter Clayton Jr. is easy to overlook because he is a “senior guard” coming from schools that aren’t always in the top 5 spotlight. While he had big moments, some question marks remain about whether his scoring can carry over, and how consistent his defense and playmaking will be at the next level. But we are going to overlook these.
Clayton has strong credentials that could put him firmly in the ROY discussion. His shooting is elite, and he also showed he can create separation off the dribble to create looks for himself. That combo of shot-making is what the Utah Jazz desperately need, and if he gains more confidence and seems happy to be where he is more than Ace Bailey, he could steal ROY votes from him.
