2025 NBA Mock Draft: Updated 1st-Round Predictions Before NCAA Championship

Walter Clayton Jr. and Alex Condon may have upped their NBA draft odds by helping lead Florida to the national championship game.

Clayton scored 34 points to carry the Gators to a 79-73 national semifinal victory over Auburn on Friday night.

Clayton is the first player to record back-to-back 30-point outings in the Elite Eight and Final Four since Larry Bird in 1979, per ESPN's Jeff Borzello.

Alex Condon's second-half defensive efforts meanwhile helped the Gators close out the win over their SEC rivals.

Here's a look at some NBA draft projections heading into the national championship game between Florida and Houston.

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2025 NBA Mock Draft Updated First-Round Predictions

Draft order based on Tankathon's projection.

1. Utah Jazz: Cooper Flagg, PF, Duke

2. Washington Wizards: Dylan Harper, PG/SG, Rutgers

3. Charlotte Hornets: Ace Bailey, SG/SF, Rutgers

4. New Orleans Pelicans: VJ Edgecombe, SG/SF, Baylor

5. Philadelphia 76ers: Tre Johnson, SG, Texas

6. Brooklyn Nets: Jeremiah Fears, PG, Oklahoma

7. Toronto Raptors: Khaman Maluach, C, Duke

8. San Antonio Spurs: Asa Newell, PF/C, Georgia

9. Portland Trail Blazers: Jase Richardson, SG, Michigan State

10. Houston Rockets (via PHX): Derik Queen, C, Maryland

11. Miami Heat: Kasparas Jakucionis, PG/SG, Illinois

12. Chicago Bulls: Kon Knueppel, SG/F, Duke

13. Atlanta Hawks (via SAC): Collin Murray-Boyles, PF, South Carolina

14. Dallas Mavericks: Egor Demin, SG/SF, BYU

15. San Antonio Spurs (via ATL): Carter Bryant, SF, Arizona

16. Orlando Magic: Liam McNeeley, SF/PF, Connecticut

17. Minnesota Timberwolves (via DET): Noa Essengue, PF, Ratiopharm Ulm

18. Brooklyn Nets (via MIL): Ben Saraf, PG/SG, Ratiopharm Ulm

19. Oklahoma City (via LAC): Nolan Traore, PG, Saint Quentin

20. Washington Wizards (via MEM): Thomas Sorber, C, Georgetown

21. Utah Jazz (via MIN): Hugo Gonzalez, SF, Real Madrid

22. Indiana Pacers: Will Riley, SF, Illinois

23. Miami Heat (via GS): Nique Clifford, SF/PF, Colorado State

24. Orlando Magic (via DEN): Danny Wolf, PF, Michigan State

25. Atlanta Hawks (via LAL): Rasheer Fleming, PF, Saint Joseph's

26. Brooklyn Nets (via NY): Walter Clayton Jr., PG/SG, Florida

27. Brooklyn Nets (via HOU): Johni Broome, PF/C, Auburn

28. Boston Celtics: JT Toppin, PF, Texas Tech

29. Phoenix Suns (via CLE): Yaxel Lendeborg, PF, UAB

30. LA Clippers (via OKC): Alex Condon, PF/C, Florida

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A late run Saturday night run from Houston stopped Duke stars Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel from getting a shot to play for a national title.

L.J. Cryer, projected as a potential second-round pick in the upcoming draft, put up 26 points to lead Houston to the national championship game with a 70-67 comeback victory.

Flagg still led the Blue Devils with 27 points, while Knueppel contributed 16 points in the loss, to help solidify their potential lottery positions.

Khaman Maluach, who has served as a lob threat for Duke throughout the tournament, has also made his case to become a potential lottery pick.

Flagg, Knueppel and Maluach aren't the only March Madness stars who might have improved their lottery odds this spring despite missing out on the title game.

Texas Tech's run ended with an Elite Eight loss to Florida, but JT Toppin proved to be one of the tournament's most consistent players before then with three straight contests with at least 20 points.

AP national player of the year runner-up Johni Broome meanwhile shone on the national stage by putting up 47 combined points through the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight to lead Auburn to the Final Four.

The potential lottery picks still playing in the NCAA Tournament will now to further boost their draft stock by helping their teams win a title during the April 7 national championship game at the Alamodome in San Antonio.