In this episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board podcast, host Rafael Barlowe and Leif Thulin dive deep into the North Carolina Tar Heels’ roster, focusing on the highly anticipated freshmen, Drake Powell and Ian Jackson. Despite the buzz around them as NBA prospects, Barlowe and Thulin discuss how both Powell and Jackson may face limited roles this season, with a real possibility of coming off the bench. The hosts analyze whether North Carolina is the best environment for them to showcase their potential as one-and-done candidates, questioning if the program will allow them to maximize their skill sets for the NBA.

The discussion then shifts to sophomore guard Elliot Cadeau, who’s working to improve his draft stock after struggling with his shooting last season, where he hit just 18% from beyond the arc. Leif shares concerns about Cadeau’s NBA future, citing his lack of size and shooting as major obstacles to his pro potential.

In the final segment, they evaluate senior R.J. Davis, who boasts a decorated college career as the ACC Player of the Year but faces his own NBA challenges due to his size. To wrap up, the hosts debate UNC’s chances of competing with Duke and how many first-round prospects might realistically emerge from this Tar Heels roster. A can’t-miss episode for anyone following UNC’s NBA-bound talent!

Freshman NBA prospects - 2:38

Drake Powell - 2:49

Seth Trimble - 4:40

Drake Powell - 5:28

Ian Jackson - 13:18

Elliot Cadeau - 20:06

RJ Davis - 27:38

How many first round picks on UNC’s roster? 33:44

In this episode of Locked on NBA Big Board, the Barlowe brothers, Rafael and James, analyze the latest rookie performances from the 2024 NBA Draft class. They start with a deep dive into the matchup between the Washington Wizards and Atlanta Hawks, where French rookies Zaccharie Risacher and Alex Sarr squared off. Sarr made his presence felt defensively, recording four blocks, a steal, and nine points, despite struggling offensively. Risacher, meanwhile, impressed with a career-high 17 points.

Washington’s Bub Carrington stole the show, earning “Rookie of the Night” honors for the second episode in a row, with 16 points, six rebounds, and six assists. Fellow Wizards rookie Kyshawn George also contributed with 11 points and four assists in his start.

In the second segment, the Barlowe brothers focus on Oklahoma City’s Ajay Mitchell, who’s surprising role with the Thunder. Mitchell scored 12 points, four rebounds, and two assists in OKC’s win over the San Antonio Spurs. They then discuss Stephon Castle’s struggles and evolving role with the Spurs due to his limited shooting.

Memphis rookie Zach Edey showed efficiency against the Nets and the host cover his fluctuating minutes, and fellow Grizzlies rookie Jaylen Wells continues to find minutes, though his role may change once the team is healthy. Donovan Clingan stayed productive for the Blazers, putting up seven points and six boards in limited minutes.

The Barlowe brothers also cover Toronto’s rookies, highlighting Jamal Shead and Jonathan Mobo’s solid contributions. Shead leads all rookies in assists this season, dishing out nine against the Hornets. Sixers rookie Jared McCain had his best game of the season in a loss to the Pistons, where he matched up against Ron Holland.

Wrapping up, they discuss Lakers rookies Dalton Knecht, who scored 18 points in a tough loss, and Bronny James, who recorded his first career basket in his hometown of Cleveland.

Zaccharie Risacher vs Alex Sarr 2 - 1:37

Zaccharie Risacher - 2:03

Alex Sarr - 4:35

Bub Carrington - 7:21

Kyshawn George - 10:23

What’s wrong with Wemby? 13:29

Ajay Mitchell - 14:54

Stephon Castle - 17:11

Zach Edey - 19:45

Jaylen Wells - 22:40

Donovan Clingan - 23:22

Ron Holland - 25:01

Jared McCain - 26:16

Jonathan Mogbo - 28:00

Jamal Shead - 28:51

Dalton Knecht - 31:06

Bronny James - 32:07

Rookie of the night - 33:58

In this episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board podcast, hosts Rafael Barlowe and Leif Thulin dive deep into the new era of Kentucky basketball under head coach Mark Pope, who has replaced the legendary John Calipari. Known for his one-and-done talent pipeline to the NBA, Calipari helped shape Kentucky into a powerhouse that churned out 50 NBA draft picks, including 25 lottery selections over his 15-year tenure.

But this season, the Wildcats look different. Pope has constructed one of Kentucky’s most experienced rosters ever, relying on veteran transfers and seasoned players instead of projected first-round picks. Rafael and Leif break down how this transformation signals a shift in Kentucky’s identity, with a lineup that includes high-impact transfers like Jaxson Robinson, Koby Brea, and Amari Williams.

As the duo analyzes what Kentucky’s new approach could mean for the Wildcats’ season and beyond, they discuss how Pope’s transfer-heavy strategy could impact Kentucky’s play style, NCAA tournament prospects, and future recruiting.

Join Rafael and Leif as they explore whether Kentucky’s pivot from NBA-ready talent to veteran leadership will pay off and if this marks the start of a long-term evolution for Big Blue Nation.

Calipari’s Legacy - 3:41

Will Kentucky have a first round pick?

Jaxson Robinson - 5:12

Fans reaction to change of philosophy? 6:21

Expectations for 2024-25 - 8:23

Jaxson Robinson - 11:43

Collin Chandler - 17:00

Kobe Brea - 20:20

Travis Perry - 24:02

Amari Williams - 25:34

Brandon Garrison - 28:23

Otega Oweh - 30:03

In Rookie Watch Vol. 2, Rafael and James Barlowe analyze Monday night’s rookie performances, opening with the highly anticipated but ultimately underwhelming matchup between top picks Zaccharie Risacher and Alex Sarr. The French duo struggled, combining for just 4-19 shooting with nine fouls, raising questions about Sarr’s shot selection and his tendency to settle for threes rather than attacking the paint.

The brothers debate whether Sarr’s issues are due to Washington’s lackluster point guard play and revisit his choice to force his way to the Wizards over a potential fit with the Hawks.

They then tackle Reed Sheppard’s dwindling minutes, analyze Stephon Castle’s clutch-time usage despite turnovers, and continue comparing Castle’s game to Brandon Roy. Donovan Clingan’s efficiency, Zach Edey’s newfound three-point attempts, and Jaylen Wells’ emergence in Memphis are also on the agenda.

The episode wraps with a rundown of the night’s standout rookies, with Bub Carrington earning “rookie of the night” honors, and an update on the current rookie stat leaders.

Risacher vs Sarr - 1:45

Zaccharie Risacher - 2:30

Alex Sarr - 3:15

Zaccharie Risacher - 9:23

Reed Sheppard - 13:08

Stephon Castle - 15:22

Ron Holland - 17:39

Donovan Clingan - 18:03

Zach Edey - 19:45

Jaylen Wells - 20:58

Cody Williams - 22:26

Matas Buzelis - 23:38

Kel'el Ware - 23:51

Kyshawn George - 24:16

Dalton Knecht - 26:00

Ryan Dunn - 26:11

Raptors Rookies - 27:45

Jamal Shead - 28:33

Bub Carrington - 29:21

In this episode of Locked On NBA Big Board, Rafael and James Barlowe dive into the early challenges facing the 2024 rookie class just a few games into the NBA season. Rafael kicks things off by testing James’s knowledge on which rookie currently leads the class in scoring through three games—setting the tone for a deep breakdown of the rookie landscape.

The brothers first spotlight the Raptors’ rookie class, praising Jamison Battle, Jamal Shead, and Jonathan Mogbo for delivering early impacts. Their solid play stands out among a group where consistency has been rare, and the Barlowe brothers highlight why this trio might just give Toronto a boost this season.

Next, they discuss the top picks from the 2024 draft: Zaccharie Risacher and Alex Sarr. While Sarr’s shot selection draws criticism from James, Rafael is quick to commend Risacher’s poised performance against the Thunder in his first NBA start—a sign he could be finding his footing early. The conversation also covers the frustration with Reed Sheppard’s limited minutes and Rob Dillingham’s DNP-CD’s, both of whom are battling for opportunities in a crowded rookie field.

Donovan Clingan and Zach Edey get their share of attention as well. Clingan’s defensive potential has flashed brightly, though Edey’s foul trouble—and Jay Huff’s emerging role—are already starting to eat into his minutes. To close out, they touch on Ryan Dunn’s surprising consistency as a shooter, showing that some rookies are already making strides in key areas.

Leading scorers among rookies? - 2:58

Jamal Shead 3:18

Jamison Battle - 3:25

Jonathan Mogbo - 4:37

Reed Sheppard - 7:37

Rob Dillingam - 10:04

Zaccharie Risacher & Alex Sarr

Risacher - 12:15

Sarr - 14:55

Bub Carrington - 18:28

Stephon Castle - 22:14

Donovan Clingan - 27:15

Zach Edey - 30:17

Dalton Knecht - 35:25

Ryan Dunn - 38:50

In this episode, of the Locked On NBA Big Board podcast Rafael and James Barlowe dive into the much-anticipated rookie debuts from the 2024 NBA Draft Class.

The Barlowe Brothers break down the standout performance of Yves Missi, who shined for the New Orleans Pelicans, scoring 12 points, pulling down 7 rebounds, and recording 3 blocks in an impressive debut. On the flip side, they discuss Zach Edey’s rough start, where he fouled out in just 15 minutes and became a focal point of the Utah Jazz’s game plan.

The episode also touches on the debut performances of top overall pick Zaccharie Risacher , Reed Sheppard, Tidjane Salaun, Ron Holland, Donovan Clingan, and others. The brothers analyze the early struggles of several rookies who are finding it tough to break into their teams’ rotations. It’s a deep dive into what these debuts reveal about this year’s draft class and the challenges rookies face in adapting to the NBA.

Thanks for listening to Locked on NBA Big Board!

Yves Missi - 2:45

Zaccharie Risacher - 5:37

Reed Sheppard - 6:41

Ron Holland - 8:57

Tidjane Salaun - 12:43

Donovan Clingan - 14:32

Zach Edey 15:50

Matas Buzelis - 22:35

Cody Williams - 25:22

Jared McCain - 26:40

Kel'el Ware - 27:37

Jaylen Wells - 29:44

Jaylon Tyson - 33:28

Tristan da Silva - 33:58

Ryan Dunn - 34:27

On the latest Locked On NBA Big Board episode, hosts Rafael and James Barlowe dive into the uncertain futures of 2021 lottery picks Davion Mitchell, Ziaire Williams, James Bouknight, Josh Primo, and Chris Duarte, all of whom are entering pivotal make-or-break seasons.

With the rookie extension deadline passing, these five players find themselves still surrounded by uncertainty, unlike several of their peers from the 2021 class who secured new deals.

Rafael and James discuss the varied factors contributing to each player’s struggles, from shooting issues and inconsistent roles to off-court challenges. They also touch on Kai Jones who faces a similarly uncertain path this year. As these players transition to new teams in search of fresh starts, Rafael and James evaluate what’s at stake for them in the 2024-25 season and explore whether a change of scenery can help alter their career trajectories.

Davion Mitchell - 5:35

Ziaire Williams - 12:12

James Bouknight- 21:28

Josh Primo - 27:34

Chris Duarte - 30:28

Kai Jones - 31:54

In the latest Locked On NBA Big Board Podcast, the crew—Rafael Barlowe, James Barlowe, Leif Thulin, and Richard Stayman—dive into their 2025 NBA rookie predictions. They cover a range of topics, including their picks for Rookie of the Year and selections for both the first and second All-Rookie teams. The discussion also explores how many rookies will earn starting spots on opening night and speculates on first-rounders likely heading to the NBA G League. Additionally, the team weighs in on the number of rookies expected to play significant minutes on playoff-contending teams. The episode wraps up with predictions about which second-round picks might outplay expectations and secure rotation roles.

Is the 2024 NBA Draft class as bad as people say? - 2:45

Rookie of the Year predictions - 6:32

First Team All-Rookie

James - 11:33

Leif - 11:52

Richard - 13:07

Second Team All-Rookie

Leif - 15:45

James - 15:54

Richard - 16:24

Rookies to start on opening night? - 17:05

Tidjane Saluan - 19:41

Utah Jazz tanking or predictions - 20:17

First lottery pick or first round pick to be sent to G-League? - 23:59

Rookies to play rotation minutes on a playoff team? - 30:54

Which 2nd round pick will make a splash? - 34:45