On this solo episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board Podcast, host Rafael Barlow dives into his biggest questions for the 2024 Champions Classic, featuring tonight’s matchups between Kansas and Michigan State and Duke and Kentucky. Rafael opens by asking which Kansas transfer will step up, noting the team’s new additions and speculating on who might emerge as an NBA prospect. He then shifts focus to Flory Bidunga, questioning whether the Kansas freshman can build his case as a future NBA player with another strong performance. For Michigan State, Rafael ponders who their top NBA prospect is, given the program’s first-round draft drought since 2018, and wonders if Frankie Fidler, the transfer from Omaha, might be the answer.

In the Duke vs. Kentucky showdown, Rafael explores the clash between Kentucky’s experience and Duke’s NBA-ready talent, asking if the Wildcats’ veteran roster can outshine Duke’s projected lottery picks. He also hones in on the sharpshooting duel between Duke’s Kon Knueppel and Kentucky’s Kobe Brea, curious to see who will have the better night from beyond the arc. For Duke’s frontcourt, he questions whether freshman center Khaman Maluach is ready to face Kentucky’s physical Amari Williams. Rafael then raises the question of whether this could be a bounce-back game for Duke’s Tyrese Proctor, who has yet to make the expected sophomore leap and struggled in last year’s Champions Classic.

Continuing with Duke, Rafael wonders if we’ll see highly touted freshman Isaiah Evans, who has yet to find minutes in Duke’s rotation. On Kentucky’s side, he asks if tonight could be the breakout game for Jaxson Robinson, a fifth-year senior Rafael has been high on. Finally, Rafael discusses Duke’s Cooper Flagg, the projected top pick in the 2025 NBA draft, asking if he can live up to the hype under the big-game spotlight and whether he’ll be able to stay on the floor without the cramping issues that have sidelined him early this season. Tune in as Rafael breaks down all these questions and more in a comprehensive preview of tonight’s Champions Classic matchups.

• Which Kansas transfer will step up? – 5:07
• Can Flory Bidunga make his NBA case tonight? – 6:50
• Who is Michigan State's best prospect? – 7:19
• How real is Frankie Fidler's NBA potential? – 9:36
• Kentucky's experience versus Duke's NBA talent – 12:12
• Cooper Flagg's first test – 13:12
• Kon Knueppel versus Kobe Brea – 13:50
• Is Khaman Maluach ready? – 14:27
• Will tonight be a bounce-back game for Tyrese Proctor? – 15:20
• Will we see Isaiah Evans? – 16:32
• Is Jaxson Robinson due for a breakout game? – 18:04
• Can Cooper Flagg live up to the hype? – 19:47

In this episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board podcast, host Rafael and James Barlowe dive into early struggles from two top prospects, VJ Edgecombe and Nolan Traore, who entered the season with top-five potential.

Edgecombe has had a tough start, averaging just 7.5 points per game on 21.7% shooting, though his two games have come against top-ranked opponents. Rafael and James debate whether it’s fair to judge him harshly given the high level of competition or if, as a projected top pick, he should be showing more.

In the second segment, they shift focus to Traore, whose season has been a mix of explosive 20-point games and lackluster performances. They analyze his inconsistent finishing at the rim and up-and-down shooting, highlighting areas for improvement.

Wrapping up, Rafael and James discuss what each prospect needs to work on and whether it’s too early to form conclusions, especially with Traore’s 12 games compared to Edgecombe’s two.

VJ Edgecombe - 1:49

Nolan Traore - 14:28

Areas for improvement - 25:50

In Rookie Watch Volume 8 of the Locked On NBA Big Board Podcast, host Rafael Barlowe and his brother James Barlowe dive into a jam-packed episode analyzing standout rookie performances from the weekend.

They start by breaking down Jared McCain’s breakout 27-point game against the Charlotte Hornets, highlighting McCain’s expanded role due to injuries. Stephon Castle also earns high praise for seizing his opportunity in the starting lineup, showing off his two-way potential.

The Barlowe brothers then discuss Kyshawn George, the Wizards rookie who’s been on a tear, averaging 14 points per game over his last four outings—a bright spot for a Wizards team needing to develop young talent.

The episode heats up as they analyze the much-anticipated matchup between two lottery talents, Zaccharie Risacher and Matas Buzelis. This wasn’t just any matchup; it came with an extra edge after Buzelis publicly called out Risacher in the pre-draft process, adding fuel to an already intriguing rookie rivalry.

They wrap up the episode with a look at the Memphis Grizzlies’ rookie class, which has continued to produce despite injuries to the team’s top three players, helping Memphis to an impressive 7-4 start.

Finally, they touch on Donovan Clingan’s career-high 13 points against the Blazers, underscoring Portland’s struggles as the young center continues to show flashes of his potential in an otherwise challenging season for his team.

Jared McCain -2:43

Stephon Castle - 6:56

Kyshawn George - 13:17

Isaiah Collier - 16:57

Risacher vs Buzelis - 22:44

Grizzlies Rookies - 27:28

Donovan Clingan -29:46

Grizzlies Rookies - 29:58

In this episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board Podcast, hosts Rafael and James Barlowe dive into their Weekend Watchlist Part 2, breaking down key college matchups and prospects.

They start by examining the talents of Tre Johnson and Collin Murray-Boyles, before moving on to the intriguing Michigan-Wake Forest game, featuring standout players Danny Wolf and Hunter Sallis, who’s recently taken on the role of point guard.

The episode continues with a discussion of James Scott, a player Rafael is particularly excited about, facing a tough test against Tennessee.

Finally, Rafael and James turn their attention to Garwey Dual, a prospect they both had high hopes for at the start of his freshman season, but who has struggled to find his footing so far. The hosts weigh in on whether Dual is still an NBA prospect.

2:18 Tre Johnson

4:44 Collin Murray-Boyles

11:53 - Michigan vs Wake Forest

19:18 - James Scott

23:57 - Garwey Dual

In this episode of Locked On NBA Big Board Podcast, hosts Rafael Barlowe and James Barlowe launch the “Weekend Watch” series by diving into a lineup of top prospects and key matchups for the weekend. The Barlowe brothers start by discussing VJ Edgecombe and Baylor’s upcoming game against Arkansas, evaluating Edgecombe’s recent struggles against Gonzaga and what he needs to do to bounce back. They also highlight Arkansas’s Boogie Fland as a prospect to keep an eye on.

Next, they turn to Maryland’s Derik Queen, who posted an impressive 20-point, 20-rebound performance in his debut, and consider what Queen can do as a follow-up. Moving forward, Rafael puts Kasparas Jakucionis on “triple-double watch,” forecasting that he could be the first NBA prospect to notch a triple-double this season. In the following segment, the brothers focus on BYU’s exciting freshman duo, Egor Demin and Kanon Catchings, noting that BYU’s style of play makes them “must-see TV” and could play a role in attracting AJ Dybantsa, the top prospect for the 2026 NBA Draft.

Finally, they wrap up with a breakdown of the Kansas vs. North Carolina showdown, discussing why Kansas lacks a single player in Rafael’s top 50 big board while North Carolina’s top two NBA prospects surprisingly come off the bench.

2:06 - Baylor vs Arkansas

5:54 - VJ Edgecombe

7:46 - Boogie Fland

13:38 - Derik Queen

17:18 - Kasparas Jakucionis

21:45 - BYU must see TV?

29:24 - Kansas vs North Carolina

In this episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board Podcast, Rafael Barlowe and Richard Stayman dive into early impressions on key prospects as the college season kicks off.

They start with Dylan Harper’s debut at Rutgers, where Harper, a projected top-five pick, posted 20 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists, though he played without fellow top prospect Ace Bailey.

While Richard praised Harper’s performance, Rafael raised concerns over Harper’s shooting struggles, turnovers, and a tough free-throw outing (1-for-6).

The conversation then shifts to Ryan Kalkbrenner, who exploded with 49 points, 11 rebounds, and an eye-popping 20-for-22 from the field.

Turning to Arkansas, they analyze Boogie Fland’s team-leading scoring and his heavy diet of pull-up jumpers, a trend Rafael sees as one to monitor.

They also cover DJ Wagner’s early struggles, Rafael’s admiration for Zvonimir Ivisic, and Arkansas freshmen Karter Knox and Billy Richmond. The episode wraps with a critical look at Arkansas’s shooting woes, as the team went just 4-for-19 from three—a potential season-long issue.

Dylan Harper - 3:30

Ryan Kalkbrenner - 10:42

Boogie Fland - 20:53

DJ Wagner - 26:25

Zvonimir Ivisic - 28:43

Karter Knox - 31:18

Billy Richmond - 31:43

In this episode of Locked On NBA Big Board, Rookie Watch Volume 7 Rafael and James Barlowe dive into standout rookie performances from November 6th, starting with Zaccharie Risacher. The first overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, Risacher showed glimpses of his potential with a breakout 33-point night, going 6-for-10 from three. The Barlowe brothers discuss whether any rookie can top Risacher’s performance this season.

The conversation shifts to Matas Buzelis, who seized his first real opportunity for the Chicago Bulls with 13 points, nine rebounds, and two steals. With Patrick Williams struggling, Rafael and James debate whether Buzelis deserves more minutes moving forward.

In the second segment, the focus turns to Jaylen Wells, who’s been efficient as a starter for the Grizzlies. Rafael wonders if Wells can retain his spot once Memphis returns to full strength. They also cover his teammate Zach Edey, who had eight points and seven rebounds in limited minutes against the Lakers, with discussion on his fluctuating role.

Rafael and James then discuss Kel’el Ware, who finally saw action with the Miami Heat, and Ron Holland, who scored eight points and hit two of his three attempts from deep after a tough start to the season. They briefly touch on Ryan Dunn, who saw just nine minutes against the Heat.

The episode wraps up with a look at Reed Sheppard, whom the Barlowe brothers have campaigned to “free” for more playing time. Though he’s getting opportunities, Sheppard hasn’t yet made a major impact. Finally, they discuss Stephon Castle, who continues to struggle with his jumper.

Rafael emphasizes to James that Castle’s style doesn’t resemble Brandon Roy’s, adding depth to their ongoing debate about Castle’s best NBA comparison.

Zaccharie Risacher - 2:10

Matas Buzelis - 6:43

Jaylen Wells -12:19

Zach Edey - 16:46

Ron Holland - 25:08

Ryan Dunn - 29:47

Reed Sheppard- 30:54

Stephon Castle - 32:49

In this episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board Podcast, Rafael Barlowe and Leif Thulin dive into Egor Demin’s impressive debut performance for BYU, where he recorded 18 points, 11 assists, and 4 rebounds in the Cougars’ win over Central Arkansas. Barlowe and Thulin break down Demin’s playmaking and floor vision, discussing whether he showed the potential to be a full-time NBA point guard.

Barlowe particularly emphasizes that Demin made the right choice in committing to BYU, a program that fits his skill set and maximizes his strengths.

He contrasts this with other top prospects who, in his view, have not chosen schools that best showcase their NBA attributes.

The hosts also explore Demin’s draft range and his potential fit with the Utah Jazz, noting the Jazz’s familiarity with Demin and his local college ties as factors that could make him an intriguing option for the team if he’s available at their pick.