Five Big 12 Newcomers to Know Before the Upcoming Season

As one of the strongest conferences in college basketball over the past few seasons, the Big 12 remains a very interesting conference filled with several top prospects in the 2025 NBA Draft. Both freshmen and incoming transfers are looking to solidify their position in the upcoming draft as potential first-round picks.

Let’s take a look at the five best new faces in the Big 12 this season:

VJ Edgecombe | Baylor | Defender | 6’5″ | 180 lbs

VJ Edgecombe is one of the most exciting prospects in the 2025 NBA Draft and is expected to compete for a top-3 pick. He has a versatile game and has already shown the ability to play against high levels of competition.

Edgecombe is an explosive athlete who thrives in the open court, rarely backing down from taller defenders who challenge him around the basket. While his jump shot isn’t fully developed yet, his form is solid and he does a great job of getting to his spots. Mid-range pull-ups are currently one of Edgecombe’s most reliable scoring options and bode well for his potential as a long-range shooter.

Defensively, he is a threat on the perimeter and consistently wreaks havoc in the passing lanes and as a primary defender. He seems to be a great fit for Scott Drew at Baylor, which should definitely help his draft prospects.

Egor Demin | BYU | Wing | 6’8″ | 190 pounds

Egor Demin is one of the more unique rookies to make their debuts this season. He combines the play style of a defender with the build of a forward, so it will be interesting to see how he is utilized in the Cougar attack. The most likely scenario for Demin’s first year is that he will serve as a link in the high post and along the wing.

He has one of the highest basketball IQs in the draft class and often makes impressive cross-court passes. Moving around the defense seems like second nature to Demin, although he can sometimes struggle dribbling around faster defenders. He can score from all three levels, but has been a bit inconsistent from three. That should improve quickly for a player of his caliber and could be a significant swing factor for NBA teams.

Defensively, Demin uses his long arms to create problems for opponents. He will need to add weight to compete more effectively in the middle, but he is good in team defenses that rely on midfield.

Joson Sanon | Arizona State | Defender | 6′ 5″ | 185 pounds

Joson Sanon is an electric defender with the potential to develop as a prospect who was reclassified as a high school class of 2024. He is an explosive athlete, but is primarily a threat as a spot-up shooter. Sanon moves very well without the ball and stays ready to shoot.

He attacks the rim aggressively and prefers to finish with two-handed dunks. While he does most of his damage off the ball, Sanon has shown the ability to play as a center with good vision and creative self-creation. It seems unlikely that he will lead the offense much as a freshman, but teams shouldn’t be surprised if he takes on that role at some point this season.

Sanon disrupts opposition attacks at the top of the box and creates opportunities for his team to break through. Running up and down the pitch in transition seems effortless for him and this should carry over seamlessly into his first season.

AJ Storr | Kansas | Wing | 6’7″ | 205 pounds

AJ Storr was one of the top transfers in all of college basketball and found a good fit at Kansas. Playing for one of the best programs in basketball history, Storr should draw more attention this season than he did last year. After earning a spot on the 2024 All-Big Ten Second Team, Storr has laid a solid foundation to build on this upcoming season.

Storr has excellent positional size and versatility for an NBA prospect, but he’ll need to improve his shooting numbers to improve his draft chances. He can score at all three levels and could continue to be productive in a more efficient offensive system at Kansas.

One area that Storr will need to work on is his defensive activity. He gets lost at times and gets beat by the back door too often. When he is fully engaged, he uses his physicality and athleticism to stop the opposition. The defensive side of his game could significantly impact his draft potential, but if he focuses on that aspect, he has a chance to be one of the best seniors taken in the upcoming draft.

JT Toppin | Texas Tech | Forward | 6’9″ | 210 pounds

JT Toppin is one of the top returning sophomores in all of college basketball. Many expected him to enter the draft after his productive freshman season, but a transfer to Texas Tech gives Toppin the opportunity to develop his game and improve his stock ahead of the 2025 draft.

He’s a strong, athletic forward with a very high motor that he uses to fight for offensive rebounds and dunk off the rebound. While he can tower over defenders at times, his strength last season was his soft touch around the rim. He shot a solid 34 percent from distance on limited attempts, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see that improve in his sophomore year. While there’s no direct correlation between free throws and three-point shooting, his 56 percent free throw shooting in his freshman year could be considered an area of ​​concern.

Defensively, Toppin is an anchor in the middle of the park and is a good shot-maker both on and off the ball. He has the mobility to be a switch defender and has impressed with his ability to shut down shooters despite starting deep in the three-second zone.

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