Preseason basketball buzz: Inside my trips to Rutgers, Duke, UNC and UConn

The men’s college basketball regular season begins Nov. 4, and teams are already hitting the practice courts in preparation for the 2024-25 season. In looking ahead to how the college basketball season impacts the 2025 NBA draft, I went on the road for a university tour, ultimately hitting four programs that are sure to impact the college season and the draft.

All eyes will be on Duke’s Cooper Flagg, a freshman who is projected to be the No. 1 pick in ESPN’s latest mock draft, as well as two top-five projected prospects in Dylan Harper and Airious “Ace” Bailey at Rutgers. Drake Powell, a 6-foot-6 wing at North Carolina, will undoubtedly be a projected top-10 pick in our next mock draft. And let’s not forget about the defending champions UConn Huskies, who have three potential first-rounders in Liam McNeeley, Jaylin Stewart and Alex Karaban.

I talked to players, coaches, execs and scouts along the way, and here’s what I learned:

Jump to a team’s notes:
Rutgers: NBA eyes on Piscataway
Duke: Lottery picks in Durham
UNC: Scouts are back in Chapel Hill
UConn: Three-peat in Storrs?
2025 NBA mock draft | Way-Too-Early Top 25

Location: Piscataway, New Jersey
Date visited: Friday, Sept. 27

How will the Scarlet Knights be different from last year’s team?