NBA Draft Junkies Podcast

James Barlowe, Rafael Barlowe
  • 5.0 (6)
  • Basketball
  • Updated Weekly

Hosted by brothers Rafael and James Barlowe, the NBA Draft Junkies Podcast delivers sharp, unfiltered insight into the world of NBA Draft prospects and beyond. With years of scouting experience and a deep passion for player development, the Barlowe brothers break down film, evaluate future stars, and offer unique perspectives you won’t find anywhere else. From high school standouts to international risers, this is your go-to source for all things NBA Draft

  1. 1d ago

    Can Michael Malone Unlock Neoklis Avdalas’ Untapped Potential?

    Neoklis Avdalas entered his freshman season at Virginia Tech as a prospect Rafael and James were extremely high on, largely because there just aren't many players his size who can do some of the things he can do with the basketball.  But his freshman season wasn't always smooth. Avdalas averaged 12 points and 4.6 assists per game, showing plenty of flashes while also dealing with the inconsistencies that can come with adjusting to college basketball. Now he gets a fresh start at North Carolina. In this episode, Rafael and James revisit why they were so high on Avdalas entering college, what they learned from his freshman season and what they need to see from him in Year 2.  Most importantly, they discuss whether North Carolina and Michael Malone can finally unlock enough of Avdalas' untapped potential to put him firmly back on the NBA Draft radar.   #NeoklisAvdalas #UNC #UNCBasketball #TarHeels #CarolinaBasketball #GoHeels #MichaelMalone #2027NBADraft #NBADraft #NBADraft2027 #NBADraftJunkies #NBADraftProspects #NBAProspects #NBAScouting #DraftProspects #CollegeBasketball #CollegeHoops #ACCBasketball #BasketballScouting #NBADraftAnalysis

  2. 2d ago

    Let’s Talk 2027 NBA Draft: LIVE Q&A + Mailbag

    Tonight is all about your questions. Rafael and James are going LIVE on YouTube and Facebook for an NBA Draft Junkies Mailbag, taking questions directly from the audience about the 2027 NBA Draft and more. Which prospects are we too high or too low on? Who are the potential sleepers? Which returning players could make a major jump? Which freshmen could emerge as lottery picks? And who belongs in the conversation at the top of the draft? There’s no set prospect tonight. You control the conversation. Drop your questions in the live chat, give us your takes, challenge our evaluations and tell us which prospects you want to discuss. Rafael and James will be reading comments and answering questions throughout the show. If you love talking NBA Draft, scouting and prospects, pull up and join the conversation.

  3. 3d ago

    Can Tounde Yessoufou Improve His NBA Draft Stock at St. John’s?

    Tounde Yessoufou entered college with plenty of expectations as a McDonald’s All-American, and it didn't take long for him to establish himself as one of the country's most productive freshmen. Yessoufou averaged 17.8 points per game at Baylor and set the program's freshman single-season scoring record, showing the physicality, athleticism and scoring ability that had made him such a highly regarded prospect coming out of high school. But instead of making the jump to the NBA, Yessoufou is returning to college and beginning a new chapter at St. John’s. After becoming one of the most coveted players in the transfer portal, he'll now have an opportunity to build on an already productive freshman season while showing scouts that there are additional layers to his game. That's what makes his sophomore season particularly interesting from an NBA Draft perspective. We already know Yessoufou can score and physically compete at the college level. So what does he need to show now? Can he become a more consistent shooter? Can he improve as a decision-maker and creator? Can he impact games when the ball isn't in his hands? And can he turn another year of college basketball into a significant jump in his NBA Draft stock? In this episode of NBA Draft Junkies Live, Rafael and James break down Yessoufou's freshman season at Baylor, his scouting profile, his move to St. John’s and what they want to see from him as a sophomore. They also discuss one of the bigger questions surrounding returning prospects: When you've already been one of the most productive young players in college basketball, how much can coming back to school actually change the way NBA teams evaluate you?   #ToundeYessoufou #StJohnsBasketball #StJohns #RedStorm #SJUBasketball #BaylorBasketball #2027NBADraft #NBADraft #NBADraft2027 #NBADraftJunkies #NBADraftProspects #NBAScouting #NBAProspects #DraftProspects #CollegeBasketball #CollegeHoops #BigEastBasketball #McDonaldsAllAmerican #TransferPortal #BasketballScouting #NBADraftAnalysis

  4. 4d ago

    Is Sayon Keita the Center With the Most Upside in the 2027 Draft Class?

    North Carolina freshman Sayon Keita enters the 2026–27 season as one of the more intriguing young big men to watch in the 2027 NBA Draft. The seven-footer from Mali arrives in Chapel Hill after developing in FC Barcelona’s youth system, where he was able to gain valuable experience in one of the best developmental environments in European basketball, including opportunities around Barcelona’s senior team and minutes against professional competition. What makes Keita especially interesting from an NBA Draft perspective is the combination of size, youth, experience and long-term upside. He will still be only 19 years old around the time of the 2027 NBA Draft, giving teams plenty of developmental runway. And in a draft class that could be relatively thin when it comes to first-round centers, Keita may not have to become the most productive big man in college basketball to establish himself as one of the most coveted center prospects in the class. In this episode, Rafael and James break down Keita's background and scouting profile, what his experience in Barcelona could mean for his transition to college basketball, the areas of his game that still need development and what a successful freshman season at North Carolina should look like. They also tackle the bigger NBA Draft questions: Could Sayon Keita be the first center selected in the 2027 NBA Draft? Does he have legitimate lottery upside? And how much production will he actually need at North Carolina for NBA teams to bet on his youth, physical tools and long-term potential?   #SayonKeita #UNCBasketball #UNC #TarHeels #CarolinaBasketball #GoHeels #2027NBADraft #NBADraft #NBADraft2027 #NBADraftJunkies #NBADraftProspects #NBAScouting #NBAProspects #DraftProspects #NBADraftLottery #CollegeBasketball #CollegeHoops #ACCBasketball #FCBarcelona #BarcelonaBasketball #EuroLeague #ACB #BasketballScouting #NBADraftAnalysis #NBADraftBigs

  5. 5d ago

    From the NBA to College Basketball: Monta Ellis Takes Over as Alcorn State GM

    Timestamps 00:42 — Rafael's first time watching Monta Ellis play 04:03 — Why Monta wanted to become GM of Alcorn State men's basketball 05:55 — The golden era of Mississippi basketball in the '90s and early 2000s 08:03 — Monta's game, his development on Mississippi playgrounds & his early Golden State Warriors years 10:05 — How Monta's basketball experience prepared him for the Alcorn State GM role 15:19 — How NIL has changed college sports and the recruiting landscape 19:00 — Balancing roster building, fundraising & improving Alcorn State's basketball facilities 23:15 — How being the father of a high-level young player helps Monta relate to today's athletes 25:15 — Josh Powell choosing Alcorn State despite offers from bigger programs 27:30 — Monta's recruiting pitch: Why high school prospects should consider Alcorn State

  6. Sep 12

    Are We Sleeping on Arkansas’ J.J. Andrews? Why He Belongs in the Top 5 Conversation

    J.J. Andrews has done a lot of winning. The Arkansas freshman arrives in Fayetteville after a decorated high school and grassroots career that included multiple state championships and back-to-back Peach Jam titles with Brad Beal Elite. He was also named the 2025 Nike EYBL MVP. His high school is even more impressive. As a senior at Little Rock Christian Academy, Andrews averaged 30.7 points, 16.9 rebounds and 3.0 assists, while adding 1.9 steals and 1.5 blocks per game and shooting 62% from the floor. Add in his positional size, athleticism, physicality and winning background, and there's an obvious question: Why isn't J.J. Andrews being discussed more prominently among the elite prospects in the 2027 NBA Draft? On NBA Draft Junkies Live, Rafael and James break down Andrews' NBA tools, his incredible production, how he'll fit into a loaded Arkansas roster and whether he has a legitimate path from highly regarded freshman to dark-horse top-five pick. #JJAndrews #ArkansasBasketball #ArkansasRazorbacks #Razorbacks #WPS #2027NBADraft #NBADraft #NBADraft2027 #NBADraftJunkies #NBADraftProspects #NBAScouting #NBAProspects #DraftProspects #Top5Pick #NBADraftLottery #NBADraftSleeper #CollegeBasketball #CollegeHoops #SECBasketball #BradBealElite #NikeEYBL #EYBL #PeachJam #BasketballScouting #NBADraftAnalysis

  7. Sep 11

    Duke Is Loaded, But Is Patrick Ngongba II Their Best 2027 NBA Draft Prospect?

    Patrick Ngongba II entered his sophomore season needing to prove he could take a significant step forward...and that's exactly what he did. After averaging just 3.9 points as a freshman, the Duke center jumped to 10.0 points and 5.7 rebounds per game while shooting 60.5% from the field. His season was interrupted by a foot injury in February, however, raising an interesting question about what his draft decision might have looked like had he remained healthy while playing some of his best basketball. Rafael already viewed Ngongba as a first-round talent last season. Now he's returning to a loaded Duke roster with another opportunity to improve his stock. On NBA Draft Junkies Live, Rafael and James break down Ngongba's development, his role on this Duke team and how his combination of strength, touch, physicality and interior play translates to today's NBA. And with several NBA prospects in Durham, we ask the bigger question: Could Patrick Ngongba II actually be the first Duke player selected in the 2027 NBA Draft? #PatrickNgongba #PatrickNgongbaII #DukeBasketball #DukeMBB #DukeBlueDevils #GoDuke #TheBrotherhood #2027NBADraft #NBADraft #NBADraft2027 #NBADraftJunkies #NBADraftProspects #NBAScouting #NBAProspects #DraftProspects #NBADraftFirstRound #CollegeBasketball #CollegeHoops #ACCBasketball #BasketballScouting #NBADraftAnalysis

  8. Sep 10

    Is the Quentin Coleman Hype Real?

    Quentin Coleman's name has been gaining serious momentum entering his freshman season at Illinois. The 6'4" guard averaged 23.1 points, 6.1 rebounds and 3.9 assists as a senior, earned Gatorade Missouri Player of the Year honors and led Principia to a second consecutive state championship. He also helped Brad Beal Elite win the Nike EYBL Peach Jam championship and earned a spot on USA Basketball's U18 national team. Shooting is the obvious attraction.  Coleman shot 50% from three during his senior season and around 39% during EYBL play. James believes Coleman has a chance to become Illinois' latest one and done NBA prospect. On NBA Draft Junkies Live, Rafael and James break down the growing hype, his NBA strengths and weaknesses, his potential role at Illinois and whether he'll get enough opportunity to turn the preseason buzz into legitimate first-round consideration. #QuentinColeman #IllinoisBasketball #Illini #FightingIllini #IlliniBasketball #EveryDayGuys #2027NBADraft #NBADraft #NBADraft2027 #NBADraftJunkies #NBADraftProspects #NBAScouting #NBAProspects #DraftProspects #NBADraftSleeper #OneAndDone #CollegeBasketball #CollegeHoops #BigTenBasketball #BradBealElite #NikeEYBL #PeachJam #BasketballScouting #NBADraftAnalysis

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

Hosted by brothers Rafael and James Barlowe, the NBA Draft Junkies Podcast delivers sharp, unfiltered insight into the world of NBA Draft prospects and beyond. With years of scouting experience and a deep passion for player development, the Barlowe brothers break down film, evaluate future stars, and offer unique perspectives you won’t find anywhere else. From high school standouts to international risers, this is your go-to source for all things NBA Draft

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