Clemson big man Viktor Lakhin has a big week ahead of him.
After transferring from Cincinnati to Clemson for the 2024-25 season, Lakhin molded himself into an NBA Draft prospect and with the event taking place on Wednesday, June 25, he could hear his name called, becoming the latest Tiger to be selected.
Although Chase Hunter may have been the team's best player this past season and Ian Schieffelin was considered the most valuable big, neither has been included in many (if any) mocks. Well, Hunter may be a potential draft prospect but Schieffelin decided to hang up the Jordans for cleats and shoulder pads as he chose to pursue football for his final year of eligibility.
Lakhin, however, is projected to be selected, even after suffering an injury following the season which required him to miss a lot of the draft process.
It has affected his stock a bit, but some mocks still have him going late in the second round.
Where do some of the top 2025 NBA Mock Drafts have Lakhin getting drafted?
ESPN's Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo have Lakhin getting selected No. 51 overall in the second round by the Los Angeles Clippers. This would be an interesting pick but he could join forces with James Harden and Kawhi Leonard in Los Angeles and become a solid inside-out big.
Yahoo! Sports has Lakhin going No. 53 overall to the Utah Jazz in the second round. That wouldn't be an ideal spot because Utah is one of the league's worst teams, but he could be in the same mold as Lauri Markkanen who's a 7-foot forward (Lakhin stands 6-foot-11).
While Hunter and Jaeden Zackery may not be drafted, Lakhin could carry the torch for the Tigers and be Brad Brownell's latest NBA Draft pick this week.