THE FIRST round of the 2025 NBA Draft saw some expected selections, as well as some surprises, meaning there is still plenty of value heading into the second night of action on Friday morning AEST.

Mock drafts were thrown out the window with some bolters and sliders seriously shaking up the draft order, with plenty of expected first round selections still on the board heading into the final 30 picks of the intake.

With that in mind, Rookie Me Central will be running you through five players who are still on the board and could be worth a selection early in the second round, particularly in the first 10 picks.

Rasheer Fleming – Saint Joseph’s Hawks

Fleming was expected by many to be a first round selection, with the forward bringing plenty of heart and hustle whenever he hits the basketball court. He has an immense amount of value in the frontcourt, and although he does not have a huge amount of skill on the offensive end just yet, the upside is certainly there, and he more than makes up for it with an excellent level of effort and intensity, often lifting his teammates with big plays defensively. Expect him to be one of the first players off the board in the second round.

Maxime Raynaud – Stanford Cardinal

Another big man who has plenty of value, particularly in the modern game, Raynaud could be added to a team that needs someone to play considerable minutes early in their career. The center has shown the ability to stretch the floor, proving a consistent perimeter presence, and he is also a connective passer, often opening up the play with clever passes out of the post. He has the versatility to join just about any roster in the competition, and can be a productive frontcourt contributor on the offensive end early in his tenure.

Ryan Kalkbrenner – Creighton Bluejays

Yet another frontcourt player yet to be drafted, Kalkbrenner (like the players mentioned above) suffered from the trend of the first round that saw heavy favour towards guards and wings, as it was a proven strategy for this year’s finalists in the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers. Regardless, he has plenty to offer as a big man prospect, and is a mature aged recruit, so he has the tools to impact just about immediately. He is a two-way center who can impact on both sides of the ball, and should use his experience in his favour in the early years of his career.

Noah Penda – Le Mans Sarthe Basket

A forward who has a balanced skillset that should be able to fit in with any team, regardless of the roster build, Penda was predicted to be taken late in the first round, ideally by a side that is currently in the championship window. With impressive basketball IQ, an ability to do the little things to contribute to winning, and a selfless style of play, Penda is exactly what contending sides are looking for in the draft, and will be a value selection in the second round.

Adou Thiero – Arkansas Razorbacks

A handy bench piece for teams looking to improve their secondary unit production in the coming seasons, Thiero could be a welcome addition for a number of sides in the NBA. He is a damaging player when slashing to the hoop, and can put plenty of pressure on the rim with ball in hand, while also proving a solid playmaker. Defensively, he can hold his own against bigs and guards, and although he has improvement to make on the shooting front, he is worth one of the first selections in the second round tomorrow.