SNAPSHOT

A wing who shows plenty of grit, toughness, and can seemingly do it all, Nique Clifford is a mature age draft option ahead of the 2025 NBA Draft, and will certainly tempt teams inside the top 25 with his versatile game style.

Although he is older than most of his peers in the draft class, the wing is a jack of all trades operator, and is certainly capable of contributing almost immediately, which will make him a tempting option for teams in the championship window.

DRAFT PROFILE

Growing up in Colorado, Clifford attended The Vanguard School and put himself on the map with some excellent performances playing for the school's team. He was named the Colorado Gatorade Player of the Year for his efforts, after averaging 26.3 points and 13.7 rebounds per game.

Clifford then committed to playing for Colorado at NCAA level, opting to stay in his home state and play for his local school. He did receive offers from other schools however, including Stanford, Wyoming, Denver, Northern Colorado and Colorado State.

He spent his first two years with the Colorado Buffaloes, earning a spot in the starting lineup in his second season before entering the NCAA Transfer Portal, heading to the Colorado State Rams, where he truly began to make an impact.

Throughout his final season with the Rams, Clifford posted numbers of 18.9 points, 9.6 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 1.2 steals and 0.6 blocks and shooting 49.6 per cent from the field, 37.7 per cent from the three-point line and 77.7 per cent from the charity stripe.

STRENGTHS

+ Versatility as a defender
+ Rebounding
+ Three-level scoring
+ Playmaking

IMPROVEMENTS

- Lack of experience against top teams
- Age

Clifford is a truly versatile prospect, particularly on the defensive end, showing the ability to guard all five positions and switch as necessary. He has the speed to stay in front of players on the perimeter as well as the strength to consistently contest shots inside the paint.

For his size and position, Clifford is an excellent rebounder, using his vertical leap and timing to get first hands on the ball. He often starts fast breaks with huge defensive rebounds and rebounds above his height, becoming a consistent double-double threat.

Clifford is a genuine three-level scorer, making himself a truly dangerous prospect on the offensive side of the ball as well. Whether it is driving inside and finishing at the cup, pulling up from midrange or nailing a catch and shoot triple, he is a serious scoring threat.

Unfortunately, he was unable to test his skills against some of the top prospects as the Rams did not play against the top schools, but there is no better time to showcase his skills against the best than at the top level in the coming years.

DRAFT PROJECTION: First round

Clifford is a genuinely balanced prospect, showing the ability to impact on both sides of the ball and looks ready to impact at the top level. At 23 years of age, he won't take much developing, which may entice teams to select him inside the top 25.