Unexpected Tar Heel Cracks Lottery in ESPN’s 2025 NBA Mock Draft
In a surprising twist, North Carolina Tar Heels forward Jae’lyn Withers has emerged as a projected lottery pick in ESPN’s latest 2025 NBA mock draft, turning heads across the college basketball world.
Withers, a senior transfer from Louisville who saw limited action in the 2023–24 season, was hardly on the radar of most NBA scouts entering the year. Averaging modest numbers and playing a supporting role in Hubert Davis’ rotation, Withers wasn’t expected to make such a leap. However, following a breakout performance at the G League Elite Camp and an eye-opening summer league stint, his stock has skyrocketed.
Scouts now rave about his elite defensive versatility, improved perimeter shooting, and NBA-ready frame. Measuring 6-foot-9 with a 7-foot wingspan, Withers has shown the ability to switch across positions, shoot the three at a consistent clip, and guard elite wings and forwards. His recent workouts have reportedly impressed multiple front offices, drawing comparisons to NBA role players like Dorian Finney-Smith and Jaden McDaniels—valuable glue guys in today’s league.
“He’s a late bloomer,” one anonymous scout told ESPN. “But his physical tools and defensive IQ are hard to ignore. He’s the type of player that winning teams love to plug in early.”
The Tar Heels, coming off a deep tournament run, were expected to send at least one player to the first round—likely point guard Elliot Cadeau or wing Harrison Ingram. But Withers’ leap into the lottery range has caught even UNC fans off guard. His rise also speaks to the increasing volatility of modern draft boards, where experience, size, and two-way potential are increasingly prioritized over raw upside.
Withers’ rise is a testament to the power of development and fit. While he never lit up the scoreboard at Chapel Hill, his quiet consistency and defensive commitment are finally getting the recognition they deserve. His draft stock may also benefit from the relative weakness of the 2025 class, which lacks surefire superstar prospects.
If the projections hold, Withers would become one of the more improbable lottery picks in recent memory—proof that hard work, the right system, and good timing can still rewrite a narrative.
Whether he goes 9th or slips to the late teens, one thing is clear: Jae’lyn Withers’ NBA dream is alive and well, and he’s no longer under anyone’s radar.
