Koby Brea is now a projected 2025 NBA Draft pick

Koby Brea possesses a skill NBA front offices are desperate to find more of. Could it land him a spot in the upcoming NBA Draft?

ESPN’s Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo released an updated version of their 2025 NBA mock draft Wednesday with projections for all 59 picks. Checking in right at the back end of the mock is Brea to the Cleveland Cavaliers with the 58th overall pick. He is the only Kentucky player listed in ESPN’s latest mock.

Brea, a 6-foot-6 fifth-year wing, is averaging 10.8 points and 3.1 rebounds in 25 minutes per outing on shooting splits of 47.2/45.3/82.4. The Dayton transfer is shooting 40.3 percent from deep across 11 SEC games. He’s made at least one three-pointer in every single game this season.

Big Shot @kobybrea 🔥

11 PTS (3-6 3FG) | 2 AST | 2 STL pic.twitter.com/VbH6Q04XZE

— Kentucky Men’s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) February 12, 2025

When you’re not classified as a superstar, the “easiest” way to carve out a role in the NBA is to be elite at one particular thing. Brea has that with his three-point shooting. He’s a career 43.8 percent outside shooter across 137 college games played. Brea has 18 games this season with multiple three-pointers and his streak of making at least one triple is at 39 dating back to last season at Dayton.

On multiple occasions, Brea has stepped up when Kentucky needed him the most. His season-high 23 points came in a high-scoring win over Florida. He dropped 18 points in the Wildcats’ first win over Tennessee and then 11 more in Tuesday night’s rematch victory. Brea posted a career-high six assists against South Carolina and has been praised by head coach Mark Pope as of late for his defense.

“It’s just something I’ve dreamt about as a little kid, being in those moments,” Brea told Andy Katz of NCAA.com after UK beat Tennessee for the second time. “When those moments come around, I jump towards it. That’s something that I want to be a part of and I feel like games like that is what makes you be remembered.”

Due to injuries up and down the roster, Pope is having to great creative with his lineups. That means more ball-handling responsibilities for Brea, who has handled the pressure well. Shooting is clearly his best trait, but there is more to his game and it could just help him hear his name called on draft night.

The 2025 NBA Draft is set for June 25-26.