The 2024 NBA draft may still be ongoing, but basketball enthusiasts and analysts are already looking ahead to next year's draft. CBS Sports has recently released an early mock draft for the 2025 NBA draft, and it includes two players from Indiana's 2024-25 roster - Kanaan Carlyle and Mackenzie Mgbako.

Carlyle, a sophomore transfer from Stanford, has caught the attention of CBS Sports with his versatile scoring abilities. While acknowledging that he can be inconsistent as a shooter, CBS notes that Carlyle becomes a formidable scoring threat when he is locked in and playing efficiently. As a result, the talented player has been projected as the 19th pick in the early mock draft.

Mgbako, who was named the Big Ten co-freshman of the year last season, also makes the list of potential first-round picks. His standout performance in the conference has earned him a spot in CBS's early projections, where he comes in at No. 22.

The Big Ten conference is well-represented in the early mock draft, with several other players also being listed as potential first-round picks. Rutgers' incoming freshman, Ace Bailey, takes the second spot, while his teammate Dylan Harper is projected as the fourth pick. Oregon's Kwame Evans Jr., Ohio State's Aaron Bradshaw, and Oregon's Jackson Shelstad are also included in the mock draft at No. 11, No. 20, and No. 24, respectively.

The 2025 NBA mock draft by CBS Sports offers an intriguing glimpse into the upcoming talent that could make waves in the league. The top two players in 247Sports' rankings, Cooper Flagg, and Ace Bailey, are predicted to battle it out for the coveted top spot in next year's draft.

While it is still early in the process, these projections provide basketball fans with an exciting preview of the potential stars to watch out for in the 2025 NBA draft. As the college basketball season unfolds, it will be interesting to see how these prospects progress and whether they can live up to the early expectations placed upon them.