The 2025 Baha Mar Championship is in its fifth season. Despite being a relatively new tournament and a four-team field, the Baha Mar Championship has become one of the top men’s tournaments. The event will take place on Nov. 21 and 22.
The 2025 Baha Mar Championship features the Memphis Tigers, Purdue Boilermakers, Texas Tech Red Raiders, and Wake Forest Demon Deacons. Tennessee is the most recent champion, though the ACC ( Louisville, Miami, Fla.) has the most titles with two. This year is the first season that a Big Ten squad has been invited to participate in the event.
Analyzing The Baha Mar Championship and Examining The Top NBA Prospects in The Event
Memphis and No. 1 Purdue will open the event at 6:00 p.m. (ET). No. 11 Texas Tech and Wake Forest immediately follow. All four teams will play on Friday as well, with the winners competing for the title. CBS Sports Network will televise the event.
Purdue (4-0) has rolled through its first four games, including a big victory over top-10-ranked Alabama. Fletcher Loyer, Braden Smith, and Trey Kaufman-Renn lead the way for the Boilermakers.
Memphis (1-2) has a whole new roster, which includes 13 DI transfers. While the Tigers have shown flashes offensively, they have also demonstrated defensive inconsistencies and a lack of cohesion. Senior guards Sincere Parker and Dug McDaniel lead the way for the Tigers.
Texas Tech (3-1) bounced back from a narrow loss to Illinois with a 17-point victory over Milwaukee on Friday. The Red Raiders have been rolling offensively, but questions remain about their defense. JT Toppin, averaging 24 points and 11 rebounds, is the player to watch, though sophomore Christian Anderson (19 points and nine assists) is the driver of the offense.
Wake Forest (3-1) would be undefeated if not for a narrow loss to Michigan (85-84 OT). Six-foot-7 sophomore forward Juke Harris has been sensational in the early going of year two, averaging 21.8 points and 7.2 rebounds. Myles Col
Ranking The NBA Prospects In The Baha Mar Championship
1. JT Toppin, Texas Tech
The reigning Big 12 POY couldn’t have gotten off to a better start this season as he opened the campaign with two 30-point double-doubles, including producing 35 points, 11 rebounds, and three blocks against Illinois. The 6-9 big man is projected as a late first-rounder or early second-rounder pick due to his athleticism, rebounding instincts, and defensive presence. But his shooting and limited offensive game are question marks. A career 32% three-point shooter, he is just 1 of 6 from deep this year.
2. Braden Smith, Purdue
Smith is the Boilermakers’ top NBA prospect, and the one player NBA scouts are most interested in. Projected as a late first-round or early second-round selection, the 2025 Big Ten POY is an elite playmaker and shooter. He has scored 20 points already, including 39 against Alabama, and doled out at least 10 assists twice.
3. Christian Anderson, Texas Tech
Anderson has taken a step forward as a playmaker and scorer in the early going. Anderson has produced at least 18 points and seven assists in three of his four contests, which includes pouring in a career-high 34 points in the season opener against Lindenwood. He is considered a second-round pick with the ability to move up in the draft.
The 6-3 sophomore point guard is a three-level scorer who plays at pace and can create separation. He excels in pick-n-rolls, though he is a crafty finisher and can knock down shots off the catch. He does need to get stronger and lacks elite athleticism.
4. Trey Kaufman-Renn, Purdue
Kaufman-Renn has become a legitimate NBA prospect and could be on the move up league draft boards if he continues his stellar play. He plays with a high motor, is a physical interior scorer with a soft touch around the rim, and is a relentless rebounder. Defensive versatility and limited range on jumper are concerns at the next level.
Kaufman-Renn joined Tim Duncan and Joe Forte as the only players over the last 30 years to record 15+ points, 15+ rebounds, and 5+ assists in a top 10 matchup, when he put up those totals against Alabama last week. The 6-9 senior forward, who missed the first games of the season due to a hip pointer and sore back, also posted a 17-point and 15-rebound double-double against Akron.
5. Juke Harris, Wake Forest
Harris, a consensus top 100 recruit in 2024, has a lot of work to do to become a draftable play, but he is off to a good start to the campaign. His best attribute at this point is his ability to score off the dribble.
The 6-7 wing is a slasher who uses his size, ability to change direction, and creativity to get into the paint. Not a pure shooter, though he does have a nice mid-range game with tools in his box. However, he needs to prove his efficiency, defensive reliability, and ability to play off-ball.
6. Fletcher Loyer, Purdue
A potential second-round pick in 2026 due to his shooting ability, Loyer has gotten off to a tremendous start to the 2025-26 campaign, scoring in double-figures three times, including a career-high 30 points against Evansville in the season opener. The 6-5 guard, who is shooting 51.9% from the 3-point line this year, is an efficient scorer with deep range, though he does need to show consistency on both ends of the floor.
7. Daniel Jacobson, Purdue
Daniel Jacobson is a rising NBA prospect who could be a second-round selection in 2026-27. Jacobson, a consensus top 100 prospect in 2024, only appeared in two games last season. The 7-3 massive center is an outstanding rim protector with good mobility. Offensively, he is skilled around the rim with a soft touch, while also showing flashes of perimeter shooting.
8. Curtis Givens III, Memphis
Curtis Givens III, a top 100 recruit in 2024, has made strides in year two from his freshman season at LSU. As a result, he is someone NBA scouts will keep a close eye on due to scoring and shooting upside.
9. Oscar Cluff, Purdue
Not a guarantee as an NBA player; likely will have to work Oscar Cluff’s way up through the G-League, or could earn a two-way deal as an undrafted free agent. The 6-11 Australian forward is an outstanding interior scorer and elite rebounder. He thrives in post-ups and finishing through contact while also possessing solid vision. However, there are questions surrounding his ability to block shots and his limited offensive game that he will have to answer.
10. Sincere Parker, Memphis
Parker has a lot of baggage and likely will go undrafted. But an NBA team may give him a chance because he’s a natural scorer, can create his own shot, and finishes at the rim.
11. Dug McDaniel, Memphis
McDaniel is a long shot to make an NBA roster due to size (5-foot-11, declining productivity, and defensive limitations. But NBA scouts are still intrigued by his speed, creativity, and scoring ability. A big tournament in the Bahamas could raise his stock enough that teams will continue to monitor his progress.
Other Intriguing Players/ Future NBA prospects: Omer Mayer, Myles Colvin, Quante Berry, Simon Majok, and Donovan Atwell.
© Marc Lebryk, Imagn Images
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