Tennessee basketball sophomore guard projected as 2025 NBA Draft lottery pick

Tennessee basketball guard Cameron Carr wasn't a five-star "blue chip" recruit and isn't coming off an elite freshman season, but that's not stopping the hype surrounding the Vols combo guard ahead of the 2024-2025 season. 

NBADraft.net is a website that has specialized in projecting NBA Drafts since 2000, and they have Carr as one of the best players in the country this year and a future lottery pick. 

They released their first mock draft for the 2025 NBA Draft, and Carr is a top-ten pick. Carr is going to the Utah Jazz at No. 8 in the mock draft overall. 

"Following a freshman season in which he played limited minutes, in just 14 games, and averaged less than 2 points, you won't find Carr's name being mentioned in many first-round mock drafts," NBADraft.net writer Aran Smith explains. "But expect that to change as the season gets underway. 

"Carr lit it up at the Jayson Tatum Elite Camp in early July and oozes potential with his huge wingspan, explosiveness and body control, plus outside shooting potential. He also shows a lot of potential to break opponents down off the dribble, in isolation, with a strong handle and explosive first step, it's an ambitious comp, but there's some Kobe to his game, just a little."

As Smith explains, Carr stood out in the Tatum Elite Camp, garnering a lot of attention for the rising sophomore earlier this summer. He can shoot around the perimeter and drive to the basket, emphasizing physicality.

If the draft turns out how Smith projects, it will end France's run with No. 1 overall picks, but more importantly, it will make Carr the first player off the board out of the SEC.

With Dalton Knecht being one of several seniors leaving the program and the Vols bringing in transfers to replace production, some have overlooked Carr. Still, if he has the breakout season people are expecting, he could be the best returning player on the roster this year.