NCAA Tournament Buzz: Kasparas Jakucionis, Egor Demin, Liam McNeeley, John Tonje & Bennett Stirtz

In this episode of the Locked On NBA Big Board podcast, Rafael Barlowe, James Barlowe, and Leif Thulin continue their deep dive into the 2025 NCAA Tournament with a more conversational breakdown of prospect performances. The trio opens with Kasparas Jakucionis, expressing concern over his inability to turn the corner against quality defenders and his turnover issues—raising doubts about his lottery status. They draw comparisons to Egor Demin, who answered pre-tournament questions with a strong showing against VCU. Demin’s teammate Richie Saunders also earns praise for his steady play and rising profile. The discussion then shifts to UConn’s Liam McNeeley, where Rafael shares concerns about his tournament struggles. Wisconsin’s John Tonje is next, fresh off a 37-point outing, with the group weighing his draft range while acknowledging his older age as a key variable. The episode wraps with thoughts on Bennett Stirtz, who starred in Drake’s upset win but now faces a big decision: enter the draft or follow his coach to Iowa.Timestamps1:31 – Kasparas Jakucionis’ tournament struggles and draft stock concerns7:27 – Comparing Yegor Demin and Kasparas Jakucionis11:34 – Yegor Demin’s bounce-back performance vs. VCU14:15 – Richie Saunders continues to build his draft case18:08 – Concerns over Liam McNeeley’s NCAA Tournament performance20:48 – Liam McNeeley discussion continues: upside, usage, and future role26:35 – John Tonje’s 37-point game and draft outlook at an older age29:38 – Bennett Sturtz’s breakout and big decision: NBA Draft or Iowa?#NBADraft#NBADraft2025#MarchMadness#NCAATournament#KasparasJakucionis#EgorDemin#RichieSaunders#LiamMcNeeley#JohnTonje#BennettSturtz#DraftStock#LockedOnNBA#CollegeBasketball#NBAProspects#BigBoardBreakdownSupport Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Monarch MoneyTake control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONNBA at monarchmoney.com for 50% off your first year.GametimeDownload the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNBA for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime.FanDuelRight now, new customers can get TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS in BONUS BETS when your first FIVE DOLLAR BET WINS! Download the app or head to FANDUEL.COM to get started. Bet with FanDuel—Official Partner of the NBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.