This combo big has freakish size and could fit a key decision maker’s checklist perfectly.
If instilling a scrappy defensive identity is indeed one of Phoenix Suns general manager Brian Gregory’s biggest priorities, picking Rasheer Fleming out of St. Joe’s in the 2025 NBA Draft would be a solid place to start.
This is one I’ve been especially looking forward to. He’s a fun one.
Fleming is an enormously exciting player to watch given his blend of athleticism, fluidity motor. Want someone to bring the joy back to Suns viewing? He might be your guy.
You may not know the name Rasheer Fleming, but you will hear his name called in the 1st Rd of the NBA Draft:
– 6’8 with 7’5 wingspan
– 39% 3FG%
– Big time motor
– Versatile defenderThe @SJUHawks_MBB star has a fluid & ferocious combo of skill sets. Flashes of Pascal Siakam. pic.twitter.com/YXYC3dUWQe
— Mike O’Donnell (@MOD4three) June 13, 2025
The biggest statistical highlight of his season was a 16-point, 20-rebound effort against Texas at the Barclays Center. He had the Hawks in position for a big upset, leading with 5:10 left in the game.
That game came one day after upsetting Texas Tech at the same event, a game in which he had 14 points (3-for-4 from 3) and seven rebounds.
Not only does he have absurd measurables tailor-made for the modern NBA at 6-foot-9 with a 7-foot-5 wingspan, he has the scrappy tools to make that size lethal. In that sense, he’s right in line with Gregory’s desired identity.
Plus, his movement skills suggest he could be one of those players who fare better in the NBA than he did in college because of how his skill set fits the quicker game.
Rasheer Fleming’s talent popped at the Klutch pro day. Such a fluid mover at 6’9 with a 7’5 wingspan, explosiveness and soft touch out to 3. pic.twitter.com/CuoOiNQujJ
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) May 21, 2025
Fleming was recently mocked to the Suns by Sam Vecenie of The Athletic.
“He’s also got great leaping ability and a chiseled frame that allows him to play with force and strength on both ends. He averaged 15 points, eight rebounds, 1.4 steals and 1.5 blocks per game, and drilled 39 percent from 3. The idea here is a 3-and-D forward who can potentially be switchable across the positional spectrum while also drilling 3s. But he doesn’t yet process things happening around him on the court quickly. But any team that values the frame and shooting potential will be interested in Fleming.”
Because processing is a big part of the problem with Fleming, he may be the type of prospect to spend part of a rookie season in the G League, where reps can be had and kinks can be worked out.
His touch around the rim could use some work as well, which would also be helped by those extra reps.
Some have seen Pascal Siakam in Fleming, though I tend to lean more toward Jaren Jackson Jr. for a stylistic NBA comparison. The drives from the perimeter can look so similar.
A perfect end result for the Suns should they draft Fleming would look a lot like teams struggling to get inside the paint against he and Ryan Dunn on the wings, with a not-yet-on-the-team-and-ever-elusive positively impactful rim protector holding down the fort in the event drivers get lucky enough to break through.
rasheer fleming can cover absurd amounts of ground on defense, letting him blow up multiple actions all on his own. reaction time isn’t always snappy, but the range and explosion are nuts pic.twitter.com/Wg1p3MyG2m
— ben pfeifer (@bjpf_) May 26, 2025
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