Top-5 Under 25: Pacific Division

This is Part 1 of a six-part series to rank the top-5 players in every division under the age of 25. We take into account a player's performance as well as their potential. These rankings are intended to be fun and to initiate discussion on the league's best players. Stick up for your players, but be respectful about it!

Honorable Mentions: Eric Bledsoe, Trey Burke, Anthony Bennett


Although just a rookie, Jahii Carson is rated as the 5th best player in the Pacific Division under the age of 25. Average 16/4/4 to start the season is pretty impressive. Yes, his turnover numbers are horrendous, but he’s a rookie surrounded by a very limited supporting cast. When he develops his handles and passing attributes and gets some help around him, he will blossom.


Although he is seeing a career-low 13 mpg this season, he’s still the best big man in the division under the age of 25. He’s a developed inside scorer and is relentless on the offensive glass. Although not an intimidating shot blocker at the rim, he’s got great size and fundamentals to be a defensive stopper in the paint. #FreeEnes!


The young Sun may be struggling thus far this season, but he’s got the makeup to be one of the best young all-around prospects in the entire league. At 6’9” with the ability to play shooting guard, he is going to be a matchup nightmare when he fully develops. He can score inside and out, posting up smaller defenders and able to use his length and athletic ability to be a very good defender. Jestor should be able to get more out of this kid this season.


The 6’7” shooting guard is one of the elite three-point shooters in the CSL. While struggling to score this season (12.0 ppg in almost 40 mpg), he has more than doubled his assist numbers at 9.3 this year. Expect his points to increase while his assists decrease as the season goes on and we assure you he will raise that 3P% up over 40% in the very near future.


The best young prospect in the Pacific Division just happens to be on the best overall team in the division as well. Bradly Beal is torching defenders and is still developing as the third year shooting guard out of Florida has his scoring average just under 25 per game. As impressive as the points are, his efficiency is even more impressive as he is connecting on over 50% of his shots so far this year after connecting on 46% of his attempts last season. Oh yea, he has also connected on 52% of his threes this year. Beal will be a beast to deal with for quite some time in LaLa Land!

Good idea. I was going to do something like this for the whole league, but its good to break it up by division so that gives everyone a better chance to have a player represented.

Bledsoe, Burke, and Bennett are a good group of honorable mentions.

I thought Klay woild be #1 as I think he is a better playet but if Beal is dropping 25 a game on a loaded team then it makes sense. Don't think he will maintain his averages though while Klay should go up in ppg. I'd probably have Bledsoe in top 5 but that would mean too many GS players...

Don't think Otto should be at #3, nor should Bennett even be an honorable mention. I would've picked Burke #3, he was pretty good last year in ATL and DET. For some reason, GSW isn't giving him any time to play though, so he may not be as good this year. I would've had MCW as an honorable mention as well.

Porter definitely doesn't belong just yet imo. Bledsoe over him, GS with nice youth.

Nice read man.

Interesting list, hard to complain too much about your rankings, but I would probably have Bledsoe and Burke on the list rather than Porter and Carson. I want a larger sample size before including Jahii.

I came close to making a move for Beal. In the end, I decided to take a pass. Possible 1st mistake for me in Orlando…of many to come I'm sure.

Well, I agree that Burke and Bledsoe would rank higher than Porter and Cahil. GS with 4 out of 5 to me, and maybe the best of them in Thompson.

Beal took major steps forward this off-season. The best part is that he's becoming quite the two way player. Something Klay is not.

ALL HAIL JAHII!

Good read man. One of these for each division is a tremendous idea. Very well done, and can't argue with much of the list.

Nice to see a lot of our guys make the list....but I would have to agree that Burke/Bledsoe are better than Carson/Otto at the moment.

All i can say is, we need to get younger lol

I'd like to point out Porter's 21.2/5.8/1 shooting 48.4/52.4 with 2.8 TOFC, so yeah, he belongs at #3.

Jestor (PHX) wrote:I'd like to point out Porter's 21.2/5.8/1 shooting 48.4/52.4 with 2.8 TOFC, so yeah, he belongs at #3.

No doubt about that! Porter was a huge pick up! And you even traded down to get him if I remember right. Pretty good move!

Burke should bump out Carson until he proves himself, Beal vs Klay long term should be fun. Klay is looking like an elite passer for his position while Beal is better defensively.

DennisJ (BOS) wrote:

Jestor (PHX) wrote:I'd like to point out Porter's 21.2/5.8/1 shooting 48.4/52.4 with 2.8 TOFC, so yeah, he belongs at #3.

No doubt about that! Porter was a huge pick up! And you even traded down to get him if I remember right. Pretty good move!

Yep. Traded down from #3 to #5 because Utah wanted Anderson and I knew Burke was going #4 so Porter would still be there. Got the Jazz pick in the deal that I later ended up flipping as part of the package to get McGary.

Porter is definitely top 5. He's been a beast for Phoenix.