Nique Clifford could be the latest “super senior” to engulf the NBA in the storm after a successful NCAA career.
In modern times, most of the first picks in the NBA Draft played only seasons in college and foreign leagues before declaring the draft. Recent exceptions include Derrick White, Dalton Knecht, Cam Johnson and Jalen Brunson.
Nique Clifford has five college seasons under his belt and could be the next “super senior” to take on the NBA. He played three seasons at the University of Colorado and then moved to Colorado in Central Colorado for his final two seasons, but he led the Rams to their first NCAA Tournament victory since this season, in the previous season (13).
Clifford doesn’t have the potential to be Cooper Flag, Dylan Harper, Ace Bailey or VJ Edge.com’s empty, but he will bring his team’s drafts to any team with a winning track record.
- Age/Date of Birth: 23 (February 9, 2002)
- Nationality: America
- Height/Weight: 6 feet 6, 200 lbs
- College: Colorado Buffalo and the Colorado Statetrams
- 5th year statistics: 18.9 points, 9.6 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 1.2 steel, 49.6 fg%, 37.7 3pt%
- NCAA Tournament Statistics (2025): 17.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 1.0 steel, 33.3 fg%, 0.0 3pt%
- Highs for five seasons: 36 points (vs. Boise State), 17 rebounds (vs. Loyola Melly Mount), 9 assists (vs. Utah)
- NBA comparison: Josh Hart
Look at his statistics. He can score, rebound, pass and defend. Certainly, he had his best season at the Mountain West Conference. This doesn’t exactly have blue blood and great powers, but while it’s probably the most balanced player in the draft, some youngsters certainly have a high ceiling.
Clifford knocks down shots from all over the court, becomes a secondary defender, and can rebound very well for a player who is getting smaller, and he can reach the rim with the best.
In traffic, he can get up on top of the defender and hit open shots from the entire floor, either from dribbling or as a catch-and-shot threat.
He probably won’t be the best defender on the team, but he has to be the most versatile. He has the speed and wingspan to get in the way of security guards, and he has the power to hold himself in the post. He’s all the players and would be the top pick if he’s four or five years younger than him and plays in a bigger program.
Cooper Flag is promoted for the elite work ethic, and all reports suggest that Clifford is embarrassed about it. He knows he belongs to the NBA, but he has no problem proving that.
The competition at Clifford’s biggest meetings is Boise and Utah, and neither of these teams is predicted to have NBA talent. In the NCAA Tournament, he made a big play after a big play and made the Rams the second sweet 16 as Michael Jordan was in the league.
In addition to the lack of competition in the NBA, he will also turn 24 next season. If he hasn’t seen him yet, his ceiling is fast approaching.
It’s hard to imagine him becoming a star, but it’s also hard to imagine him not an impact role player. At the center or end of the first round, it’s really all you can look for.
Welcome to the Eastern Conference! He is written all over him in Tom Thibodeau, making the New York Knicks clear. On the defense, he appears to belong to Motor City along with the Detroit Pistons.
Older, perhaps overlooked, he also looks like an ideal Miami heat product. If they want to add that players are ready to make the leap, they’re far less NBA-enabled than the 23-year-old man.
Of course, teams like the Indiana Pacers, Orlando Magic and Atlanta Hawks will all benefit from his caliber players. If his game is translated into the association, any team will benefit from adding him.