With just over 24 hours to go before the 2025 NBA draft, an entirely new class of draft picks will not only have their childhood dreams come true, but franchises will also be a step closer to forming a championship-level team. 

Each season, when looking back on the draft, it proves to teams and prospects that impactful players can be found at any point in the draft, whether drafted in the top three, at the end of the lottery, at pick No. 30, in the second round or undrafted.

For Dominique “Nique” Clifford, the resilience he has shown and continued hard work have paid off so far. From Colorado Springs, CO, Clifford played three seasons for the Buffaloes, improving and eventually transferring to Colorado State University. 

There, Clifford played and started in all 72 games for the Rams, and this past season scored 18.9 points per game, 9.6 rebounds and 4.4 assists. This was an improvement from his 12.2 ppg 3.0 assists and 7.6 rebounds from his first season at CSU. Clifford’s 3-point percentage jumped from 28% to 37% and this past season was named to the first-team and defensive team in the Mountain West Conference. 

In Clifford’s two seasons at CSU, he took the Rams to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances, and this past season to the second round for the first time since 2011-12. 

A source close to Clifford went on to say he has raised his draft stock this past season, and sees Clifford going anywhere between picks No. 12-25 in the first round of the NBA draft on Wednesday. 

At 6-foot-6, Clifford has not only shown his ability to score and playmake, but what could stand out to teams the most is the two-way capability he possesses. 

“He is a great defensive player who can rotate and guard anyone on the court,” a source told The Pulse. “And with his offensive game, he can be extremely impactful.” 

With Clifford having played all five years of his college eligibility, he enters the draft at 23 years old, which in today’s modern NBA game doesn’t hinder players like it used to. 

“You see a bunch of guys around 23 and 24 in the NBA making an impact, like Aaron Neismith, Dalton Knecht, for [Nique], the age things won’t be a factor,” a source said. 

With the recent conclusion of the NBA Finals, the makeup of both the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder’s roster has given teams a blueprint for potential success, which doesn’t include having multiple all-stars on a team. 

Every team needs a two-way player, a guy who can bring versatility to both ends of the court, and quite frankly, knock down the 3-point shot. 

In five collegiate season’s Clifford shot 38.9% on catch-and-shoot 3s, per Synergy, and it wasn’t just there – Clifford displayed his off-the-dribble 3s as well. 

Other than turning 24 during his rookie season and the potential concern of not playing against the toughest of competition, Clifford brings everything a team could want in an NBA wing. 

Although no longer in the NBA, a source told The Pulse that he has gotten a lot of Finals MVP Andre Iguodala as an NBA comparison for Clifford and the potential he has in his game.