There is no such thing as a Victor Wembanyama on this yr’s worldwide class, however everybody was conscious of that earlier than the season. Nonetheless, even and not using a generational expertise obtainable, the No 1 choose is sort of a lock to as soon as once more be an Worldwide participant. However even in a weak class like this yr’s, the reality is that there’s glorious depth when the dialog turns to worldwide prospects.
1. Zaccharie Risacher (6-10, SF/PF, 2005, Bourg)
There was one factor that everybody knew in regards to the French sharpshooter earlier than the season began: He had an actual probability to turn into a Prime-5 choose and even the No 1 choose. All he needed to do was justify the hype round him. Reality to be advised, he didn’t precisely wow everybody along with his performances. He didn’t have a historic season like Wemby a yr in the past, or Luka Doncic a number of years in the past. However total, he was actually good, holding his floor in opposition to grown males within the aggressive French League and in EuroCup, taking part in in 64 video games. Risacher is a two-way wing with good measurement. He’s a participant with versatility on each ends of the ground, nice really feel for the sport, who is generally a Spot Up/Catch and Drive sort of participant for now, however has additionally proven some potential as a secondary creator. He certain has to enhance in nearly each space of his recreation and is much from a completed venture. However he’s younger, and in an period the place each workforce is in search of wings along with his talent set, it’s tough to disregard his potential.
2. Alexandre Sarr (7-1, PF/C, 2005, Perth Wildcats)
Enjoying within the NBL with Perth Wildcats proved to be the fitting resolution for the French prospect. Having a constant position, for an excellent workforce, in a aggressive League, was what Sarr wanted to exhibit his expertise, even when he stays tough across the edges. Sarr simply oozes with potential. A 7-footer along with his athleticism, mobility and quickness, who may turn into a uncommon, stretch huge/rim protector with some switchability on protection, intrigues everybody. However he’s younger and uncooked. He has largely proven flashes. He’s a streaky shooter and must bulk up. The distinction between his ground and ceiling is worrisome. Bigs typically mature at a slower tempo. Sarr has the potential to turn into a particular participant. However he’ll want time and endurance to turn into one of the best model of himself.
3. Tidjane Salaun (6-10, F, 2005, Cholet)
The French prospect’s inventory continued trending upward through the season. Being aggressive whereas taking part in at a excessive stage does that and Salaun managed to seize each alternative in entrance of him, successful the scouts recreation by recreation. Salaun clearly has a methods to go. However it’s his potential that has everybody him. Combo forwards along with his measurement, athleticism, potential to stretch the ground and flexibility on protection are arduous to seek out. Although he’s a streaky shooter, for now, and has to enhance his physique and physicality, it’s straightforward to grasp why a variety of scouts like him.
4. Nikola Matter (6-6, PG, 2005, Mega Mis/Crvena Zvezda)
The Serbian prospect’s two accidents in his left knee – and particularly the second (partially torn ACL) – affected his outlook. His inventory fell and there’s a excessive chance that he may have a redshirt rookie yr, making his state of affairs a difficult one, since he’s a global guard. With all that mentioned, Matter continues to be as intriguing as any guard on this yr’s class. A degree guard with good measurement and an amazing really feel for the sport, who likes to drive to the basket, could make virtually each move in Decide and Roll conditions and has proven potential as a Pull Up shooter. His common athleticism (by NBA requirements) and inconsistent 3-point capturing are the true query marks together with protection and his well being points, so it stays to be seen whether or not his nice first 2 months of the season shall be sufficient to take care of a excessive choose.
5. Pacome Dadiet (6-8, G/F, 2005, Ratiopharm Ulm)
One other French prospect, in a category stuffed with wings with measurement. Dadiet had a reasonably good season in Germany, incomes each minute on the ground, for a system that was made to supply future NBA gamers, like Mega. Dadiet is a flexible wing, who can guard from level guard to mild energy forwards. He can stretch the ground and has additionally proven in FIBA youth ranges that he can put the ball on the ground and create his shot to a level. He’s positively not able to do the latter at an NBA stage but and – for the time being – he appears extra of a jack of all trades, grasp of none, particularly since his capturing stays streaky. There’s a world the place the whole lot clicks and he turns into a starter-level 3-and-D wing, however even when that doesn’t occur, an added constant shot is perhaps sufficient for him to turn into a strong participant.
6. Bobi Klintman (6-10, PF, 2003, Cairns Taipans)
The Swedish prospect had a strong season within the NBL after his shocking resolution to depart Wake Forest. All in all, he in all probability made the fitting name, since he had the possibility to play at a excessive stage in a League that each workforce has a watch on the final couple of years. Klintman is a combo ahead with good measurement and size. His talent set screams “3-and-D” and it’s straightforward to think about him as an outsized wing with the flexibility to stretch the ground and guard a number of positions. With that mentioned, his skillet is extra of that of an influence ahead than a small ahead for now, he’s a good athlete and is a streaky shooter. And is that mixture of excellent and unhealthy that might get him drafted within the late first spherical.
7. Nikola Djurisic (6-8, G/F, 2004, Mega Mis)
It was a curler coaster yr for the Serbian prospect. At first of the season, it appeared prefer it could possibly be an excellent factor for him to attend yet another yr earlier than he declares for the NBA Draft. Enjoying within the shadow of Nikola Matter, he didn’t have the ball in his arms and that harm him. After Matter left, the whole lot modified for Djurisic, who turned the focus of Mega’s offense and thrived, reminding everybody that he was as soon as thought of probably the greatest gamers of his technology in Europe. Djurisic is a scoring wing, with playmaking potential. His capturing continues to be a piece in progress, however he has already made strides as a 3-point shooter. If he manages to enhance his resolution making and turn into a extra constant shooter, he may turn into a very attention-grabbing participant.
8. AJ Johnson (6-5, G/F, 2004, Illawarra Hawks)
Johnson’s resolution to de-commit from Texas Longhorns and play within the NBL with Illawarra Hawks was questionable, since he struggled to seek out constant taking part in time. Nonetheless, there was a silver lining in his resolution, since he was in a position to be a member of knowledgeable workforce at a younger age and be taught beneficial self-discipline. Johnson is a protracted, combo guard with a 6-9 wingspan and good stage of athleticism and two-way potential. He has proven flashes as a shot creator and a defender. The issue is that the whole lot he has proven is simply that: Flashes. Johnson’s ceiling could possibly be as excessive as anybody’s on this yr’s class. However it’s his ground that worries folks. A number of years from now, he could possibly be the steal of the NBA Draft 2024. However he may simply as simply be a fringe G-League participant. It’s as much as him to show that he can turn into an NBA participant.
9. Juan Nunez (6-4, PG, 2004, Ratiopharm Ulm)
Probably the greatest ground generals of his technology in Europe (if not one of the best amongst his friends), Juan Nunez had an excellent season in Germany, which helped his inventory tremendously. The Spanish prospect is a real level guard. A Decide and Roll maestro, with nice courtroom imaginative and prescient and creativity, a fearless strategy for the sport and an evolving Pull Up jumper. He’s a mean athlete by NBA requirements and his capturing is a serious flaw of his recreation and the factor that can decide his ceiling (and position). However there’s a lot to love about him.
10. Ulrich Chomche (6-11, F/C, 2005, NBA Academy Africa)
Virtually a 2006 born participant (he was born on December 30, 2005), the Cameroonian prospect has drawn a variety of consideration, due to his mixture of measurement, size and athleticism, whereas he additionally had an amazing exhibiting on the three video games he performed in Basketball Africa League. Chomche is uncooked and inexperienced. However he’s additionally… large, cellular, with nice size (has a 7-4 wingspan) and the potential to turn into a Serge Ibaka sort of Stretch Huge/Rim protector. He may by no means turn into that sort of participant, however that is in all probability a threat {that a} workforce shall be prepared to take late within the second spherical.
Honorable point out:
Trentyn Flowers (6-8, G/F, 2005, Adelaide 36ers)
The NBL proved to be an inhospitable League for Trentyn Flowers, who had a tough time incomes constant taking part in time for his workforce. With that being mentioned, he nonetheless had his moments, particularly on the offensive finish of the ground. Flowers is an athletic wing with nice measurement and 3-level scorer potential, who has proven flashes as a facilitator. He’ll in all probability want one or two seasons within the G-League for him to prepare, however someplace in there lies an actual NBA participant.
Melvin Ajinca (6-8, SG/SF, 2004, Saint Quentin)
The French prospect improved his inventory significantly in final yr’s FIBA U19 World Cup and was on his method to even higher days this season, earlier than an damage slowed him down. Nonetheless, he made a god sufficient impression to maintain his title on this yr’s NBA Draft. Ajinca is a cumbersome wing with good measurement and athleticism, who has proven potential as a Pull Up shooter and Spot Up shooter. Neither of these issues is there but at a constant base and the identical applies for his slashing. However he has 3-and-D potential and that’s simple.
Armel Traore 6-8 PF, 2003, ADA Blois)
Traore is a protracted, athletic, properly constructed ahead who’s defensive oriented. Traore performed on the prime stage in France over the previous two years and outplayed Nikola Jovic when the 2 confronted one another a number of years again. Extra not too long ago, he helped France win the FIBA Europe U20 gold medal. He’s extra of a 4 than a 3. Traore has a 7-3 wingspan. An honest rebounder, however wants a variety of work on his total talent set and capturing. Had knee surgical procedure within the 2022-23 season whereas taking part in for the Levallois Metropolitans with Victor Wembanyama and Invoice Coulibaly which slowed his growth. Traore may issue into the 2024 draft as a late draft and stash man.
Ariel Hukporti (7-1, C, 2002, Melbourne United)
Being in his final yr of eligibility, the German prospect may turn into a really feel good story if he will get drafted, since he needed to battle his manner again within the highlight after a misplaced yr attributable to a serious damage (ruptured Achilles). Hukporti is large. He by no means truly lived to the hype that surrounded him since he was an adolescent, however he turned a strong participant. The German prospect is a lefty rim runner, who can play the choose and Roll, defend the rim and rebound the ball. He can’t do many different issues, however he won’t even should do anything to have a task in a workforce.
Mantas Rubstavicius (6-8, SG/SF, 2002, NZ Breakers)
If it’s one factor that Tarik Biberovic proved final yr (and Vanja Marinkovic earlier than him) is that an Worldwide wing with measurement and the flexibility to shoot the ball will at all times have an opportunity to get drafted. That’s in all probability the case with Mantas Rubstavicius. The Lithuanian wing had a strong season in NBL, drawing some curiosity due to his potential to knock down photographs and transfer with out the ball. For him to make the following step, he ought to show that he can do extra with the ball in his arms as a facilitator, however his capturing may simply be sufficient to raise him from the undrafted class to late second rounder.
Yannick Kraag (6-8, G/F, 2002, Joventut)
The Dutch wing is auto-eligible this yr. As soon as thought of an NBA prospect, he didn’t actually do a lot this season, however not less than he had a constant position in probably the greatest leagues on the planet, in ACB. Kraag is a flexible 3-and-D wing with nice measurement and size (he has a 7-2 wingspan). He does most of his harm taking part in off the ball, chopping to the baseline to catch a lob and in transition, whereas he’s additionally a strong defender. He can’t actually create his personal shot and has a variety of ups and downs. It will likely be a serious shock if he will get drafted. However craziest issues have occurred up to now.
Matthew Strazel (6-0, G, 2002, Monaco)
After a few years of out and in of the NBA Draft, the diminutive French prospect is auto-eligible this yr. As soon as thought of a guard with NBA potential, Strazel watched the scouts neglect about him, after he determined to affix a workforce stuffed with veteran guards, which led to a small position. Strazel’s velocity, really feel for the sport and scoring expertise have been at all times intriguing. All these items are nonetheless there and the identical applies for his potential to play the Decide and Roll. However he’s 22 years previous and spent the final couple years as a bench participant. NBA groups have scouted him for years, alongside Wembanyama in FIBA’s youth stage video games. You solely want one workforce to love you to get drafted late within the second spherical. However maybe a workforce nonetheless likes him.
