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Personally haven’t looked too deep past cooper and baileyThe 2025 class looks special.addict4sneakers what you and your bro initial feelings on it
2025 NBA Draft Thread
- Thread in 'Sports & Training' Thread starter Started by addict4sneakers,
- Start date
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I just browsed this morning. Bailey looks like a monster
The projected top 8 or so look insane too
Looks like Spain got their next one up in Hugo
This should be a good year to have a top 10 pick
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Not familiar with the level of competition anymore but lol
Edit: oh my god I just found out that was Taft. How the hell they fall off this hard I haven’t been keeping up anymore
Edit: oh my god I just found out that was Taft. How the hell they fall off this hard I haven’t been keeping up anymore
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dacomeup
Supporter
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Need to seem him in PnR defensively
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2024 NBA draft: Making the case for selecting Zaccharie Risacher at No. 1
With so much uncertainty surrounding the 2024 NBA draft class, ESPN draft analyst Jeremy Woo will take a closer look at the prospects that are in contention of being drafted No. 1 overall.
Zaccharie Risacher has put together a historically productive season for a teenager, moving to Bourg from ASVEL for his final season playing in his home country of France. The son of Stéphane Risacher, a six-time French League All-Star, Risacher has stepped into an important role for his club in both Pro A and EuroCup slates and taken a leap in terms of confidence and performance. The 18-year-old has put himself in position to be one of the first players drafted in June.
Woo breaks down Risacher's game, looks at his strengths/weaknesses, and provides a player comp for him moving forward.
Risacher's strengths
In many ways, Risacher fits the quintessential NBA wing prototype, supplying a mix of positional size, on-court smarts, scoring, playmaking and positive defense. While he's not demonstrably off-the-charts yet in any of those areas, he has a very strong all-around developmental base for a player his age -- he turns 19 in April. Risacher measured at 6-foot-9 ½ in shoes at the 2023 Hoop Summit with a 6-10 ½ wingspan, giving him good size but average length for a small forward, comparing closely with wings such as Shane Battier and Memphis' Ziaire Williams. Since Hoop Summit, he has made significant strides as a player, rebounding from a poor showing at the 2023 FIBA U19 World Championships, moving to a new club that's invested in his development, and emerging as one of the best young players in Europe.
Risacher's defensive play has been largely excellent this season, showcasing versatility in guarding smaller players on the perimeter and the capacity to switch, rotate, and navigate effectively at his size. That type of ability and awareness always bodes well for teenage players' chances of getting minutes early in their NBA careers and helps scouts envision a reasonable floor for Risacher in a 3-and-D role.
On the offensive end, Risacher has been effective with his touches, shooting an efficient 56% on 2s and 47% on 3s (though just 70% from the foul line), a big step up from his career averages. His flashes of off-dribble shot-making and aggressiveness point to some untapped upside, giving him the ability to maximize his size to shoot over defenders when unable to get to the rim. While not a high-volume scorer, his patience and all-around feel for his role have been notable, and there's a degree of safety in his overall profile if his improvements are real and sustainable.
Risacher's weaknesses
The primary hole in Risacher's profile at this stage of his career is that he's not an advanced shot-creator nor an exceptional jump-shooter. He plays a bit upright off the dribble and lacks a creative handle attacking defenders in space, which makes it hard to envision him becoming a top offensive option in the pros without a huge leap in the shot-making department. His scoring upside is tied heavily to becoming a top-flight shooter -- and while he's performing well statistically in that department this season, Risacher is a career 35.9% 3-point shooter in our database across levels.
The thought of featuring Risacher offensively right now probably requires a structured off-ball role, in which he's scoring off of more designed touches in the halfcourt, but he may not be that caliber of shooter where he warrants it. In an NBA system, Risacher is more likely to play a tertiary scoring role early in his career, spacing the floor with his shot, attacking the basket on a straight line, and allowing a lead playmaker to create opportunities for him. Risacher's all-around play has been solid and inspires some confidence in his trajectory, but to hit a high-end outcome in the pros befitting of a top draft selection, he must keep developing as a scorer. If he's just an average shooter in the long run, he may not warrant the type of capital it seems a team will have to invest to draft him.
Based on what we've gathered around the league, Risacher is trending as a top-five selection in the 2024 NBA draft. The valuable positional prototype he fits and his strong present trajectory have given him some momentum going into the back half of the season and the pre-draft process. Scouts share some of the same concerns I have surrounding his shot-creation, shooting, and how that might limit his upside, but there's also a sense of security in the skills he already has at a good level for his age.
The sense I've gotten from scouts around the NBA is that in a stronger draft, Risacher would likely be drafted in the mid-to-late lottery, as opposed to the top half. That highlights the value versatile two-way players with size and feel tend to have, no matter the draft.
My favorite Risacher highlight
It's hard to pick just one Risacher play to highlight, as he is a player who offers more substance than style -- but I think the shot-making prowess he flashed in a recent win over Cholet and fellow projected lottery pick Tidjane Salaun offered some reason to rethink how realistic his pathway to offensive excellence might be. The second and third clips showcase Risacher's improving ability to get his own shot off the dribble from long range, with solid footwork into his gather and a high release. It's not only fun and creative to watch, but it's where the upside lies.
Risacher's NBA player comp
In a high-end scenario, you can look at Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton and think optimistically about what Risacher could become. His shooting development likely has to top out for him to get there, but he could be good enough all-around to become a top starter-level player in most contexts. If Risacher doesn't add a ton off the dribble, you could see him succeeding in a role similar to New Orleans Pelicans forward Trey Murphy III, working as an athletic spacer and cutter who adds value away from the ball and defensively. And while he's not as athletic as Murphy, Risacher should be able to find NBA success with realistic, steady growth, so long as his body and shooting ability continue to improve.
Projected NBA lottery team that provides the best fit for Risacher
Part of the appeal here is that it's easy to envision Risacher fitting in as a connective perimeter player almost anywhere, considering the wide demand for the type of versatility he can bring. Teams such as the San Antonio Spurs, Washington Wizards, Portland Trail Blazers and Memphis Grizzlies, who all need wing help on younger-leaning rosters, should be looking hard at Risacher as an option early in the draft.
Why Risacher could go No. 1
In a year when teams may focus on need earlier in the draft than usual, there are two ways of looking at Risacher's case for potentially going No. 1: From the perspective of "everyone always needs wings," look at which teams have holes at his position and help rationalize him as a need pick. Risacher will supply more polish and NBA-ready ability than Colorado's Cody Williams, or Ron Holland and Matas Buzelis from G League Ignite. Risacher is enjoying a better individual season than those prospects, his floor is probably higher, and he's young enough that you can also make the argument for his realistic upside.
And you can argue Risacher from the best player available perspective: a team might sorely need a point guard (San Antonio), but it's also entirely feasible that a front office might not view any of the guards in this draft class as legitimate franchise building blocks, with Nikola Topic, Isaiah Collier and others providing different strengths and weaknesses.
You can look at what Risacher has done this season and decide you'd rather go in his direction and address need later on. He probably doesn't have the sheer upside of a top-pick contender such as Alex Sarr, but it might take less outlier-level development for Risacher to settle in as a very solid starter in the NBA -- which, considering the tempered expectations for this draft class on the whole, might be all a team decides to hope for. He doesn't possess the star power you hope for in a top choice, but value atop this draft starts to become relative and situational.
When looking at the very flat talent curve in this draft class -- not much separates the top prospects from each other -- Risacher represents a reasonable mix of both safety tied to his skill set, and upside tied to his age, which should have a good deal of appeal.
With so much uncertainty surrounding the 2024 NBA draft class, ESPN draft analyst Jeremy Woo will take a closer look at the prospects that are in contention of being drafted No. 1 overall.
Zaccharie Risacher has put together a historically productive season for a teenager, moving to Bourg from ASVEL for his final season playing in his home country of France. The son of Stéphane Risacher, a six-time French League All-Star, Risacher has stepped into an important role for his club in both Pro A and EuroCup slates and taken a leap in terms of confidence and performance. The 18-year-old has put himself in position to be one of the first players drafted in June.
Woo breaks down Risacher's game, looks at his strengths/weaknesses, and provides a player comp for him moving forward.
Risacher's strengths
In many ways, Risacher fits the quintessential NBA wing prototype, supplying a mix of positional size, on-court smarts, scoring, playmaking and positive defense. While he's not demonstrably off-the-charts yet in any of those areas, he has a very strong all-around developmental base for a player his age -- he turns 19 in April. Risacher measured at 6-foot-9 ½ in shoes at the 2023 Hoop Summit with a 6-10 ½ wingspan, giving him good size but average length for a small forward, comparing closely with wings such as Shane Battier and Memphis' Ziaire Williams. Since Hoop Summit, he has made significant strides as a player, rebounding from a poor showing at the 2023 FIBA U19 World Championships, moving to a new club that's invested in his development, and emerging as one of the best young players in Europe.
Risacher's defensive play has been largely excellent this season, showcasing versatility in guarding smaller players on the perimeter and the capacity to switch, rotate, and navigate effectively at his size. That type of ability and awareness always bodes well for teenage players' chances of getting minutes early in their NBA careers and helps scouts envision a reasonable floor for Risacher in a 3-and-D role.
On the offensive end, Risacher has been effective with his touches, shooting an efficient 56% on 2s and 47% on 3s (though just 70% from the foul line), a big step up from his career averages. His flashes of off-dribble shot-making and aggressiveness point to some untapped upside, giving him the ability to maximize his size to shoot over defenders when unable to get to the rim. While not a high-volume scorer, his patience and all-around feel for his role have been notable, and there's a degree of safety in his overall profile if his improvements are real and sustainable.
Risacher's weaknesses
The primary hole in Risacher's profile at this stage of his career is that he's not an advanced shot-creator nor an exceptional jump-shooter. He plays a bit upright off the dribble and lacks a creative handle attacking defenders in space, which makes it hard to envision him becoming a top offensive option in the pros without a huge leap in the shot-making department. His scoring upside is tied heavily to becoming a top-flight shooter -- and while he's performing well statistically in that department this season, Risacher is a career 35.9% 3-point shooter in our database across levels.
The thought of featuring Risacher offensively right now probably requires a structured off-ball role, in which he's scoring off of more designed touches in the halfcourt, but he may not be that caliber of shooter where he warrants it. In an NBA system, Risacher is more likely to play a tertiary scoring role early in his career, spacing the floor with his shot, attacking the basket on a straight line, and allowing a lead playmaker to create opportunities for him. Risacher's all-around play has been solid and inspires some confidence in his trajectory, but to hit a high-end outcome in the pros befitting of a top draft selection, he must keep developing as a scorer. If he's just an average shooter in the long run, he may not warrant the type of capital it seems a team will have to invest to draft him.
Based on what we've gathered around the league, Risacher is trending as a top-five selection in the 2024 NBA draft. The valuable positional prototype he fits and his strong present trajectory have given him some momentum going into the back half of the season and the pre-draft process. Scouts share some of the same concerns I have surrounding his shot-creation, shooting, and how that might limit his upside, but there's also a sense of security in the skills he already has at a good level for his age.
The sense I've gotten from scouts around the NBA is that in a stronger draft, Risacher would likely be drafted in the mid-to-late lottery, as opposed to the top half. That highlights the value versatile two-way players with size and feel tend to have, no matter the draft.
My favorite Risacher highlight
It's hard to pick just one Risacher play to highlight, as he is a player who offers more substance than style -- but I think the shot-making prowess he flashed in a recent win over Cholet and fellow projected lottery pick Tidjane Salaun offered some reason to rethink how realistic his pathway to offensive excellence might be. The second and third clips showcase Risacher's improving ability to get his own shot off the dribble from long range, with solid footwork into his gather and a high release. It's not only fun and creative to watch, but it's where the upside lies.
Risacher's NBA player comp
In a high-end scenario, you can look at Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton and think optimistically about what Risacher could become. His shooting development likely has to top out for him to get there, but he could be good enough all-around to become a top starter-level player in most contexts. If Risacher doesn't add a ton off the dribble, you could see him succeeding in a role similar to New Orleans Pelicans forward Trey Murphy III, working as an athletic spacer and cutter who adds value away from the ball and defensively. And while he's not as athletic as Murphy, Risacher should be able to find NBA success with realistic, steady growth, so long as his body and shooting ability continue to improve.
Projected NBA lottery team that provides the best fit for Risacher
Part of the appeal here is that it's easy to envision Risacher fitting in as a connective perimeter player almost anywhere, considering the wide demand for the type of versatility he can bring. Teams such as the San Antonio Spurs, Washington Wizards, Portland Trail Blazers and Memphis Grizzlies, who all need wing help on younger-leaning rosters, should be looking hard at Risacher as an option early in the draft.
Why Risacher could go No. 1
In a year when teams may focus on need earlier in the draft than usual, there are two ways of looking at Risacher's case for potentially going No. 1: From the perspective of "everyone always needs wings," look at which teams have holes at his position and help rationalize him as a need pick. Risacher will supply more polish and NBA-ready ability than Colorado's Cody Williams, or Ron Holland and Matas Buzelis from G League Ignite. Risacher is enjoying a better individual season than those prospects, his floor is probably higher, and he's young enough that you can also make the argument for his realistic upside.
And you can argue Risacher from the best player available perspective: a team might sorely need a point guard (San Antonio), but it's also entirely feasible that a front office might not view any of the guards in this draft class as legitimate franchise building blocks, with Nikola Topic, Isaiah Collier and others providing different strengths and weaknesses.
You can look at what Risacher has done this season and decide you'd rather go in his direction and address need later on. He probably doesn't have the sheer upside of a top-pick contender such as Alex Sarr, but it might take less outlier-level development for Risacher to settle in as a very solid starter in the NBA -- which, considering the tempered expectations for this draft class on the whole, might be all a team decides to hope for. He doesn't possess the star power you hope for in a top choice, but value atop this draft starts to become relative and situational.
When looking at the very flat talent curve in this draft class -- not much separates the top prospects from each other -- Risacher represents a reasonable mix of both safety tied to his skill set, and upside tied to his age, which should have a good deal of appeal.
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I stopped by Georgia Tech on Saturday to see the Yellow Jackets take on Virginia, but this wasn’t just a fanboy trip to see my alma mater. Virginia also has a potential first-rounder in Ryan Dunn, an athletic sophomore forward who has wowed with his defensive ability in particular. Despite paying in a conservative defensive scheme, Dunn has averaged 4.9 blocks and 4.4 steals per 100 possessions this season, a Matisse Thybulle-esque “stocks” rate that hints at elite defensive potential. (In his senior season at Washington, Thybulle averaged 11.4 stocks per 100 possessions, the best mark I’ve seen from a non-center prospect; Dunn’s 9.4 as a sophomore exceeded what Thybulle did in his sophomore and junior seasons.)
For instance, if you pardon the extreme zoom-out, here’s Dunn picking up a guard on a switch and swatting his drive off the glass:
Dunn had several impressive defensive plays in Virginia’s win on Saturday; Georgia Tech’s post players wouldn’t even look at the basket when Dunn covered them, and he flew out of nowhere to reject guards’ jump shots on multiple occasions.
Dunn also showed his athleticism whit a monstrous tip dunk (see below); his rebound rate of 15.2 percent from the forward spot bodes well for his ability to hold his own at the four in the pros.
However, much like with Thybulle, the question with Dunn is whether his offense can keep him on the floor for his defense to shine. Dunn made an open catch-and-shoot 3 on Saturday but is shooting just 25 percent from 3 on his 24 attempts this season. He also is a career 55.3 percent foul shooter. In addition, the rest of his offensive game isn’t so highly developed to offset that; Dunn averages 22.3 points per 100 possessions on 18.7 percent usage, which is really modest stuff from a first-round prospect.
For the rest of this season, traveling scouts will be watching Virginia’s pregame work closely, keeping an eye on Dunn’s shooting form through all those reps (much better than watching 24 shots on Synergy) to define how fixable his issues are in an NBA program. But in a weak draft, the idea of an NBA-ready defender is alluring, especially one at his size who can switch across the positional spectrum.
For instance, if you pardon the extreme zoom-out, here’s Dunn picking up a guard on a switch and swatting his drive off the glass:
Dunn had several impressive defensive plays in Virginia’s win on Saturday; Georgia Tech’s post players wouldn’t even look at the basket when Dunn covered them, and he flew out of nowhere to reject guards’ jump shots on multiple occasions.
Dunn also showed his athleticism whit a monstrous tip dunk (see below); his rebound rate of 15.2 percent from the forward spot bodes well for his ability to hold his own at the four in the pros.
However, much like with Thybulle, the question with Dunn is whether his offense can keep him on the floor for his defense to shine. Dunn made an open catch-and-shoot 3 on Saturday but is shooting just 25 percent from 3 on his 24 attempts this season. He also is a career 55.3 percent foul shooter. In addition, the rest of his offensive game isn’t so highly developed to offset that; Dunn averages 22.3 points per 100 possessions on 18.7 percent usage, which is really modest stuff from a first-round prospect.
For the rest of this season, traveling scouts will be watching Virginia’s pregame work closely, keeping an eye on Dunn’s shooting form through all those reps (much better than watching 24 shots on Synergy) to define how fixable his issues are in an NBA program. But in a weak draft, the idea of an NBA-ready defender is alluring, especially one at his size who can switch across the positional spectrum.
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Bruh
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Thunder got both of them dudes’ brothers and 18,736 draft picks.
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I stopped in Seattle this past week to check out Cody Williams as the Buffaloes took on Washington. The brother of Oklahoma City forward Jalen Williams, Cody has been a rapid riser on draft boards in the first half of the season after initially falling out of favor with scouts during an underwhelming Hoop Summit week last April.
Williams has been one of the few freshmen to exceed expectations, with a PER of 20.5 and 59.4 percent shooting inside the arc thus far. He scored 19 points on 10 shots in Colorado’s win on Wednesday while scoring on drives, a short floater and catch-and-shoot 3s. He also had a sweet transition jam over Washington’s 7-foot Braxton Meah.
Williams also had a stinker Saturday in Colorado’s loss at Washington State, scoring just six points on 0-of-4 shooting with no assists, but that was his first bad game in ages — he’d put together nine straight double-figure games for one of the Pac-12’s best teams.
Listed at 6-8, Williams is nonetheless a pure perimeter player at this point. He’s rail thin at 190 pounds but very comfortable handling the ball (albeit very right-handed), pushing his own rebounds in grab-and-gos and keeping his head up to see the next pass.
Defensively, Williams can move his feet decently but doesn’t create a lot of events — he has low rates of blocks and steals for a lottery prospect — and his lack of physicality means opponents often get where they’re trying to go despite his efforts to slide with them. His 7.4 percent rebound rate also is rather underwhelming for a player of this height.
More generally he’s a smooth glider but not an explosive leaper. In contrast to the clip above, for instance, here’s a missed jam against Washington State after he pushes in transition and then broad jumps into his finish.
At the offensive end, scouts will want to see more of his jumper to see how much they can believe in it. Williams has made 52 percent from 3 but has only attempted 25 triples this season; he has a low push shot that seems decent enough from a standstill, but getting to any kind of pull-up or off-the-dribble jumper could be problematic.
Finally, because he’s only played 13 games this season due to a wrist injury, Williams remains a bit more of a mystery than some other top prospects. With two other draftable players on Colorado’s roster, scouts will likely be checking in on him frequently between now and the end of the season.
While Williams probably projects more as a late lottery pick in a normal draft, with intriguing size and tools offset by iffy shooting and defensive event creation, the top of the board is a shrug emoji this year. Thus, with a strong finish, Williams could end up being one of the first names called this June.
Williams has been one of the few freshmen to exceed expectations, with a PER of 20.5 and 59.4 percent shooting inside the arc thus far. He scored 19 points on 10 shots in Colorado’s win on Wednesday while scoring on drives, a short floater and catch-and-shoot 3s. He also had a sweet transition jam over Washington’s 7-foot Braxton Meah.
Williams also had a stinker Saturday in Colorado’s loss at Washington State, scoring just six points on 0-of-4 shooting with no assists, but that was his first bad game in ages — he’d put together nine straight double-figure games for one of the Pac-12’s best teams.
Listed at 6-8, Williams is nonetheless a pure perimeter player at this point. He’s rail thin at 190 pounds but very comfortable handling the ball (albeit very right-handed), pushing his own rebounds in grab-and-gos and keeping his head up to see the next pass.
Defensively, Williams can move his feet decently but doesn’t create a lot of events — he has low rates of blocks and steals for a lottery prospect — and his lack of physicality means opponents often get where they’re trying to go despite his efforts to slide with them. His 7.4 percent rebound rate also is rather underwhelming for a player of this height.
More generally he’s a smooth glider but not an explosive leaper. In contrast to the clip above, for instance, here’s a missed jam against Washington State after he pushes in transition and then broad jumps into his finish.
At the offensive end, scouts will want to see more of his jumper to see how much they can believe in it. Williams has made 52 percent from 3 but has only attempted 25 triples this season; he has a low push shot that seems decent enough from a standstill, but getting to any kind of pull-up or off-the-dribble jumper could be problematic.
Finally, because he’s only played 13 games this season due to a wrist injury, Williams remains a bit more of a mystery than some other top prospects. With two other draftable players on Colorado’s roster, scouts will likely be checking in on him frequently between now and the end of the season.
While Williams probably projects more as a late lottery pick in a normal draft, with intriguing size and tools offset by iffy shooting and defensive event creation, the top of the board is a shrug emoji this year. Thus, with a strong finish, Williams could end up being one of the first names called this June.
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2024 NBA draft notebook: Latest intel on the top international prospects
ESPN NBA draft analyst Jonathan Givony embarked on a 10-day trip through Europe -- with stops in Germany, France, Serbia, Greece and Montenegro -- to watch some of the best international prospects in this June's 2024 draft, as well as future classes. Here's what he learned.
Ratiopharm Ulm @ Brose Bamberg (Germany)
The first stop was in Germany, where defending BBL champion Ratiopharm Ulm and its trio of NBA prospects played a road game versus Brose Bamberg.
19-year-old Spanish point guard Juan Nunez of Ratiopharm Ulm has drawn considerable interest from the NBA after a blossoming summer as the starting point guard of the Spanish national team at the FIBA World Cup. He's followed that meaningful learning experience with a highly productive season while establishing himself as one of Europe's most exhilarating passers. At 6-foot-4, he's an elite pick-and-roll operator who reads the game and picks apart opposing defenses with surgical precision using both sides of the floor and passing off a live dribble.
Nunez has made strides with his shooting, limited his head-scratching turnovers and elevated his defense, but still has plenty of room to grow. Some NBA scouts have questions about his lack of explosiveness and overall scoring prowess long-term, too. He's a polarizing player with extreme strengths and weaknesses, as some NBA teams say they don't consider him a serious prospect, while others have him firmly in consideration as a top-20 pick.
While Nunez had his weakest performance (3 points on 1-for-9 shooting, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 turnovers) of what's otherwise been a stellar season, his teammate, 6-9, 18-year-old French wing Pacome Dadiet had an eye-opening showing, posting 12 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists in 29 minutes -- the longest stretch of action he's seen all season. Dadiet has garnered attention around the NBA for his positional size, solid frame, clean shooting mechanics, extreme youth and budding ball skills. He's a poor defender right now, and doesn't have overwhelming length or explosiveness, but he's still at an early stage of development with room to grow given his age.
Dadiet is expected to declare for this year's draft and will likely keep his name in if he receives assurances he'll be on an NBA roster next season. Some NBA teams consider him a legitimate first-round target come June, while others think he's far away from being ready to play in an NBA game and would prefer to see him in the 2025 NBA draft.
There was also an opportunity to briefly watch Ulm's 17-year-old Noa Essengue, a French big man regarded as one of the top international prospects in his age group. Recently sprouting to nearly 6-11, Essengue has lottery-pick tools physically and is making strides with his skill level as well -- showcasing improving passing, perimeter shooting and defensive versatility in small doses this season. Criticized previously for his inconsistent motor and physicality, Essengue is getting valuable developmental minutes and practice time against pros in the EuroCup and BBL should hopefully help him find another gear with his intensity. He'll be scouted closely at the upcoming Basketball Without Borders camp at All-Star weekend and then at the FIBA U18 European Championship this summer. He should be one of France's leading players in the competition, giving us some early insight into where he might fit into the 2025 NBA draft equation.
Le Portel @ Cholet Basket (France)
NBA teams are very familiar with Cholet Basket, having made the trek to the northwest French town many times via Nantes to evaluate Rudy Gobert, Killian Hayes, Nando de Colo and other prospects who plied their trade at historic Le Meilleraie arena.
It's easy to see why Tidjane Salaun is a riser on NBA draft boards, standing 6-11 with an athletic frame, long arms, fluid movements and dynamic shooting ability. He's in the midst of a highly productive season as a starter for Cholet, a team that's already advanced three times in the FIBA Champions League to the Top 16 stage, giving him a huge platform to showcase his talent in France and against top teams from Spain, Turkey and Italy.
Salaun had another excellent showing in front of six NBA scouts, posting 17 points in 23 minutes, showing his ability to shoot coming off screens, cutting off the ball and crashing the offensive glass, flashes of passing vision and non-stop hustle defensively. It's rare to see an 18-year-old shoot the ball with the confidence, range and versatility Salaun has all season (38% from 3), and that, combined with his size, 7-2 wingspan, mobility and defensive intensity gives him a high floor in today's NBA.
Not possessing much shot-creation ability, and being a surprisingly poor defensive rebounder for his size (four rebounds per 40 minutes), NBA teams have questions about Salaun's feel for the game. He doesn't always track loose balls off the glass as instinctually as you might hope and looks sped up on both ends of the floor.
Considering he's never played professional basketball before this season and has been thrust into a significant role at a high level of European basketball, it's easy to see him continuing to make strides in these areas with his reportedly stellar work ethic and the incredible development trajectory he's been on the past few years. Salaun was cut from the French U17 national team training camp 18 months ago, but has since rocketed past virtually every player in his age group not only in France but in Europe as well. With his August birthday, he's younger than eight of the 24 players named to the 2024 McDonald's All-American game, meaning he could easily be a high school senior (and a part of the 2025 NBA draft class) if he were American.
Belgrade (Serbia)
Nikola Topic's midseason return from Mega MIS to Red Star, and subsequent knee injury shortly after, changed the complexion of this previously scheduled portion of the trip, which included two Adriatic League games between FMP and Red Star, and Mega MIS versus Partizan. This provided an opportunity to spend several hours watching Topic rehab his injured left knee, get an update on his progress and sit down for an interview.
Topic was in an excellent mood after just having received definitive word from his doctor that he will not require surgery on strained ligaments in his left knee. He's back running this week and is approximately 3-4 weeks from returning to full activity, preferring to take a cautious approach, as Serbia's two-week FIBA national team break next month is well-timed. Red Star's EuroLeague campaign extends until at least April 11, with many more important games coming in the Adriatic League playoffs, where a matchup with archrivals and fellow Euroleague team Partizan Belgrade likely awaits them in the finals. Topic looks well-positioned in the high lottery portion of this draft and will likely draw consideration at the very top depending on how he looks upon his return.
While in Belgrade, we made a pilgrimage to the recently renamed Dejan Milojevic Training Center, formerly known as Mega Factory. Milojevic spent a decade coaching in this gym, first as Mega MIS' team manager and then as head coach for eight years, before being hired as an assistant coach by the Golden State Warriors. The beloved Milojevic passed away Jan. 17 at age 46, leading to multiple moments of silence before games and also an incredible tribute night between his former clubs Partizan Belgrade (where he led the Euroleague in scoring as a player) and Mega MIS.
At Milojevic Training Center, we had an opportunity to evaluate some of the best teenage prospects in Serbia in a pair of games, including 7-footer Abdramane Siby from Mali. The 17-year-old Siby (who boasts a 7-5 wingspan) posted a triple-double (18 points, 13 rebounds, 11 blocks) showing exceptional mobility, intensity and timing defensively, as well as flashes of skill level offensively. A late-bloomer who has made significant progress in the past year, Siby also recently earned an invite to the NBA's Basketball Without Borders camp. Youngsters Vuk Danilovic (son of European great Sasha Danilovic), Petar Bjelica, Ognjen Srzentic, Ognjen Nikolic and Lun Jarc also looked like prospects to follow long-term.
INSEP Academy and Joventut Badalona @ Paris Basket (France)
A doubleheader in Paris provided NBA scouts an opportunity to get eyes on some of the most promising prospects in France, as well as several elite Europeans on Spanish powerhouse Joventut Badalona, in town for a EuroCup matchup.
INSEP Academy, where Tony Parker, Boris Diaw and Evan Fournier started developing into first-round NBA draft picks, has long been considered one of the top youth programs. This year is no exception, with several potential lottery picks in the pipeline and what appears to be the team's most competitive squad ever judging by the excellent results in the French third division under newly instated head coach Lamine Kebe. We saw this group of 16- and 17-year-olds take down a veteran Le Havre team made up of seasoned pros behind an impressive display of execution, ball movement, defensive intensity and perimeter shooting. The highlight of the game was the play of 6-4, 17-year-old point guard Nolan Traore, who is having an extremely productive season establishing himself as one of the best prospects in Europe in his age group. Traore dropped 21 points, 10 assists and 5 steals with just 2 turnovers in this viewing, the type of performance that's become his standard. It's rare to see a European point guard who can handle the ball, play at different speeds, pass off a live dribble and show such impressive pace as a shot-creator, distributor and finisher.
The brother of potential 2024 draft pick Armel Traore, Nolan is a well-known figure in scouting circles and appears to have made significant strides this season with his shooting, defense and decision-making. He still possesses significant untapped talent thanks to his size, explosiveness operating out of hesitation moves and youthful demeanor. Traore's play has garnered him invites to the Nike Hoop Summit and NBA Basketball Without Borders camps this spring, and he's being heavily recruited by college programs such as Alabama, Gonzaga and Xavier, as well as by professional teams in France and abroad.
In the second leg of the doubleheader, 6-10, 17-year-old Croatian power forward Michael Ruzic stole the show in a highly competitive EuroCup game between two deep, talented teams. Ruzic was entrusted with crunch time minutes and amassed six points and five rebounds in 22 minutes. He stepped into a pair of 3s confidently, showed shot-creation prowess in small doses, dished intelligent passes and flashed impressive timing and instincts defensively. He's not NBA draft-eligible until 2025, but it's uncommon to see a player this age contribute in a high-level game with important playoff implications on the line.
Coming from an impressive familial background -- the son of ex-EuroLeague center Tomislav Ruzic, and one of the world's former top women's volleyball players, Barbara Jelic-Ruzic -- it's easy to see where Ruzic's outstanding demeanor and feel for the game comes from. He's not blessed with elite explosiveness, but looks early in his development with his youthful appearance, only recently hitting a growth spurt that vaulted him into consideration as one of the best 2006-born international prospects.
JL Bourg @ Aris Thessaloniki (Greece)
The caravan of NBA scouts made its way to Thessaloniki in Northern Greece for an important EuroCup game at the iconic Nick Galis Hall. Eight NBA representatives were in attendance to watch potential No. 1 pick Zaccharie Risacher have one of his best games (20 points in 25 minutes) in what's been an incredible season.
The 6-10, 18-year-old Risacher did a little of everything: He made 3-pointers off movement, pushed the ball 94 feet off the defensive glass and dished off intelligently while making touch passes into the post, moving off the ball instinctually for above-the-rim finishes and sniffing out putback dunks. He also attacked closeouts for floaters, played through contact and guarded point guards through power forwards while fighting over screens. NBA teams are becoming increasingly comfortable with him as a No. 1 pick candidate, especially those who already have go-to offensive options on their roster. He's shooting 48% from 3 through 34 games (with 26 wins), typically guarding the opponent's best perimeter player, getting to the free throw line prolifically and finishing 57% of his 2-pointers -- all while being younger than several seniors named to the McDonald's All-American game. Risacher is doing things that have never been done by an 18-year-old at the EuroCup level, as well as in France, excluding Victor Wembanyama last season.
The confidence, productivity and efficiency Risacher displays give him an incredibly high floor. He has tremendous basketball instincts and because of his youth, he has considerable time to fill out his excellent frame and develop into an even more prolific shot creator, à la Franz Wagner.
Adidas Next Generation Tournament (Montenegro)
Dozens of NBA scouts convened in Montenegro to watch eight teams play the first of four Adidas Next Generation qualifying tournaments, which lead to the EuroLeague Final Four's ANGT Finals in late May. The most prestigious international club event for under-18 prospects, this event has hosted Luka Doncic, Wembanyama, Nikola Jokic, Domantas Sabonis and many other European luminaries. The presence of Real Madrid, a powerhouse of European youth basketball in Spain that has won three of the last four ANGT titles, was the main highlight for scouts, as they have three of the top international prospects born in 2006. A testament to basketball's international growth, Real Madrid's roster consists of players from Spain, Russia, France, Serbia, Germany, Mali, Senegal and Latvia.
Here's who we thought were the top five NBA prospects in attendance:
Hugo Gonzalez | 6-7 | SF | Age: 17.9 | Real Madrid (Spain)
Gonzalez is widely regarded as the best international prospect in his age group. As a potential top-10 pick in the 2025 NBA draft, he did nothing to dissuade that notion by helping Real Madrid win the championship while being named MVP in the process. Showing some similarities to Miami Heat rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr., Gonzalez's talent shines through most vividly with the competitiveness, character and two-way versatility he offers as opposed to sheer scoring ability. He affects the game in a myriad of ways with his passing, defense, cutting, rim-running and toughness, bringing non-stop energy and purpose to everything he does on the floor.
A streaky shooter for much of his career, Gonzalez is making strides, hitting 36% of his 3-pointers and 81% of his free throws through all competitions this season -- even showing confidence hitting pullup 3s in transition and running off screens. He's still a work in progress in this area, hitting just 5-for-21 at this event, but has clearly put significant time into this part of his game and was hunting jumpers all tournament. Improving his shot-creation prowess is the next step in the equation -- he's mostly a straight-line driver at the moment -- but can get plenty done off the dribble with his strong first step, aggressiveness seeking out contact in the lane and impressive creativity as a finisher. He's also a smart, unselfish passer who can find teammates with pocket passes out of pick-and-roll, and is always looking to pass ahead in transition or make touch passes along the perimeter. Defensively, he can switch between guards, wings and forwards alike, chasing opponents around screens and generating turnovers in bunches with his instincts, timing and motor.
It will be interesting to see where Gonzalez elects to spend his first season as an NBA draft-eligible player next year. Minutes have been hard to come by on Real Madrid's senior team, which is stacked at every position with some of the best players in the world outside the NBA.
Egor Demin | 6-9 | PG/SG | Age: 17.9 | Real Madrid (Russia)
Demin had an uneven performance showing extreme contrasts between his unique talent and potential and an extreme lack of consistency and toughness. NBA scouts actively scour the globe seeking out prospects like Demin -- a fluid 6-9 playmaker with dynamic shot-making prowess, passing creativity off a live dribble, lob-catching explosiveness and the versatility, length and instincts to guard multiple positions generating turnovers in bunches when fully locked in.
Demin plays point guard exclusively for Real and shows the ability to make a variety of creative pick-and-roll reads using both sides of the floor. He's a confident, versatile shooter who rises up versus unders, makes NBA range 3s regularly and can even shoot coming off screens. He has timing sniffing out steals, rotating for blocks and rejecting jumpers at times as well. Demin can be a frustrating player to watch at times, however, as he often looks indecisive playing with the brakes on, being highly mistake-prone in some instances and completely disappearing in others, showing concerning body language when things don't go his way -- for example, the championship game where he finished 3 for-17 from the field and spent most of the fourth quarter on the bench. Demin has an excellent frame to grow into but has a hard time playing through contact at the moment, being unable to beat switches with his average first step, looking frail attacking the rim while almost exclusively driving left and rarely getting to the free throw line.
It would be interesting to see him in a more modern, up-tempo offense, as Real plays a conservative, methodical style that might make Demin look more passive than he actually is. Where Demin ends up playing next year and the role he has will be extremely important for his development and NBA projection. NBA teams haven't had the chance to evaluate him in international competitions since he was a 15-year-old because of his home country being banned by FIBA due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. If Demin can iron out some of the warts in his profile in the next 18 months, he's got all the talent in the world to position himself as a potential top-10 pick in next year's draft.
Ivan Kharchenkov | 6-7 | SG/SF | Age: 17.9 | Bayern Munich (Russia/Germany)
Kharchenkov had a strong showing at ANGT, perhaps not a surprise considering he was playing rotation minutes in the Euroleague for Bayern Munich last month. The 6-7 wing is one of the more complete players in his age group in Europe, showing the ability to create shots prolifically off the dribble, find teammates on the move, hit shots from all over the floor and bring competitiveness and instincts defensively. Kharchenkov continues to make strides with his frame and seems to have found another gear athletically this season, looking quicker off his feet for dunks and blocks. He's an incisive scorer who lives at the free throw line and hunts shots relentlessly out of pick-and-roll, post-ups, pushing off the defensive glass and spotting up from deep vantage points. More of a shot-maker than a pure shooter, Kharchenkov needs to improve the consistency of his jumper and his decision-making, which can be hit or miss leading to turnovers and too many tough pullups. He didn't have a great deal of help on this overmatched Bayern Munich team but played a similar style in other settings. As gifted of a scorer as he is, it's impressive to see him rarely conserve energy on defense, as he has terrific instincts as a rebounder and jumping passing lanes, even if his lack of lateral quickness will be scrutinized closely by scouts. He's an MVP candidate at this summer's U18 European Championship playing for his adopted country of Germany.
Ismaila Diagne | 7-0 | C | Age: 17.1 | Real Madrid (Senegal)
No one at this tournament had an answer for the overwhelming combination of size, strength, mobility and skill that Diagne offers at 7-feet. He's a dominant presence on the glass, a reliable target in pick and roll with his soft hands and solid touch -- showing flashes of passing out of short rolls and a nice-looking stroke from midrange. He's not as much of a rim-protector as most NBA teams would like but does some very interesting things stepping out on the perimeter defensively, hedging well beyond the 3-point line, switching onto smaller players and recovering to the rim. Finding a more consistent degree of intensity, physicality and explosiveness as a finisher will position Diagne well in the NBA draft conversation. He looks like he'll be able to stretch the floor as he matures -- he has already improved his skill level considerably over the past few years.
David Mirkovic | 6-9 | PF | Age: 18.0 | SC Derby (Montenegro)
Mirkovic has been seeing consistent rotation minutes in the Adriatic League for SC Derby, who hosted this tournament in Podgorica, but elected to suit up for their U18 team despite not practicing with them this season. That didn't stop him from leading the event in scoring and rebounding while showing superb versatility operating as his team's defacto point guard on offense and center on defense. Mirkovic loves to push the ball off the defensive glass, initiate out of pick-and-roll and is difficult for opponents to match up with given his strong 240-pound frame and outstanding skill level. He powers through players in the post or from the perimeter with fluid footwork and polished spin moves, finishing creatively off the glass despite not being overwhelmingly explosive. He's a confident and increasingly consistent shooter, hitting 3-pointers from everywhere and making free throws at a good clip. He's an unselfish, creative passer with advanced basketball instincts on both ends of the floor, often being the first one off the ground for rebounds. While Mirkovic has improved his body and has solid length relative to his height, he has much to improve on defensively guarding in space. He's not fleet of foot, struggling to turn his hips, get back into plays and offer much resistance as a rim-protector. His instincts and toughness give him a chance to be effective here ultimately, but he'll need to keep making strides to hold NBA scouts' interest. Drawing some comparisons to the Houston Rockets' Alperen Sengun from many NBA scouts, Mirkovic's productivity, versatility and feel for the game make him someone who will be monitored closely moving forward.
Jack Kayil | 6-4 | PG | Age: 18.0 | Rasta Vechta (Germany)
Kayil exploded in the championship game against Real Madrid, dropping 23 points, 12 assists and 6 rebounds while nearly leading his team to a huge upset over the most dominant team in European youth basketball. What Kayil lacks in overwhelming strength or explosiveness, he makes up for with craft, feel and skill, especially as a pick-and-roll operator where he shows the ability to make advanced reads with outstanding pace and creativity. The way his youthful frame and athleticism evolve over the next year or two will tell us more about what type of NBA prospect he is, especially defensively, but Kayil's size, vision and instincts make him a player scouts will monitor closely considering how he's performed at the FIBA level and now at the ANGT.
ESPN NBA draft analyst Jonathan Givony embarked on a 10-day trip through Europe -- with stops in Germany, France, Serbia, Greece and Montenegro -- to watch some of the best international prospects in this June's 2024 draft, as well as future classes. Here's what he learned.
Ratiopharm Ulm @ Brose Bamberg (Germany)
The first stop was in Germany, where defending BBL champion Ratiopharm Ulm and its trio of NBA prospects played a road game versus Brose Bamberg.
19-year-old Spanish point guard Juan Nunez of Ratiopharm Ulm has drawn considerable interest from the NBA after a blossoming summer as the starting point guard of the Spanish national team at the FIBA World Cup. He's followed that meaningful learning experience with a highly productive season while establishing himself as one of Europe's most exhilarating passers. At 6-foot-4, he's an elite pick-and-roll operator who reads the game and picks apart opposing defenses with surgical precision using both sides of the floor and passing off a live dribble.
Nunez has made strides with his shooting, limited his head-scratching turnovers and elevated his defense, but still has plenty of room to grow. Some NBA scouts have questions about his lack of explosiveness and overall scoring prowess long-term, too. He's a polarizing player with extreme strengths and weaknesses, as some NBA teams say they don't consider him a serious prospect, while others have him firmly in consideration as a top-20 pick.
While Nunez had his weakest performance (3 points on 1-for-9 shooting, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 turnovers) of what's otherwise been a stellar season, his teammate, 6-9, 18-year-old French wing Pacome Dadiet had an eye-opening showing, posting 12 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists in 29 minutes -- the longest stretch of action he's seen all season. Dadiet has garnered attention around the NBA for his positional size, solid frame, clean shooting mechanics, extreme youth and budding ball skills. He's a poor defender right now, and doesn't have overwhelming length or explosiveness, but he's still at an early stage of development with room to grow given his age.
Dadiet is expected to declare for this year's draft and will likely keep his name in if he receives assurances he'll be on an NBA roster next season. Some NBA teams consider him a legitimate first-round target come June, while others think he's far away from being ready to play in an NBA game and would prefer to see him in the 2025 NBA draft.
There was also an opportunity to briefly watch Ulm's 17-year-old Noa Essengue, a French big man regarded as one of the top international prospects in his age group. Recently sprouting to nearly 6-11, Essengue has lottery-pick tools physically and is making strides with his skill level as well -- showcasing improving passing, perimeter shooting and defensive versatility in small doses this season. Criticized previously for his inconsistent motor and physicality, Essengue is getting valuable developmental minutes and practice time against pros in the EuroCup and BBL should hopefully help him find another gear with his intensity. He'll be scouted closely at the upcoming Basketball Without Borders camp at All-Star weekend and then at the FIBA U18 European Championship this summer. He should be one of France's leading players in the competition, giving us some early insight into where he might fit into the 2025 NBA draft equation.
Le Portel @ Cholet Basket (France)
NBA teams are very familiar with Cholet Basket, having made the trek to the northwest French town many times via Nantes to evaluate Rudy Gobert, Killian Hayes, Nando de Colo and other prospects who plied their trade at historic Le Meilleraie arena.
It's easy to see why Tidjane Salaun is a riser on NBA draft boards, standing 6-11 with an athletic frame, long arms, fluid movements and dynamic shooting ability. He's in the midst of a highly productive season as a starter for Cholet, a team that's already advanced three times in the FIBA Champions League to the Top 16 stage, giving him a huge platform to showcase his talent in France and against top teams from Spain, Turkey and Italy.
Salaun had another excellent showing in front of six NBA scouts, posting 17 points in 23 minutes, showing his ability to shoot coming off screens, cutting off the ball and crashing the offensive glass, flashes of passing vision and non-stop hustle defensively. It's rare to see an 18-year-old shoot the ball with the confidence, range and versatility Salaun has all season (38% from 3), and that, combined with his size, 7-2 wingspan, mobility and defensive intensity gives him a high floor in today's NBA.
Not possessing much shot-creation ability, and being a surprisingly poor defensive rebounder for his size (four rebounds per 40 minutes), NBA teams have questions about Salaun's feel for the game. He doesn't always track loose balls off the glass as instinctually as you might hope and looks sped up on both ends of the floor.
Considering he's never played professional basketball before this season and has been thrust into a significant role at a high level of European basketball, it's easy to see him continuing to make strides in these areas with his reportedly stellar work ethic and the incredible development trajectory he's been on the past few years. Salaun was cut from the French U17 national team training camp 18 months ago, but has since rocketed past virtually every player in his age group not only in France but in Europe as well. With his August birthday, he's younger than eight of the 24 players named to the 2024 McDonald's All-American game, meaning he could easily be a high school senior (and a part of the 2025 NBA draft class) if he were American.
Belgrade (Serbia)
Nikola Topic's midseason return from Mega MIS to Red Star, and subsequent knee injury shortly after, changed the complexion of this previously scheduled portion of the trip, which included two Adriatic League games between FMP and Red Star, and Mega MIS versus Partizan. This provided an opportunity to spend several hours watching Topic rehab his injured left knee, get an update on his progress and sit down for an interview.
Topic was in an excellent mood after just having received definitive word from his doctor that he will not require surgery on strained ligaments in his left knee. He's back running this week and is approximately 3-4 weeks from returning to full activity, preferring to take a cautious approach, as Serbia's two-week FIBA national team break next month is well-timed. Red Star's EuroLeague campaign extends until at least April 11, with many more important games coming in the Adriatic League playoffs, where a matchup with archrivals and fellow Euroleague team Partizan Belgrade likely awaits them in the finals. Topic looks well-positioned in the high lottery portion of this draft and will likely draw consideration at the very top depending on how he looks upon his return.
While in Belgrade, we made a pilgrimage to the recently renamed Dejan Milojevic Training Center, formerly known as Mega Factory. Milojevic spent a decade coaching in this gym, first as Mega MIS' team manager and then as head coach for eight years, before being hired as an assistant coach by the Golden State Warriors. The beloved Milojevic passed away Jan. 17 at age 46, leading to multiple moments of silence before games and also an incredible tribute night between his former clubs Partizan Belgrade (where he led the Euroleague in scoring as a player) and Mega MIS.
At Milojevic Training Center, we had an opportunity to evaluate some of the best teenage prospects in Serbia in a pair of games, including 7-footer Abdramane Siby from Mali. The 17-year-old Siby (who boasts a 7-5 wingspan) posted a triple-double (18 points, 13 rebounds, 11 blocks) showing exceptional mobility, intensity and timing defensively, as well as flashes of skill level offensively. A late-bloomer who has made significant progress in the past year, Siby also recently earned an invite to the NBA's Basketball Without Borders camp. Youngsters Vuk Danilovic (son of European great Sasha Danilovic), Petar Bjelica, Ognjen Srzentic, Ognjen Nikolic and Lun Jarc also looked like prospects to follow long-term.
INSEP Academy and Joventut Badalona @ Paris Basket (France)
A doubleheader in Paris provided NBA scouts an opportunity to get eyes on some of the most promising prospects in France, as well as several elite Europeans on Spanish powerhouse Joventut Badalona, in town for a EuroCup matchup.
INSEP Academy, where Tony Parker, Boris Diaw and Evan Fournier started developing into first-round NBA draft picks, has long been considered one of the top youth programs. This year is no exception, with several potential lottery picks in the pipeline and what appears to be the team's most competitive squad ever judging by the excellent results in the French third division under newly instated head coach Lamine Kebe. We saw this group of 16- and 17-year-olds take down a veteran Le Havre team made up of seasoned pros behind an impressive display of execution, ball movement, defensive intensity and perimeter shooting. The highlight of the game was the play of 6-4, 17-year-old point guard Nolan Traore, who is having an extremely productive season establishing himself as one of the best prospects in Europe in his age group. Traore dropped 21 points, 10 assists and 5 steals with just 2 turnovers in this viewing, the type of performance that's become his standard. It's rare to see a European point guard who can handle the ball, play at different speeds, pass off a live dribble and show such impressive pace as a shot-creator, distributor and finisher.
The brother of potential 2024 draft pick Armel Traore, Nolan is a well-known figure in scouting circles and appears to have made significant strides this season with his shooting, defense and decision-making. He still possesses significant untapped talent thanks to his size, explosiveness operating out of hesitation moves and youthful demeanor. Traore's play has garnered him invites to the Nike Hoop Summit and NBA Basketball Without Borders camps this spring, and he's being heavily recruited by college programs such as Alabama, Gonzaga and Xavier, as well as by professional teams in France and abroad.
In the second leg of the doubleheader, 6-10, 17-year-old Croatian power forward Michael Ruzic stole the show in a highly competitive EuroCup game between two deep, talented teams. Ruzic was entrusted with crunch time minutes and amassed six points and five rebounds in 22 minutes. He stepped into a pair of 3s confidently, showed shot-creation prowess in small doses, dished intelligent passes and flashed impressive timing and instincts defensively. He's not NBA draft-eligible until 2025, but it's uncommon to see a player this age contribute in a high-level game with important playoff implications on the line.
Coming from an impressive familial background -- the son of ex-EuroLeague center Tomislav Ruzic, and one of the world's former top women's volleyball players, Barbara Jelic-Ruzic -- it's easy to see where Ruzic's outstanding demeanor and feel for the game comes from. He's not blessed with elite explosiveness, but looks early in his development with his youthful appearance, only recently hitting a growth spurt that vaulted him into consideration as one of the best 2006-born international prospects.
JL Bourg @ Aris Thessaloniki (Greece)
The caravan of NBA scouts made its way to Thessaloniki in Northern Greece for an important EuroCup game at the iconic Nick Galis Hall. Eight NBA representatives were in attendance to watch potential No. 1 pick Zaccharie Risacher have one of his best games (20 points in 25 minutes) in what's been an incredible season.
The 6-10, 18-year-old Risacher did a little of everything: He made 3-pointers off movement, pushed the ball 94 feet off the defensive glass and dished off intelligently while making touch passes into the post, moving off the ball instinctually for above-the-rim finishes and sniffing out putback dunks. He also attacked closeouts for floaters, played through contact and guarded point guards through power forwards while fighting over screens. NBA teams are becoming increasingly comfortable with him as a No. 1 pick candidate, especially those who already have go-to offensive options on their roster. He's shooting 48% from 3 through 34 games (with 26 wins), typically guarding the opponent's best perimeter player, getting to the free throw line prolifically and finishing 57% of his 2-pointers -- all while being younger than several seniors named to the McDonald's All-American game. Risacher is doing things that have never been done by an 18-year-old at the EuroCup level, as well as in France, excluding Victor Wembanyama last season.
The confidence, productivity and efficiency Risacher displays give him an incredibly high floor. He has tremendous basketball instincts and because of his youth, he has considerable time to fill out his excellent frame and develop into an even more prolific shot creator, à la Franz Wagner.
Adidas Next Generation Tournament (Montenegro)
Dozens of NBA scouts convened in Montenegro to watch eight teams play the first of four Adidas Next Generation qualifying tournaments, which lead to the EuroLeague Final Four's ANGT Finals in late May. The most prestigious international club event for under-18 prospects, this event has hosted Luka Doncic, Wembanyama, Nikola Jokic, Domantas Sabonis and many other European luminaries. The presence of Real Madrid, a powerhouse of European youth basketball in Spain that has won three of the last four ANGT titles, was the main highlight for scouts, as they have three of the top international prospects born in 2006. A testament to basketball's international growth, Real Madrid's roster consists of players from Spain, Russia, France, Serbia, Germany, Mali, Senegal and Latvia.
Here's who we thought were the top five NBA prospects in attendance:
Hugo Gonzalez | 6-7 | SF | Age: 17.9 | Real Madrid (Spain)
Gonzalez is widely regarded as the best international prospect in his age group. As a potential top-10 pick in the 2025 NBA draft, he did nothing to dissuade that notion by helping Real Madrid win the championship while being named MVP in the process. Showing some similarities to Miami Heat rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr., Gonzalez's talent shines through most vividly with the competitiveness, character and two-way versatility he offers as opposed to sheer scoring ability. He affects the game in a myriad of ways with his passing, defense, cutting, rim-running and toughness, bringing non-stop energy and purpose to everything he does on the floor.
A streaky shooter for much of his career, Gonzalez is making strides, hitting 36% of his 3-pointers and 81% of his free throws through all competitions this season -- even showing confidence hitting pullup 3s in transition and running off screens. He's still a work in progress in this area, hitting just 5-for-21 at this event, but has clearly put significant time into this part of his game and was hunting jumpers all tournament. Improving his shot-creation prowess is the next step in the equation -- he's mostly a straight-line driver at the moment -- but can get plenty done off the dribble with his strong first step, aggressiveness seeking out contact in the lane and impressive creativity as a finisher. He's also a smart, unselfish passer who can find teammates with pocket passes out of pick-and-roll, and is always looking to pass ahead in transition or make touch passes along the perimeter. Defensively, he can switch between guards, wings and forwards alike, chasing opponents around screens and generating turnovers in bunches with his instincts, timing and motor.
It will be interesting to see where Gonzalez elects to spend his first season as an NBA draft-eligible player next year. Minutes have been hard to come by on Real Madrid's senior team, which is stacked at every position with some of the best players in the world outside the NBA.
Egor Demin | 6-9 | PG/SG | Age: 17.9 | Real Madrid (Russia)
Demin had an uneven performance showing extreme contrasts between his unique talent and potential and an extreme lack of consistency and toughness. NBA scouts actively scour the globe seeking out prospects like Demin -- a fluid 6-9 playmaker with dynamic shot-making prowess, passing creativity off a live dribble, lob-catching explosiveness and the versatility, length and instincts to guard multiple positions generating turnovers in bunches when fully locked in.
Demin plays point guard exclusively for Real and shows the ability to make a variety of creative pick-and-roll reads using both sides of the floor. He's a confident, versatile shooter who rises up versus unders, makes NBA range 3s regularly and can even shoot coming off screens. He has timing sniffing out steals, rotating for blocks and rejecting jumpers at times as well. Demin can be a frustrating player to watch at times, however, as he often looks indecisive playing with the brakes on, being highly mistake-prone in some instances and completely disappearing in others, showing concerning body language when things don't go his way -- for example, the championship game where he finished 3 for-17 from the field and spent most of the fourth quarter on the bench. Demin has an excellent frame to grow into but has a hard time playing through contact at the moment, being unable to beat switches with his average first step, looking frail attacking the rim while almost exclusively driving left and rarely getting to the free throw line.
It would be interesting to see him in a more modern, up-tempo offense, as Real plays a conservative, methodical style that might make Demin look more passive than he actually is. Where Demin ends up playing next year and the role he has will be extremely important for his development and NBA projection. NBA teams haven't had the chance to evaluate him in international competitions since he was a 15-year-old because of his home country being banned by FIBA due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. If Demin can iron out some of the warts in his profile in the next 18 months, he's got all the talent in the world to position himself as a potential top-10 pick in next year's draft.
Ivan Kharchenkov | 6-7 | SG/SF | Age: 17.9 | Bayern Munich (Russia/Germany)
Kharchenkov had a strong showing at ANGT, perhaps not a surprise considering he was playing rotation minutes in the Euroleague for Bayern Munich last month. The 6-7 wing is one of the more complete players in his age group in Europe, showing the ability to create shots prolifically off the dribble, find teammates on the move, hit shots from all over the floor and bring competitiveness and instincts defensively. Kharchenkov continues to make strides with his frame and seems to have found another gear athletically this season, looking quicker off his feet for dunks and blocks. He's an incisive scorer who lives at the free throw line and hunts shots relentlessly out of pick-and-roll, post-ups, pushing off the defensive glass and spotting up from deep vantage points. More of a shot-maker than a pure shooter, Kharchenkov needs to improve the consistency of his jumper and his decision-making, which can be hit or miss leading to turnovers and too many tough pullups. He didn't have a great deal of help on this overmatched Bayern Munich team but played a similar style in other settings. As gifted of a scorer as he is, it's impressive to see him rarely conserve energy on defense, as he has terrific instincts as a rebounder and jumping passing lanes, even if his lack of lateral quickness will be scrutinized closely by scouts. He's an MVP candidate at this summer's U18 European Championship playing for his adopted country of Germany.
Ismaila Diagne | 7-0 | C | Age: 17.1 | Real Madrid (Senegal)
No one at this tournament had an answer for the overwhelming combination of size, strength, mobility and skill that Diagne offers at 7-feet. He's a dominant presence on the glass, a reliable target in pick and roll with his soft hands and solid touch -- showing flashes of passing out of short rolls and a nice-looking stroke from midrange. He's not as much of a rim-protector as most NBA teams would like but does some very interesting things stepping out on the perimeter defensively, hedging well beyond the 3-point line, switching onto smaller players and recovering to the rim. Finding a more consistent degree of intensity, physicality and explosiveness as a finisher will position Diagne well in the NBA draft conversation. He looks like he'll be able to stretch the floor as he matures -- he has already improved his skill level considerably over the past few years.
David Mirkovic | 6-9 | PF | Age: 18.0 | SC Derby (Montenegro)
Mirkovic has been seeing consistent rotation minutes in the Adriatic League for SC Derby, who hosted this tournament in Podgorica, but elected to suit up for their U18 team despite not practicing with them this season. That didn't stop him from leading the event in scoring and rebounding while showing superb versatility operating as his team's defacto point guard on offense and center on defense. Mirkovic loves to push the ball off the defensive glass, initiate out of pick-and-roll and is difficult for opponents to match up with given his strong 240-pound frame and outstanding skill level. He powers through players in the post or from the perimeter with fluid footwork and polished spin moves, finishing creatively off the glass despite not being overwhelmingly explosive. He's a confident and increasingly consistent shooter, hitting 3-pointers from everywhere and making free throws at a good clip. He's an unselfish, creative passer with advanced basketball instincts on both ends of the floor, often being the first one off the ground for rebounds. While Mirkovic has improved his body and has solid length relative to his height, he has much to improve on defensively guarding in space. He's not fleet of foot, struggling to turn his hips, get back into plays and offer much resistance as a rim-protector. His instincts and toughness give him a chance to be effective here ultimately, but he'll need to keep making strides to hold NBA scouts' interest. Drawing some comparisons to the Houston Rockets' Alperen Sengun from many NBA scouts, Mirkovic's productivity, versatility and feel for the game make him someone who will be monitored closely moving forward.
Jack Kayil | 6-4 | PG | Age: 18.0 | Rasta Vechta (Germany)
Kayil exploded in the championship game against Real Madrid, dropping 23 points, 12 assists and 6 rebounds while nearly leading his team to a huge upset over the most dominant team in European youth basketball. What Kayil lacks in overwhelming strength or explosiveness, he makes up for with craft, feel and skill, especially as a pick-and-roll operator where he shows the ability to make advanced reads with outstanding pace and creativity. The way his youthful frame and athleticism evolve over the next year or two will tell us more about what type of NBA prospect he is, especially defensively, but Kayil's size, vision and instincts make him a player scouts will monitor closely considering how he's performed at the FIBA level and now at the ANGT.
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HOU$TON
formerly convertibleburt
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My favorite player in this draft
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Want Dillingham to go to Orlando, the type of guard the team is missing
dacomeup
Supporter
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Can’t remember where I saw a Bones Hyland comparison for him… but nah, way more talented than that
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I was thinking more Malik Monk without the athletic pop.
