RealGM

The draft combine in Treviso, Italy, from June 2-4, to conduct measurements, athletic testing, shooting drills, a thorough medical examination, and interviews with NBA teams.
- Givony

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/41662748/2025-nba-draft-big-board-rankings-top-100-prospects-players

Here is my current ranks on my big boards.
8 Kasparas Jakucionis
13 Ego Demin
14 Noa Essengue
16 Nolan Traore
25 Hugo Gonzalez
27 Ben Saraf
29 Joan Beringer
30 Noah Penda
31 Bogolijub Markovic
38 Neoklis Avdalas
39 Rocco Zikarsky
40 Hansen Yang
47 Alex Toohey
57 Michael Ruzic
58 Mouhamed Faye

I know a few of these guys played college, but we still have ANGT and U16 and U18 stats from European competitions which I feel helps to evaluate them side by side with the non-college international players.

Am I missing anyone? Any ranks vastly different?

Izan Almansa probably deserves a mention. i think he might be being underrated in draft in general.

I think Traore is potentially being slept on, he was a Top 5 player a year ago, struggled for a major part of the year playing in the tough French League (LNB Elite), but has lately found his footing.

Averaging 12.8 - 5.0 (2.8 TO)- 1.6 over the last 10 games - 43% FG/ 38% from 3pt

He is an 18yr old kid playing in a league where the average age is 24/25

Gonzalez is another player that is a potential sleeper, also was highly ranked several years ago and has (seemingly?) fallen off NBA radars, as he has only gotten sporadic minutes for Real Madrid

Essengue IMO is all potential right now, I thought one scouting report put it best, "What skill does he reliably provide in the halfcourt to keep him on the floor?"

Almansa just worked out for POR, but missed the combine with an injury...

Also, Lachlan Olbrich may get selected in the 2nd...

Really hope the Nuggets can acquire a second round pick for Yang or Zikarsky.

Diawara should be undrafted (or late 2nd) but he's also a point forward/3D project that could find a good place on a nba bench.

I am probably lower than others on Essengue, but higher on guys like Traore/Penda/Ben Saraf/Almansa (i agree with above posters, nothing new though, being french i know how good he is )

Raynaud deserves a mention too despite his 'age'. He has some mini french Jokic vibes (for us), curious to see if his lack of lateral mobility can be hidden in a nba game. Knowing he's not necessary starter material, but a bit like Boban, a playable big that can do it all (litteraly).

Walton1one wrote:I think Traore is potentially being slept on, he was a Top 5 player a year ago, struggled for a major part of the year playing in the tough French League (LNB Elite), but has lately found his footing.

Averaging 12.8 - 5.0 (2.8 TO)- 1.6 over the last 10 games - 43% FG/ 38% from 3pt

He is an 18yr old kid playing in a league where the average age is 24/25

Gonzalez is another player that is a potential sleeper, also was highly ranked several years ago and has (seemingly?) fallen off NBA radars, as he has only gotten sporadic minutes for Real Madrid

Essengue IMO is all potential right now, I thought one scouting report put it best, "What skill does he reliably provide in the halfcourt to keep him on the floor?"

Almansa just worked out for POR, but missed the combine with an injury...

Also, Lachlan Olbrich may get selected in the 2nd...

uh, he's excellent without the ball, has great hands, at 6'11" he can put it on the floor, he draws fouls at an elite rate, he gets on the offensive glass, he's excellent finishing at the rim, he's a good passer, he's efficient, he can shoot, and just hit two threes in an OT playoff win.

better question might be which skills doesn't he possess in the court that would keep him off the floor?

Saraf and Essengue lead Ulm in German BBL playoffs (Ulm swept 3:0 Alba Berlin and leads against 1:0 against Würzburg).

Both average 15.3 ppg (most of Ulm players), Saraf leads team in assists with 5.3 and Essengue in rebounds with 7.8

Saraf's averages in playoffs are 15.3 (52.9 / 36.4 / 95.5 split - 69.8% ts%), 3.5 rbs, 5.3 ast (3.3 to), 1.3 stl, 0.5 blk
Essengue's averages are 15.3 (52.9 / 18.2 / 95.8 split - 68.4% ts%), 7.8 rbs, 3.3 ast(0.7 to), 1.3 stl, 0.5 blk

They are both top-3 players of top German BBL (finished regular season 2nd) and 50% (9W/9L) EuroCup team.
I don't understand how it's not achievement which should be praised.

SeattleJazzFan wrote:

Walton1one wrote:I think Traore is potentially being slept on, he was a Top 5 player a year ago, struggled for a major part of the year playing in the tough French League (LNB Elite), but has lately found his footing.

Averaging 12.8 - 5.0 (2.8 TO)- 1.6 over the last 10 games - 43% FG/ 38% from 3pt

He is an 18yr old kid playing in a league where the average age is 24/25

Gonzalez is another player that is a potential sleeper, also was highly ranked several years ago and has (seemingly?) fallen off NBA radars, as he has only gotten sporadic minutes for Real Madrid

Essengue IMO is all potential right now, I thought one scouting report put it best, "What skill does he reliably provide in the halfcourt to keep him on the floor?"

Almansa just worked out for POR, but missed the combine with an injury...

Also, Lachlan Olbrich may get selected in the 2nd...

uh, he's excellent without the ball, has great hands, at 6'11" he can put it on the floor, he draws fouls at an elite rate, he gets on the offensive glass, he's excellent finishing at the rim, he's a good passer, and just hit two threes in an OT playoff win.

better question might be which skills doesn't he possess in the court that would keep him off the floor?

To start with, the ability to reliably generate anything on the offensive end against an NBA level defense?

He is pretty much a transition player\straight line driver, he has no real on ball creation and questions on whether he will be able to shoot from outside. Nearly all his points come from drives and transition. Yes, he draws fouls against weaker\smaller eurocup\bundesliga teams, questionable how effective that will be against NBA length\athleticism & defenses though, especially when they dare him to shoot outside.

Outside Shooting?
Noa was 10 for 34 in 18 eurocup games (29.4%), 1.8 att/g, hardly definitive on his shooting ability, that is comparable to...Asa Newell (26/89 - 29.2%)? Nice that he went 2\5 last game, but he was 0-5 in the (3) quarter final games before that.

Elite FT rate?
Asa - FT 3.1\4.1 - 74.6%
Noa - FT 4.1\5.6 - 73%

Offensive rebounding?
Noa averaged 1.2 ORB\4.1 DRB\5.3 TRB (that is a 22.6% ORB rate)
Asa Newell averaged 3.3 ORB\3.5 DRB\6.9 TRB (that is a 47.8% ORB rate)
Both average 2 stocks\game

I don't know about the passing either, that seems a stretch, Noa is averaging 1.1 asst\g vs 1\TO\game (also similar to Asa Newell, .9 asst/1.1 TO)

Similar size\athletic profile to Asa Newell as well.
Asa measurements: 6'9 bf - 6'11.25 ws - 8'11.5 standing reach - 36.5 vert - 220#
Noa measurements (24' BWB): 6'9 bf - 6'11ws - 9'3 standing reach - 35.5 vert - 198#
Both are high motor\effort players with questions about what their true NBA position will be

Should Asa be a Top 10 pick then? Sure seems like Noa is getting a euro bump like Saluan did LY?

Not trying to be a downer on Essengue, he certainly could end up as a good NBA player, but I have seen this movie before and even IF he does turn into an NBA rotational player (or more) it certainly is not going to happen right away. The hype around him is getting a little out of control IMO.

Walton1one wrote:

SeattleJazzFan wrote:

Walton1one wrote:I think Traore is potentially being slept on, he was a Top 5 player a year ago, struggled for a major part of the year playing in the tough French League (LNB Elite), but has lately found his footing.

Averaging 12.8 - 5.0 (2.8 TO)- 1.6 over the last 10 games - 43% FG/ 38% from 3pt

He is an 18yr old kid playing in a league where the average age is 24/25

Gonzalez is another player that is a potential sleeper, also was highly ranked several years ago and has (seemingly?) fallen off NBA radars, as he has only gotten sporadic minutes for Real Madrid

Essengue IMO is all potential right now, I thought one scouting report put it best, "What skill does he reliably provide in the halfcourt to keep him on the floor?"

Almansa just worked out for POR, but missed the combine with an injury...

Also, Lachlan Olbrich may get selected in the 2nd...

uh, he's excellent without the ball, has great hands, at 6'11" he can put it on the floor, he draws fouls at an elite rate, he gets on the offensive glass, he's excellent finishing at the rim, he's a good passer, and just hit two threes in an OT playoff win.

better question might be which skills doesn't he possess in the court that would keep him off the floor?

To start with, the ability to reliably generate anything on the offensive end against an NBA level defense?

He is pretty much a transition player\straight line driver, he has no real on ball creation and questions on whether he will be able to shoot from outside. Nearly all his points come from drives and transition. Yes, he draws fouls against weaker\smaller eurocup\bundesliga teams, questionable how effective that will be against NBA length\athleticism & defenses though, especially when they dare him to shoot outside.

Outside Shooting?
Noa was 10 for 34 in 18 eurocup games (29.4%), 1.8 att/g, hardly definitive on his shooting ability, that is comparable to...Asa Newell (26/89 - 29.2%)? Nice that he went 2\5 last game, but he was 0-5 in the (3) quarter final games before that.

Elite FT rate?
Asa - FT 3.1\4.1 - 74.6%
Noa - FT 4.1\5.6 - 73%

Offensive rebounding?
Noa averaged 1.2 ORB\4.1 DRB\5.3 TRB (that is a 22.6% ORB rate)
Asa Newell averaged 3.3 ORB\3.5 DRB\6.9 TRB (that is a 47.8% ORB rate)
Both average 2 stocks\game

I don't know about the passing either, that seems a stretch, Noa is averaging 1.1 asst\g vs 1\TO\game (also similar to Asa Newell, .9 asst/1.1 TO)

Similar size\athletic profile to Asa Newell as well.
Asa measurements: 6'9 bf - 6'11.25 ws - 8'11.5 standing reach - 36.5 vert - 220#
Noa measurements (24' BWB): 6'9 bf - 6'11ws - 9'3 standing reach - 35.5 vert - 198#
Both are high motor\effort players with questions about what their true NBA position will be

Should Asa be a Top 10 pick then? Sure seems like Noa is getting a euro bump like Saluan did LY?

Not trying to be a downer on Essengue, he certainly could end up as a good NBA player, but I have seen this movie before and even IF he does turn into an NBA rotational player (or more) it certainly is not going to happen right away. The hype around him is getting a little out of control IMO.

i didn't think this was about asa newell (who i like and think is underrated). if you think newell is a top 10 guy, i get it. not sure i quite have him there, but i absolutely get it.

Not a huge Essengue guy but I don't think the Newell comparison passes the sniff test:

- Essengue more efficient as a scorer playing in a men's league
- free throw rate (free throw attempts per field goal attempt) widely in Essengues favour
- Standing reach difference extremely obvious on film and helps Essengue a lot with his finishing

Can't ignore these things, they're part of the reason people really like Essengue

Give me Traore, Saraf and Yang any day.