2023 international class

[clyde21]

gonna aggregate the names here

Carlos Alocen
Ibou Dianko Badji
Adem Bona (UCLA this year)
Sidy Cissoko
Nikola Djurisic
Ariel Hukporti
Miro Little
Baba Miller (Gonzaga this year)
Ousmane Ndiaye
James Nnaji
Roko Prkacin
Rayan Rupert
Matthew Strazel
Augustin Ubal
Tristan Vukcevic
Victor Wembanyama
Fedor Zugic

missed a few im sure but post them here

[jman3134]

Think Badji was in this year's draft class. Alocen was an auto entry this year.

Names to add:
Mojave King
Juan Nunez
Tyrese Proctor (Duke this year)
Roko Prkacin (didn't apply for the draft due to injuries)
Zsombor Maronka
Ruben Dominguez
Michael Caicedo
Gregor Glas
Zvonimir Ivisic
Millan Jimenez
Leonardo Okeke

There are a few others that are underrated at the moment.

[sisibilio]

Jimenez and Dominguez are not NBA material IMO.
If we're talking spaniards Jordi Rodriguez is much more intriguing.

[GimmeDat]

FWIW, Mojave King may not even get an NBL deal this off-season.

I hope he does, he's still a talented young player, but relative to hopes has been a massive disappointment and should be off NBA Draft radars until further notice.

[bravor]

Not sure if anyone talked about Sidy Cissoko. Reports here say he's joining Gleague Ignite program.
He should be a legit defensive combo guard (tall and agressive, jump shot is all right but a work in progress still). Probably not a 1st round talent though (but i like him, he has some Mouss Sonko - for the ones old enough to remember him - in him if he can improve his decision making).

ps : GimmeDat, be nice to send a message to the nbl to stop 'stealing' our (french) prospects

nm just saw Clyde 1st post.

Also, Victor is expected to play in Paris (either Paris basket - which is Khan club for those who dont know - or Boulogne-Levallois - where the NT coach Collet is the HC )

[clyde21]

FWIW, Mojave King may not even get an NBL deal this off-season.

I hope he does, he's still a talented young player, but relative to hopes has been a massive disappointment and should be off NBA Draft radars until further notice.

yea, he's been terrible, one point was seen as a possible first rounder but it never formulated for him. it's really tough projecting international players honestly when they are that young.

last year I thought Nzosa was gonna be a top10 pick, but just completely fizzled out. Jovic also didn't have as good of a year. People thought Prkacin was gonna be a first rounder but just ended up getting hurt.

[bravor]

Among other international players that people should keep an eye on are bigs Ballo - even though he struggled to see the court with the zags and looked pretty meh since he joined the ncaa - and Batcho (probably the big i like the most for us frenchies, the closest center to Noah as long as he does not lose his skillset in the ncaa). Not sure Batcho will declare though, he might want to finish his ncaa studies first. Anyway he is more likely to shine in Europe.

Even though i dont like his attitude, Ballo should bounce back, as he is basically a bigger Garuba at worst (yes more in the post, but with the same impact in defense i mean).

For french prospect, you could add Traore (not sure if he will play heavy minutes though, he might be targeting 2024) and probably delete Strazel who is overrated as hell

[clyde21]

Among other international players that people should keep an eye on are bigs Ballo - even though he struggled to see the court with the zags and looked pretty meh since he joined the ncaa - and Batcho (probably the big i like the most for us frenchies, the closest center to Noah as long as he does not lose his skillset in the ncaa). Not sure Batcho will declare though, he might want to finish his ncaa studies first. Anyway he is more likely to shine in Europe.

Even though i dont like his attitude, Ballo should bounce back, as he is basically a bigger Garuba at worst (yes more in the post, but with the same impact in defense i mean).

For french prospect, you could add Traore (not sure if he will play heavy minutes though, he might be targeting 2024) and probably delete Strazel who is overrated as hell

i think in general players that are playing in the NCAA aren't considered 'international prospects', Ballo's been here for a few years now. but if you wanna include him go right ahead.

Traore will be playing at Auburn which is why I didn;t include but I guess I should've since I included Baba.

[bravor]

NM, i did not understand it as 'overseas' prospects. My bad

[jman3134]

FWIW, Mojave King may not even get an NBL deal this off-season.

I hope he does, he's still a talented young player, but relative to hopes has been a massive disappointment and should be off NBA Draft radars until further notice.

Wow, didn't know he fell off so much. Thanks for the info. Haven't scouted him in depth (as I don't really pay much attention to the NBL), but I noticed he is playing in the New Zealand league this summer (which is a lower division).

[UcanUwill]

Carlos Alocen could make a jump, he is exiting player, keep an eye for him. Very disappointed in Wembanyamas move to quit Euroleague team and go to Paris and Eurocup...
Another class with not a single Lithuanian, we are so trash these days.

[clyde21]

Carlos Alocen could make a jump, he is exiting player, keep an eye for him. Very disappointed in Wembanyamas move to quit Euroleague team and go to Paris and Eurocup...
Another class with not a single Lithuanian, we are so trash these days.

Buzelis if he reclasses but again he developed more in the states

[UcanUwill]

Carlos Alocen could make a jump, he is exiting player, keep an eye for him. Very disappointed in Wembanyamas move to quit Euroleague team and go to Paris and Eurocup...
Another class with not a single Lithuanian, we are so trash these days.

Buzelis if he reclasses but again he developed more in the states

Buzelis is American really, but yeah, we only have one player in the league who truly developed in Lithuanian school - Jonas. Domantas was groomed in Spain and later college, Brazdeikis is from Canada.

[jman3134]

Carlos Alocen could make a jump, he is exiting player, keep an eye for him. Very disappointed in Wembanyamas move to quit Euroleague team and go to Paris and Eurocup...
Another class with not a single Lithuanian, we are so trash these days.

Any thoughts on Liutauras Lelevicius?

Think Alocen would have to be had in free agency. He's a 2000 birthday so was auto'd.

[GimmeDat]

FWIW, Mojave King may not even get an NBL deal this off-season.

I hope he does, he's still a talented young player, but relative to hopes has been a massive disappointment and should be off NBA Draft radars until further notice.

yea, he's been terrible, one point was seen as a possible first rounder but it never formulated for him. it's really tough projecting international players honestly when they are that young.

last year I thought Nzosa was gonna be a top10 pick, but just completely fizzled out. Jovic also didn't have as good of a year. People thought Prkacin was gonna be a first rounder but just ended up getting hurt.

Honestly, at the Global Academy, King looked neck and neck with Giddey. I think he was just partly such an athletic anomaly out here and shot the ball at such a high level that his limitations never really stood out. But at the NBL level it's pretty clear his handle isn't there yet, his finishing is primitive and he hasn't capitalised on his tools defensively yet. Also not sure he's a particularly high feel player.

Giddey, King, Daniels and Proctor were all held in the same regard as junior - shame one of them couldn't hit the mark. Feel very confident with Proctor though, talent level is sensational.

FWIW, Mojave King may not even get an NBL deal this off-season.

I hope he does, he's still a talented young player, but relative to hopes has been a massive disappointment and should be off NBA Draft radars until further notice.

Wow, didn't know he fell off so much. Thanks for the info. Haven't scouted him in depth (as I don't really pay much attention to the NBL), but I noticed he is playing in the New Zealand league this summer (which is a lower division).

A lot of NBL players go play in NZNBL or NBL1 (2nd div) during the off-season, so I wouldn't read too much in to him being there, but it was felt it was a necessary confidence boost and reps opportunity given he hasn't played much these past two years. To his credit, he's been the league's top scorer (including imports), shooting 51.8% FG and 40.3% 3PT on 7.4 attempts per game, 4.8 rebounds, 3.9 assists and a steal in 28mpg, so he's killing it.

There's NBL starters like Sunday Dech, NBL imports like Todd Withers, Taj McCall etc. not putting up that.

What he can do at an elite level is hit spot up 3s, and his athletic tools are enough to get him by as a driver and transition guy at this level.

I hope he gets another NBL spot, there's maybe 6 regular contract spots left. U24 players can usually sign development player spots, but because he was previously contracted as a Next Star, his ineligible now, so if he doesn't get a spot here he'll probably go overseas to Europe or the G League.

[Mirotic12]

Carlos Alocen could make a jump, he is exiting player, keep an eye for him. Very disappointed in Wembanyamas move to quit Euroleague team and go to Paris and Eurocup...
Another class with not a single Lithuanian, we are so trash these days.

I like him, but he's overrated. He's something like a less athletic version of Tomas Satoransky.

[_GH0ST_]

Adem Bona is one of the best players of the international class. It wouldn't be a surprise if he was chosen from the lottery.

[UcanUwill]

Adem Bona is one of the best players of the international class. It wouldn't be a surprise if he was chosen from the lottery.

He is freak if his age is really not lied of.

[LewisnotMiller]

FWIW, Mojave King may not even get an NBL deal this off-season.

I hope he does, he's still a talented young player, but relative to hopes has been a massive disappointment and should be off NBA Draft radars until further notice.

yea, he's been terrible, one point was seen as a possible first rounder but it never formulated for him. it's really tough projecting international players honestly when they are that young.

last year I thought Nzosa was gonna be a top10 pick, but just completely fizzled out. Jovic also didn't have as good of a year. People thought Prkacin was gonna be a first rounder but just ended up getting hurt.

Honestly, at the Global Academy, King looked neck and neck with Giddey. I think he was just partly such an athletic anomaly out here and shot the ball at such a high level that his limitations never really stood out. But at the NBL level it's pretty clear his handle isn't there yet, his finishing is primitive and he hasn't capitalised on his tools defensively yet. Also not sure he's a particularly high feel player.

Giddey, King, Daniels and Proctor were all held in the same regard as junior - shame one of them couldn't hit the mark. Feel very confident with Proctor though, talent level is sensational.

FWIW, Mojave King may not even get an NBL deal this off-season.

I hope he does, he's still a talented young player, but relative to hopes has been a massive disappointment and should be off NBA Draft radars until further notice.

Wow, didn't know he fell off so much. Thanks for the info. Haven't scouted him in depth (as I don't really pay much attention to the NBL), but I noticed he is playing in the New Zealand league this summer (which is a lower division).

A lot of NBL players go play in NZNBL or NBL1 (2nd div) during the off-season, so I wouldn't read too much in to him being there, but it was felt it was a necessary confidence boost and reps opportunity given he hasn't played much these past two years. To his credit, he's been the league's top scorer (including imports), shooting 51.8% FG and 40.3% 3PT on 7.4 attempts per game, 4.8 rebounds, 3.9 assists and a steal in 28mpg, so he's killing it.

There's NBL starters like Sunday Dech, NBL imports like Todd Withers, Taj McCall etc. not putting up that.

What he can do at an elite level is hit spot up 3s, and his athletic tools are enough to get him by as a driver and transition guy at this level.

I hope he gets another NBL spot, there's maybe 6 regular contract spots left. U24 players can usually sign development player spots, but because he was previously contracted as a Next Star, his ineligible now, so if he doesn't get a spot here he'll probably go overseas to Europe or the G League.

I didn't see him pre-NBL (apart from a couple of highlight vids) but he just doesn't impact enough at the pro level.

I watch way more NBL1 than I do NBL, and to me he looks like a really good player at that level. Where his athletic ability and range are enough.

Just lacks craft and force. Still young, hope he finds his way. The Boomers need his skills in the future, if nothing else!

[LewisnotMiller]

Worth noting here, Jo Lual-Acuil Jr has announced he won't be returning to Melbourne United for next season.
Which opens up a starting role for Ariel Hukporti at C.

Jack White, Delly, Chris Goulding and another import will probably start (I'm guessing).
It's a deep team, so there are no guarantees, but when Hukporti agreed to return after looking decent in a bench role (with some flashes of more) I figured he'd been promised an expanded role. Bodes well for him, I think.