Another week down, and another update!
I decided to remove all of the youth league players from my list. I had 4, all from the LNB U21 league; Roman Domon, Dominique Diomande, Guillaume Grotzinger, and Mohammad Amini. I think they are all pretty high ceiling prospects, and I think they could indeed return to this list later this year if they get opportunities (all except Roman Domon have already debuted in the senior LNB, but none have a regular role established yet).
But as more games get played, I want to rely more and more on what has happened and less on what I think WILL or CAN happen.
1.
Nikola Topic, 2005, KK Mega Bemax (Adriatic ABA Superleague)
2.
Alexandre Sarr, 2005, Perth (Australian NBL)
3.
Zaccharie Risacher, 2005, JL Bourg-en-Bresse (French LNB, EuroCup Superleague)
4.
Tidjane Salaun, 2005, Cholet (French LNB, BCL Superleague)
Salaun has really been struggling offensively, and I wonder if he grew a bit and is struggling to adjust his new trajectory, because I know that the scouting report on him touts a smooth looking shooting form. He was listed as 6'8"/6'9" last year and ESPN cites him as 6'10" now, I don't know if that's simply a conversion inconsistency or if there's anything to it. Either way, he is locked in defensively and is clearly a big part of Cholet's success in spite of his struggles. Cholet's last game against Monaco is an extreme version of this trend, to me-- Cholet did lose by 6, and Salaun was 0/10 from the floor, easily his worst offensive performance.
Yet he still had a positive +/- for Cholet and was *the only player on their team except for the last guy off the bench to do so*. I know that +/- is a funky stat and doesn't tell the whole story, but I think it is impossible to assert that Salaun was quite the detriment to his team that his scoring attempts would indicate.
And of course, he's had better offensive days than that, too.
5.
Juan Nunez, 2004, Ratiopharm Ulm (German BBL, EuroCup Superleague)
Ratiopharm Ulm fairly decisively beat ALBA Berlin (One of Germany's 2 Euroleague representatives) last week. This team is more than just a youth showcase, they seem really good, and Juan Nunez is pretty clearly the team's leader and star to me. He notched 17 points and 10 assists against ALBA Berlin, perhaps his best game so far this season.
6.
Bobi Klintman, 2003, Cairns (Australian NBL)
7.
Hansen Yang, 2005, Qingdao (Chinese CBA)
season yet to beginI don't see Yang in the 2024 discussion much, and I get it. I think the NBA still does feel like a distant future for him. I still think it's reasonably likely that he'll have plenty of opportunity to make a case as a valuable draft-and-stash (it was enough for Yannick Nzosa in 2022 and I think Yang quite frankly presents a much higher ceiling still). I'm eager to see what his role looks like when his season starts at the end of this week, and I really want to see how the media gauges his unbelievable potential against his likely struggles learning professional play. But Yang is an interesting case to me because while I want to defer more to production rather than projection, I think Yang's draft stock will very much be tied to NBA scouts' projections (the idea of what can be above what currently is) more than most other prospects.
8.
Mouhamed Faye, 2005, Reggio Emilia (Italian Serie A)
As I hoped, Faye is starting for Reggio Emilia, and he is earning it. In 2 games, he seems to have a solid complementary role; about 20 minutes a game, with about 5/6 shots a game. And while he isn't setting the league on fire or anything, he is fulfilling that role very well for a team that started strong, even flexing a strong sense of offensive awareness by connecting on 4 assists in his debut. I think this is pretty remarkable for one of the youngest prospects who is just beginning their professional career in one of the hardest leagues around.
His limited "old school big" skillset might put a damper on his potential, especially since he isn't dropping 20/10 games on guys like he did in youth competitions; but there is no way that a guy with a nearly ideal NBA frame, what seems to be remarkable game sense, and a lot of time still to develop his skills isn't an immediate NBA prospect to some capacity.
9.
Nikola Djurisic, 2004, KK Mega Bemax (Adriatic ABA Superleague)
10.
Melvin Ajinca, 2004, Saint-Quentin (French LNB)
11.
Andrija Jelavic, 2004, KK Mega Bemax (Adriatic ABA Superleague)
12.
Lucas Langarita, 2005, Casademont Zaragoza (Spanish ACB, FIBA Europe Cup Superleague)
13.
Johann Grünloh, 2005, SC Rasta Vechta (German BBL)
14.
Killian Malwaya, 2005, ALM Evreux (French LNB Pro B)
DIvision 2 Senior League15.
Jaylin Galloway, 2002, Sydney (Australian NBL)
16.
Ariel Hukporti, 2002, Melbourne (Australian NBL)
17.
Armel Traore, 2003, ADA Blois (French LNB}
18.
Bogoljub Markovic, 2005, OKK Beograd (Serbian KLS)
Markovic was the MVP for Round 1 of the Serbian KLS, averaging 23 ppg/12 rpg/3 apg in the 2 games he played. There are still a few things for him to work on, but Mega Bemax opting to let Markovic remain on OKK Beograd might have actually been a bit of a blessing in disguise, as he isn't bottlenecked by frontcourt competition here.
19.
Filip Malesevic, 2005, KK Dynamic (Serbian KLS)
I could be overstating Malesevic as a 2024 prospect, as his playing time seems far from guaranteed in the KLS this year. However, he did get some actual floortime in KK Dynamic's 2nd game, and I can't help but feel like he proved why he should be considered a tantalizing prospect. The 7'2" Malesevic is an imposing shot blocker and has started the season nailing jumpers. He is young and could stand to add a few pounds, as is the case with most teenagers who are that tall. I think realistically, 2024 is probably not the year for Malesevic, but I don't want to discard the possibility that it absolutely COULD be, I don't think anything disqualifies him except for a current lack of notoriety.
20.
Juan Fernandez, 2002, Rio Breogan (Spanish ACB, BCL Superleague)
21.
Alex Toohey, 2004, Sydney (Australian NBL)
22.
Eli John N'Diaye, 2004, Real Madrid (Spanish ACB, EuroLeague Superleague)
23.
Pacome Dadiet, 2005, Ratiopharm Ulm (German BBL, EuroCup Superleague)
24.
Tomislav Ivisic, 2003, SC Derby (Montenegrin Prva A Liga, Adriatic ABA Superleague)
25.
Lachlan Olbrich, 2003, Illawarra (Australian NBL)
26.
Lucas Ugolin, 2002, CSP Limoges (French LNB)
27.
Filip Jovic, 2005, KK Mega Bemax (Adriatic ABA Superleague)
28.
Len Schoormann, 2002, EWE Baskets Oldenburg (German BBL, BCL Superleague)
29.
Mohamed Diawara, 2005, Paris (French LNB, EuroCup Superleague)
30.
Musa Sagnia, 2003, BAXI Manresa (Spanish ACB)
31.
Ilias Kamardine, 2003, JA Vichy (French LNB Pro B)
Division 2 Senior League32.
Trentyn Flowers, 2005, Adelaide (Australian NBL)
33.
Tobias Jensen, 2004, Ratiopharm Ulm (German BBL, EuroCup Superleague)
34.
Emre Tunca, 2005, Anadolu Efes (Turkish BSL, EuroLeague Superleague)
Tunca did not play in Anadolu Efes' EuroLeague game, and he really struggled in their 2nd BSL game. I do maintain the belief that he is an extremely talented prospect, but I think it does go to show why he wasn't initially projected to be a part of the roster yet this year. I'm not really sure quite where to place Tunca yet, but I think a place adjacent to guys like Flowers, Jensen, and Yaacov feels appropriate for now. It could certainly be an overreaction though.
35.
Noam Yaacov, 2004, ASVEL (French LNB, EuroLeague Superleague)
36.
Toni Bilic, 2005, KK Cedevita Jr Zagreb (Croatian A-1)
37.
Ivan Perasovic, 2002, KK Cibona (Croatian A-1, Adriatic ABA Superleague)
38.
Ben Henshall, 2004, Perth (Australian NBL)
39.
Noah Sorensen, 2003, Bakken (Danish Basketligaen, FIBA Europe Cup Superleague)
40.
Andras Tanoh Dez, 2002, Szombathely (Hungarian NBIA, BCL Superleague)
41.
Ege Demir, 2004, Tofas SC (Turkish BSL, BCL Superleague)
42.
Mantas Rubstavicius, 2002, New Zealand (Australian NBL)
began season with (minor) injury, has not played43.
Michail Sprintzios, 2005, GS Lavrio (Greek HEBA A1)
44.
Noah Penda, 2005, JA Vichy (French LNB Pro B)
Division 2 Senior League45.
Matthew Strazel, 2002, AS Monaco (French LNB, EuroLeague Superleague)
46.
Thijs de Ridder, 2003, Bilbao (Spanish ACB, FIBA Europe Cup Superleague)
47.
Lefteris Mantzoukas, 2003, Panathinaikos (Greek HEBA A1, EuroLeague Superleague)
48.
Elias Baggette, 2002, HARKO Merlins Crailsheim (German BBL)
49.
Florian Rijkers, 2005, Yoast United (Belgian/Dutch BNXT League)
50.
Gustav Knudsen, 2003, Bakken (Danish Basketligaen, FIBA Europe Cup Superleague)
51.
Oshean Brathwaite, 2002, Academie Limburg (Belgian/Dutch BNXT League)
Brathwaite is probably too small to play in the NBA. I don't think he's shown enough offensive capability even against the smaller guards in his league to stay above water in an environment like the NBA. However, his stamina, defense, and leadership are absolutely commendable. He is the catalyst behind his team's surprising early strong start, keeping pace in the league with the Limburg United club that I believe they are affiliated with. I think he merits attention, at the very least.
52.
Mihailo Petrovic, 2003, OKK Beograd (Serbian KLS)
Petrovic did not play in Beograd's 2nd game, and I'm not sure what his current situation is. However, it seems as though his presence was missed.
53.
Joonas Riismaa, 2002, Enel Brindisi (Italian Serie A, FIBA Europe Cup Superleague)
54.
Orri Gunnarsson, 2003, Swanz Gmunden (Austrian A Bundesliga)
55.
Robert Jurkovic, 2002, Krka Novo Mesto (Slovenian SKL, Adriatic ABA Superleague)
56.
Brice Dessert, 2003, ADA Blois (French LNB)
57.
Ethan Burg, 2002, Bnei Herzelia (Israeli BSL, FIBA Europe Cup Superleague)
58.
Ozgur Cengiz, 2005, Tofas SC (Turkish BSL, BCL Superleague)
59.
Yannick Kraag, 2002, Joventut Baladona (Spanish ACB, EuroCup Superleague)
60.
Sananda Fru, 2003, Lowen Braunschweig (German BBL)