Ranking The Best NBA Draft Prospects Outside of College Basketball
From domestic professional players to international prospects, there is a large pool of talent in the upcoming NBA draft that exists outside of college basketball. Here’s a preview of some well-known names and sleeper prospects that played outside of college basketball.
Victor Wenbanyama (Metropolitans 92, LBN Pro A, Center)
There hasn’t been a prospect like Victor Wenbanyama in the existence of basketball as we know it, as the incoming first-overall draft pick has been on the NBA radar since his breakout performance at the 2019 FIBA U16 European Championship tournament. At 7’5 with the ball-handling fluidity of a guard, he is able to impact a basketball game with immense versatility. He is an elite lob presence with his height and eight-foot wingspan, supplemented by deceptive quickness and impressive leaping ability. His long strides allow him to become a weapon in transition because he can outrun slower bigs. In transition, he’s also highly valuable because he can grab defensive rebounds and immediately look to push the pace with his ball-handling abilities. His length helps him knock down tough contested jumpers over defenders in pull-up and post-up situations and knock down the three. He’s only shooting 27 percent from deep, which is not an efficient rate but signifies his interest in developing that aspect of his game. Defensively, Wenbanyama is a nightmare for other teams because of his insane length and quickness. He can switch onto guards with no problem because of this. He’s an elite rim protector from an off-ball defender, plus his wingspan allows him to alter any shot in post-defense, regardless of stronger bigs backing him down to the rim. The main concern about him as a generational talent is his frame. He is very skinny and not particularly strong, which hurts him both offensively and defensively. His frailness makes it hard for him to finish around the rim with contact because he is easily moved, and also makes it tough for him to secure a position in the post to explore isolation opportunities. Another aspect of his game that needs adjusting in the NBA is his shot selection. With Metropolitans 92, he’s shown questionable shot decisions by taking contested fade-aways and forced threes. However, this flaw only exists because he’s the number-one option on offense and draws a ton of attention defensively as a result. He’ll certainly adjust his shot selection under future head coach Gregg Popovich, and despite any other flaws in his game right now, the French Phenom is only 19 and has shown the potential to be a star in the NBA.
Scoot Henderson (G-League Ignite, Guard)
Scoot Henderson projects to be a day-one difference maker for any team that drafts him with jaw-dropping physical gifts that impact any team. He has an elite first step and natural quickness that makes him an electric player off the dribble and in transition. His physical tools help him out a ton on the defensive end and allow him to cause havoc for opposing guards with immense lateral quickness. He’s 6’4 and extremely strong in his upper frame which allows him to enforce his presence on smaller guards driving to the basket and defending on the perimeter. Not a lot of people can stay in front of him with his twitchy change of pace off the dribble, and he excels around the rim finishing in contact. His prowess as a scoring threat overshadows his playmaking abilities, as he posted 6.8 assists per game in the G-League to go along with a healthy 2/1 assist-to-turnover ratio. To become a more polarizing threat to the league, he needs to make significant strides in his three-point shooting ability. He only shot 27.5 percent from three last year in the G on 2.7 attempts per game, so NBA teams would like to see him increase that rate to reach his all-star potential. Regardless of his inconsistent shooting, he is already an NBA-ready talent at the young age of 19 that can apply pressure to opposing defenses with his prowess off the drive and elite physical tools. He is going to be a top-three draft pick.
Amen Thompson (Guard/Wing, Overtime Elite)
Amen Thompson may have the most physical upside out of all the prospects in this draft. At 6’7 with a seven-foot wingspan, he projects to be a top-tier slashing threat as a lead guard and an off-ball perimeter player. He also is an elite player in transition opportunities with incredible speed and is a true threat driving to the basket with stunning leaping ability. Another reason he excels off the dribble is his great change of pace in handling the ball and his ability to stop on a dime for pull-up opportunities. His capability as a driver demands a lot of attention from opposing defenders, which has forced him to become a great playmaker. Thompson makes great passing reads as a driver and frequently finds open teammates as defenders help cover him off the dribble. He averaged 6.2 assists per game in 16 games with Overtime Elite, along with 16.3 PPG and 6.4 RPG. He has a lot of versatility on the defensive end with his great lateral quickness and long wingspan, while averaging 2.4 steals per game. The questions revolving around Thompson lie within him playing for Overtime Elite. There are many questions about the strength of competition in Overtime Elite’s league, as the league is composed of prospects as young as 16 playing against each other. NBA teams are worried the quality of basketball played in Overtime Elite is not equivalent to the NCAA or professional level, but this issue is not Thompson’s fault. Another flaw in his game is his lack of consistency in shooting from the perimeter. Although he is a drive-first player he will definitely need to improve his efficiency shooting from 3, as the 23 percent from deep he shot this past season with Overtime Elite is abysmal to NBA teams. Three-point shooting will only build to his arsenal as an offensive threat, and the 20-year-old will already provide instant offense as a driver and playmaker while adding versatility on the defensive end. His draft position is currently within the top 5.
Bilal Coulibaly (Metropolitans 92, LBN Pro A, Wing)
Coulibaly’s stock has rapidly increased this past month as he’s been an integral part of Metropolitans 92 playoff run in the French Pro-A league. He’s received a lot of recent attention from NBA scouts that view him as a high-energy athletic defender with impressive verticality and speed, as playing next to Wenbanyama has garnered more of a spotlight. Standing at 6’8 with a 7’2 wingspan, Coulibaly has all the right physical tools to be a versatile defender that can guard positions 1-4 on the perimeter. His offensive game is nowhere complete, but he’s increased his confidence handling the ball with Metropolitans 92 this spring and shown flashes of using his quickness and bounce in transition opportunities. Offensively he’s an off-ball player that is a solid slasher and cutter with an improving 3-point jumper, and this offensive prominence will only grow as he develops confidence in his handle. Concerns about Coulibaly come from the small sample size of games he’s played against A-league competition, as the 18-year-old joined the senior team this January. Overall, he’s still a rather raw prospect but has the potential to become a defensive disruptor and solid athletic slasher. Coulibaly should be selected somewhere in the lottery.
Ausar Thompson (Overtime Elite, Wing)
Thompson’s fluidity in handling the ball and dynamic athleticism adheres to the recent trend of what NBA teams are looking to acquire in the draft: tall perimeter players without a strict position that can handle the ball efficiently and switch interchangeably on the perimeter. Thompson checks all of those boxes as a 6’7 wing that uses his athletic ability to blow by defenders in isolation and transition situations. He is an elite slasher with a crazy-fast first step and springy leaping ability, making him an above-the-rim threat that can jam it home with authority or utilize hang-time in the air to make contested finishes around the rim. His defensive profile fits the modern NBA with his height and 6’11 wingspan, which means he’ll have immense switchability on the perimeter, and these physical tools will help him create steals defensively (2.7 steals per game). He’ll need to increase his efficiency in shooting the ball and in playmaking, as he was prone to turnovers as a lead ball-handler in situations (3.4 turnovers per game). He shot 30 percent from deep on 3.8 attempts per game, so teams will expect those numbers to increase for him if he wants to be a day-one contributor. He can make an impact on the defensive end of the ball and provide offensive promises as a slasher and transition player. He is projected to be a mid to late lottery selection.
Leonard Miller (NBA G-League Ignite, Forward)
Leonard Miller is a 6-10 athletic forward that provides a multifaceted offensive game to help his team win (18 PPG). He is very effective in the dunker’s spot on the floor as a lob-catcher and can be a threat on the perimeter as a driver. He’s got lots of potential as a slasher, and will only get better as he develops better ball-handling skills. Miller has shown moments of crafty ball-handling skills in isolation to create shots off of the drive and is comfortable finishing above the rim and through contact with his large frame and wingspan. He also can be utilized as a screener to get him into the lob action and pick-and-pop situations to create potential slashing opportunities or open 3-point jumpers. He also has great touch on hooks and floaters in the short roll, providing scoring from the midrange. Miller’s threat as a perimeter player is limited by inefficient three-point shooting (32.7 percent on 2.2 attempts per game) He has shown the most growth as a defender in the past year, showing signs of being able to stay in front of quicker guards on switches. He defends well against most wings, but isn’t the strongest post defender, as his slender frame creates mismatches for traditional Bruiser centers. Miller has a strong knack for the glass on both ends of the floor and provided the Ignite with 11 RPGs in 24 games played. Teams that draft Miller will be getting a 19-year-old with promising physical tools that are an instant double-double threat in terms of scoring and rebounding. He is currently projected to be picked in the mid to late first round.
Sidy Cissoko (NBA G-League Ignite, Guard/Wing)
Cissoko will be highly sought after as a versatile perimeter player that enhances a team’s culture of hard work and toughness. He is a high-energy defender that has a strong 6’7 frame with a 6’9. wingspan to create havoc for opposing guards and wings. He averaged 1.1 steals per game and 1 block per game, which speaks to his quick hands and commitment to making plays on the defensive end. Offensively, he is a downhill slasher and uses his great speed to take advantage of transition opportunities. Cissoko is a pass-first player that habitually finds open teammates off the drive and in transition. He only averaged 3.6 assists per game, but that number doesn’t speak to his court vision skills in making the right play. He needs to become a better shooter from the perimeter to make his transition to the NBA easier (30.4 percent from three). He is a past first player that is comfortable handling and passing the ball in the pick-and-roll, but teams would like to see him use his strong upper frame to take advantage of smaller defenders going to the basket. He is projected to be drafted in the mid to late first round, and teams will get a versatile defender that brings an unrelenting motor each night.
James Nnaji (FC Barcalona, Euroleague, Center)
Nnaji has a ton of upside as a high-energy mobile big man that does it all on the defensive end and serves as a lob threat. Deploying an extremely strong 6’10 frame and 7’5 wingspan, he has surprising quickness for his size that allows him to switch onto perimeter players and hold his own. Nnaji has an NBA-ready body and is able to wall up opposing big men in the post. He’s got the springy leaping ability from the dunker’s spot off of one and two feet and uses his length to finish above the rim. Nnaji’s high motor and understanding of his role on the floor led him to get minutes with Barcelona’s senior team, which is very uncommon for 18-year-olds in the Euroleague. He rebounds the ball on both ends very well and uses his size on smaller defenders to crash the offensive glass well. His strong frame (250 pounds) makes him a very good screen setter, as he is great at taking angles on defenders to create space for the pick-and-role handler. Off of the pick-and-role action, Nnaji is able to run to the rim effectively with long strides and has great hands to corral any entry passes down low. His shooting stroke and post-up game are extremely raw, but he understands his limitations on the offensive end and makes sure he impacts the game by doing the little things like rebounding and defending with unrelenting tenacity to help his team win. Should be picked in the late first round/early second round.
Rayan Rupert (New Zealand Breakers, NBL, Wing)
Rayan Rupert fits the modern NBA as a 3-and-D wing that has underrated ball-handling abilities. It’s hard to really get a read on his game against the senior competition, as a wrist injury on his shooting hand sidelined Rupert in November for two months. His frame fits the modern NBA extremely well at 6’7 with a 7’3 wingspan. Rupert uses this length to be very disruptive on the defensive end and is very good at getting into the passing lanes to be effective on the defense To fully reach his potential, he will need to emphasize his 3-point shooting. He is an off-ball player on the perimeter, so it’s key for him to develop a consistent jumper from three to be useful in the NBA. He only shot 31 percent from three last season, but this was surely impacted by his wrist injury on his shooting hand. NBA teams like his athleticism and potential versatility on defense. He will be drafted somewhere in the mid to late first round.
Tristan Vukcevic (KK Partizan, Euroleague, Center)
Tristan Vukcevic projects to be a stretch big-man that has deceptive ball-handling skills to be able to contribute on the perimeter offensively. He got seldom minutes for the senior team at Partizan and specifically expressed how he wanted to test the NBA waters this offseason to get a chance to play. He helped himself out a ton in the pre-draft process, as he scored an efficient 21 points in 17 minutes of play in the scrimmage. He is a threat from the perimeter as a shooter and a slasher, as he shot 37 percent from deep in the limited playing time he got with the senior club. He has great length at 7’0 and uses that to shoot over smaller defenders with an impressive arsenal of fade-aways and hooks from the post. His biggest weakness as a player is on defense, as he finds himself getting into trouble when he is switched onto guards. He lacks lateral quickness to stay in front of perimeter players, and will often be in mismatches defensively off the pick-and-roll action. He is a decent rim protector but would need to bulk up a bit more to hold his own as a post defender. He is projected to be taken anywhere in the second round.
