PARIS (AP) — Victor Wimpanyama wasn’t the only young Frenchman turning heads abroad.
Fans certainly had to look much further to find Ryan Robert, who played for the New Zealand Breakers. He is among the international candidates who expect their name to be heard in the NBA draft on Thursday in New York. they don’t have The size of Pananyama and his skills But they are confident they can make an impact.
There is a distinctly French flavor to this year’s draft class. Wimpanyama and Robert are French, as is Bilal Coulibaly, Wimpanyama’s teammate on the Metropolitan 92 team.
Here is a look at some of the top international prospects other than Wembanyama:
Ryan Robert, Cutters New Zealand
Strengths: Robert is a Stubborn defender With a wingspan of 7-foot-2 he likens his game to Mikal Bridges of the Brooklyn Nets. Standing 6-6 without shoes, the 193-pound swinger was part of the National Basketball League Next Stars Program And he just turned 19. He averaged 5.9 points, 2.1 rebounds per game. After breaking his right wrist early in the season, he used the time to improve his left hand skills. His sister, Eliana Robert, was drafted by the WNBA’s Las Vegas Aces in 2021.
Concerns: Robert has shot 23 percent from 3-point range in 28 games and admits he needs to improve his stability from outside the arc. His overall field goal percentage was only 35 percent, though, he says throw is underrated.
Bishop Bilal Coulibaly, 92
Strength: The swing uses 6-6 length effectively on both ends, reducing and Finishing over the edge while also being an annoying defender. The 18-year-old Koulibaly is expected to be the 11th selection NBA Mock Draft for the AP. He’s a blight defensively, using his 7-3 wingspan to harass ballplayers and bowlers. Super athletic, makes smart cuts, and can wind up in traffic. Make some strong offers in the playoffs For Metropolitans 92 in Ligue 1.
Concerns: Not a shooter. Even taking advantage of extra space with Wimpanyama on the floor, he’s shot less than 24 percent from 3-point range over nine playoff games—down from 36 percent during the regular season. here What Wembanyama thinks: “Right now, everybody knows he deserves to be a Top 10 country. But it’s not enough for him to realize he deserves to be a Top 5.”
James Njie, Barcelona
Strength: The Nigerian 6-11 center with a 7-5 wingspan is an edge and roll guard Loeb threat Barcelona is one of the best teams in Europe. The 249-pound Nnaji averaged 9.3 minutes, 2.2 rebounds and 0.6 blocks per game over 53 games – with Barcelona currently in the La Liga qualifiers and facing Real Madrid in the finals.
Concerns: Lacks shooting touch when defenders keep him off the edge. It can be subject to fluctuations – 0.8 per game in limited minutes – due to infrequent post movements. He shoots 51% from the free throw line. Seen as developmental prospect – turns 19 in August.
Keep an eye:
– Tristan Vukcevic: The 20-year-old shone in the NBA pool, scoring 21 points with 3-for-3 shooting from behind the arc in one game, and standing at just over 6-11 without a shoe. Vukicevic moved around Europe, playing in Olympiacos’ youth system before joining Real Madrid and eventually Partizan Belgrade in Serbia where he shot 37.3 percent from 3-point range this season.
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