Twenty days before the 2022 Draft, the French nuggets are trying to score final points with NBA scouts. Despite good performances at the Combine, Hugo Besson seems to be heading for a slight heartbreak, unlike his friend Ousmane Dieng!
The big ceremony is fast approaching, which means that the turmoil is growing within the league. The 2022 Draft will soon give its verdict in the NBA, and will undoubtedly see the arrival of several new French people in the blue contingent. A few tricolor prospects are indeed likely to be selected on June 23, starting with two young talents who have been playing together this season.
Both went on an adventure to the New Zealand Breakers last summer, Hugo Besson and Ousmane Dieng can be proud of it today. Indeed, their performances in the NBL, the Australian basketball league, allowed them to be seen well with US scouts. Some rumors even wanted them both to be chosen in the first round… but the latter have just taken the lead in the wing.
Fall for Hugo Besson, Ousmane Dieng solid Top 15
Draft Combine guest, Besson was rather noticed there in a positive way the last days. Logic would therefore like his name to climb in the projections of the experts. Unfortunately, the opposite phenomenon occurs, especially in the mock drafts of Jonathan Givony. The latter thus places him in 39th place in his ranking, which would send him to the Cavaliers!
Knowing that the journalist ofESPN had reserved him the 32nd place on his list a month ago, and the 35th following the Lottery, it comes close to a small disappointment for Besson. On the other hand, everything continues to roll for Dieng, thrown much higher than his teammate those last weeks. Givony confirms this trend, since he sees him called in 12th position by Oklahoma City, supporting arguments!
The Thunder can afford to be patient and take a bet on a high-potential prospect like Dieng, whose profile of height, instinct and versatility tends to appeal to the front office. A fluid winger with the size to slide into position 4, Dieng has found his groove over the NBL season, displaying flashes of dynamic shot-making, vision out of pick-and-roll, as well as an ability to defend several positions. Not yet 19, Dieng isn’t necessarily ready to help a team win games right away, but that might not be the worst thing for the Thunder.
Note that a third Frenchie has just slipped into the latest ranking datedESPN, namely the prodigy of Paris Basket Ismaël Kamagate. He is thus announced in 40th place, just behind Besson, which would see him put on the Timberwolves cap.
Diverse fortune for the big French hopefuls in the last mock draft ofESPN, with Hugo Besson in slight decline, but Ousmane Dieng still at the top. All of this is of course still likely to change by June 23, hopefully positively!
