After having presented one by one the 10 European prospects having in our eyes the most probability of being chosen during the NBA Draft of this Thursday, June 23, we have selected eight other international players who have maintained their name (or who are automatically eligible). From Yoan Makoundou to Karlo Matkovic via Khalifa Diop, focus on these prospects from Europe who have a – small – chance of being part of the 2022 vintage.
A few days before the NBA draft, Basket Europe presented its top 10 European prospects likely to obtain the precious sesame, of which here is the last episode.
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Yoan Makoundou
Team : Cholet
Nationality : Française
year of birth : 2000
Cut : 2,06 m
Then : strong winger
Stats 2021-2022 : 10.2 points (60.0% from 2-pointers, 34.5% from 3-pointers), 5.4 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 0.6 steals, 0.9 blocks and 1.5 balls lost for 12.5 rating in 23 minutes in Betclic Elite (33 matches)
It is conspicuously absent from the mock drafts of the main American sites specializing in this prediction exercise. Probably not on his absolute value, but rather on the fact that he is “already” 21 years old (and even 22 on August 9), an older age than that of many prospects. That being said, his athleticism, his explosiveness, his thundering dunks, his mobility, his experience of the professional world (13.3 points and 15.3 evaluation in the playoffs) and his good progress since his first real pro season (7, 0 points and 8.9 grading in 2020-21) may catch a franchise’s eye in the second round, especially as the interior bouncer is progressing well at 3-point shooting. Failing to be drafted, he would still have the possibility of going through the G-League or even of signing a “two-way contract” which would thus allow him to play a few NBA matches next season. Another option: stay in Europe to prove that he still has plenty of room for improvement.
His chances of being drafted: 20%
PORTRAITS OF THE TOP 10 EUROPEAN PROSPECTS AT DRAFT 2022
Paolo Napoleon Banchero, the Italian Emperor who is about to conquer the NBA
Jeremy Sochan, the new Polish star
Ousmane Dieng, the fantasy of the perfect NBA profile
Nikola Jovic, the new Serbian nugget
Ismaël Kamagate, the lightning ascent
Gabriele Procida, the Italien qui monte
Hugo Besson, the family spirit
Moussa Diabaté, a successful exile in the United States
Matteo Spagnolo, the Italian who can hope
Yannick Nzosa, the promise of Spain
Khalifa Diop
Team : Gran Canaria / Spain
Nationality : Senegalese*
year of birth : 2002
Cut : 2,15 m
Then : pivot
Stats 2021-2022 : 7.0 points (64.1% from 2-point range, 58.0% from shots), 4.3 rebounds, 0.5 assists, 0.5 steals, 0.6 blocks and 1.4 stray shots for 8.1 rating in 17 minutes in Liga ACB (34 matches)
Present in Spain since 2016…
Opening photo: Yoan Makoundou (Jacques Cormarèche)
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