This year’s international class may not feature a clear-cut generational talent, but it offers a compelling group of high-upside prospects who have impressed across top European leagues. Leading the way are four potential first-rounders in Nolan Traore, Noa Essengue, Joan Beringer, and Hugo Gonzalez, all of whom have shown NBA-caliber flashes, pro-ready tools, and room for significant long-term growth. While overall depth may be lighter than in recent years, this group provides intriguing upside for teams focused on international development and long-term value.
1. Nolan Traore (6-4, PG, 2006, Saint Quentin)
Traore’s 2024–25 season in the LNB Pro A showcased his explosive upside as a dynamic lead guard. He possesses elite burst, sharp change-of-pace control, and a natural knack for breaking down defenses off the dribble, consistently creating advantages with his penetration. He finishes creatively at the rim and has shown encouraging flashes as a playmaker, with a growing feel for orchestrating offense. While his pull-up jumper remains inconsistent and can look rushed, and his passing is still limited to more basic reads, both areas should improve with added experience. Defensively, his engagement tends to fluctuate and he must become more consistent navigating screens, but his physical tools offer real two-way potential. With continued development, Traore stands out as one of the most promising point guards in the 2025 draft class.
2. Noa Essengue (6-10, F/C, 2006, Ratiopharm Ulm)
Essengue’s 2024–25 season with Ratiopharm Ulm marked a major leap in his development, showcasing rare fluidity and coordination for a player of his size and age. He provided tantalizing glimpses of a future defensive anchor, combining improving rim protection instincts with the agile footwork and lateral mobility to defend in space. Offensively, his touch around the basket has progressed notably, and he continues to show a growing willingness to stretch the floor. His athleticism and smooth movement, especially for a player still growing into his lengthy frame, underscore his significant long-term potential as a modern NBA big. While his perimeter shooting remains inconsistent and his handle needs refinement to create off the dribble, these are typical areas of development for young frontcourt players. With continued growth, Essengue projects as one of the more promising two-way bigs in the international class.
3. Joan Beringer (7-0, C, 2006, Cedevita Olimpija)
made a strong impression in both ABA League and EuroCup competition, establishing himself as a skilled, high-motor big with intriguing long-term potential. He finishes efficiently around the basket with soft touch and consistently competes on the glass, showing solid instincts as both a rebounder and shot-blocker. His developing footwork and reliable hands make him a dependable interior presence, while occasional flashes of passing from the high post hint at budding playmaking ability. Offensively, he remains most effective near the rim, with his shooting range and free throw consistency still evolving. His handle can be shaky under pressure, sometimes leading to turnovers, but those are correctable areas with experience. Beringer’s combination of size, energy, and two-way potential gives him a strong foundation and makes him one of the more well-rounded big men in this international class.
4. Hugo Gonzalez (6-7, G/F, 2006, Real Madrid)
After earning a larger role with Real Madrid’s senior team in 2024–25, the athletic Spanish wing showed noticeable growth and maturity in his game. He’s an explosive athlete with a strong, downhill attacking style and has begun to diversify his offensive game. Defensively, he stands out with his length, lateral quickness, and intensity, often setting the tone with his energy and physicality. His outside shot is still developing; mechanics can be streaky and results inconsistent, and he occasionally presses under pressure, leading to forced plays. Still, his athletic tools, competitive edge, and upward trajectory make him one of the most compelling international wings in this draft class.
5. Noah Penda (6-8, F, 2005, Le Mans)
With a strong 2024–25 campaign at Le Mans, Penda further established himself as one of the most tenacious and versatile defensive forwards in his class. He brings a physical, high-motor presence to the floor, capable of switching across multiple positions thanks to his strength, quick feet, and aggressive hands. Penda excels in transition, where his energy and athleticism consistently lead to easy finishes. Offensively, he is still developing, most of his production comes from cuts, hustle plays, and fast breaks rather than half-court creation. His perimeter shot remains inconsistent, and he offers limited self-creation. Even so, his defensive impact, rebounding activity, and relentless motor make him an appealing role player with room to grow if his shooting progresses.
6. Ben Saraf (6-6, PG/SG, 2006, Ratiopharm Ulm)
Ben Saraf continued to show growth during the 2024–25 season with Ratiopharm Ulm, emerging as one of the more polished young creators in the international class. He consistently orchestrated the offense with poise and feel, using his size and vision to break down defenses and deliver high-level reads. His touch around the rim and in the mid-range improved noticeably, adding to his effectiveness as a multi-level scorer. While he lacks elite burst and vertical explosiveness, Saraf compensates with timing, craft, and a strong understanding of angles. Defensively, his lateral mobility and strength remain areas for improvement, but his offensive skill set and basketball IQ make him a high-floor prospect with long-term appeal.
7. Bogoljub Markovic (6-11, PF, 2006, Mega MIS)
Markovic’s continued development with Mega Mis has solidified his status as a modern stretch-four prospect, featuring a smooth and projectable shooting stroke from beyond the arc that offers valuable floor spacing. He also flashes intriguing ball-handling ability for his size and shows soft touch in the post, particularly when matched against smaller defenders. However, his lean frame leaves him vulnerable to physical play, and he often struggles to hold position or finish through contact inside. Defensively, his lateral mobility is below average, making him a liability in switches, and his rebounding impact remains inconsistent. While his strength and defensive footwork need clear improvement, Markovic’s offensive skill set—especially his shooting—gives him a real path to value in today’s NBA as a floor-spacing big with long-term upside.
8. Hansen Yang (7-2, C, 2005, Qingdao Eagles)
Yang continued to anchor the interior for Qingdao in the CBA, showcasing a rare combination of elite size, soft touch, and high-level vision for a player his size. Standing 7-foot-2, he consistently protects the rim with solid timing and uses his wide frame to seal off defenders and control the glass. His best attribute is his passing ability from the high post, where he displays advanced feel and regularly makes smart reads uncommon for a center. He also turned heads at the NBA Draft Combine, flashing improved touch as a shooter that added another layer to his offensive upside. However, his limited mobility, stiff hips, and below-average lateral quickness present concerns in today’s NBA, particularly when defending in space or switching onto guards. Conditioning and agility will be critical areas of development. Still, Yang’s blend of size, interior skill, and passing instincts makes him a compelling long-term project.
9. Alex Toohey (6-9, G/F, 2004, Sydney Kings)
Toohey continued to develop with the Sydney Kings during the 2024–25 NBL season, showing the traits of a high-IQ, fundamentally sound stretch four with offensive reliability. He shoots well off the catch, makes smart reads, and brings consistent effort, giving him the makings of a solid floor-spacing contributor. However, his lateral quickness and lack of explosiveness limit his ability to defend quicker or more athletic NBA players, and he can struggle to stay in front of his assignment. His three-point shooting off the dribble is still a work in progress, and he lacks much self-creation ability, but his overall polish, shooting mechanics, and feel for the game give him a shot to carve out a rotation role.
10. Mohamed Diawara (6-9, F, 2005, Cholet)
Diawara’s 2024–25 season with Cholet highlighted his impressive defensive versatility and nonstop motor. With his length, athleticism, and relentless energy, he consistently disrupted opponents and showed the ability to guard multiple positions effectively. He runs the floor well and finishes with authority in transition, playing with physicality and intensity. Offensively, Diawara remains a work in progress. Outside of transition and hustle plays, his scoring game lacks polish and consistency. His three-point shot flashes potential but has not developed into a reliable weapon, which allows defenders to sag off him. While he has some vision as a passer, he does not create much offense on his own, and his overall scoring instincts are still limited. His path to sticking in the NBA likely hinges on his ability to become an elite, versatile defender, an outcome within reach due to his physical tools and consistent effort.
