[Anton123Participant]

I decided to create this topic for two reasons: nobody is creating any topics and because the list the site made doesn’t include any international players playing in the NCAA. Also, the site doesn’t have Markkanen, Yurnseven or Mikhailuk in the 2017 draft which I think isn’t right.

Now I haven’t seen most of these guys play so this is basically guess work based on what I have seen, read or statistics, if someone with more knowledge can give some insight that would be great:

1. Lauri Markkanen, 1997 – destroyed the U20 championship in a very impressive fashion, he is perhaps the most NBA-ready international prospect despite his young age: he has the size, the skills and the quickness to be an effective player.

2. Frank Ntilikina, 1998 – perfect size and quickness for a point guard, however, skinny long point guards with weak jumpshots have had limited success in the NBA (MCW, Tony Wroten), so I think teams need to be careful.

3. Omer Yurtseven, 1998 – very skilled young player, has good instincts, post skills and shows promise as a jump shooter. Has good size for both positions (around 7’0” with a 7’1” wingspan) but needs to add strength.

4. Sviatoslav Mikhailuk, 1997 – I am still a believer in Svi, he is 4 months younger than his freshman teammate Josh Jackson (he might actually be taller, stronger, younger and a better shooter than Jackson; not saying he is a better prospect), but many have already given up on him. He has really changed his body over the last two years and is getting adjusted to it. Svi needs to find himself as a player: at Kansas he is a jump shooter, but this summer for Ukraine he was a ball-handler who set his teammates up, got to the basket and struggled to make threes. If he puts all these skills together he can be a very good player. The tools are all there: terrific size, solid jumper, improved strength, potential as a ball-handler.

5. Isaiah Hartenstein, 1998 – incredibly raw prospect with a great ceiling but high bust potential. Concerns about his character and laziness are very alarming for a hybrid forward with raw skill and a questionable feel for the game.

6. Rodions Kurucs, 1998 – honestly know nothing about him, long forward with skill who is rated highly by many draft sites.

7. Jonathan Jeanne, 1997 – huge mobile skinny big, someone will pick him up, if all is well will be a good defensive player in the NBA.

8. Isaac Humphries, 1998 – not including him just to make Hype Machine happy. I really think Humphries has a lot of potential: he is young, huge and relatively skilled, I believe he will be an early-mid second rounder if he decides to declare after this season for some reason. 8. Dillon Brooks – hey, Canadians qualify for this list, right? A scorer who can do a little bit of everything and has good size for his position.

9. Aleksandar Vezenkov, 1995 – has great skills but lack of length, quickness and athleticism might stop him from having a successful NBA career.

10. Felipe Dos Anjos, 1998 – more of a prospect for 2018, but if he declares I believe he will get drafted.

A lot of players didn’t make the list: Kostja Mushidi, Nik Slavica, Vasileios Charalampopoulos, Michael Fusek, Chris Boucher, Blaz Mescek. That doesn’t mean I don’t think they will not get drafted, some (Mushidi) I think will not declare this year, some in my opinion are mid-late second rounders who I would rank lower than the guys listed above. I must have missed some players as well.

So, feel free to comment and criticize, this can’t be worse than silence, right?

[Anton123Participant]

Wow, sorry f-ed up the list with Dillon Brooks in the middle of Isaac Humphries, too late to edit now. This also makes Vezenkov the 10th prospect. Honestly thought I proofread the thing.

[r377Participant]

Does anyone have any info on Lauri Markkanen ?

I watched him play about 12 months ago and reminded me of a Bargnani type. Fell in love with his outside shot and looked soft on the boards and defence.

Has he improved since ?

[Anton123Participant]

There’s a lot of footage of him playing in the U20 tournament, which he dominated averaging 25 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 2.3 spg and 1.3 bpg on 50% from the field in just 26.5 mpg; that’s 34 ppg per 36. We’ll see him against college talent very soon when the NCAA season starts.

[CDPHParticipant]

 I think Mushidi is probably #3 or #4, but I’m happy to see someone else with Markkanen that high.  I think he’s a fantasic prospect.  

Deep(ish) Thoughts

 

[OhCanada-Participant]

 Never heard of Kurucs I’m gonna go check out some game footage (if there is any) and read up on him.

Gotta drop Svi. Kansas is his measuring ground and despite what he’s shown on the International level he’s gotta become more than a jumpshooter at Kansas. I’m still a believer but these things take time.

To me there’s 5 1st round talents Markannen, Ntilikina, Hartenstein, Yuryseven, and Jeanne. Technically Markannen (Arizona) and Yurtseven (NC State) shouldn’t be on this list.

Fusek is a 7’5 wildcard that should get drafted. Slavica is a good player that should get drafted.

 

 

 

 

 

[Hype Machine]

This could be a good time to mention that the Hype Machine is officially transitioning into the world of pro basketball scouting, and will be basing myself in Europe in 2017.

 

Other future plans include establishing a revolutionary new pipeline of talented Asian players into the NCAA system. 

 

Stay tuned. 

 

[HitsterParticipant]

 I must admit I haven’t seen a lot of Markkanen yet so will look forward to seeing how he develops at Arizona. Which year a prospect declares is always guess work but if Markkanen has a good year then he can be in the first round mix.

Jonathan Jeanne could be next year’s Thon Maker and his draft range could vary hugely on mocks. He could be the sort of player a team takes a flyer on.

Frank Ntilikina is probably the most likely international to be drafted highest in next year’s draft as things stand. The 2017 draft looks PG heavy so again a lot will depend on workouts as scouts won’t have a chance to see him against other top PGs unlike the top NCAA PGs.

Felipe Dos Anjos has great size and already is bulkier than guys like Jeanne so if he did declare next year, I could see him being drafted late first round at worse as someone could easily stash him for a year or two.

 

 

 

[brodiejayParticipant]

Hype- Do you mean you’re going backpacking in Europe for a year? Or you landed a job working in a British pub?

 

No offence mate, but I wouldn’t hire you as a scout for my 8-year-old neice’s team haha  😉

 

 

[Hype Machine]

Not far off. My normal job enables travel so scouting will be a second interest, but from a more practical location. 

But the moment I make my 1st dollar, Im a pro scout right?

[Author]

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