International Prospects

International Draft Prospects 2016

Dragan Bender: Croatia, 7'1, 216 lbs. (Top 5 Pick)

Bender is projected to be top five pick in this year's draft making him the highest rated foreigner in the 2016 class. His slim build likely means he is better suited to play at power forward. Bender is a versatile big who runs like a deer in transition or starts the break by throwing great outlet passes. His 9'3 standing reach gives hope for him as a good rebounder and a defensive force. On offense, the Croatian has an all around skill set including passing, post play, and shooting. He can post defenders up and pick up an assist or score around the basket. Bender's face up game is where he is proficient because he loves to use his speed to take defenders off the dribble. In addition, his shooting ability keeps defenders honest. Also, he can stretch out to make three pointers. Bender needs to add some muscle to his frame and become more explosive. He has the potential to be a good scoring option in an offense, but not necessarily a go to scorer.

Furkan Korkmaz: Turkey, 6'7, 185 lbs. (Mid-1st Rounder)

Korkmaz has the potential to be the best foreign player in this draft with his offensive repertoire. He is known for being an excellent shooter. Korkmaz has the ability to be a streaky knockdown shooter, shoot off screens, and shoot off the dribble. He has good form, a high release, and extension on his shot. Korkmaz shooting sets up a lot of the things he likes to do. His shooting ability spaces the floor and allows him to be a good playmaker. Korkmaz has a sneaky way of changing direction with the ball as he drives to the rack where he can finish with an emphatic dunk. He struggles against size, but his 185-pound frame should fill out, as he gets older. Defensively, Korkmaz has to become more disciplined and focus in on his assignment. He has the tendency to stand straight up and lose his defender with mental lapses. 

Timothe Luwawu: France, 6'7, 205 lbs. (1st Rounder)

The first thing you notice when one watches Luwawu is his lanky frame and the wingspan of a pterodactyl. He follows suit by using that 7'2 wingspan by playing above the rim with ease and finishing with his left or right hand. Luwawu is a marginal shooter so early on in his career many defenders will allow him to take intermediate and long range jumpers. If he can set his feet and stay balanced, he can make a jumper with his clean follow through. Luwawu can handle the rock as he uses his long strides in the transition game or in the half court running pick and rolls. He is crafty with the ball with a smooth hesitation move to get where he wants. The Frenchman has to learn how to play with composure when defenders get up and into him. He ends up turning the ball over a lot or takes low percentage shots. Also, Luwawu lacks the awareness, defensively, to be on the court at times.

Ivica Zubac: Croatia, 7'1 260 lbs. (Late 1st Rounder) 

The Croatian has excellent size to enter the NBA and be a rotation player as a rookie. His size allows him to hold his own on the low block as well as post up where he can finish with a hook or spin toward his right shoulder. Also, Zubac uses his length to rebound on the offensive glass and alter shots defensively. He has defensive potential so he just needs good coaching on fundamentals and he will get better with game experience. He has soft hands and catches everything cleanly in the post. Zubac loves to use his speed to beat bigs down the court or diving to the basket on pick and rolls. However, he has to improve his pick and roll defense. When he switches onto a guard, Zubac looks really awkward and gets blown by. He needs to box out more often or the elite bigs will out rebound him. Finally, he is not athletic due to his knee injuries. 

Guerschon Yabusele: France, 6'8, 260 lbs. (Late 1st/ Early 2nd Rounder)

Yabusele plays with good energy and a high motor for an undersized big. I think he takes it personal when he plays bigger players because he is ultra aggressive and tries to dominate them. Yabusele is extremely strong and explosive when finishing in the paint. He is dexterous and maintains good body control in the air offensively and defensively. The Frenchman uses pump fakes to keep defenders on their heels and has a good drop step. He is as quick as a cat in transition. Yabusele uses that quickness to disrupt passing lanes with his seven-foot wingspan. His long arms also help him out rebound others. With his size and body frame, he is easily comparable to DeJuan Blair. Yabusele can be a bit over aggressive at times that can get him into foul trouble. His jumper needs work and he struggles against athletic bigs.

Ante Zizic: Croatia, 6'10, 240 lbs. (Early 2nd Rounder)

Zizic could earn the reputation as the toughest foreigner in this year's class. He does not excel at one skill, but he does everything with a great deal of energy. Offensively, he is another big that is fleet of foot. Zizic will run in transition and set good hard screens so he can dive to the basket. He can manufacture easy points by attacking the glass for easy put backs. Defensively, he makes it hard for defenders to post him up. Against the pick and roll, Zizic competes hard even when he is matched up against guards. He does not have good lateral quickness as a defender and his jumper needs to be developed. The word that best describes Zizic is: fighter. He will not “wow” you with his stats, but when you watch the film his impact is felt on both ends. Zizic will be a good change of pace backup big like Tyler Hansbrough or Luis Scola.

Juan Hernangomez: Spain, 6'9, 220 lbs. (2nd Rounder)

Hernangomez is an all or nothing type player meaning it's either a basket at the rim or a three-point bomb. He is a smart player with a good feel for the game offensively. The Spaniard has a nice shot with a quick shooting motion. He hardly takes a bad shot when he has the ball and he is good in pick and pop situations. He can come off screens well as a shooter and can make a cut toward the basket if the defender is overzealous. Hernangomez can occasionally put the ball on the deck and finish in the paint. He is tough on the glass as well with his relentless pursuit. Hernangomez is a tweener as he is not quick enough to defend wing players, but not strong enough against big men. 

Isaia Cordinier: France, 6'5, 183 lbs. (2nd Rounder)

Cordinier is a supreme athlete with long strides in the open court. He loves attacking the rim with malice. He will run a lot of backdoor cuts to generate his points and he slashes to the rim with the ball. Cordinier shoots the ball with more confidence than he did a year ago with great elevation on his shot that makes it hard to block. He has good arc on his shot; however, it still needs some work. The French guard can pass well too with flashy ball movement. On defense, he plays an annoying brand with good energy and pesky play. Cordinier is willing to stick his nose in the paint and rebound for his team. His intangibles are what make him an intriguing second round selection. Cordinier is a gym rat and plays with a tremendous amount of heart according to his coach in France. Cordinier is better off at shooting guard, but he will need to guard point guards. He does struggle with playing through contact; in addition, teams are not so high on him because he does not play in the best French league. He will be a project player wherever he is drafted. If what Cordinier's coach says is true, his commitment to the game should pay dividends.

Best SG

Shooting Guard Arms Race

The shooting guard position has a rich history with players that people, today, still recognize and pay homage to. Jerry "Mr. Clutch" West dominated the position in the 60s and early 70s with a relentless style of play on both ends. His ability to thrive in every statistical category helped him win a championship and be the poster boy for the association. Today, he is still a main cog in the NBA as he is the league's world-renowned logo. In the 70s and early 80s, the league saw "Pistol" Pete Maravich and George "Iceman" Gervin share the best two-guard title as they revolutionized the position. They took on more of a scoring role and shot more three pointers, which made shooting guard the flashiest position on the floor. From there, Michael Jordan took over and brought the NBA more fans around the world with his athleticism and sheer desire to be great. His scoring and six championships still have people believing he is the greatest shooting guard of all time. After Jordan, Kobe Bryant came along and was unanimously named the best shooting guard during his prime as he put together over a ten-year run of dominance. This included five championship rings and dubious Jordan-like performances. During The Black Mamba's run of dominance, Allen Iverson, Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady, and Dwyane Wade had years of outstanding play that gave them recognition as one of the best with Bryant. With Wade and Bryant on the downside of their illustrious careers, there is a void left at the top of the shooting guard mountain. 

For the last few seasons, James Harden has undoubtedly been the best off guard in the league. The climb to the top for him was not easy as he made a name for himself as a sixth man for the Thunder. Harden would come off of Oklahoma City's bench and give his team the boost it needed as a scorer and facilitator. Before the 2012- 13, he was surprisingly traded to Houston after both sides failed to agree on a contract extension. Due to his lackluster NBA Finals performance, many wondered if he could lead a team on his own, but he answered those questions emphatically as he led his team to the postseason. What he lacks in defensive ability he makes up for in his ability to score. Harden has a streaky shooting ability that allows his team to always have a chance to make a comeback. He "cooks" opponents up on a nightly basis with his ability to shoot, score in the paint, and knack for getting to the charity stripe. "The Beard's" propensity to get to the line makes him someone you love to root for if he is on your team, but hate if he is not. In the last four seasons, Harden has averaged 26.8 points, 6.6 assists, and 5.4 rebounds per game that places him near the top of each statistical category at his position. Nevertheless, in the Rockets quest to win a championship, Harden is perfect for their analytical approach, which is shoot efficiently from long range and get to the free throw line. His reign as the best off guard could be over as he has competition from two rising stars. Klay Thompson of the Warriors and Jimmy Butler of the Bulls have arrived at the top of the mountain and look to share or take the title for the best two guard for themselves.

Thompson and Butler have come on strong these last two seasons for their respective ball clubs. Thompson came into the league as a spot up shooter. He has surpassed all expectations and turned himself into an All-Star as well as a second option for his team. Thompson has averaged 22.2 points along with over three long-range field goals the last two years while shooting 43 percent from beyond the arc. Despite Golden State's Draymond Green being known as their defensive stalwart, the other half of the Splash Brothers does his fair share of defensive duties. Thompson often finds himself locked up with the opposing team's best perimeter threat. His two-way play has been an integral part in the Warriors two-year dominance. Thompson is thought of as just a great shooter, but his game continues to evolve with his ability to shoot off the dribble, post defenders, and get inside the paint. His scoring ability widens the court and opens driving lanes for his teammates. Thompson is earning more respect from those around the league and the world as he has proven he is more than capable of taking over for his team. His quiet approach should not belie his competitive nature because he is a silent assassin. 

Chicago is no stranger to boasting the best shooting guard in the NBA. The aforementioned Jordan brought much pride and joy to the city as he dominated the league along with the position itself. Butler is nowhere near the level of number 23, but he is certainly no scrub. He came into the league as a rotation player and at best a solid defensive player. With grit, determination, and scrappy play, Butler has been that rock turned to diamond for the Bulls as he has now become the team's best player. He is a blue chip player, which seems to be a common theme amongst former Marquette players like Jae Crowder, Wade, and Wesley Matthews.  He became a tougher and more confident player under Tom Thibodeau's tutelage. Early on, Butler could not shoot, dribble, or score on a consistent basis. With disheartening injuries to Chicago's star and players, the team found someone they could trust and go to in big moments. Butler has averaged 20.6 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.7 steals per game there's last two years and can occasionally set teammates up with his passing. He is known for his in between play, ability to finish in traffic, get to the line, and timely steals leading to transition dunks. When he is locked in, Butler has the ability to drop 40 on the man in front of him. His commitment to excellence earned him Most Improved Player and made him an All-Star in recent years. Thompson and Butler's growth has allowed them to reopen the debate for who is at the top of the shooting guard mountain.

Sure Thompson and Butler are not as box office as Harden, but they should not be discounted as two of the best players at their position. Harden is most certainly the best scorer and he has the stats to supersede this crop of players. However, Thompson and Butler's newfound abilities to put points up in bunches along with their two way play has closed the gap in the shooting guard race significantly. Each of these guys brings something the other guy cannot do to the table. This debate is likely something that will continue until one of these players dominates at a higher level or separates themselves with championships. Jordan and Kobe made it hard to dispute their superiority as shooting guards in both regards.

Buddy Hield

The Evolution of Buddy Hield

Buddy Hield has, literally, come a long way in his basketball journey. Hailing from Freeport, Bahamas, he has always maintained that sweet jump shot, passion for the big moment, and charisma. Hield was recognized as the best Bahamian player as an eighth grader and would go on to have a decorated high school career. However, it was not until a 35-point outburst in a Kansas Adidas 64 Invitational with highly touted teammate Perry Ellis that gave Hield the recruiting buzz he needed. Josh Pastner of Memphis and Bill Self of Kansas were in attendance as they took notice of the Bahamian sharpshooter. Hield would go on to choose Oklahoma over Kansas to continue his basketball career.

Through the years at Oklahoma, Hield has always shown up in big games. His natural scoring ability made him the go to scorer as a freshman and over the years he has mastered new ways to put up points. Early on, Hield was a spot up shooter and had a flare for getting into the open court for runaway dunks and lay ups. Now, Hield can put the ball on the deck and get to the rim as well as shoot off the dribble. His length allows him to rebound better than a player at 6'4. Hield has never been the primary playmaker for the Sooners, as he has never averaged more than 2.1 assists in his career. Jordan Woodard has always been the one to allow him to play off the ball as well as Isaiah Cousins. After a stellar junior season, many believed Hield was destined for the NBA as a potential first round selection. He was a third team All-American, first team All-Big 12 player, and the Big 12 Player of the Year. In addition, Hield navigated Boomer Sooner nation to a surprise Sweet 16 appearance. There was more risk than reward for the spunky shooting guard to return to OU right? Wrong. Hield stayed true to a promise he made as a true freshman.

When he first stepped foot on campus, Hield vowed to do everything in his power to make sure he took Oklahoma to a Final Four. Also, he came back for another year because he never beat Kansas in the Phog Allen Fieldhouse. Hield came up short in early January in a three-overtime thriller against Kansas. Hield finished with 46 points in a valiant effort in which he received a standing ovation from the Kansas faithful. Throughout the year, he has shown great improvement in his all around game. Hield used to force shots and not trust his teammates earlier in his career. He has realized he cannot win games alone and has let his teammates ease his workload. Hield has even improved as an on ball defender this season. The killer instinct and high motor he has developed in the last two years is what truly separates him from any other player in America. This has scouts clamoring for the opportunity to watch him live and have the opportunity to draft him this offseason.

The Sooners run to the Final Four has been tremendous and appealing to the average spectator. The biggest difference between this year's bunch and last year's is mental toughness and finishing games. The senior guard demonstrates those qualities in his own game. Whether it is against a gritty Hawaii team on the road in mid December, big 12 foes West Virginia and Iowa State, or a battle tested Virginia Commonwealth team that held him in check in the first half, Hield has adapted and silenced critics as well as opponents. That is how Oklahoma has made it all the way to the Final Four and perhaps on the cusp of a national championship.

Hield has certainly had a decorated career at Oklahoma and could go down as one of the best NCAA players of all time. He has been exciting to watch since his first game as a Sooner. Hield has morphed himself into a dynamic two-way player with the composure to take over big games in front of NBA scouts and his idol Kobe Bryant. The talent has always been there for him as well as the NBA future, but his drive and commitment to excellence has propelled him to stardom and into the top 10 as a future NBA lottery selection.