Top 10 International Draft Prospects

SI Staff | Jun 23, 2008

Top 10 International Draft Prospects /

Top 10 International Draft Prospects

Danilo Gallinari

As a versatile 19-year-old with deep shooting range, the 6-foot-9 Gallinari has been the best player on his team in the Serie A (17.5 ppg in 29 games) and the tough Euroleague (14.9 ppg in 11 games). He is the top international prospect and one of the more skilled players in the draft. SI.com's Ian Thomsen reported that Gallinari wants to play for a franchise in the greater New York area, among a few other preferred teams.

Nicolas Batum

The 19-year-old considered entering the draft last year after impressing scouts at an All-Star game between top U.S. high school players and a group of young international pros. A scout described the 6-8 forward as one of the top five athletes in the draft, but Batum struggles with his perimeter shooting and consistency.

Serge Ibaka

Ibaka, 18, came out of the recent Reebok camp in Italy as a sure first-round pick. The 6-10 forward from Congo is a long-term investment who will need a couple of more years in Europe or in the D-League as he has been playing organized basketball for a short time.

Alexis Ajinca

The 20-year-old 7-footer showed big improvement this year. He's long and nimble with perimeter shooting skills, but he needs to keep building his strength.

Omer Asik

Asik, 21, a 6-11 center, emerged as a potential late first-round pick this year. One scout said of Asik, ''He has a good sense of timing for rebounds and blocking shots. He's skinny and needs to get stronger, but he has the kind of body that can bulk up.''

Ante Tomic

Tomic, 21, was considered a possible first-round pick last year before withdrawing from the draft. He has good skills for a 7-footer, but one NBA executive said of the 230-pound Tomic, ''The question with him is how strong he can get.''

Nathan Jawai

The 6-10, 280-pound big man is referred to by some as the Aussie Shaq, but Jawai has said that he sees himself as a power forward in the NBA. Jawai, a raw prospect, is projected to be selected late in the first round or early in the second round.

Nikola Pekovic

The 22-year-old averaged 15.2 points (on 68.4 percent shooting) and 5.5 rebounds in 28 Euroleague games last season. The 6-11, 265-pounder is a back-to-the-basket player.

Goran Dragic

A 6-4 lefty, the 22-year-old point guard played well at the European championships last summer for Slovenia. Dragic is a better penetrator and finisher inside than he is a perimeter shooter. He's viewed as a second-round pick.

Semih Erden

Erden, who turns 22 a month after the draft, averaged 6.7 points and 4.3 rebounds in 19.3 minutes in 15 Euroleague games last season. At 6-11, 240 pounds, he has a similar build to Turkish teammate and fellow draft prospect Omer Askik.

Published Jun 23, 2008

SI STAFF