2024 NBA Draft: Breaking Down the Top International Prospects
The race for the No. 1 overall pick is wide open as there’s not really an individual prospect the consensus agrees on to be the number one pick.
If you were to talk to ten scouts and ask for their opinion on who the top draft pick is, you would probably get a different answer just about every time.
There are a couple of international prospects that have made a case as the potential number one pick. Guys like Alexandre Sarr, Nikola Topic and Zaccharie Risacher are potential top picks for the 2024 NBA Draft.
Let’s dive into their games and why they are projected to be selected so high in the draft:
Alexandre Sarr | Perth Wildcats
Graham Denholm/Getty Images
Sarr is a 7-foot-1 big man that stole the show and the draft world in his exhibition games versus G League Ignite. The skilled big man was originally playing for Overtime Elite before electing to make the transition to the NBL and that move has done him wonders as he is considered by most scouts as the top international prospect.
Sarr specializes as a defensive prospect as he has some elite qualities on that end. He’s a high level rim protector, a versatile defender and is quite mobile with the ability to defend out in space. Sarr is also extremely skilled on the offensive end as he has shown the ability to put the ball on the floor and make pull-up jumpers, efficiently finish at the rim and is a capable 3-point shooter.
The two-way skinny big man is following the footsteps of some former top three picks in the last three drafts in Evan Mobley, Chet Holmgren and Victor Wembanyama. The big men are evolving right in front of our eyes and Sarr has the potential to be one of the best two-way players in the NBA if he reaches his ceiling.
Nikola Topic | KK Mega Basket
FIBA.com
Topic has been a hot topic amongst the draft community as of recent and is really being stamped as a top five prospect in the draft which is really impressive considering he was relatively unknown as a prospect until March of this year. The skilled point guard has ridiculous positional size as he stands at 6-foot-6 with a 7-foot wingspan which makes him the biggest point guard in the entire draft.
Topic has been awesome for KK Mega Basket this season leading them to wins as the primary ball-handler. The potential number one pick puts a ton of pressure on the rim and is a walking paint touch. He seemingly always finds a way to get into the paint due to his handle, burst and change of speeds.
Topic can finish with either hand effectively inside the painted area. The 6-foot-6 lead guard is an elite playmaker and is a great operator out of the pick and roll. Topic is a really good offensive prospect which is the reason why he’s projected to be drafted so high in the 2024 NBA Draft.
Zaccharie Risacher | JL Bourg
When we were very early in the 2024 NBA Draft cycle, Risacher was the consensus top international prospect in the draft but guys like Sarr and Topic quickly entered the conversation. The 6-foot-10 wing has looked very impressive for JL Bourg this season as he has showcased he’s arguably the best 3-and-D prospect in the entire draft.
Risacher can really shoot it as he’s shooting a ridiculous 46.2% from three which is unique for someone at his size. The combination of size and shooting ability is arguably the best in this draft. Despite him shooting nearly 50% from three, most scouts will say his defense is even more impressive.
He’s a high level versatile defender that can effectively defend primary ball-handlers and be the point of attack defender. Risacher can even defend bigger forwards due to his size and length. Although his scoring versatility leaves a lot to be desired, there’s a clear role in the NBA for Risacher due to his size, shooting ability, defensive versatility and passing flashes.
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