NBA Draft Scouting Report: UCLA's Berke Buyuktuncel
Berke Buyuktuncel
Forward | UCLA
Height: 6'9” | Weight: 210 lbs
2024 Draft Age: 19.80
FIBA.com
Prospect Profile
Buyuktuncel is a lefty forward out of Turkey that plays with a ton of energy. While he’s mostly an off-ball guy, he is actually quite effective at getting to the rim. He’s smooth for his size — boasting fluidity — and is great at driving in a straight line.
A smart off-ball mover, Buyuktuncel scores well as cutter and puts himself in position to capitalize on good looks. With that in mind, that’s mostly inside the arc as his perimeter jumper still has some work to do. If he’s able to emerge as a better 3-point shooter at the college level, his positional size and floor spacing would be instantly translatable in the NBA. As of today, he projects mostly to be a spot-up shooter from deep as his jumper isn’t reliable on the move or when creating for himself.
Given the high motor and IQ, Buyuktuncel is an excellent rebounder. These traits also provide him with tremendous defensive upside. He’s versatile and smart on that end, playing within a scheme well and having the ability to guard nearly any position. That end of the floor is where he has the most potential, given the rim protection, lateral quickness and switchability.
This season at UCLA, Buyuktuncel will be playing alongside a variety of potential future NBA talents in Jan Vide, Aday Mara and Adem Bona among others. The Turkish prospect has an athletic family that has played a variety of sports, but he has real upside as a professional.
Highlights
Draft Projection
Potential Second-Round Pick in 2024 NBA Draft.
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