With a robust 2024–25 marketing campaign at Le Mans, Penda additional established himself as one of the crucial tenacious and versatile defensive forwards in his class. He brings a bodily, high-motor presence to the ground, able to switching throughout a number of positions due to his energy, fast toes, and aggressive palms. Penda excels in transition, the place his power and athleticism constantly result in straightforward finishes. Offensively, he’s nonetheless growing, most of his manufacturing comes from cuts, hustle performs, and quick breaks quite than half-court creation. His perimeter shot stays inconsistent, and he gives restricted self-creation. Even so, his defensive influence, rebounding exercise, and relentless motor make him an interesting function participant with room to develop if his taking pictures progresses.
6. Ben Saraf (6-6, PG/SG, 2006, Ratiopharm Ulm)
Ben Saraf continued to indicate development in the course of the 2024–25 season with Ratiopharm Ulm, rising as one of many extra polished younger creators within the worldwide class. He constantly orchestrated the offense with poise and really feel, utilizing his dimension and imaginative and prescient to interrupt down defenses and ship high-level reads. His contact across the rim and within the mid-range improved noticeably, including to his effectiveness as a multi-level scorer. Whereas he lacks elite burst and vertical explosiveness, Saraf compensates with timing, craft, and a robust understanding of angles. Defensively, his lateral mobility and energy stay areas for enchancment, however his offensive talent set and basketball IQ make him a high-floor prospect with long-term enchantment.
7. Bogoljub Markovic (6-11, PF, 2006, Mega MIS)
Markovic’s continued growth with Mega Mis has solidified his standing as a contemporary stretch-four prospect, that includes a easy and projectable taking pictures stroke from past the arc that gives beneficial flooring spacing. He additionally flashes intriguing ball-handling means for his dimension and exhibits mushy contact within the put up, notably when matched in opposition to smaller defenders. Nevertheless, his lean body leaves him weak to bodily play, and he typically struggles to carry place or end by way of contact inside. Defensively, his lateral mobility is under common, making him a legal responsibility in switches, and his rebounding influence stays inconsistent. Whereas his energy and defensive footwork want clear enchancment, Markovic’s offensive talent set—particularly his taking pictures—provides him an actual path to worth in right now’s NBA as a floor-spacing large with long-term upside.
8. Hansen Yang (7-2, C, 2005, Qingdao Eagles)
Yang continued to anchor the inside for Qingdao within the CBA, showcasing a uncommon mixture of elite dimension, mushy contact, and high-level imaginative and prescient for a participant his dimension. Standing 7-foot-2, he constantly protects the rim with strong timing and makes use of his large body to seal off defenders and management the glass. His greatest attribute is his passing means from the excessive put up, the place he shows superior really feel and recurrently makes good reads unusual for a middle. He additionally turned heads on the NBA Draft Mix, flashing improved contact as a shooter that added one other layer to his offensive upside. Nevertheless, his restricted mobility, stiff hips, and below-average lateral quickness current considerations in right now’s NBA, notably when defending in house or switching onto guards. Conditioning and agility shall be crucial areas of growth. Nonetheless, Yang’s mix of dimension, inside talent, and passing instincts makes him a compelling long-term challenge.
9. Alex Toohey (6-9, G/F, 2004, Sydney Kings)
Toohey continued to develop with the Sydney Kings in the course of the 2024–25 NBL season, exhibiting the traits of a high-IQ, basically sound stretch 4 with offensive reliability. He shoots properly off the catch, makes good reads, and brings constant effort, giving him the makings of a strong floor-spacing contributor. Nevertheless, his lateral quickness and lack of explosiveness restrict his means to defend faster or extra athletic NBA gamers, and he can wrestle to remain in entrance of his task. His three-point taking pictures off the dribble remains to be a piece in progress, and he lacks a lot self-creation means, however his general polish, taking pictures mechanics, and really feel for the sport give him a shot to carve out a rotation function.
10. Mohamed Diawara (6-9, F, 2005, Cholet)
Diawara’s 2024–25 season with Cholet highlighted his spectacular defensive versatility and nonstop motor. Together with his size, athleticism, and relentless power, he constantly disrupted opponents and confirmed the flexibility to protect a number of positions successfully. He runs the ground properly and finishes with authority in transition, taking part in with physicality and depth. Offensively, Diawara stays a piece in progress. Outdoors of transition and hustle performs, his scoring recreation lacks polish and consistency. His three-point shot flashes potential however has not developed right into a dependable weapon, which permits defenders to sag off him. Whereas he has some imaginative and prescient as a passer, he doesn’t create a lot offense on his personal, and his general scoring instincts are nonetheless restricted. His path to sticking within the NBA possible hinges on his means to turn out to be an elite, versatile defender, an end result inside attain because of his bodily instruments and constant effort.
