Joining Donovan Clingan and Matas Buzelis, French big man Alexandre Sarr has become the third top-10 prospect to declare for the 2024 NBA draft within the last few hours, announcing his decision on NBA Today with Malika Andrews (Twitter video link).
Sarr, who will turn 19 later this month, has spent the 2023/24 season with the Perth Wildcats in Australia’s National Basketball League, where he averaged 9.7 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks in 17.2 minutes per game, with a shooting line of .520/.298/.714.
Those numbers don’t jump off the page, but Sarr – who was competing in the NBL as an 18-year-old against seasoned professionals – is considered to have significant upside, particularly on the defensive end.
The 7’1″ center is currently the No. 2 prospect on ESPN’s big board and occupied the top spot on that board a few months ago. With no consensus first overall pick in this year’s draft, Sarr is expected to be in that conversation.
According to ESPN’s scouting report, Sarr is a versatile, athletic defender and a strong finisher offensively, though there are questions about his rebounding, awareness, and toughness.
Concerns about his toughness aren’t warranted. I’m Australian and watched him closely against grown men. Sarr didn’t shy away from anyone attempting to intimidate, in fact, very much the opposite. Lots of guys tried getting rough and talking smack. Sarr didn’t back down and played better. He wants all the smoke. Sarr embarrassed G league ingnite when he played them, would of embarrassed college players too. His 3 point shot will improve for sure. He’s a legit top 5 pick in this draft, a safe pick at that.
EVERYBODY embarrassed G-League Ignite when they played them. That is why Ron Holland and Buzelis and the G-League Ignite no longer exist.
Pick someone else then fine by me. Sarr will be the best big in this draft class. This UConn guy isn’t near Sarr now or has anywhere near the ceiling.
We have no Americans to pick. I don’t dispute that Sarr is the best of this bunch. I know how bad the American players are.
Again, it is just crazy how far the talent level has fallen off!
Let’s take a look again at the high school class of 2007 for a comparison.
The city of Chicago alone produced Derrick Rose (#1 overall pick) and Evan Turner (#2 overall pick) in 2007. Who else was in the class nationally??? O.J. Mayo, Kevin Love, Eric Gordon, DeAndre Jordan, James Harden, Blake Griffin, Jeff Teague, Michael Beasley, E’Twaun Moore, Jerryd Bayless, J.J. Hickson, Justin Holiday, Kosta Koufos and Nolan Smith.
Do you remember Michael Beasley’s freshman year at Kansas State??? How about the rest of these guys??? Can anybody name a freshman who looked like them this year??? How about ANY other college player??
The United States is no longer producing basketball talent. Every class used to have multiple franchise players. Kosta Koufos was a better college player than anybody in college this year. He would have averaged 30 and 20, and he wasn’t even that good compared to the rest of these guys.
It’s sad. Just sad!
This comment is riddled with falsehoods & ridiculous statements lol
What is false? Which guy wasn’t in the 2007 high school recruiting class???
Freshman Derrick Rose took Memphis coached by Calipari to the NCAA title game.
Did you see DeAndre Jordan at this stage??? You could not have seen DeAndre, and then call Donovan Clingan, an “athletic big”
Can you name a franchise player in the 2024 draft???
Don’t mention “falsehoods” and “ridiculous” without backing it up. Were you even old enough to have seen any of these guys play in 2007??? Don’t comment on things you know NOTHING about.
Lol
ESPN
Zach Edey is the 14th pick