International Waters: Reframing the Global Class | 2026 NBA Draft
Stephen Gillaspie introduces the international prospects entering the 2026 NBA Draft.
There are a lot of prospects who have declared (or are testing the waters) for the 2026 NBA Draft Class. The class has been covered by the No Ceilings collective (among others) in great depth to prepare basketball fans for the future stars of the NBA. The names that are expected to be announced early on June 23rd are well-known at this point in the cycle. Even the “diamonds in the rough” have been brought to light through events like the NIT and the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament.
There has also been a lot made of the 71 early entrants this year—the lowest total since 2003. That gives this cycle a slightly different feel as the pool begins to take shape. In a smaller field, there’s naturally a bit more room on the margins, whether that’s for late risers, two-way bets, or stash-type outcomes.
With the early entrant deadline now behind us, another group begins to come into focus: international prospects who have put their names into the draft. Like every year, some will ultimately withdraw, while others will use this process to establish themselves within the broader draft landscape.
My objective with this article is to provide a service that I need on a yearly basis: introduce you all to some of the international prospects who might stay in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Today, I’ll be going through each of those names and sharing some quick scouting notes to help familiarize you with the group.
Karim Lopez | New Zealand | Forward | 6’9” | 221 | 19
Karim Lopez is widely viewed as the top “true” international prospect in the 2026 NBA Draft, and it’s not hard to see why once you turn on the film. Considered one of the best Mexican prospects in history, he’s spent the last two seasons playing in the NBL, which is about as physical and unforgiving a setting as you’re going to find for a player his age. Having just turned 19 in April, he not only thrived in that environment but carved out a real role because of how advanced his blend of strength and skill already is. The production backs it up; he hovered around 12 points, six rebounds, and nearly two assists per game with solid defensive activity, but the way he got to those numbers stood out. He’s a forceful driver who plays through contact, keeps the ball low, and uses his length to shield defenders.
There’s a level of control there, too; he’s not just barreling to the rim. He can finish with either hand, absorb bumps, and still get the ball up softly off the glass. One of the more impressive parts of his scoring package is how he uses his shoulders to create separation without losing balance—walking defenders off their spot before finishing. That naturally leads to free throws, and he’s comfortable living at the line when defenses can’t contain him.
What really adds another layer is how his physicality translates across different areas of the floor. Lopez has excellent hands—whether he’s catching on the move, securing tough entries, or finishing plays quickly after gathering. When he dives, he goes with purpose, and when he seals, he uses his hips and shoulders to lock defenders in and go right up into his finish. As a screener, he’ll bury smaller defenders, hold contact, and create advantages. That same strength shows up on the glass, where he can end possessions cleanly or extend them with second-effort plays, tipping the ball out or keeping it alive. Once he secures the rebound, he’s not looking to slow it down either; he’ll push and put pressure on the defense in early offense, which adds to his overall offensive value.
Defensively, there’s still room to grow, but the foundation is there. Considering he’s been playing against grown men since he was 17, the signs are encouraging. His size and length give him the ability to jump passing lanes, get a hand on the ball, and contest shots across positions. There are possessions where you see him sit down, mirror his man’s footwork, and use his body to absorb contact effectively. The inconsistency comes with the base—he can get a little too upright or cross his feet, which throws off his balance and opens up driving lanes. It’s not a lack of willingness—it’s more about honing in on the details and being more consistent possession-to-possession. The jumper is in a similar bucket. The form looks fine and the release is clean, but the results haven’t quite caught up yet. Given the level of competition and physicality he’s been dealing with, there’s reason to believe it trends upward with time and reps.
Lopez hasn’t just been labeled the top “true” international prospect. There’s a real chance he’s the only one in this group with a firm first round pathway right now. When you stack him side-by-side with other prospects, there’s still some interpretation involved, but the indicators are there. The decision-making is solid for his role, reflected in a positive assist-to-turnover ratio, and the shooting profile isn’t far off from other high-end prospects in this class. With how the current talent landscape is laid out due to NIL, he’s operated a bit on an island compared to players who’ve come through more traditional pipelines. However, the combination of production, physicality, and translatable tools makes him one of the more convincing players in this class.
Luigi Suigo | Mega | Big | 7’4” | 245 | 19
Luigi Suigo is a prospect I’ve been keen on all season. When you think about what big men are asked to do in today’s NBA, it becomes a tall task to check off that many boxes in one player—especially one with the kind of size Suigo brings. Let’s start with the passing feel, which has quietly become one of the more important traits for bigs to have. Luigi has some of the most natural feel for the game you’ll find from a seven-footer. As a stationary passer, he’s comfortable looking over the top of the defense and dropping the ball in where it needs to go—whether that’s an entry to the block or a quick read to keep the possession flowing. What really separates him is how he moves. There’s a natural gait there that is without the typical stiffness, which opens up a real lane for him as a DHO playmaker—a playset that’s become a staple across the league. He can flow into handoffs, read the coverage, and make decisions on the fly without bogging things down. He’ll also run and gun in transition, and because of his size, he naturally draws attention in the paint, which he can turn into quick kickouts or well-timed feeds to cutters.
Beyond being a promising passer with that kind of size, Suigo also shows real potential as a floor-spacing big. The percentages aren’t overwhelming (around 30% from deep on close to two attempts per game), but the shot profile tells a more interesting story. Over 72% of his attempts were jumpers, and nearly 49% came from beyond the arc. For a player who just turned 19, that’s a pretty advanced shooting diet. And it can’t be overstated how smooth the shot looks. The release is high, the motion is quick, and the touch is soft. To serve as the yin to his shooting’s yang, there’s enough footwork inside to keep things honest. He’s shown some counters in the paint and isn’t completely reliant on living outside. One of the “big man things” he brings consistently is the work on the offensive glass. A 15.0% offensive rebounding rate would have put him near the top of college basketball, and it shows up on film. Suigo competes, stays active, and finds ways to extend possessions.
Playing in the ABA, Suigo was more than serviceable defensively, and there are some sneaky positives there. The movement stands out. Is he always in the right spot? No. But he understands rotations, he’ll give multiple efforts, and he competes in pick-and-roll coverage. His size alone can shut the door on driving lanes and force those “nope” decisions from ball-handlers who think they have an angle. For a player who guards will try to pull into space, he does a solid job extending out and contesting—including on the perimeter, where he can lunge-contest without losing control or fouling. The recovery ability is real, and it shows up when he’s able to get back into plays and get a piece of shots that most bigs wouldn’t even be in position to challenge.
There’s still work to be done, though. His hands are fine in terms of corralling the ball, but they’re not especially strong, which leads to strips when he brings it down in traffic. For as big as he is, you’d like to see more consistency on post hooks, sweeping hooks, and tip-ins. It will be important for him to start carrying over that touch from his jumper to his interior scoring. Defensively, floor-spacing bigs can stretch him out and force him to cover a lot of ground—which isn’t always comfortable for him right now. The shooting, while promising, still needs to stabilize both from deep and at the line rather than living in flashes. The question for teams becomes pretty straightforward: how much do you buy into the combination of size, feel, and skill, and how long are you willing to wait for it all to come together?
Sergio De Larrea | Valencia | Perimeter | 6’7” | 189 | 20
The NBA Playoffs have made one thing clear—if you can handle the ball under pressure, you can find your way onto the floor in meaningful minutes. Sergio De Larrea’s handle alone gives him a chance to do just that. He’s been on radars for a few years now, and what he offers is a lead handler at plus size—which is always going to carry value. The handle and cadence are his calling cards. He changes speeds well, keeps defenders guessing, and is able to get into the paint while maintaining balance through contact in traffic. Once he gets downhill, he’s tough to square up, and that pressure opens up the rest of his game. He can score it, but more importantly, he creates passing lanes that aren’t there for most players. Operating as a hub, he’s comfortable layering passes over the top—skip passes, touch lobs, or quick-hit reads where the ball is out before the defense can react. On schemed actions, he has a real feel for delivering the ball right on time and on target, leading teammates into scoring opportunities rather than just completing the pass.
He’s also grown into a very reliable floor spacer, which makes him playable even when he’s not initiating offense. The shooting motion is tight, compact, and quick. His numbers reflect that growth—connecting on over 42% from deep, and nearly 49% when left open. That kind of efficiency allows him to toggle between being a creator and a finisher without losing value. Even when off of the ball, you can see the feel show up. He graded out extremely well as a cutter, which tracks with how he moves without the ball and understands spacing. With his size and instincts, there’s room for teams to tap into that more, especially when you factor in his ability to finish in tight spaces and make plays with his head up.
Defensively, there’s still work to be done, but the size gives him a bit more margin for error than most guards in his archetype. He’s shown flashes of being able to guard across two positions, and there’s some bite to how he closes out—where he can bother shooters and stay engaged on the perimeter. Where he needs to clean things up is in the details: screen navigation, staying attached through actions, and not being so quick to chase a play. He can get a little “itchy” trying to force an event, and while those gambles can occasionally lead to transition opportunities, they don’t show up consistently enough yet.
His creativity is a double-edged sword at times. The assist percentage is strong at 29.3, but it comes with a 20.8 turnover rate—which tells the story. A lot of those turnovers come from overdribbling into traffic, leaving his feet without a clear read, or getting too deep without committing to a scoring decision. It puts him in spots where the defense is dictating the possession. Even with the strong shooting numbers, there are some questions underneath—shot selection, base consistency, and how those off-the-dribble looks translate when the talent increases. For him to stick as a reliable NBA guard, the next step is finding that balance between creativity and control, especially when it comes to scoring off the bounce and making quicker, cleaner decisions under pressure.
Malique Lewis | SE Melbourne | Forward | 6’7” | 218 | 21
I’m getting to the point where I’d be surprised if Malique Lewis isn’t drafted in the 2026 NBA Draft. He’s got an NBA-ready frame, real length, and the kind of physical profile that translates on both ends. What stands out most is what he brings as a passer. He sees the floor well and can make high-level reads on the move. This is especially true when he’s run off the line, but he’s just as comfortable operating as a stationary connector—keeping the ball moving and finding the right play. That passing pops even more because of the strides he’s made as a scorer. With his length, he shows soft touch around the basket and can finish with craft—including a smooth euro-step in traffic. He’s an excellent cutter as well, with great timing when he slips behind the defense or times his dives to the rim. The shooting adds another layer, knocking down nearly 38% from three-point range in the NBL on solid volume, which forces defenses to stay honest.
That same length shows up defensively. He posted strong playmaking numbers on that end, and when drivers try to finish through him, he meets them with strength and verticality. Even against bigger or more explosive players, he holds his ground well, using a strong base to stay anchored and contest effectively. He’s also a reliable positional rebounder who understands where to be and how to finish possessions.
Where things get a bit tricky is with the athletic profile. He’s long and strong, but he’s not overly explosive. A lot of his finishes come without much lift, and there are moments where he struggles to play above the rim through contact. That lack of burst can show up defensively as well, particularly when he has to close out from the paint to the perimeter or recover to shooters in the corners. At times, that leads to over-helping as he tries to compensate. For Lewis, the path is about continuing to lean into his feel and awareness—knowing personnel, being early with his positioning—while finding ways to squeeze more out of his quickness and overall movement.
Alexandros Samodurov | Panathinaikos | Forward/Big | 7’ | 215 | 21
The scout with Alex Samodurov starts with the athleticism. He looks the part on film right away. At his size, paired with how he moves, there’s real intrigue as an at-rim finisher. For a seven-footer, Alex moves well enough to step out and operate on the perimeter without looking out of place. He has good burst—especially when he’s going downhill—and he gets off the floor quickly with reliable hands. When you layer in his timing and length, you to see the formation of a legitimate lob threat who makes the defense gravitate to him around the rim. It’s not surprising to see the efficiency reflect that, as he’s been highly productive finishing in close.
To get more out of him offensively, the shot has to come along. He’s below 30% from deep right now, but there are some encouraging signs. He shows touch at the line, and the release itself is clean. The base can get a little narrow, which throws off his balance at times, but he’s comfortable getting into it and doesn’t waste motion. The no-dip on his jumper is noticeable—especially for a player his size—and gives you something to work with as he continues to develop.
Defensively, it’s easy to get caught up in the tools. The block numbers jump out, and there are flashes where his length and timing allow him to impact plays around the rim. You can start to see how he might fit in two-big looks if the rest of his game rounds out. That said, he leans on those tools a bit too much right now. There are stretches where he defends more with his hands than his feet, reaching instead of sliding and getting beat when he has to contain in space. The movement can look a bit rigid, which may be more of a strength and balance issue than effort, but it shows up when he has to adjust or recover.
At his age in this class, he’s going to have to lean into the “big man things.” That starts with bringing a more consistent edge on the glass—which hasn’t been a major part of his profile to this point. The rim protection and above-the-rim finishing give him a foundation, especially in a workout setting. But rounding out the details—rebounding, positioning, and making simple connective plays—will go a long way in how teams view him.
Pavle Backo | Mega | Big | 6’11” | 265 | 19
Being upfront as a scout here: there’s something about Pavle Backo that my brain cannot get past. He’s young. He’s skilled. He’s huge. He still requires a bit of seasoning. Being left-handed gives Pavle a bit of an aesthetic boost on tape, but there’s substance behind it. Like most big men that we’re seeing in this current era of hoops, Backo is awesome being a bit of a bully in the paint. While he is working his way into the heart of the paint, Backo can still put up some silky-soft post hooks. Power and skill all at once.
Like other good big men prospects in today’s hoops, there is some positional handle and passing touch that allows him to have an advantage away from the rim. On top of that, Pavle’s shooting touch may extend to the three-point line, as he shot just under 37% from deep on two attempts per game.
Backo isn’t the best defender within this group and, like I said, he is going to require a bit of seasoning. At his current stage, Pavle has to do his work early on defense to put forth a viable effort. Understanding where the ball is coming from to get to his man, there are times where he can get into position and challenge other big men with his strength and leverage. This also shows up in his rebounding. He is able to carve out space on the glass to be active on the offensive boards and close out possessions on the defensive glass.
The path for Pavle has to start with his body. The great news with Backo is that he’s not very doughy, but he does need to define his current physique. That will help with some of the movement limitations and current verticality. This is truly the area of Backo’s game that doesn’t show well now. Sliding his feet, flipping his hips, and quicker feet with the ball will all elevate his game—building upon his positionally-plus strength and feel.
Vsevolod Ishchenko | Kuban | Forward | 6’8” | 218 | 21
There’s a little bit of funk to the game of Vsevolod Ishchenko—and it works in his favor. For a forward of his size, he shows some real ball-handling flashes. He’s able to attack, decelerate, and get into his shot. Even when the initial look isn’t there, he does a good job keeping his dribble alive—able to get to the Nash dribble—while probing for openings and re-engaging the defense. There’s some physicality to his drives, too, and he can finish in audacious ways around the rim. The shooting profile from deep is intriguing: strong percentages (48% this season, 40% the year prior), though on low volume. Mechanically, the shot dips before it rises—it’s not slow, but it could be quicker and more streamlined. Still, the touch is soft, the ball comes off clean, and the motion looks repeatable.
Defensively, Ishchenko brings energy and activity. He closes out under control, shows good verticality as a weakside rim presence, and can high-point the ball on blocks. On the ball, he looks to time poke-outs. While off the ball he stays engaged in help and deny situations—leading to opportunistic turnovers and runouts. He plays a physical brand of defense, using that edge to disrupt timing and cadence. He even puts in respectable work on the glass.
The swing skill is decision-making. He posted a 0.7 assist-to-turnover ratio, and while the bold passing flashes are there, they often tip into unnecessary risk. His handle can get wide and loose, which is where many of his turnovers come from. Defensively, that same physical approach can work against him—particularly against stronger forwards, where he strays are from clean technique, leading to fouls.
Reynan dos Santos | Mexico City | Guard/Wing | 6’4” | 187 | 21
Reynan dos Santos has been a name that draft circles have been familiar with for a few seasons now. This past season saw dos Santos playing in the G League and doing so with a decent amount of production. Reynan is an awesome athlete—strong and able to get off of the floor quickly. Even on his dribble moves, he covers a ton of ground on his rip-throughs and step-backs—which is only able to be done with a high level of athleticism and balance. A large percentage of Reynan’s shots came at the rim—49.7% to be exact. His power, explosiveness, and strength essentially leave him with no choice but to arrive at the basket at a high degree. Once he gets a step, he’s getting to the rim whether you like it or not.
Powerful on offense, dos Santos leverages those same abilities to be an impactful and effective defender. He is pretty good at navigating screens, and he is also pretty good at timing the step-backs and side-steps of other guards. His length and strength give him the ability to defend multiple perimeter positions at a good level—as he’s adept at using his chest and getting vertical.
The athleticism with Reynan is awesome, but the craft and feel with him isn’t where it needs to be. He is a fine connective playmaker, but his handle and passing acumen aren’t that of a lead guard. This puts him in a tricky place as an off-ball guard who is point guard-sized. Luckily, he shot nearly 38% on three attempts from deep per contest. He does show signs of potential as a defender as well, given the tools and the film. He’s not the highest-level rebounder, but he’s not bad, either. This just kind of puts dos Santos in an interest pool as a project with upside.
Jack Kayil | Alba Berlin | Guard | 6’4” | 185 | 20
Even in a class that has its fill of young guard prospects, Jack Kayil offers some promising abilities. Kayil is incredibly shifty. He is able to get to a lot of moves with his handle that most NBA guards must possess to get to their spots. There’s a ton of wiggle to his movement, which is how he is able to operate on the ball to the degree that he does. His quickness and handle grant him access to get to his floater or to get to the pull-up shots he is so fond of. The touch he puts on those shots makes him someone defenses have to pay attention to as a driver.
Jack is a good athlete—capable of finishing with some creative angles. He can get up above the rim in the half court, where he had four dunks in that setting. Kayil’s tools show well on the defensive end, too. He has quick hands, good length, and can cover a lot of ground with his lateral agility.
With those gifts, Jack is able to find himself in the right position a good majority of the time. But his aggression can also get the better of him—fouling instead of staying home on defense and finishing the possession with positioning. This led to him committing 87 fouls, while only forcing 53 stocks. There is such a confidence in his natural talent, where he can force tough looks or, conversely, assume some looks will just inherently find their mark. Tightening that balance between confidence and control will be key for him moving forward.
Noam Yaacov | Oostende | Guard | 6’1” | No Listed Weight | 21
Quickness is the first word that comes to mind when it comes to describing Oostende guard Noam Yaacov. He truly enjoys attacking the defense by getting paint touches at a respectable clip. 42.6% of his possessions came at the rim, where he ranked in the 60th percentile in at-rim efficiency. Yaacov can get up some high-arching floaters and push shots. He also likes to finish those layups with a fully extended arm. His shot is quick and pretty, and he can get to that shot off the dribble.
His shiftiness puts defenses in precarious positions due to the start-stop cadence that he is capable of getting to. His quickness can really put defenses into a scramble. He can tip-toe the baseline or snake his way to the elbow, and that pressure sets up easy passing reads for him to exploit.
His speed comes in handy on defense—an area of his game that is all but guaranteed to be worrisome. His shiftiness keeps him in plays, even when there are possessions that ask him to shift directly from help to on-ball, and back to help again. He wants to get in the shirt of opposing ball handlers to force mis-dribbles that he can rip or poke away. There’s a competitiveness there that helps him survive possessions where he might otherwise be at a size disadvantage or when being screened.
As gnat-like as he tries to be, Noam will be limited to being a one-position defender who will be required to be hidden on defense. For as pretty as some of his touch shots and passes can be, he has a propensity to move the ball in a way that allows the defense to get their fingertips on it—forcing turnovers or stoppages in play, allowing them to set back up. There is also going to be some curiosity as to how potent his penetration skills will translate up into a more athletic league.
Bassala Bagayoko | Bilbao | Big | 6’9” | 215 | 19
Bassala Bagayoko is a very long, athletic big man. He is high energy—setting screens and diving to the rim, and as a rebounder. This past season, Bagayoko had an offensive rebounding percentage of 10.3 and a defensive rebounding percentage of 21.8. His length and positioning lead to him being in the right place often. For a player with a sort of “rough and tumble” style of play, Bassala shows a good degree of touch around the basket. He has more finesse talent in the paint than the volume would otherwise suggest. There are some fun flashes of stationary playmaking too.
Bagayoko likes to be a bit of a bully in the paint. He wants to make it a physical game. He prefers to be physical and wall off the basket from other big men. His toughness comes in handy in drop, as he is going to be attacked by various wing players. When he’s set, he can absorb bumps and contest vertically, forcing ball handlers to adjust their finishes. There are also moments where his activity level shows up in second efforts—getting a hand on a shot, then turning to locate the rebound or disrupt a follow-up. The toughness is real, and it gives him a chance to impact possessions even when he’s not in perfect position.
Bassala’s frame is good enough to allow him to be physical in international play, but the lateral mobility and his momentum shifting aren’t where they need to be. His lower body needs to catch up to his top half. This should allow him to improve his recovery. He also needs to improve his footwork on both ends. He routinely gets whistled for traveling when gathering passes and trying to score diving to the paint. There have been slight tinges of footwork and getting into a low, assertive stance on defense, but the problem is that they are just flashes. Beyond that, Bagayoko is another example of an undersized center who comes with some concerns that potentially limit his upside.
Marc-Owen Fodzo Dada | Nancy | Guard/Wing | 6’4” | 194 | 19
Marc-Owen Fodzo Dada is an interesting commodity. His pacing stands out—he’s able to shift gears, downshift, and keep defenses in a scrambling state while getting to either hand. As a pick-and-roll operator, he leverages that handle and change of pace to consistently get downhill. Once there, Dada does a good job manipulating defenders into fouling, creating easy offense at the line.
That paint pressure opens up passing lanes. Dada will work his man onto his hip, get into one of his counters, and kick out to the corner or drop it off to a big in the dunker spot. As a finisher, he’s comfortable operating in tight spaces—using his burst, shiftiness, and length to convert difficult looks. He favors inside-hand finishes off hesitations and half-spins, and he can use his verticality to hang and get push shots over size.
The swing skills are what complicate the projection. Like many athletic, scoring-tilted guards, he struggles to shoot and isn’t a consistent defender. The energy is there—he plays with speed and a frenetic pace—but it doesn’t always translate to production (19 stocks vs. 72 fouls at SLUC Nancy). From deep, he shot sub-30%, and while the form isn’t broken, the confidence and fluidity aren’t there yet. That combination tightens the margin for error, putting pressure on his ability to scale as a creator without reliable shooting or defensive consistency.
Mohammad Amini | Nancy | Forward | 6’7” | 215 | 21
Mohammad Amini has a unique style of play. He has a strong frame, which works well with his preference to attack the basket. His handle is pretty decent, and that allows him to get to the paint—particularly following a pump fake. When he is chased off of the line, he can get to some floats and push shots. His go-to move to get to these areas is a fun hesitation dribble.
What stands out with Amini is that he is pretty creative as a passer on his drives. Something he is adept at is driving to the paint and hitting open teammates in the dunker spot with an overhead pass. Mohammad can also draw contact on his drives and get to the free-throw line. That combination of strength, touch, and passing gives him a unique downhill profile, even if it doesn’t always look explosive.
On defense, Mohammad is hard to move off his spot. He can defend larger forwards and some small-ball fives. On the perimeter, Amini has a keen understanding of how to execute the side-contest when closing out on three-pointers. When ball handlers are looking to attack him, he has the strength and the length to challenge and contest straight-line drives.
For as much skill as Mohammad has, he isn’t a tremendous athlete—very below-the-rim. While his shot looks smooth and he has a good release, he hasn’t been incredibly efficient, shooting under 27% from three. On his drives, he’s limited to straight-line finishes due to his lack of bend or lean. This makes him a bit predictable and easier to account for. On defense, Mohammad has a propensity to get blown by. There isn’t much of an ability to change direction or recover. Because of that, he will give a little more space to compensate for drives. This can result in pull-ups and step-backs getting up over him.
Francesco Ferrari | Virtus Bologna | Forward | 6’9” | 216 | 20
One of the more intriguing stylistic bets in the 2026 NBA Draft, Francesco Ferrari operates primarily as a face-up four. He’s not physically imposing, so he leans on footwork, pacing, and movement—especially in transition. Ferrari runs the floor well, consistently getting out ahead of the play, gathering passes cleanly on the move, and finishing with control. In the half court, he’s comfortable pivoting into mid-range looks where his touch stands out. There’s some theoretical shooting range, but the release—coming over his right shoulder—is a bit slow and will need refinement to become a reliable spacing weapon.
Ferrari’s connective feel is where things get more interesting. He shows real short-roll utility—setting solid screens, bringing the ball in cleanly, and making quick reads on the move. He’s capable of whip passes and same-side kickouts, and he flashes comfort as a stationary high-low passer as well. There’s enough there to suggest he can keep the offense flowing without scoring. Defensively, he stays active with his hands and feet, looks to disrupt actions. He rebounds his position well, even if the physical tools aren’t overwhelming.
The projection ultimately comes down to role translation. Ferrari looks most comfortable as an undersized big, which isn’t a seamless fit in the NBA. That’s where things get a little tricky. He doesn’t quite have the size or strength to handle frontcourt matchups consistently, and his handle limits a full shift to the perimeter. Add in some looseness defensively, and it tightens the margin for error—making his long-term outcome hinge on either scaling the shooting or holding up better against NBA size.
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