MUNICH (Germany) - Once Ben Saraf hears his name called on draft night, it will be another milestone on a journey that began very early in his life.
The 19-year-old Israeli standout comes from a basketball family, something that was a major influence in his early years. "Both of my parents played basketball here in Israel's first division, when they were younger," Saraf recalled in an interview with Pro Insight's Florian Kurth. "So I didn't really have a choice. That is why I started playing basketball from a young age."
His standout performances at the junior level in Israel earned him a spot on the U16 national team, where he quickly emerged as one of the country's brightest young stars. Saraf made his national team debut at the FIBA European Challengers in 2021, where he led his team in scoring - averaging 15 points per game.
He would build upon this performance in 2022, leading Israel to a fifth-place finish at the FIBA U16 EuroBasket, where he earned a spot in the tournament's All-Star Five, while leading the competition in scoring, averaging 24.3 points per game.
His impact, however, wasn't limited to the junior national teams, as he found quick success with Elitzur Netanya in Israel's second division. Following a strong 2022-23 campaign for the team, Saraf made the move to Elitzur Kiryat Ata - a team in Israel's first division - and he made the transition to look seamless, quickly establishing himself as the team's sixth man; making an impact with his versatile scoring off the bench.
"We are a club with a pretty low budget, but we are doing great things. We are in the playoff picture right now," Saraf told Pro Insight in early 2024. "In the beginning it was a bit difficult to get used to the size and strength of the players. I mean, I was suddenly playing against top EuroLeague and EuroCup players. So I think I am doing a pretty good job."
Kiryat Ata went on to make a run to the Israeli Premier League Semi-Finals that season, but there was still more to come for Saraf, and he would completely explode onto the scene later that next summer at FIBA U18 EuroBasket.
Saraf put on a show during the tournament, highlighted by a pair of 40-point games against Spain and Serbia. He went on to earn MVP honors after averaging 28.1 points, 5.3 assists, 5.0 rebounds and 4.0 steals per game. His performance in Tampere led Israel to a fourth-place finish - securing the country's first-ever qualification for the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup — a milestone not lost on Saraf.
"For the country to play in the U19 World Cup for the first time, I think it's going to be a great experience," Saraf said in an interview with David Hein for Taking The Charge. "For the country, for the players, for everybody. I'm really excited about it."
"Everything about Ulm is built on developing players and coaches to get to their next level."
Ahead of the 2024-25 season, Saraf was on the move again, this time signing with Ratiopharm Ulm of the German Basketball Bundesliga. The motivation behind the move seemed clear: to join a team that had developed a strong pipeline to the NBA; producing recent draft picks Killian Hayes, Pacome Dadiet, and Juan Nunez.
"Everything about Ulm is built on developing players and coaches to get to their next level," says Jimmy Rhoades, who spent two years as a Player Development Coach in Ulm before moving to Japan to work in the same role for the Kawasaki Brave Thunders of the Japanese B.League.
"If you look at their facilities, their Player Development and Strength & Conditioning coaches, and the history of where the head coaches of both the BBL and ProB squads move on to after their time with the club, it's clear that for Ratiopharm Ulm there is something more important than winning Championships."
Those elements are evident when Saraf talks about his experience with the club. "The practice facility is huge, and the gym is available whenever I need it. I get there early in the morning and do a lot of individual work with the coach," Saraf said in a recent interview with Efrat Amoraban for the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth. "There's so much emphasis on individual skill development and physical conditioning. Everything is accessible."
While it can be difficult for professional teams contending for a championship to give minutes to their young players, it doesn't seem to be an issue for Ulm given how Saraf has been performing.
The Israeli wing stepped up from day one and is currently leading the team in scoring, averaging 12.5 points, 4.3 assists, and 2.7 rebounds per game for an Ulm squad that finished the season just one game behind the top spot and remains very much alive in the German league playoffs.
For Rhoades, the key lies in roster construction. "It's not a bunch of young prospects trying to make the NBA; it's a collection of one or two NBA prospects sprinkled into a mature and ambitious group that cares about winning," he explains. "Guys like Thomas Klepeisz, Philipp Herkenhoff, Brandon Paul, and Robin Christen, among others, are the right combination of professional and talented, and they teach the young players how to behave and carry themselves on and off the court."
"I see Ben Saraf as one of the key pieces of Israel's national team moving forward."
The mix of an experienced roster and the role Ulm has entrusted Saraf with seems to be paying dividends — both for the team and for Saraf.
"They aren't afraid to give a platform here to young players. They've put trust in us, and we've paid them back with wins," Saraf said in an interview with ESPN's Jonathan Givony. "We're in second place in the BBL and hoping to win a trophy this season. The coaches and staff have helped me improve so much since I got here. It's been a win-win situation for everyone."
That improvement was on full display when Saraf, still just 18 years old, put up 16 points against the Portland Trail Blazers in an NBA preseason game last October. "It was incredible. It felt like I was inside NBA 2K — like I was stepping into a dream. It was also a great bonding experience for our team," Saraf told Yedioth Ahronoth.
On the other end of the floor was a familiar face to Israeli fans: Deni Avdija. "Meeting Deni was great too," Saraf said. "After the game, we went out to eat together. We didn't know each other before, and he gave me a few tips."
Avdija, Saraf, and Danny Wolf are often mentioned as the faces of the next generation of Israeli basketball — one that has been breaking barriers for the country with its recent success at the youth levels and brought Israel its first major FIBA titles, winning back-to-back FIBA U20 EuroBasket titles in 2019 and 2020.
"I think basketball in Israel just grows and grows every year," Saraf told Taking the Charge. "We have really talented players who played well in the U18s and U20s. So I think in the coming years you will see some big things in the men's national team."
The start of that promising future for Israeli basketball might come at the upcoming FIBA EuroBasket 2025, with Saraf already having played an important role during the qualifying stages. Appearing in four games where he averaged 8.3 points and 3.0 assists per game.
"Ben is part of the squad and here for a reason," Israel's head coach Ariel Beit Halachmi told the press ahead of November's qualifying window. "Everyone sees his progress and it's just fun to see him play."
"I know Israel is very excited about his potential," says Rhoades, who worked this season with Israeli coaches Neno Ginzburg and Oren Amiel and closely followed Saraf and the hype he's generating back home. "A lot of Ulm games are on their local television broadcasts and everyone seems to be paying close attention to him."
Beyond the hype, Saraf's fit within this new generation of Israeli basketball seems perfect. "Saraf will be the best ball-handler for the future for the team, fits well in the backcourt with Yam Madar, and has already earned his stripes at the lower youth levels for the team," says Rowan Kent, a basketball scout for No Ceilings.
"Saraf also has a great synergistic fit with both Wolf and Avdija, as all three are unselfish passers. It's fun to imagine a free-flowing, hard-to-defend roster with this trio, who all form a great offensive backbone for the team," Kent adds, before concluding: "I see Ben Saraf as one of the key pieces of Israel's national team moving forward."
Scouts not only see Saraf as a near-perfect fit for the Israeli national team, but also project him as a potential impact player at the NBA level, where he's expected to be a first round pick in the upcoming NBA Draft.
"Due to his versatility and great offense, Saraf has a great case as a top-15 prospect with fewer holes than other point guards," explains Kent. "He has prototypical size for the point guard position, is a threat to score at the rim or with his pull-up jumper with the ball in his hands, and is a maestro running the offense in transition or pick-and-roll."
For Rhoades, Saraf's NBA projection can vary depending on the team that drafts him. "If he's in a situation where a team is rebuilding without a true superstar or identity in place, I can envision Ben having success with his strong pick-and-roll play," Rhoades explains. "As it will surely translate to the NBA game and will get better with more reps against higher level competition."
"If he's on a more established team, Ben will need to prove himself as a catch-and-shoot threat that is able to attack closeouts to score or create for others. He's had the ball in his hands so much in his professional career that I'm not sure if that part of his game has developed as quickly as his ball-handling skills," Rhoades continues.
"If he has a teammate who's an All-NBA talent, it would serve Ben best to be as much of a threat playing off the ball as he is with the ball in his hands."
Kent is somewhat optimistic of Saraf making that transition, given the different contexts in which the Israeli wing has played throughout his career. "Saraf has also demonstrated great role malleability, as he has been both the leading scorer on successful teams at the FIBA youth levels and has adapted to a more team-oriented concept for Ratiopharm Ulm."
"I feel confident that Saraf will be firmly towards the top of his team's guard rotation," Kent says when asked about his projection for Saraf over the next four to five years. "Whether that's being a starter at either guard spot on a team or being the first player off the bench, it's hard to imagine a player with Saraf's drive and skillset not adjusting to the needed athleticism for the NBA and making an impact."
"This is the right time for me," Saraf told ESPN after declaring for the draft. "After playing against the highest levels of competition in European basketball, I am ready and excited for the draft, but first we need to finish the season strong in Ulm."
Saraf has developed from a local standout into one of Europe's top young players. This summer, both the NBA Draft and FIBA EuroBasket could mark the next big steps in what has been a brilliant young career.
Saraf, however, prefers to stay in the moment. "I try not to think about it too much," he said to Yedioth Ahronoth.
"I believe that if I don't focus on it, I'll play better. I don't want to overanalyze every play, worrying about how it might impact my future or disappoint people. I don't need that pressure — it's better to stay calm and just keep playing."
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