2024 NBA Mock Draft: FIBA flavor, Part IV

MIES (Switzerland) - The 2024 NBA Draft is right around the corner and there will certainly be a massive FIBA influence among the 58 picks, with about half of the expected candidates having played in international competitions or a Basketball Without Borders camp.

The NBA is becoming more and more global and international prospects are showing they can ball - something NBA franchises are not avoiding. We looked at all the mock drafts out there and came up with our own list - focusing on the players' participation in FIBA events.

This is the final installment with picks 1-15.

Here is the link to picks 46-58.
Here is the link to picks 31-45.
Here is the link to picks 16-30.

#15 Tristan da Silva - Germany

Da Silva got better and better in his four seasons at the University of Colorado. He was named to the First Team All-Pac 12 Conference in 2023 and to the Second Team All-Pac 12 in 2024. The 23-year-old Da Silva, the younger brother of German international Oscar da Silva, played for Germany at the FIBA U20 European Challengers 2021.

#14 Nikola Topic - Serbia

 
Topic split the 2023-24 season between Mega Belgrade and Crvena Zvezda Belgrade, though he suffered a knee injury in January 2024 and then a partially torn ACL in May 2024. The point guard played at the FIBA U16 European Challengers 2021 and starred at the FIBA U18 EuroBasket 2023, winning the Most Valuable Player award as Serbia claimed the title.

The 18-year-old Topic also participated in the Basketball Without Borders Global camp in 2023. Please make sure you read this excellent article on him.

#13 Jared McCain - USA

McCain had a strong freshman season at Duke University and was chosen for the Atlantic Coast Conference All-Rookie Team in 2024. The 20-year-old guard helped USA Basketball win the title at the FIBA U18 AmeriCup 2022 and also participated in the 2023 Nike Hoop Summit.

#12 Ja'Kobe Walter - USA

 
Walter starred in his lone season at Baylor University, being named as the Big 12 Conference Freshman of the Year and a Third-Team All-Big 12. The 19-year-old played in the 2023 Nike Hoop Summit. He has not played in a FIBA competition.

#11 Devin Carter - USA

 
Carter has played the last two seasons at Providence College after one campaign with the University of South Carolina. The guard was named as the Big East Conference Player of the Year in 2024. The 22-year-old has not played in a FIBA competition.

#10 Dalton Knecht - USA

 
Knecht jumped from a junior college and then two seasons at the University of Northern Colorado before playing this season at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. The wing was named a consensus First-Team All-American as well as the Southeastern Conference Player of the Year in 2024. The 23-year-old has not played in a FIBA competition.

#9 Ron Holland - USA

 
Holland did not go to college instead playing this past season with the NBA G League Ignite team. He played at the 2023 FIBA Intercontinental Cup in Singapore. The forward was named to the All-Star Five at the FIBA U16 AmeriCup 2021 as United States won the title. The following summer Holland starred in helping USA to the crown at the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2022. The 18-year-old also played at the 2023 Nike Hoop Summit.

#8 Tidjane Salaun - France

 

Salaun played his first full season with Cholet Basket's professional team and the forward excelled, being name as the Basketball Champions League Best Young Player in 2024. Salaun participated in the Basketball Without Borders Europe camp in 2022 and the BWB Global camp in 2023.

The 18-year-old also starred for France at the FIBA U18 EuroBasket 2023.

#7 Donovan Clingan - USA

 
Clingan played two seasons at University of Connecticut and the Connecticut native helped the team win the NCAA collegiate title in both 2023 and 2024. The center was named to the Big East Conference All-Freshman Team in 2023.

The 20-year-old has not played in a FIBA competition.

#6 Cody Williams - USA

Williams had a strong freshman season at the University of Colorado, being named to the Pac-12 Conference All-Freshman Team in 2024.

Williams, the younger brother of Oklahoma City Thunder wing Jalen Williams, played at the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2023. The 19-year-old also competed at the 2023 Nike Hoop Summit.

#5 Matas Buzelis - Lithuania/USA

 
Buzelis decided against playing college basketball and this season played for NBA G League Ignite, competing also in the 2023 FIBA Intercontinental Cup in Singapore. A native of Chicago, both of Buzelis' parents are Lithuanian and he committed to playing internationally for Lithuania - though he has not yet played in a FIBA competition.

The 19-year-old was named Most Valuable Player of the Basketball Without Borders Global camp in 2023. Buzelis also played at the 2022 Nike Hoop Summit. Please make sure you check this awesome article.

#4 Stephon Castle - USA

Castle played just one year of college basketball but made it a success as helped University of Connecticut to the 2024 NCAA title. The guard was named as the Big East Conference Freshman of the Year.

The 19-year-old helped USA Basketball to the crown at the FIBA U18 AmeriCup 2022.

#3 Reed Sheppard - USA

 
Sheppard came off the bench at University of Kentucky but still was named Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Year and Second-Team All-SEC. Sheppard's father Jeff Sheppard starred at Kentucky in the late 1990s and played briefly in the NBA.

The 19-year-old Reed has not played in a FIBA competition.

#2 Alexandre Sarr - France

Sarr made a big step in his development playing this past season with the Perth Wildcats in the Australian NBL league after two years in the Overtime Elite league. Sarr, whose older brother Olivier Sarr is with the Oklahoma City Thunder NBA organization, helped France take first place in their FIBA U16 European Challengers 2021.

Sarr and France then finished third at the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2022 and Sarr was a leader for France on the team that took second place at the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2023. Please make sure you check this article on the French prospect.

#1 Zaccharie Risacher - France

 
Risacher took a major step forward this season as he moved from ASVEL Villeurbanne to JL Bourg en Bresse, helping the club reach the French ProA league Semi-Finals. Risacher, whose father Stephane Risacher won the Olympics silver medal in 2000, already has a lot of FIBA experience of his own. He played at the FIBA U16 European Challengers 2021 and then took third place at the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2022 and second place at the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2023.

Risacher, whose sister Ainhoa Risacher has played in two FIBA U16 Women's EuroBaskets, also participated in the 2023 Nike Hoop Summit. In February 2024, Risacher made his debut in the French senior national team with one appearance in the FIBA EuroBasket 2025 Qualifiers. Please make sure you check this article on the French sensation.

The opinions expressed are purely those of the author and for fan entertainment purposes only. These are not in any way an official ranking. 

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