MUNICH (Germany) - Last year, the NBA Draft had a distinctly international flavor, with the first two selections — Zaccharie Risacher and Alex Sarr — both hailing out of France.
This year is certainly different, with Cooper Flagg, considered as one of the top American prospects to enter the NBA Draft in the last decade, widely expected to go number one on June 25.
This draft, however, is notable for its depth of European talent, with a number of talented players projected to hear their names called over the two-day event.
Below is an overview (in alphabetical order) of the European players who are projected to be selected in this year's draft, and could be making an impact for an NBA team starting next season.
Izan Almansa - Spain
CENTER
Birth Date: June 7, 2005 (20 years old) Height: 2.06m (6ft 9in) Club: Perth Wildcats (AUS)
One of the most decorated players in the history of FIBA youth competitions—having been named MVP at three different tournaments—Almansa has been on NBA radars for nearly half a decade, building his draft stock with each appearance for the Spanish junior national teams. After stints with Overtime Elite and the now-defunct G League Ignite program, Almansa signed with the Perth Wildcats as part of the Australian NBL Next Stars program, where he showed potential as a role-playing center with his polished interior scoring and his flashes of ball-handling and passing.
Almansa made his debut with the senior national team during the FIBA EuroBasket Qualifiers 2025, and with his size and post-scoring ability, he's poised to be an impactful player for Spain for years to come.
Joan Beringer - France
CENTER
Birth Date: November 11, 2006 (18 years old) Height: 2.11m (6ft 11in) Club: Cedevita Olimpija (SLO)
One of the late bloomers of the draft, Beringer only started playing basketball in 2021. After a couple of years rising through the youth ranks, including a strong performance at the 2024 FIBA U18 EuroBasket, the French center found himself in the ranks of Cedevita Olimpija, where he quickly established himself as one of the best young centers in European basketball. The 18-year-old dominated the paint, leading the Adriatic League in blocks per game while also being extremely efficient on the other end of the floor, shooting 64.4% from the field.
With his elite size, mobility, vertical athleticism, and two-way impact around the basket, Beringer should be expected to provide an instant impact at the NBA level, but he also has the potential to improve, as he will be one of the youngest players in the draft at just 18 years old.
Egor Demin
GUARD
Birth Date: March 3, 2006 (19 years old) Height: 2.04m (6ft 8in) Club: BYU Cougars (USA - NCAA)
A product of Real Madrid's youth squads, Demin chose the college route ahead of the 2024–25 season, and the decision paid off, as he quickly became one of the most impactful freshmen in college basketball. Demin possesses a unique profile as a 2.04m primary playmaker who can create open shots for teammates by utilizing his elite vision, passing ability, and basketball IQ.
With jumbo-sized point guards becoming more and more prevalent in the NBA, it's easy to see Demin making an impact at the next level, creating mismatches with his combination of size, creativity, and elite passing ability.
Mohamed Diawara - France
FORWARD
Birth Date: April 29, 2005 (20 years old) Height: 2.04m (6ft 8in) Club: Cholet (FRA)
Diawara was part of a French 2005 generation that is truly stacked with talent and includes four former first-round picks: Zaccharie Risacher, Alex Sarr, Tidjane Salaun, and Pacome Dadiet. As such it's no wonder that Diawara has somehow flown under the radar despite being part of national teams that were successful in youth competitions over the years, including last year's title team at the FIBA U20 EuroBasket.
This season, however, Diawara has entered NBA radars after a productive campaign in the French first division for Cholet, where he showed a mix of size, strength, open-court athleticism, and potential as a perimeter defender.
With his physical profile, ability to score in transition, and perimeter defense, it's easy to envision Diawara continuing to make an impact at the professional level in the future.
Noa Essengue - France
POWER FORWARD
Birth Date: December 18, 2006 (18 years old) Height: 2.08m (6ft 10in) Club: Ratiopharm Ulm (GER)
After one year of alternating between Ulm's junior and senior teams, Essengue established himself as a full-time senior squad player this year and provided an immediate impact for his team. The French forward averaged 10.7 points and 5.5 rebounds during the 2024–25 season and raised his draft stock immensely, not just with his statistical productivity, but also with his film. Essengue possesses an elite combination of size and mobility, which has allowed him to make an impact as a versatile defender and made him virtually unstoppable for opponents in the open court.
Still only 18 years old, Essengue will be one of the youngest players in the draft, and his combination of elite tools, productivity, and high-level experience at his age more than justifies why he's projected as one of the top international players available in this draft.
Vladislav Goldin
CENTER
Birth Date: May 12, 2001 (24 years old) Height: 2.13m (7ft 0in) Club: Michigan Wolverines (USA - NCAA)
The 24-year-old Goldin will be one of the oldest players in the draft, but also one of the most experienced. After playing limited minutes as a freshman for Texas Tech, he transferred to Florida Atlantic, where he made an instant impact by becoming a key player in the Owls' first-ever Final Four run in the NCAA tournament during his second season with the team. Goldin followed FAU's coach Dusty May to Michigan for his final season of college eligibility, and the improved level of competition of the Big Ten didn't faze the towering big man, who was able to provide dominant rebounding, efficient interior scoring, and a much-needed presence in the paint for the Wolverines.
Goldin might be considered a finished product at his age, but his size and productivity could be coveted by any NBA team needing instant impact at the center position.
Hugo Gonzalez - Spain
FORWARD
Birth Date: February 5, 2006 (19 years old) Height: 1.99m (6ft 6in) Club: Real Madrid (ESP) Gonzalez entered the season as one of the most hyped international prospects in the draft, but his first season as a full-time player for the senior squad of Real Madrid was not without hiccups. The Spanish wing averaged just over 10 minutes per game but still found a way to make an impact for Madrid with his versatile defense, slashing ability, and relentless motor on both ends of the floor.
Gonzalez, who made his debut for the senior national team during the FIBA EuroBasket Qualifiers this season, is seen as one of the key pieces in the future of the Spanish national team and could be valuable for an NBA team with his athleticism, versatility, and two-way impact.
Kasparas Jakucionis - Lithuania
FORWARD
Birth Date: May 29, 2006 (19 years old) Height: 1.95m (6ft 5in) Club: Illinois Fighting Illini (USA - NCAA)
Jakucionis spent most of his formative years as one of the brightest stars in Barcelona's youth squads, where he developed into one of the top young guards in Europe. His decision to take the college route ahead of the 2024–25 season proved to be a smart one, as he made a strong impression very quickly and rose up draft boards with his play for Illinois. The Lithuanian guard is a masterful pick-and-roll playmaker who possesses elite size for the position and can also call his own number with his ability to hit pull-up jumpers.
Jakucionis is projected to be a top-20 pick in the draft and could be the future at the point guard position for the Lithuanian national team, which desperately needed more youth in the backcourt to complement its multiple young frontcourt stars.
Viktor Lakhin
CENTER
Birth Date: July 30, 2001 (23 years old) Height: 2.11m (6ft 11in) Club: Clemson Tigers (USA - NCAA)
After spending three seasons as a key player for the Cincinnati Bearcats, Lakhin transferred to Clemson for his final season of college eligibility, where he showed tremendous growth in his game. The 2.11m center improved his numbers across the board during the 2024–25 season, averaging 11.4 points and 6.4 rebounds per game, while recording career-best numbers in blocks per game and even showing the potential to stretch the floor, shooting 37.5% from three-point range.
Despite being one of the oldest players in the draft, Lakhin's combination of size, efficient interior finishing, impact as a rim protector, and potential as a shooter and playmaker for others makes him one of the most interesting bets in this year's draft.
Bogoljub Markovic - Serbia
CENTER
Birth Date: July 12, 2005 (19 years old) Height: 2.10m (6ft 11in) Club: Mega Basket (SRB)
The latest gem to come out of the Mega Basket mines, Markovic has been one of the standout prospects in Serbian basketball for several years. He had a breakout FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup in 2022 and was one of the key pieces in Serbia's FIBA U18 EuroBasket title in 2023, where he earned an All-Star Five nod. Markovic replicated his success at the junior levels during his first full season in the Adriatic League, where he was recently named the top young prospect in the league, after averaging 13.7 points and 6.8 rebounds per game for Mega.
Markovic possesses a unique profile as a 2.10m center who can make an impact with the ball in his hands on the perimeter, whether that is by hitting jumpshots, handling the ball, or finding open teammates—a rare profile that could certainly be enticing for NBA teams.
Igor Milicic - Poland
POWER FORWARD
Birth Date: August 27, 2002 (22 years old) Height: 2.07m (6ft 9in) Club: Tennessee Volunteers (USA - NCAA)
Born in Croatia, Milicic has developed into one of the top hopes for the Polish national team, having already gained experience in senior international competition during the Olympic and FIBA EuroBasket qualifiers. The Polish forward spent a couple of years as a key piece for the Charlotte 49ers before transferring to Tennessee ahead of his senior season, where he made an impact with his combination of 2.07m size, mobility, three-point shooting, and connective offense.
Milicic has had an impressive college career, and his profile as a power forward with solid positional size who can play both on and off the ball is one that could interest multiple professional teams, and will certainly pay dividends for the Polish national team over the next few years.
Yanic Konan Niederhauser - Switzerland
CENTER
Birth Date: March 14, 2003 (22 years old) Height: 2.11m (6ft 11in) Club: Penn State Nittany Lions (USA - NCAA)
Niederhauser is one of the biggest risers of the pre-draft process, after having impressed NBA teams with his elite physical tools and athleticism. Measured at 2.11m, and recording a tremendous 37-inch max vertical leap during the NBA Combine, Niederhauser has all the tools to thrive as an interior finisher and rim protector, which is exactly what he did during his final season at Penn State, where he averaged 12.9 points per game, shot 61.1% from the field, and recorded 2.3 blocks per game.
Niederhauser might not wow you with his perimeter skills, but he knows exactly what he's good at and performs his role at a high level. His skill set will be tremendously valuable both for NBA teams and for a Swiss national team still looking to return to FIBA EuroBasket for the first time since 1955.
Noah Penda - France
POWER FORWARD
Birth Date: January 7, 2005 (20 years old) Height: 2.01m (6ft 7in) Club: Le Mans Sarthe (FRA)
After two seasons developing in the second division of France with JA Vichy, 2024–25 was a breakthrough season for Penda. He was named to the All-Star Five at the FIBA U20 EuroBasket last summer, where he helped lead France to the title and then made the move to Le Mans, where he made an immediate impact for the team. Penda averaged 10.3 points and 5.5 rebounds in his debut season in France's top flight, earning the LNB Pro A Rising Star Award. The 20-year-old forward showed a versatile skill set, making an impact on both ends of the floor with his ability to finish plays around the basket, stretch the floor, and defend multiple positions.
With his combination of productivity and two-way impact, it's easy to see why Penda has been one of the risers of this draft cycle; he could definitely hear his name called in the first round of this year's NBA Draft.
Maxime Raynaud - France
CENTER
Birth Date: April 7, 2003 (22 years old) Height: 2.14m (7ft 0in) Club: Stanford Cardinal (USA - NCAA)
A former teammate of Victor Wembanyama in the Nanterre 92 junior squads, Raynaud took the college route and committed to Stanford. In his four seasons with the team, the French center became one of the most productive players in the college game, developing into a new-age big man who can dominate as a rebounder, rim protector, and interior finisher thanks to his elite size, but he's also capable of making an impact with his three-point shooting. This season, Raynaud went from potential floor-spacer to a legitimate threat from beyond the arc, converting 34.7 percent of his 193 three-point attempts — a massive volume for his size and offensive role.
With his combination of size and shooting ability, it's easy to envision Raynaud being coveted by multiple NBA teams, while also bringing additional depth to an already incredibly talented French national team frontcourt.
Ben Saraf - Israel
GUARD
Birth Date: April 14, 2006 (19 years old) Height: 1.98m (6ft 6in) Club: Ratiopharm Ulm (GER)
Saraf is a well-known name in international basketball. He broke through in 2022, earning an All-Star Five nod at the FIBA U16 EuroBasket and he improved upon that performance in 2024, when he was named MVP of the FIBA U18 EuroBasket after averaging 28.1 points per game in the tournament. After the event, Saraf moved to Germany and had a successful debut season for Ratiopharm Ulm, where his combination of size, crafty ball-handling, and secondary playmaking ability allowed him to develop into a key piece for the team.
Saraf has already made his debut with the senior national team during the FIBA EuroBasket Qualifiers and is expected not only to hear his name called in the first round of the NBA draft, but also to lead the next generation of Israeli basketball.
Max Shulga - Ukraine
GUARD
Birth Date: June 25, 2002 (22 years old) Height: 1.94m (6ft 4in) Club: VCU Rams (USA - NCAA)
Unlike many names on this list, Shulga wasn't an obvious NBA prospect immediately, and his breakout took time. An impressive run at the 2019 FIBA U16 EuroBasket Division B eventually led to offers from colleges and he committed to Utah State. After three years with the team, he transferred to VCU, where he would eventually be named as the Atlantic 10 Player of the Year and would start moving up draft boards.
Shulga's combination of three-point marksmanship, ability to make plays for teammates on the move, and defensive motor has turned the Ukrainian guard into a potential NBA prospect. With his country not qualifying for FIBA EuroBasket for the first time since 2009, Shulga's development at the professional level will be one to monitor, as Ukraine heads into the FIBA EuroBasket Qualifiers 2029 with an urgent need for the type of impact Shulga can provide.
Nolan Traore - France
POINT GUARD
Birth Date: May 28, 2006 (19 years old) Height: 1.91m (6ft 3in) Club: Saint Quentin (FRA)
After nearly half a decade of talented French frontcourt players entering the NBA draft and developing into impactful players in the league, the French national team has a clear need for young talent in the backcourt whose skill set can fit this new generation of greatness. Enter Nolan Traore, who is regarded as one of the best passers in the draft. The 1.91m floor general makes an impact with his decision-making and his creative passing ability, as he's able to make advanced reads and execute every pass in the book. He complements his pass-first profile with his quick ball-handling ability, which allows him to blow by opponents on the perimeter and get to the rim.
Traore already made his debut for the national team during the FIBA EuroBasket Qualifiers 2025 and should be a key piece as the primary playmaker for a talented generation of French basketball.
Amari Williams - Great Britain
CENTER
Birth Date: January 28, 2002 (23 years old) Height: 2.13m (7ft 0in) Club: Kentucky Wildcats (USA - NCAA)
Williams spent four years in the mid-major ranks with Drexel, developing into an impactful, bruising big man. He transferred to Kentucky for his final season of college eligibility and found similar success at the high-major level. Williams averaged 10.9 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 3.2 assists in his sole season with the Wildcats, where he provided a much-needed interior presence for the team. The 2.13m center possesses the strength, size, and physical power to finish plays around the basket, protect the rim, and rebound on both ends of the floor.
With his physical profile, Williams should be ready to make an impact from day one at the NBA level, and is expected to be a piece of the future for a British national team that may have found its long-term answer at center in him.
Danny Wolf - Israel
CENTER
Birth Date: May 5, 2004 (21 years old) Height: 2.10m (6ft 11in) Club: Michigan Wolverines (USA - NCAA)
Wolf had a breakout performance at the FIBA U20 EuroBasket 2023, where he led Israel to the Final, while earning an All-Star Five nod. He found similar success in his sophomore season at Yale, which earned him NBA looks ahead of the 2024 NBA Draft, but he ultimately decided to transfer to Michigan ahead of the 2024–25 season, where his play would put him in first-round conversations.
Wolf's profile is unique for someone his size, as he's able to handle the ball, make plays for teammates, and create his own shot from multiple levels of the floor in a way that few 2.10m players can, while also making his presence felt on the defensive end with his rim protection and prolific rebounding.
Israel could have two different players drafted in the first round of this year's draft, highlighting a bright future for the national team.
FIBA