The 2016 NBA Draft's early entry date has come and gone, and it looks like the solid international class of prospects is here to stay.
Dragan Bender, Ante Zizic, Furkan Korkmaz, Ivica Zubac, and Timothe Luwawu have all decided to keep their names in the 2016 NBA Draft, according to tweets from their agents. All five of those players are widely expected around the league to go in the first round, helping to buoy a weak class of domestic prospects from college hoops and creating depth in the draft.
Here's a quick rundown on all of the decisions made today by international NBA prospects, and a quick skinny on their game.
Dragan Bender | No. 3 on CBS Sports NBA Draft Big Board | F | Croatia -- IN
The rundown: Bender's choice was a relatively easy one. He could basically assure himself of going in the top 10 in this draft, or have to jockey for position in 2017 with the likes of a far deeper class of talent in a loaded selection process. Given his situation at Maccabi Tel Aviv, where he only played 13 minutes per game this year, it would have been risky to take that chance. He'll go somewhere between No. 3 and No. 10 on June 23.
The skinny: Bender is still a bit of a project, but he has potential to be an All-Star. Few true 7-footers have the ability to move their feet on the perimeter like Bender can, giving him tremendous defensive potential in the pick-and-roll-heavy, switch-heavy NBA. He also can really knock down shots from the outside, and has tremendous basketball IQ in terms of his passing and movement away from the ball. His body still has a long way to mature, and his athletic explosiveness is in question, but it would be a massive surprise if Bender doesn't at least carve out a role as a terrific role player at the next level -- with potential for more.
Ante Zizic | No. 14 | C | Croatia -- IN
The rundown: It's arguable that no prospect helped their draft stock more than Zizic this season. The 6-11 center went from a well-regarded player in what is considered to be a golden generation for Croatian basketball youth to one of the stars of all European basketball at just 19 years old. Given that momentum, it made a lot of sense for him to ride that all the way to the NBA Draft as one of the most productive 19 year olds in the Adriatic League's history. He'll be selected somewhere around the No. 12 through No. 25 spots.
The skinny: Zizic averaged 14.4 points and 8.5 rebounds in all competition this season -- including the Croatian league, Adriatic League, and Eurocup. He's a high-motor, high-energy big man who has a 7-3 wingspan plus terrific basketball IQ. He's a good athlete who can rise up and dunk, and he has really good touch around the rim when finishing passes from guards. He's smart enough in the pick-and-roll to at least dissuade penetration from European guards, but it's a question as to whether or not that will translate fully. He's also not a guy that's going to create much for himself, although that's also becoming less of a priority for the center position in the NBA. Zizic's potential would seem to be that of a starting NBA center and elite role player if things go right.
Timothe Luwawu | No. 15 | G/F | France -- IN
The rundown: Luwawu's decision was actually a relatively interesting one for he and super agent Misko Raznatovic -- who represents four of the five top prospects in this international class -- although it seems like it was a foregone conclusion given that Luwawu is already in New York. Luwawu's stock is all over the board right now. Some teams really like him as high as the end of the lottery. Others think he's more of a late first, early second round pick. I think Luwawu goes anywhere from No. 12 to No. 30. My read is that he ends up more toward the end of the top 20 if you made me nail that down a bit further, but this is easily the most difficult situation to project as far as international players this season.
The skinny: The reason for his volatile stock is obvious in part due to his game. Luwawu is a 6-7 wing who took a major leap forward this year by moving from Antibes in France to Mega Leks in the Adriatic League. As opposed to last year when he was mostly known as a potential 3-and-D player, Luwawu made strides this year in his ball-handling ability and skill creating offense for himself and others. Opponents of his game though question whether or not he'll ever grow enough into his frame to competently defend 3s and switch onto 4s, and whether or not his shooting will translate as he's struggled from most areas of the floor this season, especially in terms of consistency. If the shooting translates, he'll be a high-end role player. If it doesn't, his energy should at least allow him to have a bench role in the NBA.
Furkan Korkmaz | No. 19 | G/F | Turkey -- IN
The rundown: As it was reported by DraftExpress' Jonathan Givony, Korkmaz was only going to stay in the draft if he could get assurances that he'd be picked either in or around the lottery. After all, the 6-7 Turkish wing is one of the youngest players in this draft class, and could be in for a nice increase in role at Anadolu Efes next season. It appears that Korkmaz has indeed gotten the assurances he was looking for. I'd anticipate he goes anywhere from No. 10 to No. 19. It would be a pretty big shock if he fell beyond the Nuggets third first rounder, as they scout Europe as well as any team in the league and know what he could bring in the future. He should go higher than that though, as his situation in Turkey is fluid and the team that selects him could have options in terms of whether or not to bring him over right away with his $2 million buyout, or let him continue to develop overseas.
The skinny: Korkmaz's game is still in its infancy stages, but there's a lot to like. He's a bouncy athlete who can get up off of both on or two feet, plus he moves fluidly. He's also a tremendous shooter from deep, and can really pass the ball from the wing. The questions are about his body and ability to handle the ball. Right now, Korkmaz is still just a straight line driver for the most part. Plus, his frame is really quite frail. These are absolutely things that you can improve with age, but they definitely create a set of questions that could push him more toward the back-half of the lottery or just outside of it.
Ivica Zubac | No. 21 | C | Croatia -- IN
The rundown: Zubac had a rough year this season. He started his season at Cibona in Zagreb, but then left after a problem with payment. He went crosstown to Cedetiva, but wasn't able to play for them as the Croatian basketball federation did not allow it. He ended up heading to Mega Leks, where he's performed well at the end of the year and shown what his potential is for NBA teams. I'd expect that he goes anywhere from No. 17 to No. 27.
The skinny: Simply put, Zubac is huge. At 7-1 with a long wingspan and a tremendous frame, Zubac is powerful but also fluidly moves well. Plenty of people around the league believe that while Zizic is clearly the better player right now, Zubac has more upside due to the way he's able to move and score as a big-bodied center. He also rebounds well, can score in the pick-and-roll, and can even create a bit of offense out of the post. The problems for him rest in the fact that his perimeter game is not defined in any capacity yet. That impacts him defensively, where he doesn't know how to defend outside yet and isn't a great rim protector inside. He's mobile for a huge body, but he's more nimble than actually fluid right now. Still, he's a lottery ticket worth taking a chance on and trying to develop.
Juan Hernangomez | No. 28 | F | Spain -- IN
The rundown: Just like his brother Willy last season, Hernangomez helped his draft stock in a big way in 2016. He ended up winning the ACB's young player of the year award, showcasing a lot of interesting skill in the process that could translate well to the NBA. He's considered solidly in the first round, anywhere from No. 20 to No. 30. Pretty easy call for him to keep his name in as a 1995 birth.
The skinny: Hernangomez is a stretch-four who can hit shots from distance, attack closeouts, and rebound the ball. He has a Ryan Anderson-ish game that includes solid feel for the game, but not much in the way of creating for others and a lot of questions defensively. Is he going to be mobile enough to defend on the perimeter at the next level? That's the major question at this stage. If he can continue to develop on that end of the floor, he has potential to become a really nice NBA role player that spaces the floor for offenses.
Paul Zipser | No. 31 | F | Germany -- AUTO ELIGIBLE
The rundown: Zipser is auto-eligible for the 2016 draft as a 1994 birth. He's coming off of a terrific performance at Adidas Eurocamp that saw him win MVP of the event. He's likely to fall somewhere in the No. 25 to No. 45 range of the upcoming NBA Draft.
The skinny: The 6-8 German forward is an explosive athlete who can rise up and finish above the rim as well as attack closeouts with a pretty quick first step, especially when given the baseline. He's also a really strong, versatile defender who uses his body well and always gives effort on that end. Oh, plus he hit over 40 percent of his 3s this season for Bayern in all competition. Zipser has a great chance to become an awesome NBA role player of the 3-and-D variety, even if he does it from the combo forward position as opposed to as a true wing -- where most of those players end up playing.
Guerschon Yabusele | No. 37 | PF | France -- IN
The rundown: Yabusele has been on the radar of scouts, but took a massive leap forward over the last year, starting at the Adidas Eurocamp in 2015. Early in the year he was considered a late second rounder to watch, but after a great year in the French Pro A league where he averaged 11.5 points and near seven rounds per contest he's now considered a potential sleeper to go in the late first round. He will almost certainly be snatched up by pick No. 40.
The skinny: Yabusele is a rugged, tough power forward at 275 pounds with low body fat percentages. He's strong as an ox inside and clears out position like it's nobody's business, but is also versatile with his skill set and can step away and knock down 3s beyond the international line. The key here is his defensive skill. He's a bit of a plodder, and despite solid length he doesn't do much to protect the rim. I don't really see a first round pick here personally, but there are plenty around the league who do so don't be surprised if he hears his name called there.
Petr Cornelie | No. 38 | F | France -- IN
The rundown: A sweet-shooting French big, Cornelie has decided to stay in the draft following a tough decision process. On one hand, he apparently did not perform as well as you would hope at Adidas Eurocamp to create momentum. But he's a 1995 birth, a solid prospect, and he's healthy, meaning someone will take a chance on him at some point. He could go anywhere from No. 25 to No. 50.
The skinny: Cornelie is a stretch big man at 6-11 who hit over 40 percent of his 3s this season for Le Mans in the French Pro A league. Plus, he's a good athlete who moves especially well for his size, especially in transition. The thing is though, that's his skill set in a nut shell at this stage. He isn't a great passer, has average length that doesn't show up super well on defense, and his body still has miles of work to go on it to make it at the next level. He's definitely a long-term prospect at this stage, but in the late first or early second round range that's often not the worst thing.
Isaia Cordinier | No. 39 | G | France -- IN
The rundown: Cordinier has been considered one of the better prospects in France for a while, and expected to use the Nike Hoop Summit as a jumping point for his stock to skyrocket into the first round. Unfortunately that ended up not being the case, as the entire World team this year struggled for a multitude of reasons. That left Cordinier in a position where he needed to show in workouts that he could do enough to get picked at a reasonable spot, and indeed seems to have done that at this stage. I'd put Cordinier stock anywhere from No. 25 to No. 45 right now.
The skinny: Cordinier is a bouncy 6-5 guard who can attack the rim and knock down 3s from distance. He also made strides this season in France with his ball-handling ability, and skill playing in the pick-and-roll. He's definitely a bit of a project at this stage due to his slight frame and still-developing attacking skills, but there are plenty of people in France who believe him to be a better long-term prospect than even the aforementioned Luwawu. This could be a nice buy-low candidate if a team gets him in the second round.
Rade Zagorac | No. 40 | F | Serbia -- IN
The rundown: Zagorac was injured for the first few months of the season, but came back with a vengeance late to help lead Mega Leks on a terrific run in the Serbian League. The 6-8 forward was arguably the best player late in the year on a team with multiple first round prospects, which says a lot about where his game is. He'll go anywhere from the late first to the mid second round.
The skinny: Zagorac is a creative player with terrific ball-handling ability for his size to pair with strong passing acumen and a good shot from distance. He can pull up and score, or he can hit shots off of the catch. Offensively, he's a really nice all-around player, as showcased by his 13.9 points, six rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. He's also a defensive player that gives a lot in the way of effort, and that shines through with his two steals per game to create transition opportunities. There are questions though as to whether or not he's quick or strong enough to make an impact on that end of the floor though. Overall, I'm in on Zagorac as an NBA player. Motor and skill go a long way, and Zagorac has that.
Zhou Qi | No. 46 | C | China -- IN
The rundown: Zhou is another prospect whose stock is extremely difficult to pin down at this time. On one hand, most people I've talked to around the league think he's a second round talent for reasons I'll get into in the next section. But obviously, the benefits to having an important Chinese player -- he's already a star in the CBA and on the national team -- on an NBA roster are commercially immense, and could factor into where he's selected. Oh, plus NBA teams are pretty concerned he's older than his listed age, throwing another wrench into things. There's also the matter of when he's coming over, which according to DraftExpress's Jonathan Givony will be in 2017. Could a team decide they would like to stash him? Tough to say right now. I'd say his stock is anywhere from No. 25 to No. 50.
The skinny: "The Skinny" is the opportune phrase for Zhou, as the center has maybe the most frail frame of any legitimate center prospect in a while. He's improved his strength, but it's still a way's away from being able to play in the NBA inside. His best skill is his shot-blocking ability, which isn't a surprise given that he has a 7-7 wingspan. He can also step away and shoot. The problem with him at the next level is going to be his decision making, as he does everything rather slowly at this stage. Can he start doing things more quickly? Can he rebound a bit better against strength? Will the jump shot translate? These are all tough questions, and it's worth mentioning that despite his great play within the CBA, he struggled at Hoop Summit in 2015. Basically, despite his solid production, he's still a bit of a question at the next level.
Georgios Papagiannis | No. 53 | C | Greece -- IN
The rundown: College basketball fans will remember the recruitment of Papagiannis as a big deal, as he was considering playing at schools like NC State and Kentucky before ultimately deciding to turn pro in Greece. It was a smart call, as he got a lot of experience playing against men this season for Panathinaikos that should help him well at the next level. It wouldn't be a complete shock if a team fell in love with his 7-2 frame and decided to select him in the first round, but my read is that he ends up being selected in the second.
The skinny: Papagiannis has long arms, great hands, and a great frame at center. His mobility is solid for a player his size, as he's a great weapon in the pick-and-roll due to the way he moves his feet as well as his penchant for catching just about everything around him. Plus, he defends the rim really well and rebounds it. The questions with Papagiannis have always been effort-related though. Will he put in the work to reach his potential? The talent here says he should go in the first round. But he needs to prove to teams that they can trust him to improve.
Mathias Lessort | No. 67 | PF | France -- OUT
The rundown: Lessort performed well in his pro day in Las Vegas, but was undecided as to whether or not he would stay in. It seems that he didn't get the feedback he was looking for. I'm of the opinion that he likely would have been selected in the draft had he stayed in. He'll be auto-eligible in 2017.
The skinny: Lessort is an athletic, raw, physical big man at 6-8 in the mold of a Jason Maxiell. He moves well in space, gets up and throws down dunks, and plays angry on the floor in a good way. He could eventually develop into a nice backup big man.
Andrey Desyatnikov | No. 74 | C | Russia -- AUTO ELIGIBLE
The rundown: As a 1994 birth, Desyatnikov is auto-eligible for the draft. Obviously, the height is going to get him looks as he's 7-foot-3. No one wants to miss out on the next Boban Marjanovic, so it wouldn't be a shock to see him drafted late in the second.
The skinny: He's a true big man at this stage that moves reasonably well for his size and can get up and dunk. He is at least a deterrent at the rim too due to his size. Still, given that he hasn't played a ton overseas, it's tough to see what he does well right now.
Alpha Kaba | No. 88 | PF | France -- OUT
The rundown: Kaba, also playing for Mega Leks this season, decided to withdraw. As a 1996 birth, he'll still have two more drafts that he could be a part of, making this not particularly surprising given his lack of playing time this season.
The skinny: He's an incredibly raw big man with long arms who can step away and shoot as well as block shots. He needs to improve his feel for the game though and generally just get better.
Gracin Bakumanya | No. 89 | C | Congo/France -- IN
The rundown: Bakumanya performed well in front of scouts at a pro day in Florida, and has decided to keep his name in. He'll be an interesting stash candidate in the second round. Given that he's 19, it seems likely he has some sort of promise.
The skinny: Bakumanya was a terrifically productive big man in Espoirs this season, the French junior league. He is an athletic center who can stretch the floor with his jumper at 6 -11. He's worth a stash from someone to see what happens.
Ognjen Jaramaz | No. 94 | G | Serbia -- OUT
The rundown: Jaramaz broke his leg in March and hasn't played since. He'll be auto-eligible in 2017, and he'll have a relatively good chance of being selected if he can improve his jump shot.
The skinny: Jaramaz is a highly athletic, quick, bouncy combo guard. He's a highlight waiting to happen, but he needs to improve as a shooter.
Marko Guduric | No. 95 | G/F | Serbia -- OUT
The rundown: Guduric, the MVP of the 2015 U-20 European Championships, decided to withdraw. He came on well late for Red Star, and could be a nice riser in the 2017 NBA Draft -- for which he will be auto eligible.
The skinny: Guduric is a tough lefty wing who can really knock down shots and do a lot of different things for his team. He doesn't yet have the skill with the ball to create a ton off of the dribble, but he's an extremely smart player who could turn into an NBA pick over the next year.
Diego Flaccadori | No. 96 | G | Italy -- OUT
The rundown: Flaccadori is a shooting guard that burst onto the scene last year at Adidas Eurocamp. He has a solid role in Italy, and could be a bit of a riser over the next year. But this time around there just wasn't quite enough interest.
The skinny: Flaccadori has a strange little game that relies on getting players off balance with something of an old-school game relying on fakes. He also can hit shots from all over the floor. The key will be his body. Once that comes along, he'll have a chance to get picked.
Axel Bouteille | No. 105 | G/F | France -- OUT
The rundown: Bouteille just didn't quite build enough momentum this season, playing an efficient but limited 14 minutes per game for Chalon in the French Pro A League. He may have been a very late selection in the 2016 draft, but he's better off returning and trying again as an auto-eligible in 2017.
The skinny: Bouteille is a scorer that's not a particularly strong athlete and doesn't quite have the length you look for from an NBA player at this stage. His ticket is becoming just an absolute knockdown shooter, something he has potential to do but has been somewhat inconsistent at thus far.
Moussa Diagne | No. 105 | C | Spain -- AUTO ELIGIBLE
The rundown: Diagne was a bit more out of the consciousness this season after moving to Barcelona, not playing as much there as he did at Fuelenbrada. Maybe a team takes a second round flier though, as Barcelona is obviously a well-scouted team overseas.
The skinny: Diagne is a defensive, rebounding prospect who might be able to convince a team that his athleticism is worth a flier on. But my guess is that it's more likely he's not good enough offensively to make it to the NBA.
Marius Grigonis | No. 125 | G/F | Lithuania -- AUTO ELIGIBLE
The rundown: Grigonis is an auto-eligible currently playing for Manresa in Spain. He'll have an outside chance to get picked.
The skinny: The 6-6 Lithuanian is a shot-maker, through and through. He's hit well over 40 percent of his 3s over the last three years. He just might not be athletic enough to play at the highest level.
Emircan Kosut | No. 129 | C | Turkey -- OUT
The rundown: Kosut has decided to withdraw from the draft after spending most of the season in the Turkish second league. He'll be auto-eligible in 2017.
The skinny: He is a 7-foot-plus big man who still needs to put on some strength and weight.
Kenan Sipahi | No. 132 | G | Turkey -- OUT
The rundown: Sipahi has just never quite been able to build upon the momentum that he had when he won the MVP at the European U-18 in 2013. A big part of that is that he hasn't been the same shooter since breaking his arm badly in 2014. He likely would have gone undrafted if he kept his name in.
The skinny: There was a time when Sipahi was almost assured to be selected in the NBA Draft eventually. But over the last three years, he's just never quite been able replicate his youth successes. He has solid court vision and can handle the ball, but his scoring ability has struggled over the course of that time. Maybe he can rebuild his stock. The basketball sense is there.
David Michineau | No. 137 | PG | France -- AUTO ELIGIBLE
The rundown: Michineau is an athletic, quick point guard who performed well at Adidas Eurocamp after a solid season in France. He'll move up in the next top-150 board, as I think there's a chance he gets drafted.
The skinny: Michineau is a good enough athlete to play in the NBA, and he has solid creativity. He needs to improve his jump shot though, and then also become a smarter player so as to limit turnovers.
Jordan Sakho | NR | F | Congo -- OUT
Adam Pechacek | NR | F | Czech Republic -- OUT
Metecan Birsen | NR | F | Turkey -- OUT
Top-150 still to decide:
Aleksandar Vezenkov, Bulgaria (No. 63)
Marko Arapovic, Croatia (No. 83)
Blaz Mesicek, Slovenia (No. 84)
Egemen Guven, Turkey (No. 87)
Nik Slavica, Croatia (No. 92)
Ilimane Diop, Spain (No. 101)
Ludde Hakanson, Sweden (No. 105)
Edin Atic, Bosnia (No. 113)
Youssoufa Fall, Senegal (No. 115)
Berk Ugurlu, Turkey (No. 131)
Romaric Belemene, Congo (No. 133)
