#19 Noa Essengue
6'10 | Forward | Ratiopharm Ulm | 12/18/2006
Cerebro Player Profile: Noa Essengue
Big Board Rankings (@ twitter , rank ):
(@ the_nbagell , 19) (@ calebmueller23 , 15) (@ 12jmendel , NR) (@ corbannba , 21)
(@ gamebreaknow, 14 ) ( @ onballcreator , 20) ( @ hoopshound5 , 23)
(@ H00PSDisciple , 12) ( @ sheedinATL , 9) ( @ onlyonepodcastt , 20) ( @ CP3_777 , 10)
(@ KoeselNate , 32)
Evaluation by: @Calebmueller23
Another lanky prospect from France, it may seem to the uneducated eye that these guys are a dime a dozen.
Although there is something to the idea that the flurry of French prospects coming into the NBA is a product of Victor Wembanyama and other overseas generational talents, I find the cause is almost solely the depth and quality of the prospects being evaluated. It may be a product of Wemby or others that we are finding year over year before they reach draft eligibility. So, those who maybe haven’t seen Noa wouldn’t be surprised to hear that he has a ton of size, length, and upside. Noa also can back up any hype placed on his name due to nationality and draft board placement. At 6’10 with great mobility and raw intangibles. On offense, he has a great ability to perceive himself in relation to others. He consistently finds quality positioning in the dunker's spot or the corner, finishing plays at a high clip.
https://videopress.com/v/N4JnLikH?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&autoPlay=true&loop=true&muted=true&persistVolume=false&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=true
He also has a much-improved handle, leading to more playmaking opportunities and a continued proficiency at taking care of the ball. I am a big fan of his long-term investment in this area of his game. He has slowly gotten more comfortable and ambitious in the halfcourt, and I’m here for it. I am also a huge fan of his shot. His release is pretty smooth and compact for a lanky 6’10. He shoots it well enough off the catch to be excited about the progression of future consistency. Since joining Ratiopharm Ulm, he has shot 8 for 25 from deep across 12 games, including a 3 for 6 showing against the Portland Trail Blazers in the preseason of the NBA. It is definitely an area of his game to monitor, while on the interior, Essengue presents capable offensive rebounding with a good motor and size. But he is even more exciting when you project him in the short role of someone who can shoot floaters, develop counters, and dish to open shooters. I will be interested to see how he grows as a finisher, in U18s he finished at over a 65% rate, converting on 14 of 15 dunk attempts, highlighting his ability to find easy looks around the rim and convert. Pairing that with his touch, he is a solid offensive prospect.
As he grows into his frame, I am excited to see more finesse finishes and footwork as he is able to take more contact. I think he has a little bit to go in terms of dominant rim moves, but he has the raw tools and skillset to develop into someone special with the basketball in his hands.
https://videopress.com/v/KfZjNMo9?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&autoPlay=true&loop=true&muted=true&persistVolume=false&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=true
Defensively, Noa projects extremely well as an impact player immediately. He can move his feet very naturally at nearly 6'10, and he knows how to navigate well. Needs to improve his strength and physicality in the paint, but he can easily rise up to swat away futile attempts at the rim. He also plays quite well in lanes, he finds tons of easy steals by just staying aggressive. As he continues to develop, we hope he can add to his rebounding and overall paint presence. At this point, I would take him with the confidence that his defensive ability, similar to his game on O, will develop rapidly at the NBA level. He has no ceiling and has conistenly improved due to his irreplaceable motor. I really buy this kids body of work.
https://videopress.com/v/bfXVcJDq?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&autoPlay=true&loop=true&muted=true&persistVolume=false&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=true
Essengue’s eval is a culmination of the French draft prospects we have seen enter the NBA in recent memory. He has the size and positional versatility of Risacher and Salaun, the functionality of Dadiet, and the raw excitement around the upside of Wemby. Although he will not reach those ‘heights’ as a player, he has the potential to deliver that type of lineup impact to a front court. AND due to his versatility as a role player, he can still return lottery level outcomes even if he isn't a star. That's the beauty of a team sport. He has had big games against big names, so it should not shock anyone if this is one of the biggest late risers.