Alex Sarr, potential No. 1 pick, declares for 2024 NBA draft

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PERTH, AUSTRALIA – MARCH 13: Alex Sarr of the Wildcats looks on while warming up before game three of the NBL semifinal series between Perth Wildcats and Tasmania Jackjumpers at RAC Arena, on March 13, 2024, in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

Alex Sarr is expected to be the among the top three selections in the 2024 NBA Draft. The 7-foot-1 French basketball prospect declared for the draft on Friday.

Sarr, who will turn 19 this month, played this past season in the Australian National Basketball League. He averaged 9.4 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.3 blocks while shooting 30 percent from three-point range in 17 minutes per game for the Perth Wildcats.

Here’s the full offensive highlights of Perth Wildcats big man Alex Sarr in his last game, where he finished with 15 points on 6/8 FG, 1/2 3P and 2/2 FT in just 16 minutes. pic.twitter.com/nmsTca00nh

— Francesco Semprucci (@fra_sempru) December 1, 2023

“I had a great year playing professional basketball in the NBL,” Sarr said on ESPN’s NBA Today. “There was a lot of growth in my game and as a person. I’m ready for the next step, so it was obvious for me to declare for the draft. I’m grateful for the year I spent in the NBL with the Perth Wildcats.”

Sarr is projected to be the No. 1 overall selection in Krysten Peek’s latest NBA mock draft for Yahoo Sports:

The versatile center really showed improvement in his footwork off the block and with taking players off the dribble. He’s also an elite rim protector. In a draft that is considered wide open, Sarr has been a name consistently projected at the top.

Last September, Sarr began to look like No. 1 material for NBA scouts in two games against G League Ignite in Las Vegas, according to ESPN’s Jonathan Givony. He averaged 21.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and six blocks, while also showing a long-range shooting touch and taking the ball strong to the basket.

In addition to his 7-foot-1 height, Sarr also sports a 7-foot-4 wingspan. Those features, along with his athleticism, has NBA teams excited about his ability as a rim protector and defender. At 205 pounds, his physique is slight for the NBA. But the performances…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/alex-sarr-potential-no-1-pick-declares-for-2024-nba-draft-211742040.html

Author : Yahoo Sports

Publish date : 2024-04-12 21:17:42

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