NBA draft: Jeremy Sochan represents Britain in 2022 class, leads international lottery leaderboard

Jeremy Sochan will fly the British flag in the 2022 NBA draft, and most draft analysts say he is the lottery’s choice.

His legacy is complex. Born into a Polish mother’s family with an American father, he plays for the Polish national team and was born in Oklahoma.

He then moved to England at the age of two and has lived there most of his life, mainly in Milton Keynes. He aptly describes himself as a “world citizen”, but his love for the game began here in the United Kingdom.

“I think it could actually be my grandfather, he handed me a basketball, but it’s always been around me,” Sochan said. “My father played, my mother played, so it has always been there.

“It definitely started in England. I think it was about 13 when I got serious about it. I had to give up football and just focus on basketball and then I knew I had a chance.”

Now he is more than an opportunity, he is at the top of joining the world’s biggest league and can’t wait for an opportunity. He is by no means a finished article, but he is ready for the next step. In his lonely season in Baylor Associated Press Journalist Dave Sketta wrote that “the nation may not be a better defender than Sochan,” given his athletic skills with a 6’9-inch frame that allows him to defend anyone from scorers to players.

The prospect of the lottery scored an average of 9.2 points and 6.4 rebounds for Bears and only turned 19 last month. He has trained for the Oklahoma City Thunder – the team he started following when they played in Manchester in 2013 – as well as for the San Antonio Spurs, New Orleans Pelicans, Washington Wizards, Sacramento Kings and Cleveland Cavaliers. He also had a zoom call with Indiana Pacers after he was out of training due to travel problems.

The teenager speaks with a friendly affirmation Sky Sports and compiled media for pre-draft conversation. He is certainly not deterred from following in the footsteps of the international greats who have represented such a reputable league. As a person with a particularly diverse background, he feels this is right for him and is looking forward to building on the next level.

“I think it means so much to me,” Sochan said. “I think it’s really exciting. There is no one else from England or Poland. So I feel like I just want to connect these communities and be an inspiration and presence that is exciting for me and I think I can help others and I am very excited to be able to do things in these countries as well. “

Jeremy Sochan’s profile

Strenghts: Sochan’s physical tools are off the leaderboard, 6’9 inches and 230 pounds. He has a long extension of the wings, which makes him a dynamic defender both on the perimeter and on the post, and his ability to jump makes a strong contribution to the tables. He has an evolving aftermath and he plays with energy.

Concern: Sochan has the ability to take over the games, but he has not yet demonstrated this killer instinct in a team that is forced to play fast due to injuries. He also needs to improve his grip if he wants to become a truly free-to-play player, and his outfield (29.6 percent 3-point arc) and free throws (58.9 percent) need work.

Select projection: Among most people, Sochan’s push is seen to fall in the 10-15 range of the lottery, but it can either rise or fall depending on whether the teams are impressed with his immediate translation, while the attack may take a little longer. In either case, it seems more than likely that Britain will qualify for the first round of the 2022 NBA draft.

Additional best international prospects

Ousmane Dieng In France, he moved to Australia to hone his skills for the season. Nikola Jovic stayed at home in Serbia.

However, both should make it to the NBA as they are among the best international prospects for Thursday night’s draw.

Both are versatile 6’10-inch wings that only recently turned 19 after the first professional season.

Dieng played for the New Zealand Breakers in the Australian Basketball League as part of the Next Stars program, which has become a coverage area for the NBA prospects. Jovic was voted ABA’s best potential after his first full season at Belgrade’s Mega club, which produced NBA reigning MVP Nikola Jokic – and the game bears a resemblance to his Serb and league MVP.

Nikola Jovic’s profile

Strenghts: A versatile scorer with good looks and playing skills. He averaged 11.7 points this season, took 4.4 rebounds and 3.4 rebounds, and scored a three-point throw of 36.5 percent.

Jovic told reporters he has trained for the Houston Rockets and the San Antonio Spurs – as of Monday, both teams had three first-round selections – the Denver Nuggets (21st and 30th), the Chicago Bulls (No. 18), and the Minnesota Timberwolves. (No. 19) and Milwaukee Bucks (Option 24). He also planned to train with the Miami Heat, who has the 27th choice, and the champion Golden State Warriors (No. 28).

“My basketball IQ is really good, I’m very good at hitting, including feeding. These are things I can translate into the NBA right away,” Jovic said.

Concern: Jovic doesn’t have an explosive first step. Starting at a weight of 200 pounds for the season, there were also concerns about his strength, but he has accumulated and now weighs 224 pounds.

“I’m working on my whole body. Nuclear stability is very important to me,” said Jovic, who turned 19 this month.

Rafael Barlowe, director of NBA Big Board Scouting, said Jovic was “too average a defender” and said the right fit was crucial: corner closed. “

Ousmane Dieng’s profile

The skinny Frenchman recovered from a slow start in Australia to show how he could be a potential lottery.

Strenghts: Perimeter skills, game potential, can defend multiple positions. He had an average of 8.9 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.1 assists. His three-point throw was early in the single, but after the last 12 games of the season, it was 35 percent.

“I just had to find my rhythm and keep working on my game,” he said.

Dieng worked with “many” teams, but declined to name them.

“I fit into any team because I’m quite versatile, so I can do whatever the coach wants,” he said. “I’m a pretty hard worker and very versatile, with good eyesight and I can do anything on the floor.”

Concern: Shooting consistency and frame. He has to add wholesale. Weighing 215 pounds, he is about 10 pounds heavier than at the beginning of the season when he sometimes looked lost.

“The gap between the French Third Division and the NBL is really big. Everything is faster and everything is more physical,” he said, adding that playing among former NBA players was “really good” for him.

Other internationals with no US experience

– Ismael Kamagate: 6’11-inch 230-woman Paris Basket Center. The 21-year-old Frenchman averaged 11.8 points in the game, taking 6.3 rebounds and 1.5 blocks. In the game with Roanne, he rejected nine throws. French league star player.

– Khalifa Diop: The last Senegalese man, the 7’1-inch 240-pound center of Gran Canaria, Spain. He had an average of 6.1 points, 4.2 rebounds and 0.8 blocks per game.

– Hugo Besson: The 21-year-old shooting defender played with Dieng in New Zealand Breakers. The 6’4-inch Frenchman averaged 13.9 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.5 assists. The 3-point throw hit 30.8 percent.

– Gabriele Procida: Athletic 6-7 Italian who shot in favor of Bologna behind the arc 38.3 percent.

In 2023, someone special is waiting for him

Victor Wembanyama, a 7’3-inch Frenchman, may have been the best choice this year – maybe last year. The 18-year-old will finally get into the game in 2023.

With its size and skills – ball handling, shooting, rim protection – Wembanyama is considered a talent of the generation. He scored 22 points, eight table balls and eight blocks in the finals of the FIBA ​​up to 19-year-old World Championships last July. He plays for Tony Parker’s French team ASVEL.

Barlowe said: “If he maximizes all his gifts, he could easily become one of the best players of his generation.”

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