Alex Sarr is expected to be a top-three selection in the 2024 NBA Draft. The 7-foot-tall French player declared himself selected for the draft on Friday.
Sarr, who will turn 19 this month, played last 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 are all the offensive highlights from Perth Wildcats big man Alex Sarr from 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 NBA today. “There has been a lot of growth in my game and as a person. I’m ready for the next step, so it was a no-brainer for me to declare for the draft. I’m grateful for the year I spent in the NBL with the Perth Wild Cats.”
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 taking players off the dribble. He is also an elite rim protector. In a draft considered completely open, Sarr has been a name consistently projected at the top.
Last September, Sarr began looking like No. 1 material for NBA scouts in two games against the G League Ignite in Las Vegas, according to Jonathan Givony of ESPN. He averaged 21.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and six blocks, in addition to showing a long-range shooting touch and driving the ball hard to the basket.
In addition to his 7-foot height, Sarr also sports a 7-foot wingspan. These traits, along with his athleticism, have NBA teams excited about his ability as a rim protector and defender. At 205 pounds, his physique is light for the NBA. But the performances of newcomers Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren this season have shown that lanky, athletic players can make an impact without being overpowered.
Sarr’s older brother, Olivier, played the last three seasons for the Oklahoma City Thunder.
After two seasons with Real Madrid’s cadet youth team in Spain, Sarr played in the United States in the Overtime Elite league. In his second season with YNG Dreamerz he averaged 11.1 points and 6.5 rebounds in 25 minutes per game.
Sarr was among several prospects who declared for the 2024 draft on Friday, including UConn center Donovan Clingan and Duke stars Kyle Filipowski and Jared McCain.
The 2024 NBA Draft will be held June 26-27 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. The NBA Draft lottery to determine which team will receive the No. 1 overall pick will take place on May 16. The Detroit Pistons, Washington Wizards and Charlotte Hornets have the best chances of winning this selection.
