NBA Draft Big Board 1.0: Cunningham, Mobley, Suggs, And The Best Of The Rest
By Evan Wheeler
21. Alperen Sengun, C, Turkey
Measurables: 6-foot-10, 240 pounds, 7-foot-0.5 wingspan
Class: International
Age: 18
Mike’s Ranking: 15
Evan’s Ranking: 29
Alperen Sengun adds to the depth of what should be a quality International crop of prospects in the 2021 class. People seem to be split on his projection as a pro, either buying into his intriguing offensive upside or seemingly being bullish on if he has the two-way potential worthy of a lottery selection. I’m not sure I would be comfortable using a lottery pick on Sengun if I were in an NBA front office, but the intrigue with his skill-set is undeniable.
He’s averaging 19.2 points, 9.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.7 blocks, and 1.3 steals per game this season for Besiktas of the Turkish Super League, numbers that at only 18-year-olds should catch the eyes of many franchises.
What he could potentially grow into on the offensive end of the floor would be worthy enough a first-round selection in my opinion, as I see Sengun’s pro projection being somewhere between Portland Trail Blazer center Jusuf Nurkic and Los Angeles Clippers center Ivica Zubac.
He’s got the size to be a bully in the post but has the skill with his footwork, ambidextrous finishing ability, and a face-up game that allows him to break down defenders with more than just bruising strength.
Sengun will need to continue to show growth as a playmaker and shooter offensively to reach his full potential at the next level, and he might be a defensive liability especially on switches against NBA guards. But I think he’s shown some promising moments as a shot-blocker and help defender that should validate the Turkish big man as a first-round talent.