European NBA Prospect Rankings: Winter 2016

10. Isaiah Hartenstein, PF, Zalgiris

2017 Draft Prospect

2016-2017 Stats: 3.6 points, 2.4 rebounds, 0.5 assists per game

Hartenstein is a first-round prospect for the 2017 Draft, and that has come primarily from performances in junior tournaments. He was one of the stars of the FIBA U18 championships last week, averaging 14.7 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game in Germany’s fourth-place finish. The competition showcased Hartenstein’s NBA-level abilities — he’s a brilliant passer for a big man, has a developing outside shot, and uses his athleticism to make plays on the defensive end.

However, his performance in these tournaments has been in stark contrast to his play at Zalgiris. Hartenstein has struggled with consistency in domestic play for Lithuania’s top squad, and has struggled to play at all in Euroleague, appearing in just two contests with the club. Conditioning appears to be a serious problem for Hartenstein, as does understanding of defensive schemes, where he can lose his man off the ball and struggle to rotate when called upon under the basket.

Hartenstein will be an enticing prospect for NBA teams to look at developing. Because of his athleticism and finesse game, he’s a player who could turn into a useful two-way center. But he also has several warts, and needs to work on getting past those before he’ll be able to contribute even at the European level. That’s why he’s down here at tenth on this list, despite likely having the third-highest potential of any European prospect.