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2019 NBA Mock Draft: March Madness is NBA Draft crazy season

By Brendon Kleen

JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA - MARCH 23: Tyler Herro #14 of the Kentucky Wildcats reacts as they take on the Wofford Terriers during the second half of the game in the second round of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Vystar Memorial Arena on March 23, 2019 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA - MARCH 23: Tyler Herro #14 of the Kentucky Wildcats reacts as they take on the Wofford Terriers during the second half of the game in the second round of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Vystar Memorial Arena on March 23, 2019 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) /
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BERLIN, GERMANY – MAY 14: Sekou Doumbouya, #14 of U18 Insep Paris during the Turkish Airlines Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament game U18 Mega Bemas Belgrade v U18 INSEP Paris at Sportforum on May 14, 2016 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Patrick Albertini/EB via Getty Images)
BERLIN, GERMANY – MAY 14: Sekou Doumbouya, #14 of U18 Insep Paris during the Turkish Airlines Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament game U18 Mega Bemas Belgrade v U18 INSEP Paris at Sportforum on May 14, 2016 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Patrick Albertini/EB via Getty Images) /

Limoges. Sekou Doumbouya. 13. player. 18. . F

It’s a wonder more international players don’t make the leap to the U.S. for college, especially ones in Doumbouya’s shoes. He rarely plays for CSP Limoges despite his energy clearly impacting the game when he steps on the court. Though he is one of the youngest players in the 2019 draft class, he’s able to leverage physical advantages over players several years his elder in the French Jeep Elite league. The same won’t be true in the NBA, but it would be in college basketball, and Doumbouya would get more of a chance to play there. Perhaps money and comfort keep these guys in Europe, but it’s a shame they don’t get a bigger opportunity at a young age.

However, there’s still plenty to like from the limited tape we have on Doumbouya. He has the perfect frame for a modern NBA forward — quick enough to keep up with smaller playmakers and big enough to fight in the post and rebound.

In the clip above, Doumbouya quickly reacts to the switch, backpedals to attach to the big man and becomes dead weight in the post. The opponent can’t move him at all despite — we can assume — not being freshly 18 years old. That type of functional defensive versatility will suit Doumbouya well in the NBA.

You could actually see the Celtics prizing Doumbouya and trying to keep him out of Anthony Davis negotiations. Guerschon Yabusele hasn’t worked out as they hope but the mold makes sense. Doumbouya is showing more at a younger age than Yabusele and would be a nice project for Brad Stevens and Boston.

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