Latest news with #BenSaraf
USA Today
12 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Potential Nets 2025 NBA Draft pick Noa Essengue discusses leaving team
NEW YORK -- The Brooklyn Nets are running out of time when it comes to deciding who they will be taking in the 2025 NBA Draft that begins on Wednesday. Brooklyn has been projected by most outlets to take French forward Noa Essengue with the eighth overall pick in the Draft, but the pre-draft process also gave him a chance to explain what's going on. "It wasn't easy saying goodbye to all your friends at home, and specifically Ben Saraf," Essengue said to reporters on Tuesday as part of the pre-draft media availability that the NBA conducts every year. Heading into the Draft, there was a report from Donatas Urbonas of Basketnews that Essengue left his professional team, Ratiopharm Ulm of the BBL, that is still in the league Finals so that he could be part of the predraft process. "I mean, you know, that's always hard," Essengue continued while speaking about his decision to attend the Draft instead of continuing to play with Ratiopharm Ulm. "In one case, you can play the playoff final in your life, but you know, the drafts like really something special in your life for a basketball player. That's maybe gonna be like my best day of my life... That's my choice, and I know I trust my teammates. I know they can do the job." Essengue, 18, has helped his draft stock tremendously over the past couple of months with the way that he's played for Ratiopharm Ulm as the team is looking to win the German League Finals. While Essengue could have stayed to help the team win like his teammate Ben Saraf, who is projected to be a first-round pick, the 6-foot-10 forward decided to take in what's left of the NBA predraft process. "Yeah. I mean, we got a good impression," Essengue said when asked what his conversations with Brooklyn have been like given that he wasn't able to work out for any teams. "That was pretty cool, you know? Good feeling, nice people on the team. Nice people around me. So, that was pretty cool." Essengue could very well be wearing a Nets hat by the time the first round comes around on Wednesday.
USA Today
13-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Ben Saraf: Official draft combine measurements revealed for Israeli guard
Ben Saraf: Official draft combine measurements revealed for Israeli guard Potential first-round pick Ben Saraf reportedly completed his anthropometric measurement testing ahead of the 2025 NBA draft, according to Jon Chepkevich of DraftExpress. Saraf is averaging 12.4 points, 4.3 assists, 2.8 rebounds and 1.1 steals on 45.2% shooting from the field in 55 games this season with ratiopharm Ulm in the German League. He has registered five 20-point games, including a 20-point, seven-assist performance on May 24. The 6-foot-7 Israeli guard is still competing in the playoffs with ratiopharm Ulm, who face Bayern Munich in the finals. He had a break in action, allowing him to complete his required predraft testing before beginning the series on Sunday in Ulm. Saraf was the 2024 Israeli League Premier Rising Star after emerging as the best young player with his team, Elitzur Kiryat Ata. He was also the Israeli National League Rising Star and Sixth Man of the Year with Elitzur Netanya in 2023. The 19-year-old is highly touted as a prospect because of his scoring ability, playmaking and court vision. He dazzles with his passing and innate ability to make pinpoint, cross-court passes off drives and in pick-and-roll situations. Saraf is among several international prospects in the draft. He will arrive late in the United States and could even miss the draft on June 25-26 as he competes for a championship in Germany.
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Projected first-round pick Ben Saraf declares for 2025 NBA draft
Israeli guard Ben Saraf told ESPN on Friday that he will declare for the 2025 NBA draft after playing this season with ratiopharm Ulm in Germany. Saraf is averaging 12.3 points, 4.3 assists, 2.6 rebounds and 1.1 steals on 45.8% shooting from the field in 43 games this season across all competitions in the BBL and EuroCup. He has registered four 20-point games, including a season-high 24 points and five assists on April 6. Advertisement The 6-foot-6 standout was the 2024 Israeli League Premier Rising Star after emerging as the best young player with Elitzur Kiryat Ata. He was also the Israeli National League Rising Star and Sixth Man of the Year with Elitzur Netanya in 2023. Saraf is projected to be a mid-to-late first-round pick, given his scoring ability, playmaking and court vision. He dazzles with his passing and innate ability to make pinpoint, cross-court passes off drives and in pick-and-roll situations. The 19-year-old put himself on the radar with a tremendous showing last year in the FIBA U18 EuroBasket with Israel. He was named the Most Valuable Player, averaging 28.1 points, 5.3 assists, five rebounds, four steals and one block on 36.2% shooting from 3-point range. Advertisement Saraf will be a late arrival to the United States for the predraft process, with ratiopharm Ulm on track to qualify for the playoffs next month. He will likely have the opportunity to participate in a draft combine in June for prospects still playing with their international teams. The 2025 NBA draft will occur June 25-26 in New York City. This article originally appeared on Rookie Wire: NBA rumors: Projected first-round pick Ben Saraf declares for draft
USA Today
18-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Projected first-round pick Ben Saraf declares for 2025 NBA draft
Projected first-round pick Ben Saraf declares for 2025 NBA draft Israeli guard Ben Saraf told ESPN on Friday that he will declare for the 2025 NBA draft after playing this season with ratiopharm Ulm in Germany. Saraf is averaging 12.3 points, 4.3 assists, 2.6 rebounds and 1.1 steals on 45.8% shooting from the field in 43 games this season across all competitions in the BBL and EuroCup. He has registered four 20-point games, including a season-high 24 points and five assists on April 6. The 6-foot-6 standout was the 2024 Israeli League Premier Rising Star after emerging as the best young player with Elitzur Kiryat Ata. He was also the Israeli National League Rising Star and Sixth Man of the Year with Elitzur Netanya in 2023. Saraf is projected to be a mid-to-late first-round pick, given his scoring ability, playmaking and court vision. He dazzles with his passing and innate ability to make pinpoint, cross-court passes off drives and in pick-and-roll situations. The 19-year-old put himself on the radar with a tremendous showing last year in the FIBA U18 EuroBasket with Israel. He was named the Most Valuable Player, averaging 28.1 points, 5.3 assists, five rebounds, four steals and one block on 36.2% shooting from 3-point range. Saraf will be a late arrival to the United States for the predraft process, with ratiopharm Ulm on track to qualify for the playoffs next month. He will likely have the opportunity to participate in a draft combine in June for prospects still playing with their international teams. The 2025 NBA draft will occur June 25-26 in New York City.
Reuters
18-04-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Israeli PG Ben Saraf declares for NBA draft
April 18 - Projected first-round pick Ben Saraf of Israel announced Friday he is entering the 2025 NBA Draft. "This is the right time for me," he told ESPN. "After playing against the highest levels of competition in European basketball, I am ready and excited for the draft." The 6-foot-6 point guard is ranked as the No. 23 prospect in the draft pool by ESPN. Saraf, 19, is averaging 12.2 points and 4.3 assists in 41 games this season with Germany's ratiopharm Ulm. "We're working really well in Ulm," he told ESPN. "They aren't afraid to give a platform here to young players. They've put trust in us, and we've paid them back with wins. We're in second place in the BBL and hoping to win a trophy this season. The coaches and staff have helped me improve so much since I got here. It's been a win-win situation for everyone." Saraf burst onto the NBA radar last summer after earning MVP honors at the FIBA U18 EuroBasket, averaging 28.1 points, 5.3 assists, 5.0 rebounds and 4.0 steals for Israel. The NBA draft combine is taking place in Chicago from May 11-18. The draft will be held in New York from June 25-26. --Field Level Media
