Noa Essengue, an 18-year-old forward originally from France, has been turning heads as he gears up to enter the 2025 NBA draft. One last detail — Essengue, like most of his teammates, stands 6-foot-10. He now plays for ratiopharm Ulm, one of the best teams in Germany’s Basketball Bundesliga (BBL). Based on his elite athleticism and play, Jones is expected to be a first-day selection, likely a top-20 pick in this year’s draft.
Essengue has been a difference-maker for ratiopharm Ulm the last two years. He’s played 43 games this year—that’s all. He averages 10.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, and adds 1.0 steal per game. His true shooting percentage, which accounts for three point shooting and free throws, is an amazing 72%. Essengue has been a standout in the EuroCup during his time with the team. His leadership and production were instrumental in leading Ulm to a franchise-record 2nd place regular season finish in the BBL.
With the playoffs looming, Essengue’s doing his best to put his head down, play hard and win, all while keeping one eye on the NBA draft. He knows this is a pivotal period in his young career and is determined to show what kind of player he could be in the future.
“I want to be a guy who can do everything on the court. I watch a lot of Kevin Durant, Brandon Ingram, and Kawhi Leonard, players that can dribble, pass, shoot, and defend,” said Essengue, indicating his desire to emulate the versatility of these NBA stars.
“As you’d expect given what he’s been through, his path to professional basketball has been deliberately mapped out. “Coming to Ulm was the best decision I could have made for my career,” he stated, reflecting on the positive impact of his experience in Germany.
Essengue’s No. 17 rank as a 2024 draft prospect by ESPN is an indication of how quickly his reputation has spread through the basketball world. His overall production and play style has made him an intriguing prospect for the NBA among scouts and analysts.
The young forward is fine-tuning his skills and adjusting to high-level competition. As he perseveres and remains committed to realizing his life-long dream. “Since I was a kid, it’s been my dream to get drafted by an NBA team,” Essengue shared, expressing his aspirations for the future.
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