The New Orleans Pelicans were Howard College’s practice to scout point guard Keziah Ekissi, per JUCO Scoop’s director of scouting Cody Hopkins.
The New Orleans Pelicans were in Big Spring, TX this afternoon for @HowardHoops practice to get a look at Ekissi. The 6’4 dynamic freshman from France was very impressive. The Hawks will be at the Mullens/Mitchell Jamboree this weekend, playing 3 games on Fri, Oct 11th… https://t.co/73tSyF68P6
— Cody Hopkins (@CoachCodyHop) October 9, 2024
Pelicans Scouting Potential French Draft Gem Keziah Ekissi
Listed at 6-foot-3 and 195 pounds, Ekissi is a quick and shifty ball-handler with a knack for getting the ball in the hoop.
🚨Meet the Hawks🚨
Keziah Ekissi (@EkissiKeziah)
6’3 • Guard • Saintes Maries De La Mer, France
Espoirs Cholet💥 High IQ Guard
💥 3-Level Scorer
💥 Pesky Defender@JUCOadvocate pic.twitter.com/Bbi08uSlqT— Howard College Men’s Basketball (@HowardHoops) August 26, 2024
A three-level scorer who can even finish above the rim, he’s truly an NBA-caliber player, competition level aside.
Potentially the most impressive prospect during @JUCOadvocate OK Juco Jamboree was 6’4 FR PG Keziah Ekissi from France @EkissiKeziah
The 6’4 guard led a talented Howard team in scoring for the majority of games and led most of the event in playmaking, while also showcasing… pic.twitter.com/WxhZzjzilU
— Arman Jovic (@PDTScouting) October 9, 2024
It remains to be seen where Ekissi will play next season though. Despite his commitment to Howard College, he’s received offers from Samford, UT Arlington, Tarleton State, Indiana State, Arizona State, and Oregon State as well.
Should Ekissi be looking to get maximum exposure, the Sun Devils may be the natural choice. To that point, Arizona State is currently led by Bobby Hurley, the older brother of UConn head coach Dan Hurley. They also have three alumni who are currently in the NBA, including Los Angeles Clippers star James Harden and Oklahoma City Thunder standout Lu Dort.
With that being said, Ekissi has a great foundation, but needs plenty of sharpening. He could be a one-and-done prospect regardless, especially with teams often being spellbound by potential. Nonetheless, expectations should be tempered unless he proves himself to be a can’t-miss prospect in 2024-25.
Depth, Potential, Modernization
If Ekissi lands with the Pelicans, he might shore up the thin point guard depth in the bayou.
Dejounte Murray, who came to the bayou in a splash offseason trade, looks every bit like their franchise point guard. Defensive dynamo Jose Alvarado is making the Pelicans look pretty smart for betting on him. There’s nobody behind them though, unless veteran playmaker Elfrid Payton makes the cut.
However, even if Payton is on the roster when the regular season begins, his future in New Orleans is cloudy. Do the Pelicans keep him on for one year while giving him an opportunity to stay long-term? At 30 years old, his best days may be behind him. So, how secure is his spot going to be if someone with more potential comes on board?
What if that player is Ekissi, whose brand of basketball is more aligned with the way point guards usually play the position now?
