The 2019 NBA Draft has been widely considered as a three-player class. That the talent drops off considerably following the expectation of Duke’s RJ Barrett being selected at #3. The talent level may well decrease after the top-three, but that doesn’t mean that there isn’t a host of useful, intriguing options to round out the lottery selections. One of those is forward Sekou Doumbouya, who, being born on 23 December 2000, is the youngest player in this year’s draft.
Playing his last season for Limoges CSP in France’s premier professional basketball league, the LNB Pro A, Doumbouya has caught plenty of attention over the past year. That attention has seen him compared to a host of current NBA stars, like Draymond Green, Paul George, and Pascal Siakam. Every year it seems that a European prospect emerges with significant hype. This year is no different.
The Beginnings
Doumbouya was born in Conakry, Guinea, and moved to France as a one-year-old. 11 years later, he was introduced to basketball by a friend and at 12-years-old, Doumbouya stood at an extraordinary 6-foot-7.
At age 14, he moved to the well-renowned INSEP sporting institute on the outskirts of Paris. That same institute produced Tony Parker, Evan Fournier, Boris Diaw, Clint Capela, and many more. Through his first season, he averaged 10.6 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 1.4 steals.
From this, the French-Guinean prospect began garnering more and more attention. Representing INSEP at the under-18 2015-16 Adidas Next Generation Tournament as one of the youngest players in the competition, Doumbouya averaged 14.0 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 3.0 assists. However, despite such success, he left INSEP shortly after due to disciplinary issues.
In November 2016, Doumbouya obtained French citizenship, therefore making him eligible to represent the national team. He made his national team debut as the youngest player in the 2016 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championships in Turkey.
During the championships he averaged a team-best 17.8 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.3 steals, and 1.2 blocks, helping France win the gold medal. His performances earned him All-Star Five honours, joined by tournament MVP and current New York Knick, Frank Ntilikina.
Joining the Professional Ranks
This led him into the professional ranks, where he signed his first contract with Poitiers Basket 86, in France’s second-tier. In his first season, he recorded averages of 6.8 points and 3.3 rebounds, as he grew accustomed to the professional game.
Now 16 years old, his play improved and developed further the following season (2017/18), where he went on to average 8.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1 assist. This included a 26-point effort against UJAP Quimper 29. Doumbouya took home the Pro B Best Young Player award that year.
Sekou Doumbouya then stepped up to the top-tier in France, signing with Limoges CSP of the LNB Pro A. Over the course of the 2018-19 season, he endured various inconsistencies and an injury. Before erupting for a career-high 34 points and 9 rebounds, including five 3-pointers against the Levallois Metropolitans on May 18. Through 29 Pro A games and 2 playoff contests, he averaged 7.7 points and 3.2 rebounds. In 8 EuroCup games, Doumbouya averaged 6.9 points and 2.8 rebounds.
Present Day, Doumbouya’s Skillset
This leads up to present day. The draft is fast approaching, and a host of teams are casting a lingering eye over the latest NBA prospect to come out of Europe. Sekou Doumbouya is an exciting, versatile option for teams holding 2019 lottery picks.
He possesses a huge frame for his age, and while he stands at 6-foot-9, he is considered a solid athlete with tidy footwork and an explosiveness that allows him to finish in a variety of situations at the rim.
Doumbouya can hit the odd 3-pointer too, that may develop further in time, along with a jump shot. He has been playing against fully growth athletes for many years now and can certainly hold his own when it comes to physicality.
In addition, Doumbouya can defend and grab a rebound when need be. With his long, wiry frame proving difficult for opponents to deal with. On the contrary, his basketball IQ does lack and he doesn’t have full control of his body, just yet. But that will improve in time. Whilst his overall defence does sit as acceptable, he does tend to sleep on off-the-ball defensive duties, occasionally getting caught in no man’s land.
You do need to note that he is raw in almost every aspect of the game. Whilst this stands as a negative, it’s all part of his development. The talent is there, it really is.
Yes, there is work to be done in him becoming a more complete player. But at just 18 years of age, Sekou Doumbouya is obviously a tremendous talent.
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