2021 NBA Draft Scouting Report: PF/C Alepren Sengun

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BIO

Pos: PF/C

Hometown: Giresun, Turkey

Team: Beşiktaş (Turkey)

DOB (Age): 7/25/02 (Age 19)

Height: 6’10″ | Weight: 240 lbs.

Wingspan: N/A | Vertical: N/A

INTERESTING FACTS

Declared for the NBA draft on the day he won the MVP of the Turkish League (BSL) regular season at just 18 years old
Made his professional debut at the age of 16 for Bandırma Kırmızı (Turkish 2nd league) averaging 10 PPG & 6 RPG
Parents wanted him to become a swimmer, so he trained in both sports, eventually choosing bball over swimming

ATHLETICISM

Pros

Solid dexterity; gives him the ability to utilize the entire post area to employ his various moves
Strong player overall; difficult to move in the post and sturdy on screens
Fluid with his movements, flexibility allows him to shoot at angles that most players cannot
Wide frame; already has a decent build, and has potential to add strength
Explosive vertical leads to highlight dunks and posters

Cons

Not a true center, but does not have the speed of today’s forwards, will need to find his niche
Average overall athlete will make him a victim of posters and blow bys early in his career
Can improve conditioning even though it has gotten better in recent seasons
Shorter wingspan than most of his front court counterparts; will hurt his production around the rim
Lateral quickness needs to improve, sometimes caught flat footed on defense

Grade: B

NBA SKILLS

Pros

Great footwork for a prospect his age; can make something out of nothing with his back to the basket
Good passer for his size, sets up teammates from all over the court in a Jokic-esque fashion
Aggressive on the offensive glass; good rebounder and tries to dunk every opportunity he has
Hustles on defense especially in off-ball positions; good to see this early in his career
Variety of moves will always keep opponents guessing; adjusts well to what the defense shows him

Cons

Outside shooting needs a lot of work; potential in his form, but must translate that to game speed
Has problem when defenders contest his jump shot, feet are still moving while he takes his shots
Undersized on the defensive end as a center; needs to work very hard to compete against true centers
Not very switchable as a defender; slow feet make him a target for shifty guards

Grade: B+

PRODUCTION

Pros

19.2 PPG; very high for a European league in somewhat limited minutes, averaged 24.3 per 36 minutes
9.4 RPG in 28.3 MPG shows his promising potential as an elite rebounder
4.1 offensive rebounds; shows how effective he is on both sides of the glass, creates 2nd chances
2.4 APG; good for a big man showing that he has the ability to read defenses from the post
64.6 FG%; very efficient from the floor; stays in comfort zone, but can expand his range with practice
81.2 FT%; solid for a big man and gives organizations hope his outside shot can improve
1.3 SPG & 1.7 BPG; stuffs the stat sheet and contributes on the defensive side of the ball

Cons

4 fouls per 36 min; this could become an issue with aggressive slashers drawing more fouls in the NBA
20% from behind the arc; this will need to improve, he has the shot mechanics to be coached well to improve
2.3 TOV; has the ball in his hands more than most big men, but this number should still be lower

Grade: A-

RISK

Pros

Will turn 19 shortly after the draft; still plenty of time for a team to develop him in the states
Has produced on every level; very good numbers in professional league and against his age group
Very crafty, displays a high IQ with his court vision and in game improvisation
Experienced against professionals and with the pro lifestyle, has been competing at professional level since 16
Hustles and shows passion for the game while on the court
Long frame and thunderous dunking highlights outline a very high ceiling

Cons

Level of competition in the Turkish league is significantly lower than the best European leagues
Offense was catered towards him due to him being such a young and exciting talent
Lack of athleticism is a concern especially on the defensive side of the ball
His size could be an issue against 7-foot big men; does not have a true position
Drew lots of fouls overseas, will take him a little while to get going against better defenders
At this stage, he’s not a threat to shoot from the outside, but has the potential to change this

Grade: B

OVERALL

As is the case with most foreign prospects, the risk-reward questions are looming around Alperen Sengun. The 19-year-old burst onto the scene this season after dominating the Turkish professional league. His display of offensive skill and craftiness has piqued the interest of scouts across the league. He plays with high energy trying to dunk every time he is close enough to the rim. He flashes the ability to run the break and get his teammates involved like very few big men can.

In addition, he showed footwork beyond his years on his way to winning MVP of the BSL. The biggest question about Sengun’s game is where exactly he fits in a modern NBA offense. He lacks athleticism and lateral speed, making him a liability on the defensive end of the floor on switches when guarding the perimeter at this stage of his career. In addition, he is undersized for a center and will struggle defensively in the post against premier Bigs.

Elite NBA big men should have no problem limiting Sengun’s most compelling qualities in the post. There is a possibility that Sengun could have a slow start to his NBA career if he is put into the wrong system. Despite all of this, his potential is massive, and with the recent success of versatile bigs such as Nikola Jokic, a team will most likely take a shot on Sengun and attempt to cash in on the Turkish wunderkind.

Pro Comp: Al Horford (BOS)

Projected Rd/Pick: Mid-Late Lottery

Prime Destinations: CHA, SAS, GSW

OVERALL Grade: B+