Mohamed Bamba '17 has a 7'8 wingspan

[loco_91]

I've been looking into future draft prospects and there's one guy I'm super excited about. Mohamed Bamba is, as of last year, 6'11 or 6'11.5 with a *7'8 wingspan*. That measurement isn't a fluke: he was measured three times last year, and it was 7'8 every time. He's also a good athlete, with good speed, elevation and a quick second jump. He has gigantic hands and a good frame (currently he's pretty skinny, as expected for a 17 year old).

There's little info on him, but it looks like he has some passing ability - his highlight reels include a nice tip pass off an errant lob, and a couple good passes out of the high and mid post for layups (which he tips in after his teammate misses). He has an impressive sequence where he challenges a layup with both hands, tracks the miss and rebounds it right below the rim on the opposite side of the basket. And of course, he has plenty of emphatic dunks + blocks.

He could easily go #1 in 2018.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxegMgXWBh0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lN7rdLiO-AA

http://www.sbnation.com/college-basketball/2016/4/19/11459278/deandre-ayton-mohamed-bamba-recruiting-duke-kansas

http://www.sbnation.com/college-basketball/2015/10/7/9470021/mohamed-bamba-recruiting-usa-basketball-kentucky-duke[/url]

[walker834]

Looks good. More impressive than Thon Maker to me. Just seems smooth for a guy that size. I agree he looks  more like a legit top prospect to me.  Thon is more a guy we could take a flier on later though like we did with Perk. Perk wasn't the most fluid guy but turned out alright.  Robert Parish wasn't exactly fluid either but was when you really watched him. Thon has pretty high bust potential because of that lack of explosion in his movements though. Plus he is very skinny.  Explosive dunker though.  This guy just looks big and smooth.  I think that should be his nickname.

Embiid i always felt was smooth  but a bit stiff and Mutombo ish at the nba level.  Huge guy though.  Bamba looks smaller but smoother just a bit.  He may grow though.

[loco_91]

Looks good. More impressive than Thon Maker to me. Just seems smooth for a guy that size. I agree he looks  more like a legit top prospect to me.  Thon is more a guy we could take a flier on later though like we did with Perk. Perk wasn't the most fluid guy but turned out alright.  Robert Parish wasn't exactly fluid either but was when you really watched him. Thon has pretty high bust potential because of that lack of explosion in his movements though. Plus he is very skinny.  Explosive dunker though.  This guy just looks big and smooth.  I think that should be his nickname.

Embiid i always felt was smooth  but a bit stiff and Mutombo ish at the nba level.  Huge guy though.  Bamba looks smaller but smoother just a bit.  He may grow though.

Idk if any of these guys are comparable. Embiid was just blow your mind, out of this world talented with the body of a giant. Perk was never the most talented guy, but he made up for it with toughness and grit. Bamba probably doesn't have Embiid-level talent, but he's a freak of nature with his length + athleticism, and he looks like he has some feel for the game based on minimal info. Maker looks like a 2nd rounder, no feel for the game, terrible hands, good but not great length+athleticism, probably just an energy guy.

[walker834]

Oh definately.  I was just using them as a comparison. Bamba looks small next to Embiid but more fluid than Maker.  2nd round pick vs a top prospect.  He probably fits somewhere in there right now.  By the time the draft comes around who knows.

[rollie mass]

i worry about the game of basketball as i know it-

[walker834]

What do you mean Rollie?  It definately is becoming more and more a game of athleticism vs skill, fundamentals, drive and smarts that much is true.  It's been that way for a while now though.  Guys like Bird would kill  most of these kids mentally I know that at least.  Less handchecking.  More free flowing game that caters to these guys too. These guys are faster and better athletes though and in better physical shape.  Not nearly as tough though or as mature though.

Mohamed Bamba doesn't even look like he's trying to me.  Lack of personality or drive.  A player 20 years ago gets in his face he would die.

But hey that's worth 10 million right there nowadays.

[Future Celtics Owner]

Check out jonothan jeanne. He is similar to Gobert but better offensive game. Gobert was 21 when he came into the draft and this kid will be 19 next year for the draft.

7'7'' wingspan, 7'1'' w/o shoes

Thomas Bryant check him out.

Bam Bam

Dennis Smith jr

[chilidawg]

Little I saw of.Bryant impressed me more than other big 10 big men like stone or Davis.

[loco_91]

Check out jonothan jeanne. He is similar to Gobert but better offensive game. Gobert was 21 when he came into the draft and this kid will be 19 next year for the draft.

7'7'' wingspan, 7'1'' w/o shoes

Thomas Bryant check him out.

Bam Bam

Dennis Smith jr

Yeah, Jeanne has significant upside with his length + athleticism. He's a twig, though. Bamba has a much better frame, which will let him use his length in the paint.