This year’s draft class has a couple of international prospects at the top of the board who will be introduced to the basketball world at large on draft day.
Alexandre Sarr heads that group as the potential No. 1 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.
Even as a projected No. 1 pick, Sarr is relatively unknown due to his unique path to the league. Instead of taking the college basketball route, the 19-year-old French center made stops in the professional “Overtime Elite” league and Australia’s NBL “Next Stars” program before declaring for the NBA Draft.
Who is Sarr and what will he bring to the team that selects him? The Jugo Mobile takes a closer look below.
Who is Alex Sarr?
Sarr is a 19-year-old French prospect who could become the Hawks’ No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. He is a 7-foot center with a 7-4.25 wingspan and a 9-foot reach. -2. based on measurements from the NBA Draft Combine.
Sarr is largely unknown due to his unorthodox path to the NBA.
Despite his young age, Sarr already played in three professional leagues before declaring for the NBA Draft. He was part of Real Madrid’s youth program before moving to Atlanta in 2021 to join the newly created “Overtime Elite” league that produced top-five picks such as Amen and Ausar Thompson.
Jugo Mobile’ Gilbert McGregor profiled Sarr ahead of his second OTE season in 2022.
OTE paid Sarr $100,000 over two seasons, where he earned Second Team All-OTE honors. Just 18 years after he ended that contract, Sarr decided to take his talents abroad.
For the 2023-24 season, Sarr joined the Australian NBL’s “Next Stars” program that produced top picks LaMelo Ball and Josh Giddey. Sarr played a key role in helping the Perth Wildcats reach the NBL semi-finals, boosting his NBA Draft stock to the point where he is in consideration for the first overall pick.
Sarr’s older brother, Olivier, played college basketball at Wake Forest and Kentucky before signing with the Thunder as an undrafted free agent in 2021.
Alex Sarr Statistics
Sarr’s stats may not resemble those of a potential No. 1 pick, but the rising star center is not a primary scorer.
You can find his stats from his final OTE season and his rookie season in the NBL below.
| Year | League | Equipment | GP | MPG | GF% | 3P% | FOOT% | role playing game | APG | BPG | AAP | PPG |
| 2022-23 | OTE | YNG Dreamerz | 17 | 25.3 | 47.8 | 30.0 | 65.0 | 6.4 | 2.0 | 1.1 | 0.9 | 11.1 |
| 2023-24 | National Basketball League | Perth Wildcats | 27 | 17.3 | 51.6 | 28.6 | 71.0 | 4.3 | 0.9 | 1.5 | 0.4 | 9.4 |
Alex Sarr Mock Draft Screening
Mock Draft Projection: No. 1 for the Hawks
In a draft class that has more questions than answers, Sarr offers a higher floor than most of his peers.
The 19-year-old impacts the game with his size, length, coordination and athleticism for a 7-foot player. He is a mobile rim protector, shot blocker and lob catcher who has shown potential with budding offensive skills on the perimeter and in the post.
Even in the worst-case scenario, where his offensive game never develops, he can still make a Dereck Lively II-like impact as a high-energy, rim-running big man.
The Hawks already have two centers in Clint Capela and Onyeka Okongwu, but with changes on the horizon in Atlanta, it doesn’t hurt to sign the best player available.
