Ratiopharm Ulm meets the Portland Trail Blazers in the preseason game

With the NBA preseason almost over, we still have a few games left. One of those games that is exciting to watch from a scouting perspective is Ratiopharm Ulm traveling from Germany of the Basketball Bundesliga to play the Portland Trail Blazers.

Ulm has two planned first-round picks in the squad: Noa Essengue from France and Ben Saraf from Israel.

Essengue is the second-youngest prospect eligible for the 2025 NBA Draft as he is still 17 years old and won't turn 18 for another two months. He is a 1.90 meter tall striker who has excellent physical and athletic skills. He is also quite agile and fluid for his size. When you watch the talented striker, the most striking thing is that he is an extremely exciting finisher. He has the ability to serve as a high-level lob threat who can convert completions above the rim.

Aside from his impressive finishing skills, he also shows some upside as an occasional ball handler, which could open up a lot of opportunities for him on offense. Defensively, he has great skills and is a pretty solid defender. Essengue has the potential to be a versatile defender who can really change the course of a game on that end of the floor. The 1.90 meter tall striker has so much potential, but is still raw at this point.

Saraf is another talented young player who has gained a lot of traction in the draft since his FIBA ​​U18 appearance. Saraf is a 1.90 meter tall guard who is very creative and skilled with the ball in his hands. He is a skilled left-handed hitter who can initiate an offense with his great feel for the game and high basketball IQ.

Thanks to his deceptive handle, ability to change speeds and good burst, Saraf can constantly create space and get to the rim off the dribble. He is a very good scorer but also a great playmaker. Saraf has advanced eyesight and can complete every pass in the book. His entire value lies in the offense, as he already achieved a double-double in points and assists for Ratiopharm Ulm a few games ago.

Tonight it will be exciting to see Essengue and Saraf play against NBA talent. We can expect some very good performances from both players, but also some mistakes that young players often make. This will be a great opportunity for both interested parties to really get their names out there.

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