19-year-old Killian Hayes is recognized for his skill in creating space for both himself and his teammates.
Most NBA fans are just now learning the name Killian Hayes, the 19-year-old French-American point guard who could be a top 5 pick in Wednesday night’s draft.
The shifty 6-foot-5 lefty is among several international prospects, continuing the NBA’s global reach. Others include Deni Avdija, Israel; Théo Maledon, France; Leandro Bolmaro, Argentina; and Aleksej Pokusevski, Serbia.
There were 108 international players on opening-night rosters for the 2019-20 season. That number could increase this year and Hayes will be one the new faces.
He possesses the capability to generate space for himself or his teammates. The NBA’s defensive 3-seconds rule will be advantageous to him and he is proficient in executing the pick-and-roll. In contrast, in Europe, the lane can be congested by defenders.
“Peyton Siva Jr., who is a player for Alba Berlin in the German league, stated, “He becomes more effective in the paint when he finds his shooters and his big men. His ability to create for others makes him more dangerous.”
Hayes demonstrated room for improvement while playing in Ulm, the German hometown of Albert Einstein. His inconsistency from the 3-point range was evident (21.8% in 20 domestic league games; 39% in 10 EuroCup games), yet he showed cleverness with the basketball.
“Siva, who had a one-season stint with the Detroit Pistons, commented, ‘He struck me with an impressive move at the key’s top — it caused me to stumble and fall.’ In the match where Siva’s team bested his, Hayes managed to score 20 points and make 10 assists.”
Despite being quiet, Hayes is not lacking in confidence.
Hayes shared with French sports newspaper, L’Équipe, the type of questions he gets asked in NBA pre-draft interviews. When one team asked if he was a “dog” on the court, he confirmed he was. When asked what kind of dog, Hayes responded, “Rottweiler.”
Hayes was born in Florida, but he mostly grew up in Cholet, his mother’s hometown in western France, where his American father was a basketball player.
DeRon Hayes was a player at Penn State and also played in Europe. At the age of 16, Killian made his debut for Cholet.
“Killian’s father would consistently attend every practice,” said Antywane Robinson, a former teammate. “He would always be in the same spot, at the top of the stands. They have a wonderful relationship.”
Sandrine, Hayes’ mother, never missed a game and his cousins would also be present.
Cholet was abuzz with talks about his game. Hayes secured the co-MVP title at the 2017 Jordan Brand Classic International Game. He represented French youth teams, but turned down an invitation to join the French Under-20 team. Eventually, he relocated to Germany.
Hayes has been residing in Lakeland, Florida, his father’s hometown, for the past few months. This town is approximately 40 miles southwest of the NBA’s bubble in Walt Disney World.
He has been exercising with another native of Lakeland, Dwayne Bacon who plays for the Charlotte Hornets.
The studious Hayes said in a media video call that he tends to analyze fellow left-handers like James Harden, Goran Dragic and Manu Ginobili.
Hayes was told by his agent to anticipate being drafted anywhere between No. 2 and 10, he said.
Keep an eye on these other international NBA prospects:
Deni Avdija
Scouts are impressed with the versatility of the 19-year-old from Israel, however, his poor free throw shooting skills do not appeal to them as much. Avdija, on the other hand, assures them not to worry.
Standing at 6-8, he demonstrates versatility by playing several positions and contributing to various aspects of the game. In the 2019 under-20 European Championships final, his performance was exemplary, scoring 23 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 blocks and 1 steal. With Avdija’s significant contribution, Israel triumphed over Spain to clinch the gold. Avdija was also bestowed with the tournament’s Most Valuable Player award.
Last season, he played 59 games for Maccabi Tel Aviv, during which he had a free throw line shooting percentage of just under 59% and a 3-point range shooting percentage of 33%.
Avdija commented on the disappointing percentage during a media video call, saying, “It’s just a matter of time and mindset. I believe I can achieve even more than 70%. I’m confident I’ll get there.”
Simply refrain from comparing him to Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic — or to anyone at all.
“He said, ‘I merely aspire to be the best version of Deni Avdija I can be. I don’t want to be compared to anyone else.'”
Theo Maledon
Maledon, a 19-year-old French point guard, is often compared to Tony Parker.
In 2018-19, Maledon was named the “best young player” of the French league at the age of 17. This accolade has been previously bestowed upon current and former NBA players such as Frank Ntilikina, Evan Fournier, Clint Capela, Boris Diaw, and Parker, highlighting the impressive nature of this achievement.
Maledon and Parker were both raised in the same city, Rouen, located in the Normandy region. Similarly to Parker, Maledon has gained substantial professional experience playing in France and the EuroLeague.
He also played for the team ASVEL in Lyon, which Parker bought while he was still a player for the San Antonio Spurs.
Maledon, who stands at 6-4 and weighs approximately 175 pounds, was sidelined early last season due to a shoulder injury. He concedes that this may have slightly impacted his draft stock.
“That sticks in my mind. I carry a grudge for that,” he stated during a press video call. However, “it’s only through court performance that things can be proven.”
Leanjdro Bolmaro
Another versatile international prospect is Bolmaro from Argentina. Standing at 6-6 and weighing 185 pounds, he is capable of playing as a small forward and in both guard positions.
Bolmaro, who is 20 years old, is also acquiring experience by playing as a substitute for Barcelona in Spain’s robust domestic league and the continental club competition, EuroLeague.
Bolmaro is at ease with utilizing pick and rolls and aggressively challenging the paint, with the aim of either finishing the play himself or passing the ball to open teammates.
Aleksej Pokusevski
Aleksej Pokusevski, a 7-foot Serbian, has predominantly played in the Greek second division, a fact that NBA fans may not recall is also true for Giannis Antetokounmpo before his 2013 draft.
No one is likening the 18-year-old Pokusevski to the Greek Freak, but the Serbian’s ball handling, shooting, and defending abilities have captivated scouts.
While playing for the Olympiacos B team, Pokusevski had an average of nearly 10 points per game, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks.
