Nineteen-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 skill to make room for himself and his teammates. The NBA’s defensive 3-seconds rule will be advantageous to him, and he is proficient in executing pick-and-roll plays. Unlike in Europe where defenders can crowd the lane, this won’t be a problem.
“Peyton Siva Jr., a player for Alba Berlin in the German league, commented on his teammate’s abilities. He said that his teammate becomes more dangerous on the court when he’s in the paint. At this point, he can find his shooters and his big men, and create opportunities for others,” Siva explained.
Hayes demonstrated his potential for improvement while playing in Ulm, the hometown of Albert Einstein in Germany. His performance from the 3-point range has been inconsistent (21.8% in 20 domestic league games; 39% in 10 EuroCup games). However, he displayed cleverness with the basketball.
“Siva, who had a one-season stint with the Detroit Pistons, recounted, “He made an impressive move at the top of the key that made me stumble and fall.” Hayes ended the game against Siva’s team with 20 points and 10 assists, despite the loss.
Despite being quiet, Hayes is not lacking in confidence.
Hayes shared with the French sports daily, L’Équipe, the type of queries NBA teams pose during pre-draft interviews. He was asked if he was a “dog” on the court, to which he affirmed. When asked about the specific type, he responded, “Rottweiler.”
Hayes was born in Florida, but he primarily grew up in Cholet, his mother’s hometown in Western France, where his American father played basketball.
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 always be at every practice,” said Antywane Robinson, a former teammate, “He’d be in the same location at the top of the stands. Their bond is truly wonderful.”
Sandrine, Hayes’ mother, never missed a game and his cousins would also attend.
His game had the entire town of Cholet buzzing. In 2017, Hayes was awarded co-MVP honors at the Jordan Brand Classic International Game. He had earlier represented French youth teams but turned down an offer to play for the French Under-20 team. He subsequently relocated to Germany.
For the past few months, Hayes has been residing in Lakeland, Florida, which is his father’s hometown. It is about 40 miles southwest of the NBA 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 mentioned that his agent advised him to anticipate being drafted anywhere from No. 2 to 10.
Other international NBA prospects to watch out for include:
Deni Avdija
Scouts are impressed with the versatility that the 19-year-old from Israel offers, but they are less thrilled with his weak free throw shooting. However, Avdija assures there’s nothing to worry about.
Standing at 6-8, he is versatile enough to play multiple positions and is capable of contributing in various ways. In the 2019 under-20 European Championships final, he recorded 23 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 blocks, and 1 steal. Israel triumphed over Spain to clinch the gold, with Avdija being crowned the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.
Last season, he played 59 games for Maccabi Tel Aviv, during which he scored just below 59% from the free throw line and 33% from the 3-point range.
“Getting to that point is just a matter of time and mentality,” Avdija commented on the dismal percentage during a media video call. “I believe I can shoot well beyond 70%. I will get there.”
Simply avoid comparing him to Luka Doncic, the guard for Dallas Mavericks — or anyone else for that matter.
“He stated, “I simply aspire to be the best Deni Avdija I can be. I really 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.
At the age of 17, Maledon was declared the “best young player” of the French league in 2018-19, joining the ranks of previous winners such as current and former NBA stars Frank Ntilikina, Evan Fournier, Clint Capela, Boris Diaw, and Parker.
Maledon and Parker share the same hometown – Rouen in the Normandy region. Similar to Parker, Maledon also boasts substantial professional experience playing in France and the EuroLeague.
He also took part in games for Parker’s team, ASVEL, located in Lyon. While still a player for the San Antonio Spurs, Parker purchased this team.
Maledon, who stands at 6-4 and weighs approximately 175 pounds, admits that his draft stock might have diminished slightly after missing part of last season due to a shoulder injury.
“He stated in a media video call, ‘I have a chip on my shoulder about that. It’s something that remains in my mind.’ However, he added, ‘It’s only on the court where you can validate things.'”
Leanjdro Bolmaro
Another versatile international prospect is Bolmaro from Argentina. He can play small forward and both guard positions, standing at 6-6 and weighing 185 pounds.
Bolmaro, who is 20 years old, is also accumulating experience by playing as a substitute for Barcelona in Spain’s robust domestic league and the EuroLeague, a continental club competition.
Bolmaro is adept at using pick and rolls and launching an attack on the paint, either to make his own plays or to pass the ball to teammates in open positions.
Aleksej Pokusevski
Aleksej Pokusevski, a 7-foot Serbian, has primarily competed in the Greek second division, similar to Giannis Antetokounmpo before his 2013 NBA draft. NBA fans may not recall this detail.
While it’s not common to compare 18-year-old Pokusevski to the Greek Freak, the Serbian has certainly caught the attention of scouts with his notable ball handling, shooting, and defending skills.
While playing for the Olympiacos B team, Pokusevski had an average of nearly 10 points per game, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks.
