Known for his ability to create space for himself and his teammates, Killian Hayes, 19, has made a name for himself.
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 create room for himself or his teammates. The defensive 3-seconds rule of the NBA will be advantageous to him, and he is proficient in executing the pick-and-roll tactic. Unlike in Europe where defenders can congest the lane.
“When he’s in the paint, he can locate his shooters and big men,” stated Peyton Siva Jr., a player for Alba Berlin in the German league. “He becomes more dangerous when he can create opportunities for others.”
Hayes demonstrated that he still has room for improvement while playing in Ulm, Germany – the hometown of Albert Einstein. His 3-point range was inconsistent, with a 21.8% success rate in 20 domestic league games and 39% in 10 EuroCup games. However, he showed clever handling of the basketball.
“Siva, who had a season with the Detroit Pistons, stated, “He executed a really impressive move at the top of the key, causing me to stumble and fall.” In the loss to Siva’s team, Hayes ended the game with 20 points and 10 assists.
Despite being quiet, Hayes is not lacking in confidence.
Hayes informed the French sports newspaper L’Équipe about the inquiries NBA teams make during pre-draft interviews. One of the questions was whether he was a “dog” on the court. Hayes confirmed that he was, and when asked what breed, he responded with “Rottweiler.”
Hayes was born in Florida, however, he primarily grew up in Cholet, his mother’s hometown in western France, where his American father was a basketball player.
DeRon Hayes had his career at Penn State and also in Europe. At the age of 16, Killian made his debut for Cholet.
“Killian’s father never missed a practice,” said Antywane Robinson, a former teammate. “He would always be in the same place at the top of the stands. They have a wonderful relationship.”
Sandrine, Hayes’ mother, never missed a game, and cousins would also always be present.
His game was the talk of the town in Cholet. In 2017, Hayes bagged the co-MVP honors at the Jordan Brand Classic International Game. He represented French youth teams but turned down an invitation to play for a French Under-20 team. Eventually, he relocated to Germany.
Over the past few months, Hayes has been residing in Lakeland, Florida, which is his father’s hometown. This is approximately 40 miles southwest of the NBA’s bubble located 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 informed him he should anticipate being drafted somewhere between No. 2 and 10.
Keep an eye on these other international NBA prospects:
Deni Avdija
Scouts are impressed by the versatility of the 19-year-old from Israel, although his poor free throw shooting is less appealing. However, Avdija assures them there’s no cause for concern.
Standing at 6-8, he possesses the versatility to play multiple positions and contributes to various aspects of the game. His impressive statistics from the 2019 under-20 European Championships final include 23 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 blocks and 1 steal. Avdija’s remarkable performance helped Israel secure the gold against Spain, earning him the title of tournament MVP.
Last season, he played 59 games for Maccabi Tel Aviv and achieved a free throw line shooting percentage of just under 59% and a 3-point range shooting percentage of 33%.
“Regarding the dismal percentage, it’s a question of time and mindset,” Avdija commented during a media video call. “I believe I can even exceed 70% shooting. I’m determined to reach that.”
Please refrain from comparing him to Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks, or to anyone else for that matter.
“He said, “I simply aspire to be the best version of Deni Avdija I can be. I don’t wish to be compared to anyone else.”
Theo Maledon
Maledon, a 19-year-old French point guard, is often compared to Tony Parker.
Maledon received the “best young player” award in the French league in 2018-19 when he was just 17. This accolade places him among esteemed company, as former recipients include present and past NBA players such as Frank Ntilikina, Evan Fournier, Clint Capela, Boris Diaw, and Parker.
Maledon and Parker both hail from the same city – Rouen in the Normandy region. Similar to Parker, Maledon also has significant professional experience playing in France, as well as in the EuroLeague.
He also participated in Parker’s team, ASVEL, located in Lyon. While still playing for the San Antonio Spurs, Parker acquired the team.
Maledon, who is 6-4 and approximately 175 pounds, sat out for some time in the early part of last season due to a shoulder injury. He admits that this may have slightly lowered his draft stock.
“He conveyed during a media video call, ‘That kind of sticks in my mind. I carry a grudge for that.’ However, he added, ‘It’s only on the court where you can validate things.'”
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 gaining experience by coming off the bench for Barcelona in Spain’s robust domestic league and the EuroLeague, a continental club competition.
Bolmaro is at ease executing pick and rolls and charging at the paint to either conclude himself or distribute the ball to teammates in open areas.
Aleksej Pokusevski
Serbian player Aleksej Pokusevski, who stands at seven feet tall, has primarily competed in the Greek second division. This is the same league where Giannis Antetokounmpo, who might be unfamiliar to some NBA fans, used to play before he was drafted in 2013.
While no one is drawing parallels between 18-year-old Pokusevski and the Greek Freak, the Serbian’s ball handling, shooting, and defensive skills have certainly captured the attention of scouts.
While playing for the B team of Olympiacos, Pokusevski had an average of almost 10 points per game, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks.
