Known for his ability to create space for himself and teammates, 19-year-old Killian Hayes is making 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 generate space for both himself and his teammates. The NBA’s defensive 3-seconds rule will be advantageous to him, and he is efficient at executing the pick-and-roll. Unlike in Europe where defenders can congest the lane, he will have more opportunities in the NBA.
“Peyton Siva Jr., a player for Alba Berlin in the German league, said, “He becomes more dangerous when he gets in the paint. He can find his shooters and his big men. He’s most effective when he’s able to create opportunities for his teammates.”
Hayes demonstrated his potential for improvement while playing in Ulm, the German hometown of Albert Einstein. His inconsistent 3-point range, with 21.8% in 20 domestic league games and 39% in 10 EuroCup games, indicated areas for growth. However, he showed skillful handling of the basketball.
“Siva, who had a season with the Detroit Pistons, said, “He executed a really good move at the top of the key, making me stumble and fall.” Hayes ended up scoring 20 points and 10 assists in the loss against Siva’s team.
Despite being quiet, Hayes is not lacking in confidence.
Hayes revealed to the French sports daily, L’Équipe, about the questions posed by NBA teams during pre-draft interviews. When asked if he was a “dog” on the court, Hayes affirmed. On being asked which type, he stated, “Rottweiler.”
Hayes was born in Florida, but primarily grew up in his mother’s hometown of Cholet in western France, where his American father was a basketball player.
DeRon Hayes had his basketball career at Penn State and also in Europe. Meanwhile, Killian made his debut for Cholet when he was just 16 years old.
“Killian’s father was always there at every practice,” said former teammate Antywane Robinson, “always in the same spot at the top of the stands. Their bond is truly wonderful.”
Sandrine, Hayes’ mother, never missed a game and his cousins would also be present.
His game had everyone in Cholet talking. In 2017, Hayes was awarded co-MVP at the Jordan Brand Classic International Game. He represented French youth teams, but chose not to participate with a French Under-20 team. He eventually relocated to Germany.
Over the last few months, Hayes has been residing in Lakeland, Florida, his father’s birthplace. This location is approximately 40 miles southwest of the NBA’s bubble in Walt Disney World.
He has been exercising with Dwayne Bacon, a fellow native of Lakeland, 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’ agent informed him that he should anticipate being drafted anywhere between No. 2 and 10, according to Hayes.
Keep an eye on these other international NBA prospects:
Deni Avdija
Scouts are impressed by the versatility of the 19-year-old from Israel, Avdija, but his poor free throw shooting doesn’t impress them as much. However, Avdija assures them there’s nothing to worry about.
Standing at 6-8, he is versatile and can play multiple positions, contributing in various ways. In the final of the under-20 European Championships in 2019, he had an impressive stat line of 23 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 blocks, and 1 steal. His performance led Israel to victory over Spain for the championship, earning him the tournament’s MVP award.
Last season, he played 59 games for Maccabi Tel Aviv, during which he shot slightly below 59% from the free throw line and 33% from the 3-point range.
Avdija stated during a media video call concerning the dismal percentage, “It’s a matter of time and mentality. I believe I can even surpass a shooting percentage of 70%. I’m confident that I’ll achieve it.”
Simply don’t compare him to Luka Doncic, the guard for the Dallas Mavericks, or to anyone else for that matter.
“He said, “I merely aspire to be the best version of Deni Avdija that I can be. I don’t want to be contrasted with anyone.”
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 puts him in league with previous winners such as Frank Ntilikina, Evan Fournier, Clint Capela, Boris Diaw, and Parker, who are all current or former NBA players.
Maledon and Parker were both raised in the same city – Rouen in the Normandy region. Similarly to Parker, Maledon also has significant professional experience playing in France and the EuroLeague.
He also participated in Parker’s team, ASVEL, located in Lyon. While still playing for the San Antonio Spurs, Parker purchased the team.
Maledon, who is 6-4 and weighs approximately 175 pounds, admits his draft stock might have slightly dropped due to a shoulder injury that caused him to miss some time early last season.
“That remains in my mind. I have a chip on my shoulder because of that,” he stated during a media video call. However, “it’s only on the court where you can demonstrate 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 acquiring experience by playing as a substitute for Barcelona in both Spain’s robust domestic league and the continental club competition, EuroLeague.
Bolmaro is at ease with utilizing pick and rolls, and aggressively attacking the paint, either to complete the play himself or to pass to open teammates.
Aleksej Pokusevski
Aleksej Pokusevski, a seven-foot Serbian, has primarily played in the Greek second division. NBA fans might not recall, but this is the same league where Giannis Antetokounmpo played prior to his 2013 draft.
While no one is drawing parallels between 18-year-old Pokusevski and the Greek Freak, the Serbian’s ball handling, shooting, and defending skills have certainly caught the attention of scouts.
While playing for the Olympiacos B team, Pokusevski averaged almost 10 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game.
