Having completed more research, watched ungodly amounts of early-season international games, preseason NCAA exhibitions, scrimmages and practices, we’ve compiled a revamped and final preseason big board ranking players of African heritage.

With so many players in new locations, getting early peaks at how they look in new situations was informative. That said, not every team played preseason competition and competition levels varied greatly so we recognize potential biases.

We found new talent worthy of including on this board and also shifted some rankings significantly. Some notable risers from the last edition include Michael Ajayi (#8 to #5), Mouhamed Faye (#37 to #6), Oswin Erhunmwunse (#50 to #11), Seydou Traoré (#24 to #15), and Saliou Niang (unranked to #28) among others.

Given our lens, we compiled a board of nearly 100 players of African backgrounds who have a professional outlook.

Like our last one, this big board series is meant to serve as a resource for NBA, international and G League player evaluation. It could even be referenced for the next time the NCAA transfer portal opens.

Players are ranked in best available order, with their ceiling listed as well. The ceiling is our determination based on if players go pro after this season, even if they are realistically two seasons away. A projected 2026 first rounder who is eligible this year could be seen as a two-way candidate in the 2025 draft cycle, for example.

The possible ceilings for each player include the following:

• Top five

• Top ten

• Lottery

• First round

• Second round

• Two-way

• International/G League

This board’s “first round” (the first 30 prospects) is available to all. Upgrade your subscription to access to the full, 98-player long big board.

1. Nolan Traoré

• 6’4” | PG | St. Quentin (France)

• Ceiling: Top five

• African country: Mali

2. Khaman Maluach

• 7’2” | C | Duke

• Ceiling: Top ten

• African country: South Sudan

3. Noa Essengue

• 6’9” | F | Ratiopharm Ulm (Germany)

• Ceiling: Lottery

• African country: Cameroon

4. Kwame Evans

• 6’9” | F | Oregon

• Ceiling: Lottery

• African country: Ghana

5. Michael Ajayi

• 6’7” | SF | Gonzaga

• Ceiling: First Round

• African country: Nigeria

6. Mouhamed Faye

• 6’10” | C | Reggio Emilia (Italy)

• Ceiling: First Round

• African country: Senegal

7. Baye Ndongo

• 6’9” | PF | Georgia Tech

• Ceiling: First Round

• African country: Senegal

8. Jack Kayil

• 6’4” | PG | KK Mega Mis (Serbia)

• Ceiling: First Round

• African country: Ghana

9. Malik Dia

• 6’9” | PF | Ole Miss

• Ceiling: First Round

• African country: Senegal

10. Christ Essandoko

• 7’0” | C | Providence

• Ceiling: First Round

• African country: Democratic Republic of Congo

11. Oswin Erhunmwunse

• 6’10” | C | Providence

• Ceiling: First Round

• African country: Nigeria

12. Garwey Dual

• 6’3” | CG | Seton Hall

• Ceiling: First Round

• African country: South Sudan

13. Flory Bidunga

• 6’9” | C | Kansas

• Ceiling: First Round

• African country: Democratic Republic of Congo

14. Eli Ndiaye

• 6’9” | PF/C | Real Madrid (Spain)

• Ceiling: First Round

• African country: Senegal

15. Seydou Traoré

• 6’7” | WF | Iowa

• Ceiling: First Round

• African country: Côte d’Ivoire

16. Adama Bal

• 6’7” | SG | Santa Clara

• Ceiling: First Round

• African country: Senegal

17. Adou Thiero

• 6’8” | SG/SF | Arkansas

• Ceiling: First Round

• African country: Mali

18. Omaha Biliew

• 6’8” | F | Wake Forest

• Ceiling: Second Round

• African country: South Sudan

19. Aboubacar Traoré

• 6’5” | SF | Louisville

• Ceiling: First Round

• African country: Côte d’Ivoire

20. Rueben Chinyelu

• 6’10” | C | Florida

• Ceiling: Second Round

• African country: Nigeria

21. Otega Oweh

• 6’5” | SG | Kentucky

• Ceiling: First Round

• African country: Nigeria

22. TJ Bamba

• 6’5” | SG | Oregon

• Ceiling: Second Round

• African country: Senegal

23. Alier Maluk

• 6’10” | WF | Florida State

• Ceiling: Second Round

• African country: South Sudan

24. Annor Boateng

• 6’6” | G | Missouri

• Ceiling: Second Round

• African country: Ghana

25. Moustapha Thiam

• 7’2” | C | Central Florida

• Ceiling: First Round

• African country: Senegal

26. Great Osobor

• 6’8” | F | Washington

• Ceiling: Second Round

• African country: Nigeria

27. Mackenzie Mgbako

• 6’8” | F | Indiana

• Ceiling: First Round

• African country: Nigeria

28. Saliou Niang

• 6’7” | SG/SF | Trento (Italy)

• Ceiling: Second Round

• African country: Senegal

29. Dame Sarr

• 6’6” | CG | Barcelona (Spain)

• Ceiling: First Round

• African country: Senegal

30. Abdramane Siby

• 6’11” | C | OKK Beograd (Serbia)

• Ceiling: Second Round

• African country: Mali

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