Every year, NBA fans go to 24/7/365 mock draft sites to get a general idea for how the draft might shake up, and every year, there's a small list of overseas prospects trigger that same fans to exclaim, "Who?"
But every year, that same talented, albeit (typically) short list of lottery-bound international prospects make its way into the NBA Draft story lines, especially when summer hits. As time passes, those names become more household, some becoming fan favorites in the process.
MORE: Why Mudiay is locked into top 6 | Post-Lottery NBA Mock Draft
This year, Hollywood names to the effect Pau Gasol or Yao Ming won't be called by Adam Silver on June 28. Still, there are still three prospects who appear destined to crack the top 10. All three play different positions, and to this point, all three are at different stages of their development.
If history is any indicator, it's a little more difficult to determine the value of International prospects. Analytics judging play out of Europe and Asia aren't as sophisticated and heavily-discussed as they are in the NCAA circuit. But that hasn't stopped teams in the past and won't stop them with this group.
Mario Hezonja
Position: G/F
From: Croatia
Club: B.C. Barcelona Basquet (Spain)
Fun Highlight:
As Ricky Rubio recently told Draft Express, there is some "crazy" to Mario Hezonja's game, which in this case is a good thing. Hezonja plays with a controlled level of relentlessness going to the rim, and has an insane amount of athleticism to make that relentlessness a huge commodity.
College and overseas both considered, Mario is one of the two or three best leapers in this year's draft, and may be the most exciting highlight reel of anyone coming into the NBA this year. To make his game even more dangerous, he has a controlled handle, and an excellent perimeter jump shot. Case in point: On Feb. 8, he tied the ACB league's 3-point record, after going 8-8 from deep against La Bruixa d’Or Manresa. There is a lot to like about his offense, and the defensive potential is there, too.
Emmanuel Mudiay
Position: PG/SG
From: Democratic Republic of the Congo
Club: Guangdong Southern Tigers (China)
Fun highlight:
Mudiay is probably the most recognizable name on this list, and according to SN's Sean Deveney, may be picked higher than any other international prospect. He's also the only international prospect listed here with a history of basketball in the United States. A graduate of Prime Prep Academy in Dallas, TX, Mudiay was originally an SMU commit before deciding to take the immediate paycheck instead.
The best part? Mudiay thrived in China, especially late. He put up good numbers and reportedly showed improvement as the year went on. While his perimeter shooting still needs lots of work, the rest of his game, especially offensively, seems to be in a great spot for a 19-year-old. He finishes well on the break, is a smart passer, and can finish in traffic. He's a point guard, but at 6-5, 200 lbs, his size and scoring instincts could lead to some interesting lineups for whichever team drafts him.
Kristaps Porzingis
Position: PF
From: Latvia
Club: C.B. Sevilla (Spain)
Fun highlight:
This highlight by itself is less exciting. But when you remember that Porzingis is 7-1, suddenly that speedy, shooting specialist-esque, guard-like release is very exciting. There have been European prospects with crazy amounts of range in the past. Some have worked out masterfully (see: Dirk Nowtizki), while others have failed completely (see: Nikoloz Tskitishvili). The crazy thing: Porzingis' absurdly quick release is more reminiscent of a Kyle Korver jumper than a Nowitzki jumper.
Porzingis will be reliant on that jumper along with his size and quickness to keep his name relevant in the NBA, as he doesn't have the well-rounded game of the other two international prospects. Still, his jumper may be good enough to keep him around for a long time. He's sneaky good at lurking into open position, sets good screens and has arms that seem to go on forever. Whether he turns into a star or not, his jumper will likely end up making a franchise happy.