2025 NBA Draft: Joan Beringer Scouting Report
Evaluating the France and Cedevita Olimpija big ahead of the 2025 NBA Draft.
DRAFT EVALUATION: Developmental project whose range starts around No. 25
NBA ROLE: Two-way, above-the-rim play finisher
REMINDS ME OF: Yannick Nzosa, Jalen Duren, Jericho Sims
RAW STATS: 5 PTS, 4.6 REB, 0.4 AST to 0.6 TOV, 0.5 STL, 1.4 BLK, 2.3 PF in 18 MINS over 53 GAMES
ADVANCED STATS: 15.5 PER, 12.1 USG%, 62.4 TS%, 11.5 OREB%, 21.5 DREB%, 3.4 AST%, 12.7 TOV%, 1.3 STL%, 8.3 BLK%
Background:
Birthday: Nov. 11, 2006
Height: 6-foot-11 without shoes1
Wingspan: 7-foot-4½
Standing reach: 9-foot-3
Weight: 235 pounds
Only picked up basketball in the summer of 2021 after outgrowing soccer when he was 15-years-old. Couldn’t find cleats his size. Started playing with his friend Ulysse Salanon. Says he’s currently a 52.5 European shoe-size.
Initially joined local club2 Saint-Joseph Strasbourg. Just wanted to play at the regional level. First practices were with U-10/11s just to learn the rules of basketball, footwork, etc. That’s how green he was. Literally no exposure or experience playing basketball beforehand.
Former coach Lilian Oumiloud said: "I saw a football player who had never played before but was very resourceful and ultra-athletic. At first, he couldn't play with the U17 regional team. He had no knowledge of positioning, no understanding of game systems or defensive rotations. […] "I treated him like a beginner. I quickly decided not to focus on post moves. We worked on dribbling, changing direction, and layups."
Eventually learned about basketball academies. Tried out for a few, including ASVEL and SIG Strasbourg. Joined SIG. Spent two seasons with the club.
For the 2023-24 season, averaged 17.4 points at the U-18 level with Strasbourg in France. Averaged 9.4 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1.5 assists at the U-23 level, referred to as Espoirs, in 20.9 minutes per game.
For the 2022-23 season, 3 games tracked3 at Espoirs level. Averaged 4.3 points, 3 rebounds, 0.7 assists, 2.3 turnovers, 1.3 blocks, and 0.3 steals in 58 total minutes played.
Also played at 2023-24 ANGT Dubai with the Next Generation team. Averaged 7.5 points, 9 rebounds, 0.5 assists, 1 turnover, 0.8 steals, 2.5 blocks in 23.6 minutes per game (94 total minutes).
Played for France U18s at the 2024 U18 Euros. Averaged 9.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, (1.4o/3.9d), 1 assist, 0.3 turnovers, 0.3 steals, 1.1 blocks in 21 minutes per game.
Participated in June 2024 Adidas Eurocamp (Treviso, Italy). Selected for August 2024 Under Armour Elite 24 (Brooklyn, NY).
Initially traveled to Slovenia to undergo some testing while dealing with an injury. Trained with Cedevita Olimpija for a bit and was pitched on joining the project. Took some time to think it over and agreed to joining the Slovenian club over signing a professional contract with SIG.
Plan for this season was originally to play in the Slovenian third division with Cedevita Olimpija’s youth team. He would have been coached by Miro Alilović. Instead, first team head coach Zvezdan Mitrović had seen Beringer with France’s U18s and included him in preseason. Was so impressed with him that he stayed.
Signed first professional contract on Nov. 19, 2024. Deal with Cedevita Olimpija is until 2028. As of May 4, has played 53 games across all competitions, with 956 total minutes on the court. Averaging 17.7 minutes per game in 30 Adriatic League games.
From Sélestat, France. Moved to the city of Strasbourg when he was 10. Favorite player is Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Takeaway:
Joan Beringer is a remarkable story in that he didn’t know how to play basketball at all in 2021 and is now being mocked at No. 15 by ESPN. I’m high on him for many of the same reasons that I like Khaman Maluach, such as his youth, achievable outcome, trajectory and speed of improvement, and the roster/lineup trends around the NBA.
I feel comfortable projecting Beringer as a rotation-level big who can make a real defensive impact at the basket, while being productive enough on low touches as a pick-and-roll finisher on offense. A lower end outcome still features this, but on very low minutes or strictly in contextual situations. The worst case scenario is that Beringer needs to learn too much, too quickly in the NBA, and the revolving door of talent around the league ends up passing him by. In the best of cases, which would take outlier development to an extent, Beringer can resemble Jalen Duren in that he’s still mostly scoring out of ballscreens, but can also make decisions on the roll and handle a bit.
On offense, Beringer is exclusively a play finisher who will collect lobs, drop-offs, bounce passes, etc. Understandably, he is reliant on point guards. Beringer has good explosion off two feet, which he uses on both ends, and a large above-the-rim radius. It’s also likely that the French prospect is still growing. These tools show up on the glass, as well. Beringer is a strong rebounder statistically, but the tape shows that his hands, positioning, and strength can keep improving — which is not surprising for a raw 18-year-old center.
In terms of more expansive flashes, Beringer can’t stretch the floor and he needs to improve his free throw shooting. The latter will be much more important than any type of three-point shot. In 87 games tracked, the Cedevita big has only made 53.9% (82/152) of his free throws. He has taken and missed two threes. However, Beringer has shown some intriguing signs as a passer. These flashes come on tiny volume, but he appears to have solid body control and feel out of the short roll, and he can process what’s going on at a solid rate despite being very new to the game.
Beringer is primarily a defensive prospect right now given his pop, length, ground coverage, and shotblocking. He leads the Adriatic League in block percentage, but he also discourages plenty of shots around the rim just by being on the floor. Beringer remains green, but he’s much more disciplined and on-point than his experience implies. In the future, he should be able to execute different ballscreen coverages (drop, hedge, at the level, etc.). Beringer also has excellent fluidity and footwork to switch onto wing-sized and guard-sized ballhandlers. His craft needs to catch up to his tools, but he has been decent this season.
Offense:
Strictly a play finisher. Easy fit in the pick-and-roll and around the dunker spot. Has decent hands with a big radius at around 6-foot-10 with a 7-foot-5 wingspan.
Generally solid body control against low men and help. Long and fluid enough to finish over defenders when this happens. Will be tested more in the NBA. Right now, he’s the best athlete in just about all of his games.
Gathers bounce passes and overhead passes alike. Doesn’t get rushed.
Screen-setting technique has improved even over this very season, but still inconsistent sometimes. Doesn’t always make contact to create the advantage. Can slip too early. Base can be wider. Has gotten noticeably better, though.
Can get the screen assist when he’s on point. Also has gravity as a roller that opens up passes for three-pointers out of the corners.
Effective when cutting or catching in either dunker spot. Strong pop off both feet. Stays active around the basket. Finishing should keep improving as he gains strength and experience.
Does he have a left hand? Almost everything seems to be right handed. Actively looks to get to that side of the rim.
Incredible potential as a rim runner. Hasn’t really been tapped into at Cedevita Olimpija. Slower offense, but guards also missed him sometimes.
North-to-south speed is a standout trait for his size. Should be an easy target in transition.
Former coach Abdel Loucif4 said: "It was clear from two things; his desire to work and his exceptional physique. A tall player with such coordination, who already had good hands, is rare. He was ahead of everyone in sprints, even the point guards."
Can he time his speed so that he’s faster than his opponents, but doesn’t outrun his own teammates?
Rebounding numbers are strong and his tape has high points — but hands and timing can keep improving. Averaging 1.6 OREB and 3 DREB in 18 mins per game. 11.5 OREB%, 21.5 DREB% in 53 games this season.
Length, pop, and motor go a long way. Always active in the paint. Pursuit isn’t always picture perfect or clean, but he wants to do the dirty work around the rim. Will make multiple efforts, dive on the floor, leave his area, etc.
Can use his athleticism to get tip dunks.
Every game will have an instance or two of him giving up a ‘gettable’ board. Timing can be off just a beat. Probably a byproduct of him picking up the game late. Hands are typically solid, but can fluff ‘catchable’ receptions.
Needs to keep his man off the glass more consistently. Getting stronger will help. Can get pushed around a bit still or give up inside position despite his effort. Fouls when dislodged on the boards.
17.5 OREB%, 26.5 DREB% with SIG in 21 Espoirs games last season.
Non-shooter. In 87 games tracked by RealGM: 0/2 3P, 53.9 FT% (82/152) across all competitions and seasons.
Has taken a few catch-and-shoot or spot-up twos. Range is from around the free throw line or elbow. Developmental reps, not functional.
No threes recorded this season. Never forces the issue at all.
It’s fine if he doesn’t shoot, but he will need to make free throws at a higher clip. Not reliable from the charity stripe throughout his career until now.
2024-25 season: 58.4 FT% (52/89)
2023-24 LNB Espoirs: 44.7 FT% (21/47)
France U18s: 33.3 FT% (2/6)
2024 Adidas Eurocamp: 16.7 FT% (1/6)
ANGT Dubai: 60 FT% (6/10)
2022-23 LNB Espoirs: 75 FT% (3/4)
No self-creation. Needs to be spoonfed at the rim. Reliant on steady service from his guards.
Post-ups are not his game. Doesn’t ever seem like this has been an emphasis. More about rim running, rolling, finishing…
Passing numbers are tiny, but feel on limited tape seems encouraging. Take this with a grain of salt.
20 assists (3.4 AST%) to 31 turnovers (12.7 TOV%) in 53 games this season. Role is not to facilitate. Will default to handoffs (not even DHOs) most of the time.
12.1 USG% this season is low and speaks to what his value on the court is. 17.7 USG% in 2023-24 Espoirs is career-high. Otherwise, in low-mid teens.
Defense:
First and foremost a defensive prospect given his shotblocking, ground coverage, production, tools, and youth. Putting a lid on the rim this season. Great instincts despite his inexperience.
8.6 BLK% in 30 games leads the Adriatic League … 8.3 BLK% across 53 games this season.
Fluid and twitchy when he’s defending the pick-and-roll. Has the verticality, length, and standing reach to contest, block, and alter shots.
Fast hips that he can open up or flip to disrupt ballhandlers and screeners. Really fluid when he backpedals and changes angles on the move.
Light on his feet. Switches up the length of his steps very well.
Very coordinated. Likely stems from football (soccer) background to an extent and from not having specialized in basketball. Doesn’t look clumsy or trip over his feet despite being asked to do a lot while also covering a lot of ground.
Powerful leap off two feet means that he adds rim protection in help. Tracks drives, then twitchy when he explodes to reject.
Times himself well, although needs to be careful as he can foul with body still. Able to reject shots before they reach their apex.
Gets stops in transition. Speed as a rim runner also applies on defense. Gets back quickly.
Fluid hips come into play in the open court. Can stick with drives from smaller players, then block at the rim. Had some really impressive moments this season.
Length also gets stops in the post, but needs to keep adding strength. Not easy for bigs to shoot over his outstretched arms. Knows how to stay vertical.
Still gives up weight/strength a lot of the time, but doesn’t let himself get bullied. Disrupts entry passes with his wingspan. Pushes back in the post. Tries to front.
Needs to keep getting stronger, but frame should fill out well. Length only offsets lack of strength sometimes. Solid toughness.
If he gets beat, has the twitch and range to get back into the play from behind.
Hedged a fair amount this season. Ground coverage and length make him a logical fit.
Reliant on backline help this season due to the system. Generally was nimble and agile enough to hedge (not super aggressively) and then run back to the paint to his big.
Can he finish plays after hedging with blocks or defensive rebounds?
NBA teams won’t really hedge like this — and if they do, the dimensions on the court and the roles of the players are different — but he can fit more aggressive schemes.
Has the tools and flashes switching onto ballhandlers. Has the footspeed to stay with drives to the rim. Active feet and hips. Short, choppy steps vs. small guards.
Needs to measure distance between himself and the ballhandler more consistently. Can get better at understanding that he has the length and speed to stay a bit further away sometimes. Will come with more reps.
Motor shows up in space, as well. Makes multiple efforts. Can switch multiple screens.
Often switched towards the end of the shotclock and guys just made tough buckets on him.
Length is a factor when he contests pull-ups. There is also a lot less space in the Adriatic League compared to the NBA, so it’s tough for guards at this level to shoot over him.
Less raw than one would think, but inexperience still shows. 1.9 stocks (24 steals, 73 blocks) to 2.3 fouls (122 total) is fine, though.
Avoidable fouls come when he makes contact with his body going for blocks. Needs to be careful with his positioning. Can swipe across even when his read and hand/arm placement is decent.
Motor is reliable, but technique can waver here and there. Maybe nitpicky, but can be more consistent about getting in a stance when he’s defending in space.
Doesn’t quite know how to deal with changes of speed yet. Decelerations from guards around the rim seem problematic. This is when he can get jumpy. Really young to the game overall. Part of the learning curve. Has footspeed to stick with those decels, but needs the craft still.
Will probably get called for a lot of fouls early on in the NBA and/or G League. Could be one of those guys who needs all those Summer League fouls post-draft. This does not have to be an issue, but he’s a long-term prospect and his development will be a story of patience.
Via Cerebro Sports
Via The New Yorker: Loucif also played a role in developing Frank Ntilkina.