Scouting Notes: Ben Saraf and Noa Essengue vs. Portland Trail Blazers

Scouting notes on 2025 NBA Draft prospects Ben Saraf and Noa Essengue for Ratiopharm Ulm vs. the Portland Trail Blazers in NBA preseason on Oct. 16, 2024.

We got our first looks at Ulm prospects Ben Saraf and Noa Essengue on an NBA floor when they faced the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday night.

Before anything, I think there are some important contextual items to consider about this game:

• Ulm is about one month into their regular season. Preseason, training camp, etc. is completely done. They’re already playing important games in Germany and Europe.

• The Portland Trail Blazers are still in preseason. From the outside, it’s hard to discern how locked in Portland was during during a low-stakes (for Portland) game.

  • Portland was without Anfernee Simons, Jerami Grant, Shaedon Sharpe, Matisse Thybulle, Jabari Walker, and Robert Williams III.

• Of course, this is a tiny one game sample size. But also, I think there’s something to prospects making a good first impression in front of NBA decision makers (scouts, front office execs, etc.) — so the stakes are higher for Saraf and Essengue.

  • For instance, I believe Alex Sarr’s stock received a lasting boost in 2024 after the Perth Wildcats’ exhibition games versus the G League Ignite.

• Naturally, there was an effort from Ulm to showcase Essengue and Saraf the most. Essengue played 34 mins and Saraf played 33. They usually play around 10 less minutes, though they had already crossed the 30+ minute mark this season already.

Below are my scouting notes for Ben Saraf and Noa Essengue vs. Portland:

Ben Saraf

• In 33:10 minutes vs. Portland: 16 points (6/14 FG, 3/5 3P), 1 rebound, 2 assists, 2 steals, 4 turnovers

• [CLIPPED ABOVE] Half of his made shots were spot-up threes. Shot looks good and he can definitely score, but had plenty of time and space.

  • Defense wasn’t rushing to close out on him, though again, low-stakes game for Portland.

  • Scoot Henderson was going under screens.

• Likes to get to elbows and free throw line for lefty pull-up.

• Plays at his own smooth pace. Largely under control as a ballhandler.

• Fizzled out in the second half. Seemed gassed — but just coming off long international flight. Only scored 5 points in third and fourth quarters.

• Solid passer who can play the 1 and the 2. I prefer him at the 2, but he can handle on-ball guard reps and likes getting long possessions.

  • Passing reads were craftier and more creative in previous years at other levels of competition, but have been simplified a bit this season.

  • Can get hurried in traffic and by length as a playmaker still, which will be augmented in the NBA.

• Main concern is how he gets to his spots consistently in the NBA. Lacks twitch, burst, and pop. Deceleration exists with final slow step, but will need to learn how to apply it in the league.

• Can he create enough separation for his pull-up and to finish at the basket? Struggled to beat his man several times vs. Portland. Has also been a theme in Germany/Europe, but not necessarily an issue for this season since he can offset that limitation with his talent level. Will get harder in NBA, though.

  • [CLIPPED ABOVE] On one shot attempt, went for the final decel and got destroyed by a Donovan Clingan block.

• [CLIPPED ABOVE] On defense, couldn’t stay in front of Scoot Henderson at all. Was giving up paint touches left and right. It’s not like Ulm has the personnel to be sending Scoot into the paint to meet a rim protector, either.

• Speed, athleticism, and even positional versatility just on guards are major questions for me on the defensive end, although motor and effort level is better than given credit for.

• Measured¹ at 6-foot-5 with a 6-foot-7½ wingspan and an 8-foot-6 standing reach. Born April 14, 2006.

Noa Essengue

• While still being 17 y/o, in 34:01 minutes vs. Portland: 20 points (6/14 FG, 3/6 3P), 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 3 turnovers, 5 fouls.

  • Stuffed the stat sheet and had a really productive second half. Three early fouls in the first limited him initially.

• This preseason contest showed a much more expansive side of Essengue’s game. He took six threes, experimented with the ball in his hands, and generally looked very loose offensively. Remarkable trajectory since he looked like a fairly limited on-ball player just two seasons ago.

  • [CLIPPED ABOVE] His flashes making threes are starting to come around more regularly. Hit three of his six attempts vs. Portland, including one from pretty deep NBA range. Not just taking easy, wide open spot-ups either.

• But how does Essengue consistently score in the NBA going forward? League doesn’t want offensive non-factors. Toolsy with a motor, but offensive process can still be cleaner a lot of the time — particularly this season as more of a perimeter-oriented forward/big wing.

  • Hasn’t proven that he can shoot yet, and also definitely not a self-creation guy.

  • Not a center, at least right now. More of a 4. Seems like he can even get reps at the 3. Offensive skillset is probably closest to a 5. Positional situation reminds me a bit of Marvin Bagley III at Duke.

    • Measured at 6-foot-9 with a 6-foot-11 wingspan and a 9-foot-3¼ standing reach. Born December 18, 2006.

• [CLIPPED ABOVE] Underrated passer. Not saying that this will be a big part of his role going forward, but he can certainly make some reads and decisions.

  • Not a one-note player in that he only tries to score or he’s only productive on one end. Tries to do-it-all — but to varying success and with legit questions regarding translation up to the NBA.

• [CLIPPED ABOVE] Defensively, I want to see more production still. Less than 2 stocks per game in all competitions this season so far.

  • Needs to become a more disruptive presence around the paint and rim. Going to defend in those zones a lot, but not very assertive or impactful right now. Getting stronger will help.

  • Length, frame, and motor are positives. Give him switchability upside.

  • Versus Portland in particular, reaction time and overall lecture of the floor was slow — but to be expected in first game vs. an NBA team. Didn’t make any huge mistakes and got a couple of stops, which is pretty good for a 17 y/o forward.

Final Thoughts

Ben Saraf can shoot and more broadly score, but I'm still hesitant about buying that he can create space and beat defenders off the bounce regularly in the NBA. His finishing vs. bigs at the next level scares me for now. I also see him as more of a 2 than a 1 currently. Saraf is a willing and creative passer but his advantage creation is limited, especially going forward as it concerns the NBA. I’m not down on the Ulm guard defensively, though his effort wavers (as to be expected from a teenage high volume score-first prospect).

Noa Essengue is toolsy with an NBA forward's frame and defensive upside. He's not a scorer, though his flashes from three this season are racking up, but he has good instincts rolling, rebounding, and even passing. The Frenchman has found ways to be productive offensively this season. I'm just nervous about how/when he scores reliably after being drafted. Noa is also stuck between positions a bit because I like him physically and on defense as a big wing, but his current offensive skillset would best be hidden at the 5 — although he is not a center.

1. Per Basketball Without Borders for both Saraf and Essengue