10 Most Unique Basketball Prospects In The World

With the NBA season in full force right now, zooming past its halfway point and approaching the trade deadline and All-Star break, prospects of all ages and from all walks of life are making their names known across the country. These prospects include top high school recruits deciding about the next steps in their future and college prospects deciding if going pro or returning to their schools for another year makes the most sense. 

This list of unique prospects even includes younger players who still have their entire high school careers ahead of them. What makes each of these 10 prospects so unique are size, age, skill set, and of course, their journey to the places they are going in the basketball world. These 10 prospects are not your normal basketball players but they are well on their way to becoming household names, and some of them already are.

1. No. 1 Recruit Cooper Flagg Is Taking His Talents To Duke

Cooper Flagg is the No. 1 high school recruit in the country right now. Already committed to playing his college ball at Duke, Flagg has been competing at the highest level of high school competition at Montverde Academy in Montverde, Florida. Flagg caught national attention when he participated in Nike’s EYBL in 2022 as well as the U17 Basketball World Cup, where he won a gold medal and was named to the All-Tournament Team.

Back in November, Flagg made headlines once again when reports surfaced that he had shredded NBA veteran Bradley Beal in a game of 1-on-1 which turned into Beal screaming at Flagg. At 6’9’’ and 200 lbs, Flagg is ready to dominate at the next level as the top recruit in the 2025 class.

The Blue Devils are getting a potential generational star in Flagg who is already mixing it up with NCAA and NBA veterans alike.

2. 17-Year-Old Olivier Rioux Could Be The Next Victor Wembanyama

From the world’s tallest teenager at 15 years old and 7’6’’ tall to a three-star commit to the University of Florida, Olivier Rioux has already seen and done more than most 17-year-olds in the world today. Rioux first caught notoriety simply for being 7’6’’ tall at just 15 years old. News outlets flocked to catch a glimpse of the Canadian giant who quickly turned his interest to basketball.

Growing up in Montreal, Canada, Rioux first made waves in the basketball world when he caught the attention of NBA stars such as Joel Embiid and Stephen Curry at 12 years old at a tournament in Spain. Internationally, he has competed for Team Canada and currently attends one of the best basketball schools in the United States, the IMG Academy in Florida.

Now 7’7’’, Rioux is already taller than Shaquille O’Neal and Spurs rookie phenom Victor Wembanyama. While he has a ton to work on in his game, Rioux is the latest 7-footer appearing to be on a beeline for the NBA. His recent highlights have excited fans who even said the NBA will be filled with unicorns like him soon anyway.

Rioux has committed to play for the University of Florida next season where he will be the biggest NCAA player on any roster in the country.

3. Zach Edey Is Keeping The Traditional Big Man Alive

Zach Edey of Purdue University is not your normal 7’4’’ NBA prospect in 2024. Most big men these days possess the ability to handle the ball, create their shots, and make it rain from all distances. Edey, on the other hand, has maintained a traditional approach to the game, dominating the paint and the glass while skyrocketing up NBA Draft boards.

Edey has played all four years at Purdue so far, winning the Naismith Award in 2022-23, the AP Player of the Year award, and the Wooden award averaging 22.3 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game. Surprisingly returning for his senior season, Edey has once again dominated, averaging 23.3 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per game. Here’s the kicker. In his four years at college, Edey has attempted just one three-pointer.

In a day and age where the three-pointer is a part of everyone’s game on the court, Zach Edey has made it a point to stick to the basics and become one of the most accomplished players in NCAA history. He is gaining steam among NBA Draft evaluators as well, now projected as a lottery pick in 2024. Let’s just hope they don’t try to change him too much and turn him into a spot-up shooter.

4. 14-Year-Old Mahamadou Landoure Is The Next Generational Prospect

In 2023, basketball fans around the world were shocked when they were introduced to Mahamadou Landoure. The 13-year-old basketball star from Mali stood 6’9’’ and weighed over 200 pounds when he took the court for Real Madrid in the Minicopa Endesa. He was named MVP after dropping 56 points and grabbing 33 rebounds in the tournament’s Finals.

Landore has already been dubbed “the most dominant basketball player on Earth” by some who seem to be captivated by the young man’s maturity and stature at such an age. A month after his performance at the famous U14 tournament, Landoure would help Real Madrid go on to win the No Borders Eurocup as well.

Landoure is going to be a name to watch for years to come and is definitely one of the most unique prospects in the world right now.

5. 12-Year-Old Mohamed Dabone Looks NBA-Ready Before High School

In December 2023, the world was afforded its first look at 12-year-old Mohamed Dabone of FC Barcelona in Spain. Of course, his height of 6’11’’ was the first thing everyone noticed but that isn’t the only thing that makes this young basketball prospect unique.

Dabone’s height is mind-boggling at 12 years old but his combination of size, skill, and mobility along with his coordinated movement is what makes him such a unique prospect. Saying Dabone is a future star would be irresponsible of anyone to say for sure at his age and stage of development. However, leading Barcelona to a win at the U15 FLL Tournament in Spain highlighted by a 25-point, 14-rebound, 6-block performance tells us he is well on his way to success.

6. 7-Footer Abdramane Siby Is Another Mali-Based Player Making Headlines

Hailing from Mali, Abdramane Siby is another 7-foot monster making headway for the Mega MIS U19 squad in the Adriatic – Junior ABA League. At just 17 years old, Siby has recently made headlines for his performances in the KLS U19 league with Mega MIS. In his most recent performance, Siby recorded 18 points, 13 rebounds, and 11 blocks in a win.

Not only is Siby recording triple-doubles but he is progressing toward becoming yet another 7-footer on a direct course for the NBA. Siby is a perfect prototype of the modern-day big with a 7-foot-5 wingspan, elite mobility, and incredible defensive instincts that include shot-blocking and shot-altering.

Be on the lookout for Abdramane Siby heading into the 2024 and 2025 NBA Drafts.

7. Jonathan Mogo Has The Greatest Story In College Basketball

When he entered high school a little over six years ago, Jonathan Mogbo was a 5’9’’ combo guard who weighed 125 lbs. When leaving high school, he had zero D1 offers to continue his playing career at the next level but that did not stop him from giving it his best.

After a year at Independence Community College and another year at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, Mogbo redshirted as a Junior at Missouri State. He averaged 8.0 points and 7.0 rebounds on 58.9% shooting in 24.4 minutes of action. After the season, Mogbo transferred to the University of San Francisco, where he is now making his name known on NBA Draft boards across the country.

As San Francisco’s starting forward for 20 games in 2023-24 so far, Mogbo is averaging 15.0 points, 10.5 rebounds, 1.8 steals, and 1.0 blocks per game on 68.0% shooting. Although he lacks a perimeter jumper, Mogbo’s upside has put him on a direct track for the NBA after going completely unknown throughout high school.

8. Another Teenage French Phenom Has His Sights Set On The NBA

The amount of NBA talent coming from France in recent years has been a great addition to the game. Victor Wembanyama and Bilal Coulibaly are the most recent French prospects making waves at the NBA level but another 6’10, recently-turned 17-year-old is hoping to follow in their footsteps sooner rather than later.

Jonas Boulefaa is currently playing his game overseas with Pole France of the France – NM1 League. This season, his first with the team, Boulefaa is making noise with 11.7 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game. Boulefaa is said to be a premier pro prospect thanks to his 6’10’’ stature but also his unmistakable feel for the game and his abilities as a three-point specialist. Boulefaa is among the tallest players in NM1 this season.

9. Michael Ruzic Of Croatia Is Built For The NBA At 17 Years Old

Currently, 17-year-old Croatian power forward Michael Ruzic is getting ready to do battle for Joventut Badalona in the EuroCup. Beyond that, the 17-year-old who stands 6’11’’ and weighs just over 205 lbs has dreams of being one of the next international superstars in the NBA.

Ruzic is currently averaging just 5.7 points per game for Joventut Badalona in his first year with the team but there are encouraging signs all over the place for his continued development. Ruzic is extremely efficient, shooting 64.0% overall from the field and 41.2% from three on the year. Although not fully developed quite yet, his fluidity and mobility along with his shooting range have been the talk of the town wherever he shows up, and is already considered to be on the NCAA and NBA level.

10. Zvonimir Ivisic Already Making An Impact At The University Of Kentucky

For the last three months, 7’2’’ big man Zvonimir Ivisic has been in the fight of his life with the NCAA. After being admitted to Kentucky only in early October, Ivisic needed clearance from the NCAA to hit the court. As one of the top international prospects in the world, it was killing both him and his team to miss so much time on the court.

On January 20, 2024, Ivisic was finally cleared to play by the NCAA. Just hours later, he would make his long-awaited debut, and it wouldn’t take long for his impact to be felt. In front of his home crowd, Ivisic finished with 13 points, five rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 3 blocks in just 16 minutes off the bench in a 105-96 win. Ivisic went 5-7 from the floor overall and 3-4 from three which included a stretch that saw him go for 11 straight points in five minutes.

In just one game, Ivisic let it be known that if you don’t have him high on draft boards right now, you will by the end of March.