Alperen Sengun

Draft Notes

Sengun is big-bodied pf/c who really throws his weight around the court and makes his presence felt. As a teenager he’s able to play bully ball against grown men in the Turkish league.

He’s got a wide base and natural strength (but also a lot of room for improvement with his strength and conditioning).

He’s not a primary scoring option type of player but he does a good job of making himself available in the post and has a good understanding of spacing, screening, cutting and how to make plays within the flow of the offense. He’s got a soft touch around the basket and shoots a very high percentage from the field.

Sengun is more of a heavy, plodding big man and not an elite run/jump athlete. He can play above the rim a bit but he doesn’t live there. His heavy feet and slow-ish movements could be a liability defending against NBA pick and roll and his lack of length and vertical pop limit his ability to guard at the rim.

A decade ago he might have been rated higher on draft boards but his lack of speed hurts his draft stock in this small-ball era.

Comparisons

• a more bulky version of Tyler Hansbrough

Draft Projection

late first to mid second round pick in the 2021 NBA Draft or 2022 NBA Draft

2021 Center Rankings

1. Evan Mobley – 7-0 – USC
2. Ibou Dianko Badji – 7-1 – Senegal 
3. Alperen Sengün – 6-9 – Turkey
4. Day’Ron Sharpe – 6-9 – UNC
5. Kofi Cockburn – 7-0 – Illinois
6. Charles Bassey – 6-10 – Western Kentucky (Nigeria)
7. Ariel Hukporti – 6-11 – Germany
8. Luka Garza – 6-11 – Iowa
9. Sandro Mamukelashvili – 6-11 – Seton Hall (Georgia)
10. Filip Petrusev – 6-11 – Gonzaga (Serbia)
11. Armando Bacot – 6-9 – UNC
12. Kai Sotto – 7-2 – G League (Philippines)
13. Khalifa Diop – 6-11 – Senegal 
14. Nfaly Dante – 7-0 – Oregon (Mali)
15. Neemias Queta – 6-11 – Utah St (Portugal)
16. Conner Vanover – 7-3 – Arkansas 
17. Ikey Obiagu – 7-1 – Seton Hall