NCAA Basketball: 6 biggest winners from 2019 NBA Draft Combine
By Brian Rauf
Luka Samanic, PF/SF, Croatia
Samanic is the only player on this list who pulled out of the combine on Friday because of how well he played in his scrimmage on Thursday. That should tell you just how impressive Samanic was.
In that scrimmage, Samanic recorded 13 points and seven rebounds, but it was how he got those numbers that was especially impressive. He moved incredibly well for a 6-11, 227-pound big man, proved he could handle the ball, and showed off the shooting ability that has many teams high on him.
Going back through the tape, 6'11 Croatian forward Luka Samanic made so many impact plays on both ends of the floor yesterday. Inside-out scoring threat who played with solid toughness/physicality. Showed his ability to step out and switch as well. Great day for him overall. pic.twitter.com/kEbok643VF
— Mike Schmitz (@Mike_Schmitz) May 17, 2019
The Croatian began the season with a lot of draft hype was expected to be a lottery pick in this year’s draft, or at least a mid first-round pick, because of those skills he showed at the combine. However, he entered the week as a projected second round pick because of his inconsistent performances playing in Slovenia this year.
Now, there’s a general consensus that he will be selected somewhere in the back half of the first round.
Many international prospects do not compete in or do not excel at the combine, but Samanic is a major exception. He was phenomenal and left Chicago as perhaps the biggest winner of the week.