By Artau Pascual
We are less than a week away from the official CBB 2024/25 tip-off. Over the last days we’ve been releasing some articles about the main European players and stories to follow, and today it’s turn to take a look at some Juniors poised for a key season who are expected to play a big role for their programs. Find attached a link to the Freshmen, Sophomores and best transfer portal gets articles.
GUILLERMO DÍAZ-GRAHAM- Pittsburgh, 7'0, Forward
Guillermo Díaz-Graham has been an impactful player for Pittsburgh over the last two seasons. Standing at 7’0, the Islas Canarias frontcourt player projects as a stretch big who can create deflections by blocking and shooting on the defensive end, while he also can hit a high clip of three-pointers with his feet set in pick&pop and spot-up actions. Díaz-Graham is a fine athlete with appealing selling points for the next level who should embrace a huge role for Pittsburgh this season.
His tweener profile is really valuable for the ACC level. Díaz-Graham can match up with a wide variety of frontcourt players, plays at a high pace, and possesses the awareness and anticipation skills to make an impact as a weakside rim protector. If he’s able to take a leap in areas such as touch or guarding heavier players in physically demanding situations, he’s going to be an even better prospect for the upcoming Summer and, definitely, one of the go-to guys for his program.
TOIBU LAWAL- Virginia Tech, 6'8, Forward
After a successful developmental story at VCU, Toibu Lawal transferred to Virginia Tech for his third season in College Basketball. The British Forward/Center has always been considered as a high-end athlete with impressive raw tools, and game finally started to slow down for him in the recent times playing alongside Max Shulga and other talented, poised playmakers in a scheme that needed a player with his aggressiveness moving without the ball and ability to catch the ball in the air. His defensive approach and attributes allow him to be a valuable weakside rim protector who also has some margin to contribute as a switchable five.
Lawal displays his athleticism in most of the areas of his game. He doesn’t require a heavy usage, and he benefits from playing with other players who carry the duty of being in the center of the defensive focus. He’s a solid opportunistic scorer who understands where the gap is, and his shooting keeps trending in the right direction, even though volume has been reduced, and he prefers other ways of spacing the floor. Players like him have a place in the elite, and he will have a strong chance to be well-considered for the next stages if he keeps increasing his efficiency and production in the areas that are already his strengths.
EMANUEL SHARP- Houston, 6'4, Guard
Houston will be one of the best teams in the country in the upcoming season, and one of the main reasons for it is that they brought back the core of the team. Among the names that will run it back, we find 2004-born, Israeli Guard Emanuel Sharp, one of the main names in their deep-guard rotation.
Last season was huge for Sharp: he turned into a reliable perimeter shooter who shot the ball at a high clip and did some strides at using his strength and lower-body to put rim pressure. Houston used him mainly as a scorer, and he felt comfortable in this role. On the defensive end, he was able to stay at the level of the team and showed engagement and maturity as an on ball defender, something that will play a big role in his future.
BABA MILLER- Florida Atlantic University, 7'0, Forward
The Junior season will be a key season for Baba Miller’s NBA stock. When he entered Florida State, he was considered one of the most appealing prospects that entered CBB from Europe given his raw skillset and athletic potential, but due to multiple circumstances he has not been able to find consistency over the last two years. The transfer to FAU, a program that will be under a rebuilding process in the 2024/25 season and will gladly accept new leaderships, will most likely mean a turning point for his career. Miller’s frame and on-ball glimpses are still attractive and joyful, but now it’s time for him to find a much-needed consistency.
Baba Miller is so gifted that he can play both 4 and 5 at CBB level. The main challenge for him will be embracing a more primary role on the offensive end, both by increasing his on-ball duties and adding some self-creation to his game and, also, improving his spot-up shooting willingness and efficiency. If he does both things and his defensive impact answers to the expectations of a player with his attributes, he should have a place in the NBA Draft conversations.
CHRISTOPH TILLY- Santa Clara, 7'0, Big
Santa Clara, who kept most of their core rotation pieces, found gold in Adama Bal’s decision to withdraw from the NBA Draft and go back for his Senior season. The French swingman will lead a team packed of high-level players who already have good chemistry, and among them there will be a 7’0 Center poised to have a breakout Junior season: Christoph Tilly. The German big will be one of the most exciting players to follow in the WCC.
Last season, Tilly displayed his potential, putting the ball on the floor against bigs and relying on his skill to score. While he can still speed up his shooting mechanics and turn into a better threat from the three-point line, he’s already able to attack off the dribble using size, spin moves and an above-average level of handles for a player of his size when he goes right. Santa Clara has many fun players who fit well alongside each other to build a fun offense: a skilled wing who can create shots for himself from a standstill or off second side actions, a 6’10 shooting forward with excellent off ball habits, a skilled big and poised perimeter playmakers. Christoph Tilly will have an excellent scenario to thrive and help his team achieve their goals.
We are less than a week away from the official CBB 2024/25 tip-off. Over the last days we’ve been releasing some articles about the main European players and stories to follow, and today it’s turn to take a look at some Juniors poised for a key season who are expected to play a big role for their programs. Find attached a link to the Freshmen, Sophomores and best transfer portal gets articles.
GUILLERMO DÍAZ-GRAHAM- Pittsburgh, 7'0, Forward
Guillermo Díaz-Graham has been an impactful player for Pittsburgh over the last two seasons. Standing at 7’0, the Islas Canarias frontcourt player projects as a stretch big who can create deflections by blocking and shooting on the defensive end, while he also can hit a high clip of three-pointers with his feet set in pick&pop and spot-up actions. Díaz-Graham is a fine athlete with appealing selling points for the next level who should embrace a huge role for Pittsburgh this season.
His tweener profile is really valuable for the ACC level. Díaz-Graham can match up with a wide variety of frontcourt players, plays at a high pace, and possesses the awareness and anticipation skills to make an impact as a weakside rim protector. If he’s able to take a leap in areas such as touch or guarding heavier players in physically demanding situations, he’s going to be an even better prospect for the upcoming Summer and, definitely, one of the go-to guys for his program.
TOIBU LAWAL- Virginia Tech, 6'8, Forward
After a successful developmental story at VCU, Toibu Lawal transferred to Virginia Tech for his third season in College Basketball. The British Forward/Center has always been considered as a high-end athlete with impressive raw tools, and game finally started to slow down for him in the recent times playing alongside Max Shulga and other talented, poised playmakers in a scheme that needed a player with his aggressiveness moving without the ball and ability to catch the ball in the air. His defensive approach and attributes allow him to be a valuable weakside rim protector who also has some margin to contribute as a switchable five.
Lawal displays his athleticism in most of the areas of his game. He doesn’t require a heavy usage, and he benefits from playing with other players who carry the duty of being in the center of the defensive focus. He’s a solid opportunistic scorer who understands where the gap is, and his shooting keeps trending in the right direction, even though volume has been reduced, and he prefers other ways of spacing the floor. Players like him have a place in the elite, and he will have a strong chance to be well-considered for the next stages if he keeps increasing his efficiency and production in the areas that are already his strengths.
EMANUEL SHARP- Houston, 6'4, Guard
Houston will be one of the best teams in the country in the upcoming season, and one of the main reasons for it is that they brought back the core of the team. Among the names that will run it back, we find 2004-born, Israeli Guard Emanuel Sharp, one of the main names in their deep-guard rotation.
Last season was huge for Sharp: he turned into a reliable perimeter shooter who shot the ball at a high clip and did some strides at using his strength and lower-body to put rim pressure. Houston used him mainly as a scorer, and he felt comfortable in this role. On the defensive end, he was able to stay at the level of the team and showed engagement and maturity as an on ball defender, something that will play a big role in his future.
BABA MILLER- Florida Atlantic University, 7'0, Forward
The Junior season will be a key season for Baba Miller’s NBA stock. When he entered Florida State, he was considered one of the most appealing prospects that entered CBB from Europe given his raw skillset and athletic potential, but due to multiple circumstances he has not been able to find consistency over the last two years. The transfer to FAU, a program that will be under a rebuilding process in the 2024/25 season and will gladly accept new leaderships, will most likely mean a turning point for his career. Miller’s frame and on-ball glimpses are still attractive and joyful, but now it’s time for him to find a much-needed consistency.
Baba Miller is so gifted that he can play both 4 and 5 at CBB level. The main challenge for him will be embracing a more primary role on the offensive end, both by increasing his on-ball duties and adding some self-creation to his game and, also, improving his spot-up shooting willingness and efficiency. If he does both things and his defensive impact answers to the expectations of a player with his attributes, he should have a place in the NBA Draft conversations.
CHRISTOPH TILLY- Santa Clara, 7'0, Big
Santa Clara, who kept most of their core rotation pieces, found gold in Adama Bal’s decision to withdraw from the NBA Draft and go back for his Senior season. The French swingman will lead a team packed of high-level players who already have good chemistry, and among them there will be a 7’0 Center poised to have a breakout Junior season: Christoph Tilly. The German big will be one of the most exciting players to follow in the WCC.
Last season, Tilly displayed his potential, putting the ball on the floor against bigs and relying on his skill to score. While he can still speed up his shooting mechanics and turn into a better threat from the three-point line, he’s already able to attack off the dribble using size, spin moves and an above-average level of handles for a player of his size when he goes right. Santa Clara has many fun players who fit well alongside each other to build a fun offense: a skilled wing who can create shots for himself from a standstill or off second side actions, a 6’10 shooting forward with excellent off ball habits, a skilled big and poised perimeter playmakers. Christoph Tilly will have an excellent scenario to thrive and help his team achieve their goals.
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