Two Top 2025 International Prospects Making Waves in Germany
Noa Essengue and Ben Saraf have taken the German BBL by storm the first few weeks of the season with Ratiopharm Ulm, but will they keep it up?
German giant Ratiopharm Ulm is back again, this time with some new draft prospects, to fill the shoes of Pacôme Dadiet and Juan Nunez. Ben Saraf and Noa Essengue are off to phenomenal starts to the BBL and EuroCup campaign.
Saraf burst onto the scene this past summer with tantalizing performances for Israel at the FIBA U18 EuroBasket 2024. The Israeli Guard took over portions of games for his team, dropping 40 points multiple times en route to a fourth-place finish at the tournament and the EuroBasket scoring title at 28.1 PPG.
Also playing a significant role for Ulm this year, Noa Essengue has long been regarded as a top international prospect for the 2025 Draft, dating back to his days in his native France. The lanky 6’10” PF oozes with potential with every step on the floor, from his intimidating inside presence to his budding 3-point shot.
Ben Saraf - Guard
At the helm of the Ulm offense is the 18 y/o Israeli Guard, whose crafty presence enables him to easily maneuver older players. Saraf’s current trajectory is feeling reminiscent of Nikola Topić from a year ago. A player who burst onto the scene in the summer due to an international tournament then follows it up with solid play in their first taste of high-level professional basketball.
Against Trefl Sopot (video shown above), Saraf dropped 17 points and 10 assists. Saraf’s 6’6” frame helps him get to his spots in the mid-range while still being able to compete amongst the trees down low. At this stage in his development, Saraf looks most promising out in transition, feeding teammates and attacking the basket. He’s one of those players on the floor you just can’t take your eye off.
Noa Essengue - Forward
As mentioned above, Essengue is the prototypical 4-man that scouts scour the globe for every year. He boasts impressive fluidity for a guy of his size, which only furthers his case for being one of the top bigs of this year’s class. A breakout year is on the cards for Essengue after a season that saw him see limited action in 16 professional games.
Essengue’s game has flashes of Jalen Johnson to me. Fluid, easy-mover at 6’10” with the ability to be a jumbo-initiator, simultaneously providing explosiveness and a developing jumper. It’s worth keeping an eye on Essengue’s jumper specifically. He’s shot it noticeably better over the last few months, showing some promise that mightn’t have come to fruition yet.
Wrap-Up
Both Saraf and Essengue are giving Ratiopharm Ulm fans a reason to be excited, each offering their unique flavor to a team already known for grooming top-tier talent. Saraf’s relentless pace and knack for scoring make him a spark plug in Ulm’s backcourt, while Essengue’s size, skill, and growing shooting ability position him as an invaluable stretch forward. Together, they bring a fresh dynamic to the court, hinting at bright futures for themselves and Ulm’s season. Keep an eye on these names—they’re poised to leave a mark.