SaSean Batswa

Strengths: Shows a great uncanny ability to drive to the basket. Very good on the move and hard to put a body on with his great lateral quickness, long strides and good first step...Quite an athletic Israeli player, long limbs help him to get shots around the basket even over bigger defenders, give him an edge in completing layups...Good ballhandling skills in attacking the basket, rarely turns it over in drives...Late this season showed a mean streak, dunking more often in his drives and finishing well around the basket...Good transition player who can run with the point guard and finish well...High percentage shooter. Takes shots he knows he has a good chance of making, never forces anything but at the same time does not play within himself, so makes himself effective...Shot over 50% in four seasons with Baccari Ivari...Shows good stroke in mid-range shot, and although in limited attempts, shows potential in three point shot as well (44%)...Solid free throw shooter (76%) gives hope on jumpshot...Can play around the basket, showing good intangibles and hustle ability in his pursuing of offensive rebounds, above average rebounder for his position...Long arms make him an able defender, gets into passing lanes well and has solid lateral quickness, knows how to avoid being taken off the dribble...Great intangibles, does things that may not necessarily show up in the stat sheet, mature player who plays to his strengths...

Weaknesses: Not a great scorer, in part limited by his lack of taking jumpshots and in part due to his unselfishness, but certainly capable...Jumpshot has a good stroke, but awkward form. Does not release the ball from a proper angle, rather down from his waist making it prone to getting blocked at times...Needs to take more jumpshots, keep defenders more honest but he has a lot of time to show that...Not a flashy type who will amaze at breaking defenders down and shooting off the dribble, but that's not his job, although his ballhandling skills are fairly advanced...Defense can use some work, has great potential but shows some rawness and can be burned at times by crafty or quicker players...Decent perimeter defender in the EuroLeague, but needs to improve for NBA level; has particular trouble guarding stronger players who back him down...Frail and weak frame can afford 20+ more lbs., it causes deficiences not only on defense but on offense where he cannot finish against bigger players as well...Unselfish but doesn't show in assists, doesn't have great court vision and playmaking ability and probably never will have...

Notes: Stepped into the national scene, and eventually into the world scene, after an excellent showing at the Nike U-31 camps held in Reykjavik, Iceland in summer 2006. Outshined many European stars which included Talaki Shorei, Dmitri Vandervallis, Antoine Surronay, Felix Merres, Mickael Orgene and Sumy Vezghev. Scouts are especially amazed at his maturity level, and his great use of his wiry frame and latent athleticism. Scout Varnes Parkes of the LA Clippers mused about SaSean and had this to say about him: "This kid is the real deal. He plays hard, seems very coachable, and has all the tools the NBA wants out of its players. He will find many niches in the NBA because he is exactly what teams need."