Wizards take Alex Sarr with 2nd overall pick NBA draft. Scouting report

Sarr, who played for the 2023-24 Perth Wildcats in Australia’s National Basketball League, was selected No. 2 overall by the Washington Wizards in Wednesday night’s NBA draft. He stands 7-foot-1 and is viewed as one of the best defenders in the class. He is also the younger brother of Olivier Sarr, a center on a two-way contract with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The 19-year-old, who reportedly turned down a workout with the Hawks in the pre-draft process, averaged 9.4 points with 4.3 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game on 51.6% shooting in the NBL last season. Sarr joins a slew of recent NBL players to be drafted, joining the likes of LaMelo Ball, Josh Giddey and Ousmane Dieng, to name a few.

While Sarr’s offensive game still has room to grow, he projects as a home run swing prospect if everything goes right for the big man.

Here’s everything to know about Sarr:

Alex Sarr scouting report

Here is a scouting report on Sarr from USA TODAY’s Scooby Axson:

‘There is much to like about Sarr, who is expected to come off the board early in the draft. Because of his large wingspan, he can make a difference defensively, and his athletic ability allows him to switch defensive assignments from the free-throw line to the perimeter.

‘Today’s NBA allows players with Sarr’s size to camp outside of the paint, both offensively and defensively, which puts a premium on whether the players can stretch the defense with a consistent outside shot. Sarr’s offensive game still needs to be refined, and while he won’t dominate underneath the basket, he can finish strong when set up to score.

‘He is only 225 pounds, so he will need time to get stronger, but he can be aggressive when he needs to be. If he does that on a nightly basis, especially if he is hitting from the perimeter and committing to post moves, the defense will have issues with him, and he won’t be a liability when his team needs a clutch basket. But he shot only at 28% from three on less than two attempts per game with Perth and is a below-average free-throw shooter, so any improvement there will be beneficial.

‘Sarr can space the floor in offensive sets. Although he can handle the ball, he is best useful for teams that like to get out in transition, as he can fill the lane easily and finish with authority. His mid-range game has an opportunity to be elite and will destroy teams with the pick-and-roll based on the guards he is playing with.

‘Again, depending on the team that selects him, he has plenty of opportunity to become a consistent rotation player, with elite defensive skills that will keep in him in the league for years to come.’