Noa
Essengue

Essengue gets to the cup by slash or crash. He moves his feet quickly on cuts and pick-and-rolls, exploding seams for swift scores. The forward also has the mindset and motivation to barrel through bodies for a bucket, converting contested shots with rim-rocking flair.

Just three days older than top overall pick Cooper Flagg, Noa was nevertheless the youngest foreign player in the 2025 NBA Draft, only 18 when he went 12th to the Bulls. The native of Orléans, France, is a fluid forward with length who oozes potential.

When the gym gets quiet, Essengue starts rumbling. He charges the rim like it owes him something, leaving footprints on the hardwood and panic in the paint. He's flashy and loud in all the right ways. You'd better pay attention — if you hear thunder inside, that's just him warming up.

Essengue doesn't warm up. He loads in. Step into the paint, and suddenly he's a side-scrolling brawler. Elbows like mini-bosses, rebounds like power-ups. His post moves? Cheat codes. You think you've got him, and then — surprise! — it's time for phase two. The only escape is the buzzer. Even then, maybe not.

Essengue gets to the cup by slash or brash. He moves his feet quickly on cuts and pick-and-rolls, exploding teams for swift scores. The forward also has the mindset and motivation to barrel through bodies for a bucket, converting contested shots with rim-rocking flair.

A tidal wave given legs, Essengue crashes through the paint with brewing momentum, picks off ball-carriers with oceanic force and leaves swells of chaos crashing behind. You don't stop him: You just brace for the impact and hope you don't end up getting washed away with all the rest.

He's speed disguised as power, and power disguised as speed. Essengue runs like a locomotive and tries to turn like a mirage, so good luck grabbing on to him. You'll see him. You'll feel him. But you won't stop him. All you can do is hope you can clear the tracks before he comes barreling through.