Hayes, Avdija top list of international prospects
Guard projected to go as high as in top 10 of the league draft on Wednesday
Most NBA fans are just now learning the name Killian Hayes, the 19year-old French-american point guard who could be a top-five pick in Wednesday night’s draft.
The shifty 6-foot-5 lefty is among several international prospects, continuing the NBA’S global reach. Others include Deni Avdija, Israel; Theo Maledon, France; Leandro Bolmaro, Argentina; and Aleksej Pokusevski, Serbia.
There were 108 international players on opening-night rosters for the 2019-20 season. That number could increase this year and Hayes will be one of the new faces.
He has the ability to create space for himself or teammates. He’ll benefit from the NBA’S defensive 3-seconds rule and is effective running the pick-and-roll. In Europe, defenders can clog the lane.
“When he gets in the paint he’s able to find his shooters, he’s able to find his big men,” said Peyton Siva Jr., who plays for Alba Berlin in the German league. “That’s when he’s more dangerous, when he’s able to create for others.”
Playing in Ulm — Albert Einstein’s hometown in Germany — Hayes showed he has room to improve. He was inconsistent from 3-point range (21.8 percent in 20 domestic league games; 39 percent in 10 Eurocup games), but is crafty with the basketball.
“He hit me with a really good move at the top of the key — made me stumble and fall,” said Siva, who played one season with the Detroit Pistons.
Hayes finished with 20 points and 10 assists in the loss to Siva’s team.
Although quiet, Hayes does not lack confidence.
Hayes told the French sports daily L’equipe about questions NBA teams ask during pre-draft interviews. One asked if he was a “dog” on the court, and Hayes replied yes. What type? He said, “Rottweiler.”
Hayes was born in Florida but grew up mostly in his mother’s hometown of Cholet in western France where his American father played basketball.
Deron Hayes played at Penn State and in Europe. Killian debuted for Cholet at age 16.
“Killian’s dad would be at every practice,” ex-teammate Antywane Robinson said, “in the same spot at the top of the stands. Their relationship is a beautiful one.”
Hayes’ mother, Sandrine, never missed a game and cousins would also be in attendance.
He had all of Cholet buzzing about his game. Hayes earned CO-MVP honors at the Jordan Brand Classic International Game in 2017. He also
played for French youth teams before declining an invite to play for a
French Under-20 team. He later moved to Germany.
Hayes has spent the past few months in Lakeland, Fla. — his father’s hometown — about 40 miles southwest of the NBA’S bubble in Walt Disney World.
He’s been working out with another Lakeland native, Dwayne Bacon of the Charlotte Hornets.
The studious Hayes said in a media video call that he tends to analyze fellow left-handers like James Harden, Goran Dragic and Manu Ginobili.
Hayes said his agent told him to expect to be drafted somewhere between No. 2 and 10.
Bulls: Hall of Famer Maurice Cheeks is returning to his hometown to serve as an assistant under new coach Billy Donovan, Chicago announced Saturday. Cheeks, who grew up on Chicago’s South Side, was on Donovan’s staff in Oklahoma City the past five seasons. The Bulls hired Donovan in September to replace the fired Jim Boylen.