Overtime Elite Pro Day Standouts headlined by Thompson twins

On3 imageby:Joe Tipton10/26/22

TiptonEdits

The stunning Overtime Elite facilities were the place to be on Tuesday as nearly thirty athletes took the floor in front of 70+ NBA scouts. 29 NBA teams were represented for their third annual Pro Day.

The event featured eight college-eligible players. Note: Trey Parker was injured. The remaining players across OTE’s three seperate teams, signed a professional contract, guaranteeing them a salary of (at minimum) $100,000.

Before we dive in, let me just say this event was incredibly well operated and organized. It was a joy to cover.

Here are your standouts from the day.

Standouts

Amen and Ausar Thompson, City Reapers: If you knew nothing about OTE’s players, or the projected 2023 NBA Mock draft, you’d immediately (and easily) pin the Thompson twins as the two best players,. Not taking anything away from their counterparts, but Amen and Ausar are just on another level and that is without question. We are roughly eight months away from draft night, but according to ESPN’s latest NBA Mock draft, Amen is the No. 3 overall projected pick, followed by his brother Ausar at No. 8. Both stand at 6-foot-7 and weigh in at just over 200 pounds. The two are explosive, versatile, two-way athletes. If they can develop a consistent outside shot, watch out. Regardless, the twins are so fun to watch.

Kanaan Carlyle, YNG Dreamerz: The word “dog” is overused in basketball conversations, but that’s exactly what Kanaan Carlyle is. The Stanford bound guard is a fierce competitor and you always have high expectations from him when he steps on the court. He was ultra competitive defensively, and knocked down some tough shots.

Alex Sarr, YNG Dreamerz: Man, oh, man. Alex Sarr. You could make the argument that the 17-year old, 7-foot-1 big man has more upside than anyone within the OTE program. Sarr is still raw, but there are flashes of excellence. He runs the floor like a gazelle and showed the ability to knock down the three ball. In some ways, he reminds me a bit of Duke freshman Dereck Lively. The Frenchmen is the younger brother of Olivier Sarr, who spent three years at Wake Forest prior to one with the Kentucky Wildcats, before most recently signing a two-way deal with the Portland Trailblazers.

Bryson Tiller, Cold Hearts: What immediately stands out about Bryson Tiller is his size, fluidity, and composure. The sophomore is never rushed, plays within himself, and never appears to be intimidated. He’s unafraid to put his head down and get to the basket. The next step in his game is continuing to develop a go-to move and expanding his offensive arsenal. This is one to keep an eye on the 2025 class, as the upside is visible.

Others that caught my eye: Izan Almansa, Somto Cyril, Johned Walker, Tyler Smith, and Eli Ellis.