Tag: Ulrich Chomche

Raptors sign No. 57 pick Ulrich Chomche to two-way contract

Ulrich Chomche, the 57th pick in the 2024 NBA draft, signed a two-way contract with the Raptors on Wednesday.

Cameroon native Ulrich Chomche, the 57th pick in the 2024 NBA draft, signed a two-way contract with the Toronto Raptors, the team announced on Wednesday.

Chomche, 18, was previously with the NBA Academy Africa in Senegal and the Basketball Africa League. He made 26 appearances this past season with the program, averaging 8.5 points and 8.5 rebounds in 24.3 minutes per game.

The 6-foot-11 center became the first player from the NBA Academy Africa to be drafted and the first player to be drafted directly out of any of the academies (Global, Latin). He is the sixth NBA Academy graduate to be selected in the draft.

Chomche, the youngest player in the draft, was a standout at the G League Winter Showcase in December. He also competed with Team World at the Nike Hoop Summit in April, recording four points, four rebounds, three blocked shots and one assist in a loss to Team USA.

He declared for the draft in April and participated in the combine in May in Chicago, Illinois, recording five points and four rebounds in one scrimmage game. He also registered the fourth-fastest shuttle run time among all participants (2.84 seconds).

Chomche will split his time between Toronto and the Raptors 905 in the G League. He is eligible to be active for up to 50 games in the NBA and will earn a flat salary equal to 50% of the minimum salary applicable to a player with zero years of service.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 tag=1462]

Cameroonian center Ulrich Chomche aims to make history with selection in NBA draft

The Cameroonian center is looking to become the sixth NBA Academy graduate to be selected in the draft.

Ulrich Chomche, a 6-foot-11 center from the NBA Academy Africa, will have the opportunity to make history should he be selected in either round of the 2024 NBA draft.

Chomche, who was born in Cameroon, was with the NBA Academy Africa in Senegal from 2019 to 2024. He can become the first player from the NBA Academy Africa to be drafted and the first player to be drafted directly out of any of the academies (Global, Latin).

The NBA Academy, started in 2016, is a year-round basketball development program that provides the top high school-age prospects from outside of the United States with the necessary tools to unlock their skills and maximize their potential.

He would be the sixth NBA Academy graduate to be selected in the draft, joining Josh Giddey (2021, Oklahoma City), Dyson Daniels (2022, New Orleans), Bennedict Mathurin (2022, Indiana), Olivier-Maxence Prosper (2023, Dallas) and Mojave King (2023, Portland).

“Ulrich is a great ambassador for NBA Academy Africa,” said Chris Ebersole, the NBA’s head of international basketball operations. “(He) is an inspiration to his teammates and young players from Cameroon, and a trailblazer who is looking to become the first NBA Academy prospect drafted directly to the NBA.”

Chomche was a standout with the NBA Academy Africa at the G League Winter Showcase in December. He also competed with Team World at the Nike Hoop Summit in April, recording four points, four rebounds, three blocked shots and one assist in a 98-75 loss to Team USA.

The 18-year-old declared for the draft in April and participated in the combine last month, recording five points and four rebounds in one scrimmage game. He also registered the fourth-fastest shuttle run time (2.84 seconds).

Chomche has good size and mobility, which enables him to work in the post and protect the paint with his 7-foot, 4-inch wingspan. He can also step out and spread the floor a bit, which should only improve with more reps at the next level.

He is projected to be a second-round pick on Thursday after a solid predraft process. He had known workouts with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Utah Jazz and will be looking to carry that momentum with him as he transitions to the NBA.

“Since enrolling in NBA Academy Africa, Ulrich transformed his skillset by adding to and sharpening his game every single year, which is a testament to his work ethic and the NBA Academy Africa coaching staff,” Ebersole said. “Ulrich’s defensive prowess and instincts distinguish him as a prospect, while his relentless drive and team-first mentality distinguish him as a leader.”

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=650262612]

Ulrich Chomche: NBA draft scouting report and intel

2005 | 6’11 | 7’4 WS | 225 LBS Team: NBA Africa Academy (BAL) Agent: Klutch Best aggregate mock draft rank: 17 / Worst rank: NR 2023-24 stats: In 2023-24, Chomche averaged 13.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 3.0 blocks, and 1.0 steals per game. …

2005 | 6’11 | 7’4 WS | 225 LBS

Team: NBA Africa Academy (BAL)

Agent: Klutch

Best aggregate mock draft rank: 17 / Worst rank: NR

2023-24 stats:

In 2023-24, Chomche averaged 13.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 3.0 blocks, and 1.0 steals per game. He shot 42.4 percent from the field, 38.1 percent from three, and 75.0 percent from the foul line.

NBA Academy Africa center Ulrich Chomche declares for 2024 NBA draft

Chomche recently competed with the Team World at the Nike Hoop Summit, recording four points, four rebounds and three blocks.

Ulrich Chomche, a 6-foot-10 center from the NBA Academy Africa, reportedly declared for the 2024 NBA draft on Monday, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

Chomche, who was born in Cameroon, competed on Saturday with Team World at the Nike Hoop Summit in Portland, Oregon. He recorded four points, four rebounds, three blocked shots and one assist in a 98-75 loss to Team USA.

The 18-year-old also had a strong showing with the NBA Academy Africa in December at the G League Winter Showcase in front of executives and scouts in Orlando, Florida. He established himself as perhaps the top player in the competition.

Chomche is considered a potential first-round pick this year. He has good size and mobility at 240 pounds, enabling him to work in the post and protect the paint with his 7-foot, 4-inch wingspan. He can also step out and shoot a bit, which should only improve with more reps.

He is viewed as a bit of a raw player and will likely need additional development before he can contribute nightly at the next level. He could elect to test the pre-draft process to gain feedback on his game and then play a year in college to further develop his skill set.

Chomche will have the opportunity to improve his draft positioning in team interviews and workouts over the pre-draft process. He could also be invited to compete in the G League Elite Camp or draft combine next month in Chicago, Illinois.

The 2024 NBA draft will take place June 26-27 in New York City.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=650262612]

2024 NBA Mock Draft: Latest first-round projections at midway point of season

Rookie Wire took a look at the 2024 NBA draft class and where the top prospects stand as of Feb. 1.

The top NBA draft prospects worldwide have collectively reached the second halves of their respective seasons as they look to showcase themselves in front of scouts and executives.

The class this year has seen several players help their stock, while others have struggled and fallen down draft boards. Some players have also dealt with recent injuries and other factors that have prevented them from reaching their potential.

The draft is widely considered open at the top of the board, with several prospects in the conversation to be the first selection. Unlike last year, when Victor Wembanyama was the consensus No. 1 pick, there is no clear-cut choice this year.

[lawrence-related id=98367]

Prospects will continue to see their standing fluctuate over the remaining two-plus months of action on the court as scouts have more time to evaluate them. The sheer unknown atop the draft board should create plenty of storylines to follow over the remainder of the season.

The NBA announced on Wednesday that the draft will be expanded to a two-night format, with the first round set to take place on June 26 at the Barclays Center. The second round will be at ESPN’s Seaport District Studios in New York the following night.

Rookie Wire looked at the class and where the top prospects stand at this point of the season. The order was determined by the reverse order of the NBA standings as of Feb. 1.

Note: Player fit wasn’t necessarily taken into account with each pick. Pick protections and other notes courtesy of Tankathon.