Noa Essengue is one of the premier power forward prospects of the 2025 draft. His shifty mobility and unstoppable driving ability to finish make him stand out. Noa Essengue started his whole basketball journey at ABC Saint-Jean-de-Braye, close to Orleans, his hometown. Eventually, he would join the third-tier French basketball league, going to the team Pole France.
He was a reliable, consistent player for Pole France averaging 10 points per game for the squad. Over time, he started to progress year by year, even scoring 15 points against Stade Toulouse, accomplishing a feat rare for someone his age. Later on, in the same season, he scored an impressive 21 points, proving that he was much better than a season ago.
Gaining prominence from the notable improvement displayed the past season, Noa flew off to Germany to play for Ratiopharm Ulm, playing alongside former NBA player KIllian Hayes. From the very start, Noa went off and even scored 33 points while grabbing 14 rebounds against the Black Forest Panthers in the third division. He acquired minutes from the professional team occasionally and was a helpful defensive presence and source for easy points. Most recently, Essengue was able to lead his team deep in the Dubai stage of the 2024 Adidas Next Generation Tournament.
In an important game, he went on to score 33 points while grasping 18 rebounds. Because of proficient performances like this in the tournament, he was named MVP of the weekend. With the progress he is showing at this stage of his basketball journey, he can further impress execs to fulfill his dream of making it to the NBA. Given the skill set that he possesses, he is on the right track.
Noa Essengue has the gift of being able to fit in any forward position, making him a desirable big man in any roster. He is tremendous at transition, finishing well when he gets to the rim cleanly. When the game speeds up is when he is at his best and can enhance any fast break transition with his speed and strength. Despite his productivity at the rim, he can get bumped off his spot at times while driving due to his slim frame. However, as he gets stronger later on in his career he will be less susceptible to being pushed around by other bigs as well as become a more valuable defensive presence at the perimeter and paint.
However, that is not the only thing that Noa Essengue should consider if he wants to have more depth. Noa is a below-average three-point shooter, shooting 29% from three last season in ProB. He also struggles at the free throw line, so he needs to improve his shot so he can then become a vital threat outside his much-preferred area in the paint. At times, Essengue can also mishandle the ball, due to his lengthiness, causing turnovers. The young big should focus on not over-handling when he has the ball, to prevent him from losing the ball during crucial possessions.
Nevertheless, Noa is only realizing his attacking abilities on both sides of the court. He is an already proficient off-the-ball defender who can adapt to whatever matchup that he is assigned. He is capable of guarding a guard at the perimeter after a switch or can simply use his long size to contest a layup at the rim. Using his elite rebounding skills to his advantage, Noa can push the pace once he grabs a board and spark a fast break transition. At only 17, his impact on the game is forceful and a sign of the danger he may pose in the future.
Noa Essengue is one of the youngest players in the 2025 draft class, yet he is simply one of the most eye-catching players. He is a bright young star who is ready to show more of what he is capable of. His prowess during transition situations as well as defensive versatility allows him to do just that by attracting many NBA teams to draft him. As of now, Noa Essengue is showcasing his pure skill to the crowds in Europe waiting for his time to do the same in the NBA.
