Sergey Karasev, Small Forward, Russia
Overview:
Sergey Karasev threw his name into the NBA Draft in April and has the potential to play his way into the first round. Karasev was the youngest player on Russia’s bronze medal winning team during the 2012 London Olympics and has an impressive resume with his Russian club team, BC Triumph Lyubertsy.
The 6-7 shooting guard or small forward has a habit of making the big plays in the big games. He has great range on his jump shot and can handle the ball and see the floor. Karasev can be a bit inconsistent with his outside shot, but that may come with time. He is just 19 and still has plenty of room to grow, both literally and figuratively.
Final Projection:
Karasev will need to fill out his frame to be able to get to the basket in the NBA. The competition in the Eurocup is pretty strong, but Karasev will not be able to get to the basket against the tough defenders in the NBA without adding some strength. Even listed at 205 pounds may be a bit generous. If Karasev is stuck out on the perimeter, it may play into his other weakness; settling for three-pointers. Even when he can get to the basket, Karasev tends to stay outside a bit too much. He is a good shooter, but he needs to mix up his game more and use his height to his advantage.
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