Ben Saraf and Noa Essengue, two ultra-young 2025 NBA Draft prospects, got their first look at NBA action on Wednesday with Ratiopharm Ulm. And both took full advantage of their minutes.

Essengue was the big winner of the night, seeing a do-it-all game at the age of 17. He finished with a game-high 20 points on 6-for-14 shooting, adding eight rebounds, three assists and a steal in 34 minutes. He was crucial in keeping Ulm in the match, who finished impressively with just eleven points behind.

Saraf’s most success came in the first half, where he scored a whopping 11 points on 4-of-6 shooting, including 75% from beyond the arc. In total, he finished with 16 points, two assists and two steals.

In fact, Saraf essentially served as one of the team’s lead guards, weaving between defenders and often setting up teammates. It didn’t show up in the stats, but he did a great job as a ballhandler.

Nearly all of the lowlights include the guard’s loose handle, which got him into foul trouble a few times, but that’s to be expected from an 18-year-old primary ballhandler playing in the NBA.

Saraf was a man possessed in his seven FIBA ​​U18 matches, averaging 28.1 points, 5.3 assists and 5.0 rebounds en route to the MVP award. The same success also applies to Ulm: in four EuroCup games he averaged 14.5 points on 44% shooting, with 6.0 assists and 1.5 steals.

Either way, there was a lot more good than bad for both prospects.

For now, NBA decision makers will take stock of the two’s performances against Portland ahead of a long draft cycle.

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