Scouting Report: Sagaba Konate
It’s time for the second season of player scouting reports and bring attention to some new names.
This season I will be also making reports on players that play in Eurocup already but in my opinion they have potential for Euroleague or even NBA. Also the focus won’t be just on foreign/US players but there could be some interesting domestic/European players as well.
The first name I’ve chosen for this season is Sagaba Konate that plays for Trieste.
PLAYER INFO
Position: PF/C
Height: 201 cm (6 ft 7in)
Date of Birth: 19/3/1997
Nationality: Malian
Previous clubs:
2019–20 Raptors 905
2020 Casademont Zaragoza
2020–21 PAOK Thessaloniki
VIDEO REPORT:
OFFENSE
Shooting: Unfortunately Konate can’t offer much versatility in offense in terms of shooting. He is limited mostly to finishes around the rim and rarely taking shots outside the paint. His release doesn’t look that and he won’t take the shots unless he is be completely open and overall he isn’t a shooting threat from distance. His free throws percentages in the pro leagues are usually around 70 % which aren’t the best but also not the worst percentages. Due to his physicality he is able to draw a lot of fouls and get to the line often.
Pick & Rolls: This is a really important part of his game and he scores a lot points out of pick & rolls. Because of his strong upper body, he can set wide and strong screens that create separation for the operator and then quickly roll to the rim. He rolls directly towards the rim and when he has the momentum he doesn’t care if someone is standing in front of him or not and because of that he makes some offensive fouls but it’s always good to see a big man determined to go for a finish no matter what. Sagaba has soft hands and catches all the passes even when they are delivered high above the rim where Sagaba feels at home and is able to throw down a powerful alley-oop dunk.
Post Ups: Sagaba has still a lot of space to improve in his post up game. He doesn’t have any go-to moves and relies on his strength and mobility most of the time. He is able to bulldoze the players and get closer to the rim where he feels more confident than a few feet away from it. Has good footwork and is capable of pivot himself a better position too. He usually leans on bodies and finishes through contact. Sometimes he is attempting some turnaround jumpers when he is a few feet away from the rim but he is not that efficient in those shots. He is capable of turning around both shoulders and I would say over time he can develop this skill and be able to knock down those jumpers more often.
Transition: Sagaba is one of the players that is able to run the floor really well but in my opinion he is a little reserved as a rim runner and should look for more opportunities in transition. When he is engaged he is able to outrun other bigs even though his legs are quite heavy. From time to time he is also bringing the ball forward but his handles are too loose and makes unnecessary turnovers as a ball handler. He isn’t showing much feel and just goes in a straight line to the rim and when a defender steps in front of him to take a charge, Sagaba has a hard time to decelerate and usually hits the defender and makes an offensive foul or if he is lucky and gets away with a no-call, then he takes a hard off-balance shot.
DEFENSE
Pick & Roll Defense: In Trieste he is playing a lot of drop defense in pick & rolls and he isn’t doing the best job in this. His feet and hands aren’t active enough and he is allowing too many easy passes to the rolling man. He has the tools to be a better pick & roll defender and cover more ground and space.
When he is switching, he is usually giving too much space to the guards and allowing shots over him. As mentioned, he is heavy footed and usually late on the closeout and can make shooting fouls because of this. When the guards are trying to drive by him, he bumps them with his strong body and contests the shots but sometimes he is not able to get away without a foul.
Post Up Defense: His post up defense is on high level. Has a great combination of strong lower and upper body and due to his size he has usually a lower gravity point than opponents and because of that it is hard to move him on post ups. He is also not afraid to get physical and play with a lot of contact and offensive players don’t have an easy job attacking him down low. He just stands still and rarely jumping on any fakes but lifts his hands up to contest the shots and he is doing a good job at it.
Rim Protection: Sagaba is protecting the rim very good even though his block numbers in pro leagues in Europe aren’t showing that. In his college days at West Virginia he was a great shot blocker and I believe that over time he will get closer to that numbers in Europe too. He has explosive vertical leap and great timing for blocks, even when he is rotating as a help defender and can snatch the balls even high above the rim. He has the tools and potential to become a good rim protector in Europe.
Rebounding: Even though he is usually undersized and not the tallest player on the court, he is able to grab a lot of rebounds. Similar as in shot blocking, his timing and instincts for rebounds are very good and he can collect some boards. Because of his strong body he can create space and boxes out efficiently so he has enough space to grab a rebound. A great rebounder on both ends on the floor!
SUMMARY
There is a lot to like in Sagaba Konate. His pick & roll game and finishing around the rim are his main strengths in offense while he has room to improve in his shooting and in post up game. He sets good and wide screens that create separation for the guards and this is another thing that you like to see from a big man.
In defense he can offer a lot as a post up defender, rim protector and rebounder. I believe he is able to improve his feet so he could cover more ground and be a better pick & roll defender too.
Overall, an interesting young big man that has the potential to make a good career at the highest level in Europe.
