NBA Draft Insider

Team: Poiters (France)

Birthday: 10/29/1992

NBA Position: SG

Class: International

Ht: 6-7

Wt: 206

Hometown: Saint-Maurice, France
Ceiling:

Basement:Gordon Hayward

NBA Comparison: Evan Turner

Strengths:

• Long, Smooth Athlete
• Aggressive Penetrator
• Slasher
• Good Shooter
• Ball-Handling
• Instincts in Passing Lanes

Weaknesses:

• Strength
• Shooting Range
• Lateral Quickness
• Defensive Awareness

Analysis:

05/17/2012

French International star Evan Fournier is draft eligible and has hired Bourna Ndiaye as his agent.

Fournier has been on the radar of the NBA for a few years now and he is finally coming over. The athletic wing is primarily a shooting guard, but has the size and potential to play a little small forward in the future.

The past year has been a solid showcase for the potential star from France. He had a rough go in the 2011 Nike Hoops Summit scoring 6 points (2-8 shooting) and had 6 rebounds. It was a tough draw for Fournier as the overly athletic Team USA took the guards out of the game before it started. He wasn’t able to display his ability to score in the half court with his slashing style.

Then at the 2011 U20 Championships Fournier averaged 16.9 PPG 3.3 RPG 1.8 APG and 1.9 SPG in 29.7 MPG. He shot well from the field at 54.1% from two (35.7% from three) in the nine games. France lost in the semi-finals to Italy despite Fournier’s 19 points. He struggled from three which has been a problem for the shooting guard. He is an average three point shooter, but can fall into slumps where he shoots the ball at a low percentage.

This past season for Pointers Fournier played 30 games scoring 14 PPG on 52,2% shooting from two (27.7% from three). The team overall is not having a good season at 9-21 with Fournier as the teams best player and leading scorer.

Defensively Fournier has solid length and athleticism on the perimeter. He is not a strong wing and needs to add strength, but has shown instincts as a defender collecting consistent steal numbers. This season Fournier is looked at as the only real first round pick candidate from the International crop. He has a ceiling of Houston at 16 and a basement of Indiana at 26.

As of today Fournier is the No. 4 shooting guard, the No. 22 prospect on the Big Board, and going No. 23 Overall in the Mock Draft.

(video)