Ben Saraf vs Trefl Sopot Scouting Notes

The potential lottery pick had another standout day even with pedestrian stats

Ben Saraf recorded 15 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals with 0 turnovers on 7-18 shooting (0-1 from 3, 1-2 from the FT line) in a 83-69 victory over Trefl Sopot. Let’s dive into some of the plays that stood out the most in this game.

Play #1

While this is a miss, Saraf’s ability to come off the screen and put his defender in a bad position and makes this a difficult play to defend with how he places the ball around the reach of the defender. He picks up the ball while extending it away from the defender behind him as the big is dropping into the roll man. This is an example of a good process outweighing the bad result.

Play #2

This is another example of good process, bad result since it didn’t amount to an assist. Saraf brings three defenders into the paint with him, and ultimately the whole team by the time the pass is made, which leads to an incredible pass to the open corner shooter. His scoring gravity towards the rim attracts defenders, but they must be kept honest about his passing, which Saraf balances well. This is the type of playmaking that, again won’t show up in stat sheets, but checks the boxes scouts love to see.

Play #3

This might be my favorite play, with a beautiful move out of the P&R stopping left to right and throwing the drop defender off balance, resulting in a poor and meaningless contest. Saraf’s flexibility to shoot off balance pulling up and being able to hit shots with different footwork, both better and worse, speaks volumes to his ability to hit difficult shots that NBA teams covet from their star players.

Play #4

Nothing too crazy here. I just like the ability to control the level of physicality on this play coming off of the screen and to finish through it while fading backwards.

Play #5

A good give and go is always going to get highlighted from me. This one is a creative way to exploit the mismatch, and I love the confidence to drive right into the defender’s chest to draw the foul

Play #6

The way Saraf plays off of DHO’s and P&Rs is really special for his age. The second he gets downhill, defenses have to balance his lethal mid range attack as well as his ability to get downhill off of screens into the paint. This is where Saraf’s high three level scoring upside comes into play, and how it is already practical in professional settings. I also really like the lefty yo-yo dribble into the shot as well to avoid the drop big from stepping up to get a meaningful contest.

Play #7

Saraf had a very on and off defensive game, having high highs and low lows, but this is an example of his effectiveness in the passing lanes. He then turns defense into quick offense with a wise transition pass, then after his teammate misses he gets the easy putback to boost his stats.

Play #8

A double pick & roll possession, I like how Saraf again balances being able to either pass or shoot out of the P&R in the mid range. There is really no bad decision in this scenario, and with a side contest coming, this is another nice shot off of the screen.

Play #9

As part of Saraf putting this game away, this is another incredible pass from under the rim to the corner, this time resulting in an assist. This is another example of his vision under the rim and out of drives.

Play #10

Another putaway assist, this one a stunning bounce pass in a perfectly executed delayed pass to the roll man around the defense. This is yet another beautiful pass that sums up Saraf’s ability to manipulate defenses out of the NBA’s most common play: the pick & roll.

In summary, I came away impressed with Saraf’s game Tuesday. The assists are low because, as two plays highlighted show the importance of realizing assists are a two person stat, but that total downplays his passing ability from this game. He turns defense into offense well, and he was a key part of turning this game from a seven point lead with four minutes left to a 14 point victory. Saraf is a winner, and he passed my test of how a player should look in a statistically neutral or negative game. Even with decreased usage in the NBA, there is so much to like on-ball and how he adapts to each play that I feel confident projecting Saraf as a top ten talent.