There are many talented international prospects in this year’s draft. Two prominent international prospects play on the German team, Ratiopharm Ulm, and have shown many impressive flashes as players. One player is forward Noa Essengue. The other, and main focus for this profile, is Israeli guard Ben Saraf, who has demonstrated excellent abilities as a lead guard for Ulm. Let’s dive into an evaluation of Ben Saraf’s skill set in this 2025 NBA Draft profile.
Ben Saraf 2025 NBA Draft Profile
International Career
Saraf initially started his professional basketball career in Israel, playing in the Israeli Basketball Premier League for two seasons. He also played for the Israeli national basketball team in the U16 FIBA championship in 2022 and the U18 FIBA EuroBasket in 2024. For the U18 team, Saraf was named the tournament MVP. In 2024, Saraf signed with Ratiopharm Ulm and has served as their primary guard initiator for the team. With Ulm in the EuroCup, Saraf averaged 12.8 points, 2.2 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 1.3 steals in 24.4 minutes per game. Additionally, he shot 41.9% from the field, 22.2% from three, and 78.0% from the free-throw line.
Strengths
Standing at 6-foot-5, Saraf possesses good positional size at the point guard position. His best aspect as a player is his playmaking abilities, as he has demonstrated advanced passing skills and court vision. In particular, Saraf is capable of throwing a wide variety of passes, which shows a high feel for the game. He can quickly make reads against defenses and sling passes with great accuracy to the open man, even under duress. Additionally, Saraf operates well in the pick-and-roll as the ball-handler. He has proved himself to be an expert at utilizing screens to find scoring opportunities for himself or his teammates.
Not only is Saraf great at playmaking, but those abilities are heightened by his impressive handle and his basketball IQ. He excels at using those aspects of his game to create advantages for Saraf when he is looking to score in the paint. His top-notch footwork and changing pace allow Saraf to gain separation or throw off defenders and get to the rim. In terms of scoring, Saraf is geared toward rim-finishing and mid-range scoring, leveraging his ball-handling and basketball IQ to get to his spots. He possesses a soft touch around the rim and can knock down shots in the mid-range. While there are questions as to whether he can get separation against NBA-level talent, he has been undoubtedly effective in one of the best basketball leagues other than the NBA. While not a great defender, Saraf is excellent at anticipating passes and picking them off for steals.
Weaknesses
Unquestionably, Saraf’s biggest weakness as a player is his poor three-point shooting. In particular, Saraf has never been a consistent three-point shooter, shooting 22.2% from three on low volume. Also, Saraf has struggled as both a pull-up shooter and a catch-and-shoot player. While he does have positive shooting indicators like his mid-range scoring and his free-throw numbers, Saraf has simply not developed much as a shooter from beyond the arc. He will need to become better as a shooter to unlock his full offensive potential. Additionally, Saraf lacks the speed and athleticism to blow by opponents and finish above the rim, bringing into question whether he can effectively gain separation against NBA-level defenders. Not only that, but Saraf also lacks the strength to power through contact for the finish.
Defensively, Saraf’s lack of strength and athleticism also hampers his abilities on that end. He struggles to keep up with quicker guards and can get bullied by stronger players. Furthermore, Saraf can be undisciplined on the defensive end, unnecessarily fouling when gambling for steals or losing his man when defending off the ball. He will need to get better defensively, or he will have trouble finding minutes in the league.
NBA Comparison
Apr 30, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (15) moves to the basket against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the first half in game five of first round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Saraf possesses many skills that bear resemblance to several NBA players, both former and current. One former player he resembles is Goran Dragic, as they both are point guards who love using their handles to break down defenses. Additionally, both use advanced footwork to gain separation from defenders and operate well in the pick-and-roll. Another name that comes to mind is current Lakers guard Austin Reaves. Similar to Dragic, both are crafty ball-handlers who perform the best with the ball in their hands, using their finesse to find scoring opportunities.
2025 NBA Draft Projection
Featured image: © David Banks-Imagn Images