Prospect Overview
Lanky, late-blooming center with a massive reach, good leaping ability, and some budding scoring ability who emerged as more of a factor this season than last despite Paris’s promotion to the French 1st Division.
About Ismael Kamagate
Ismael Kamagate is a long, athletic big man on an interesting trajectory over the last several seasons in France. He emerged as a prospect to monitor due to his rare tools after averaging 3 points, 4 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks over 12.5 minutes per game for France at the 2019 FIBA U18 European Championship in his international debut. Moving from the Centre Federal de Basket-Ball to Paris Basketball in the middle of the subsequent season, Kamagate played a minor role for the club in the French 2nd Division. Seeing his playing time expand dramatically the following year, he averaged 9.6 points and 6.8 rebounds over 24 minutes per game as Paris was promoted out of Pro B.
Showing how far he’s come over the last two years averaging 10.2 points, 2 assists, and 2.4 blocks per game at the 2021 FIBA U20 European Championship, Kamagate built on that momentum this season in Pro A. The 21-year-old averaged 11.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks over 27.1 minutes per game as he proved more productive and showed an evolving feel for the game against significantly stronger competition than he did the previous year.
• Standing 6-foot-11 with an improving 230-pound frame and a 7-foot-3 wingspan, Kamagate has impressive dimensions for a center, good mobility, and is quick off his feet around the rim.
• Playing a significant role for Paris offensively, Kamagate did much of his best work as a finisher where his size and athleticism made him a constant target for lob passes, impactful offensive rebounder, and a threat to earn some easy shots beating opposing big men up the floor. Flashing some passing ability, touch inside, and potential as a midrange shooter, he still has some room to continue to evolve as an offensive weapon even if he fits a clear mold.
• Making some impressive plays on the defensive end blocking shots and sliding his feet on the perimeter, Kamagate’s tools translate on the other end as well. He is not quite as consistent as one might hope as a rim protector and has room to improve as a rebounder, but has evolved steadily in recent years.
Advanced Stats
• Getting a chance to create his own shot in limited doses on the block but thriving as a catch and finish threat operating off the ball, Kamagate’s production is rooted in his physical tools. Scoring 1.11 points per possession this season, he was one of the most efficient scorers in Pro A despite having some issues with turnovers.
• Finishing above the rim effortlessly, Kamagate averaged 1.42 points per shot around the rim in the half court [90th percentile]. He ranked among the international leaders in dunks displaying a huge catch radius for lobs and frequently using his reach to dunk right over defenders who didn’t beat him off the floor.
• Getting some opportunities to operate in the post, step out to the midrange, and pass the ball, Kamagate had some intriguing moments beyond his ability to finish even if those parts of his game were more protracted in Pro A than they were at U20s. Averaging 0.90 points per Post Up possession [64th percentile], he made shots dramatically more consistently than that number suggests, but had most of his issues with turnovers in back to the basket situations. He may have some untapped potential in that regard as he picks up high-level experience and continues to get stronger.
Defensive Analysis
• Impacting the game defensively with his ability to block shots around the rim and step out and slide on the perimeter, Kamagate made some eye-opening plays with his physical tools. Allowing 0.75 points per one-on-one possession [65th percentile], he frequently held his own on the perimeter and in the post despite how much room he still has to fill out and his lack of exposure to Pro A prior to this year.
• Proving more productive on the glass and challenging more shots some nights than others, Kamagate is still learning how to make the most of his physical gifts consistently.
— Profile by Synergy Sports
