El Hadji Samba Deme Scouting Report

El Hadji Samba Deme scouting report

Samba Deme projects as a mid-major college big . I would like to see him move out of Italy and get into a stateside program soon or I feel like he might stagnate a bit. He’s toolsy but still raw. Needs to be challenged.

PER-40 PRODUCTION

RATE STATISTICS FROM THE 2026 NBA ACADEMY GAMES DATABASE.

RARE PROFILE

Among players with six-game samples, the only other players in database history to post OREB ≥ 2, A/TO ≥ 2 are Aaron Ekwere and Ladji Coulibaly .

Coulibaly in NJCAA per 40: 18.3 PTS / 16.4 REB / 1.9 AST to 2.9 TOV / 2.5 STL / 3.1 BLK.

STRENGTHS

• Kept his turnovers to a low. No TOVs in 5 of his 6 games played. Moved the ball smartly while not making any poor reads (2.5 A/TO)
• Willing 3P shooter . You can squint and see pick-and-pop potential . Shot is slow and a bit mechanical, but doesn’t need to be lightning quick at his size
• Some surprising, albeit raw, ballhandling/passing flashes for a 7-footer. A few interesting outlet pass reads
• Glimpses of a hook , but post game is still inconsistent
• Disciplined hand placement on his BLKs
• Solid rebounder but tournament numbers (21.5 DREB% and 15.4 OREB%) probably overestimate his impact, especially on the offensive glass

IMPROVEMENT AREAS

• Doesn’t always play like a big on both ends . Lower body needs to get stronger. Can’t always establish a base in the paint
• Lack of strength can be a huge issue on defense against bruiser-type bigs. Mohamadou Landoure (2009) was giving him fits and Deme couldn’t keep him off his spots
• What’s his bread-and-butter on offense? Lacks easy lift at the basket. Pick-and-pop game is still very theoretical (2/13 3P + 5/10 FT)
• 41.8 TS% was low for a 19 y/o 7-footer, even in this setting. Low 16.9 FTr and meh 22.0 3PAr , plus accompanying percentages, suggest he isn't great at the basket or from deep
• Turnover averse but not a playmaker

Has signed with RSR Sebastiani Rieti (Serie A2) on loan for the 2026–27 season. He was with Pallacanestro Reggiana in 2025-26.

Tagged clips organized by broad scouting category.