Draft Capsule: Malick Badiane

VITALS: 6-10, 230, Langen (Germany)

OVERVIEW: Badiane is a native of Senegal who emerged on the American basketball scene after an impressive showing at the ABCD camp in Teaneck, New Jersey last July. Badiane shined despite getting limited touches, emerging as one of the camp's top 30 players. Badiane spent last season in Germany playing for Langen and averaged 11.7 points and 8.9 rebounds, making an immediate impact. He turned in a pair of 27-point performances and observers of the league believe that Badiane blocks an average of two shots per game - blocks are not kept as an official statistic. The 19-year-old Badiane is expected to play for Senegal's national team as it attempts to gain qualification for the 2004 Olympics. Badiane is considered one of Africa's most athletic players.

LIKELY DRAFT POSITION: Mid- to late first round. Dallas (29) is the club most often tied with Badiane, because the organization has been following him for quite some time. San Antonio (28), Memphis (27), Minnesota (26), the Lakers (34), Portland (23), Atlanta (21), Boston (20), Utah (19), New Orleans (18) and Phoenix (17) also are considering him.

COMPARATIVE UPSIDE: Lorenzen Wright, Tony Battie

COMPARATIVE DOWNSIDE: Mamadou N'diaye

ROLE PROJECTION: Future starter.

POSITIVES: Badiane has a long body. Though he is not packing on a lot of weight, he has good definition and figures to only get bigger. As an athlete, Badiane has better mobility than most of his counterparts. He is aggressive going after rebounds, blocking shots and running the floor.

SHORTCOMINGS: The game is still new to Badiane, who has only been playing basketball for five years. NBA teams will have to wait two or three years before he can be a regular in their rotation, and for clubs trying to win right now, that is a drawback.

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING: "He's long and athletic, but he is also raw." NBA international scout Jason Fillippi