Overseas Prospects: Rasmus Larsen
Overseas Prospects: Rasmus Larsen is the first edition of an overseas scouting piece by Rant Sports. The Rant Sports Court Crusades team will be putting out these reports weekly and we will be looking at the best young prospects around the world. Inside we will include info such as the player’s skill set, strengths, weaknesses, and NBA potential. Our first candidate is Nike International Tournament Kaunas:Elite Prospect- Rasmus Larsen. If you haven’t heard of this young man yet it might be time to do so.
Rasmus played in the Nike International tournament (which is held in Kaunas, Lithuania during the month ofFenruary) but was limited to only 27 minutes due to a groin injury that has plagued him for a few months now. Regardless of this injury he still had no problem displaying his immense amount of talent. Larsen, just 17 years old, stands 7-feet tall, 210 lbs. and added 20 lbs. of muscle since he was last on the big stage in July at the Adidas Euro Camp in Treviso.
Larsen possesses a good wingspan and an outstanding frame, he has all the makings of an NBA big man prospect. He has great upper body development, and his lower body (knees and such) is also well developed. Larsen is also very agile, and mobile for a player his size and is capable of running the floor while also playing being capable of playing above the rim. And, unlike many big-men who are uncoordinated and thrown into basketball simply because they are tall, Larsen is very coordinated.
Strengths: On the offensive side of the ball Larsen possesses a many moves that allow him to affect the game in every way possible (for a big man that is). Given his size, and muscle, he is able to set up good position down low, has great footwork, and the ball-handling ability to create his own shot. Larsen has also incorporated the only unblockable shot in the NBA, the sky hook, and complements that with a nice turnaround jumper.
Larsen, unlike many 7-footers, has great ball handling on the perimeter, with the ability to put the ball on the floor and attack the basket. His jump shot is very well-rounded, he sets his feet well, and can come off of a screen and shoot, even showing range from as deep as the 3-point line. Larsen has also incorporated pump-fakes into his offensive game (he uses them quite well actually) and is able to hit his free-throws on a consistent basis.
Weaknesses: Offensively Larsen does not have many weaknesses but the one thing that can be pointed out is that he is always interested in playing on the perimeter and not asserting himself down-low. Nearly every time a screen is set for him he chooses to take the outside shot rather than driving to the hoop.
Strengths: Defensively Larsen’s size, wingspan, and strength allow him to be a huge presence in the paint. Not too much can be taken from his games overseas though as Larsen is almost always the biggest man on the court when he plays. Larsen has great shot blocking ability, and doesn’t look out of place when he is forced to step out on the perimeter and hedge a screen.
Weaknesses: If there is any place where Larsen has to improve most it is on the defensive side of the ball. There are many question marks the first of which regards his toughness down low. Larsen does not like to hit the boards and most of the time avoids contact down-low. Now some have said that this can be attributed to his recent injury but while looking at tape of him play it is considerably noticeable that on many plays down low he simply isn’t there. On the offensive side he does not exactly set a physical screen either. Since Larsen plays inScandanavia he will have to overcome many common perceptions that come with players of that area.
Potential: So with all of this being said, and regardless of the few negatives attributed to Larsen, he is still widely considered to be one of, if not the best, prospect in the 1994 international draft class. Players with his size, and the skills he possesses do not come along too often. Larsen is now leaning towards signing somewhere in Europe next season where he can continue to develop against better competition with the goal of reaching the NBA. For being only 17 years-old Larsen has huge upside and could, one day, be one of the best big-men in the NBA.
Thanks to DraftExpress.com for the Scouting report on Larsen.
To see a highlight video of Larsen in action click here
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