Yanic Konan Niederhauser stays hot through NBA Draft Combine performance
In the aftermath of an outstanding performance at last weekend’s NBA G League Elite Camp, Penn State center Yanic Konan Niederhauser said he wanted to play out the process before deciding on his college or professional future. That decision was further complicated by his performance against the league’s top 75 prospects participating in the NBA Draft Combine this week.
Already demonstrqating elite athleticism, both for his size as well as among the camp’s participants on the whole, the combine only further cemented the sentiment. Among all center prospects to participate in the combine, he had the top athleticism numbers in standing vertical leap (33.5 inches), max vertical leap (37.0 inches), shuttle run (2.84 seconds), and three-quarter sprint (3.20). And, his lane agility measured second out of the nine center prospects, finishing with a time of 11.45 seconds.
On the hardwood, onlookers described his play as having taken a step back, though he remains an impressive prospect for the next level. Upon the conclusion of the combine, ESPN’s NBA insiders highlighted Niederhauser as one of the biggest storylines to emerge from the event.
“After turning scouts’ heads at the G League Elite Camp, Yanic Konan Niederhauser somewhat came back to earth at the combine, where he was productive Thursday but failed to stand out the same way in higher-level scrimmages,” ESPN’s Jeremy Woo wrote. “His athletic tools, huge frame (7-0, 250 pounds), defensive potential, and ability to catch and finish made him interesting to teams in the Elite Camp setting. He wasn’t as impactful in the run of play in the combine 5-on-5, which featured higher-level opposition and more size on the floor. Niederhauser’s physicality can be sporadic, and he’ll need to wield his size to his advantage more consistently to establish himself in the NBA.”
Konan Niederhauser makes strong impression
In his team’s first scrimmage on Wednesday, Konan Niederhauser scored 7 points on 3-of-4 shooting, finishing with 4 rebounds, an assist, and a pair of blocks in his team’s 104-80 win. He followed the performance Thursday with 12 points and a team-high 7 rebounds in 20 minutes, complementing the effort with two blocks and an assist while hitting 50 percent of his shots from the floor. A frequent visitor to the free throw line, he also knocked down 4 of 6 freebies in his team’s 104-87 loss.
Top 10
- 1New
Alabama QB Battle
Kalen DeBoer updates QB1 timeline
- 2
CFP Prediction
Projecting 12-team field
- 3Hot
Joel Klatt
Ranks Top 10 QBs for 2025 season
- 4Trending
Baseball Top 25
Rankings see shakeup
- 5
Women's CBB Top 25
Way Too Early Rankings
Get the On3 Top 10 to your inbox every morning
By clicking "Subscribe to Newsletter", I agree to On3's Privacy Notice, Terms, and use of my personal information described therein.
Assessing his situation in the post-combine rundown, ESPN concludes that Niederhauser has pros and cons to consider as he chooses his next steps.
“Niederhauser did not enter the transfer portal and has the option to return to Penn State, where he could certainly improve his draft stock with increased productivity next season,” Woo wrote. “He showed enough this week to raise his profile considerably, moving into the top 40 in our rankings. Now we’ll see whether that results in a comfortable draft spot.”
A mock draft from Jonathon Givony and Woo picked Konan Niederhauser at No. 41 overall to the Golden State Warriors, the 11th pick in the second round. He has until May 28 to reach a decision on staying in the draft or returning to Penn State.
Talk about it with our premium members in the Lions Den message board, here!
