Rising international prospects for the Chicago Bulls to target: Vrenz Bleijenbergh
If you constructed a list just ahead of draft night of the international prospects rising up big boards the fastest at this point, the 6-foot-11 Belgian wing Vrenz Bleijenbergh would have to be at or near the top. This insanely lengthy and potent wing is just 20 years of age and still has a lot of growth left in his game.
But there is already a lot to like about what Bleijenbergh could bring to the table as a potential draft-and-stash prospect for Karnisovas and the Bulls to target at No. 38 next week. Bleijenbergh has fluid athleticism for a wing of his size and stature, and he’s a smooth ball-handler. He could be a tertiary source of shot creation and facilitation of the offense.
Vrenz also operates the pick-and-roll offense seamlessly, which would lead one to think that he could be a nice fit on the bench for head coach Billy Donovan. The defensive game of Vrenz is still developing and will continue to be a work in progress once he makes his way to the NBA. His length should allow him to contend as a wing/forward defender, though.
Some of the defensive numbers that he put up with the Antwerp Stars in EuroCup last season provides promise as to where his game is headed on that end of the floor. He averaged nearly one steal and one block per game last season.
Vrenz is also an improving free-throw shooter, who hit his looks at the line at a clip of just 53 percent last season, but is a good shooter from deep (around 38 percent last season).