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Knicks second-round draft pick Jack Kayil has earned nothing but praise from his peers overseas.
The Germany native has spent the past season with Alba Berlin, his hometown team, and was second on his team in points per game (12.3) and assists (3.5) at 19 years old.
His coach, Pedro Calles, though, was more impressed with his maturity and the way his leadership style commands respect from his teammates than his stats.
“We are talking about a 19-year-old guy, but his mind and body aren’t those of a 19-year-old. This is the first thing that got my attention,” Calles told Basketball Champions League.
Fellow Alba Berlin guard Martin Hermannsson was also impressed with Kayil’s body at such a young age, saying his strength, athleticism and ability to get to the basket are special.
Kayil uses his 6-foot-5 frame to create separation from his defenders and sees the court as a playmaker.
“A big guard with real on-ball creation ability,” NBA Draft analyst Matt Babcock said. “If he develops more consistency as an outside shooter, it should help unlock the next level of his game.”
This season, Kayil became the youngest to win the Basketball Bundesliga Best Young Player award, beating out established NBAers Franz Wagner and Dennis Schroder.
Despite the recognition, Hermannsson said Kayil just keeps working, always listening to anyone who offers advice and comes in early to practice to get individual work in.
“He’s not taking his talent for granted, and he’s not just thinking that everything will fall in his place,” Hermannsson said. “He’s really working for everything he has, and that will take him a long way.”
Kayil’s off-the-court qualities are what those around him seem to note first.
Alan Ibrahimagic, Germany’s coach at the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup, raved about Kayil’s personality and his ability to put basketball aside to connect with his teammates.
As team captain, Kayil helped lead Germany on a magical run to the tournament championship before falling to the United States.
That selflessness can, however, be a weakness for Kayil on the court, Ibrahimiagic said.
“Sometimes he’s a little bit too unselfish: he always tries to find another teammate before looking at himself. He could be a much better scorer than he is right now. But with that said, he’s one of the best two-way guards in Germany,” the German coach said.
Along with knowing when to take the shot himself, both Hermannsson and Ibrahimiagic think Kayil would benefit from calming himself down in games. Something that should come with experience, the Alba Berlin guard said.
For as good at playmaking as Kayil was this year, he also led his team with 2.3 turnovers a game.
Ibrihimiagic also noted that if the game slows down for the Knicks’ second-round pick, it could improve his shot-making.
“He needs to get into the point guard mindset of running the team, controlling the next play, thinking always one step ahead: getting the ball to the ones who need it and getting others to the right spots, reading the game earlier and better,” Hermannsson says.
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