IF YOU have been paying attention to the basketball world in any facet in the last 12 months, it is fairly likely you may have heard the name Victor Wembanyama.

Whether it be related to the upcoming NBA Draft or seeing his highlights on social media, the French youngster has been making headlines in every which way, and for good reason too.

Many pundits are ecstatic about the potential the big man brings to the table, potentially becoming a new prototype of player, given he is breaking the mould even further of the typical big man.

Almost a unanimous selection for the number-one pick, Wembanyama has become a must-follow player for most basketball pundits around the world, and could become a game-changing player over the course of his career.

Victor Wembanyama

TEAM: Metropolitans 92
POSITION: Power Forward/Center
DOB: 04/01/2004
HEIGHT: 7ft 2in
WEIGHT: 104kg

Wembanyama has been a highly-touted prospect for a number of years, with his raw potential and frame making for plenty of excitement.

The big man was born in France to a family with plenty of sporting genes, with his father a former long jumper and mother a former basketballer. After growing up playing soccer and studying judo, Wembanyama was turned onto basketball by his mother and quickly picked up the sport. A natural talent thanks to his height and length, he soon made a name for himself at a number of leagues in Europe, developing his skill level at under 17, 19 and 21 level, before signing with Metropolitans 92.

Wembanyama has an eight-foot wingspan, and standing above seven feet, is a ridiculously exciting specimen from a basketball standpoint. He looms as a fantastic rim protector, using his reach to produce plenty of blocks even against some of the NBA’s premier big men. He has swatted five shots on plenty of occasions this season, which is a good indicator of what he can bring to the table.

Athletically, the 19-year-old is extremely gifted, not hampered by his height and still one of the smoothest movers in the draft class. He can not only dribble the ball like Nikola Jokic, but also throw down massive dunks as well, and although that combination is impressive, the best is yet to come.

With the game heading towards shooting-based offence, Wembanyama is the pinnacle of stretch big men that are being produced. He has shown the capability to create his own shot at the perimeter with comparisons to some of the NBA’s best shooters, making him an almost impossible matchup for any big man.

The excitement surrounding Wembanyama’s arrival has proven so drastic, that there has been a bit of a tanking race in the NBA, with team’s desperate to acquire his services. He could be the best talent to enter the league in decades, and is already making waves around the world.