Overview
Born in Banqui, Darlan joined the NBA Academy Africa at the age of 16 and was a top prospect coming out of the Central African Republic. He drew offers from Arizona and Kansas but opted to join the G League Ignite last season after averaging 23 points and 5.7 assists in three games against professional teams at the Road to BAL 2023 in late November of 2022. Darlan dislocated his ankle during Basketball Without Borders in February of 2023, which impacted his productivity and effectiveness with the Ignite. He was limited to 18.1 minutes per game across 29 appearances (10 starts) in the G League and averaged 4.7 points and 4.2 rebounds. Darlan returned to form at the BAL in the spring of 2024, averaging 17.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.0 blocks and 0.8 steals in 30 minutes across six games. While he put up good numbers, he shot just 41.0% from the field and 25.0% from deep.
Analysis
At 6-foot-5, Darlan has an advanced offensive skill set but isn’t polished. He’s a versatile scorer who can get buckets at all three levels and excels in transition. Darlan is more comfortable with the ball in his hands but struggles with inconsistency and decision-making. He’ll turn 21 during his rookie season and needs to improve his off-ball skills to make an impact in the NBA. Darlan has all the tools to be a great defender but takes too many chances when facing top-level competition.
Projection
Darlan is a couple of inches shorter than GG Jackson but has a similar offensive game. On the other hand, Darlan is taller than Markelle Fultz but has similar athleticism, though the former isn’t a true point guard. Darlan may need to spend more time in the G League before getting an NBA opportunity but could develop into a solid starter like Aaron Nesmith if he reaches his defensive potential.
— Profile by RotoWire