The Mystery Man of the NBA Draft
Is Vincent Valerio-Bodon the real-life version of Bo Cruz?
With the growth of international scouting as well as advancements in travel and technology, it’s a very rare draft prospect who can stay off the NBA radar for long.
But I think I’ve found one. I just watched him play in Atlanta, and you might be watching him in the NBA next season.
The Backstory
In the movie Hustle, released a year ago by Netflix, Bo Cruz (played by NBA veteran Juancho Hernangómez) is a talented player discovered on an outdoor court by Stanley Sugarman (an NBA scout played by Adam Sandler). Bo can really ball, comes to the U.S. to work with Sugarman and ends up starting for the Boston Celtics.
The true-life tale of Vincent Valerio-Bodon — so far — has strong echoes of the fictional Bo Cruz story.
As part of my extensive international scouting work, I receive a lot of tips regarding prospects I should check out. In August 2021, I was informed about Valerio-Bodon, a 20-year-old playing in Hungary, a nation that has produced only one NBA player: Dávid Kornél, who played for four NBA teams from 1998 to 2001.
What I heard about Valerio-Bodon’s size, shooting and movement made him the unusual prospect who really caught my attention. I decided that I needed to keep an eye on him, and to scout him in person, if possible.
My hopes of seeing him play in 2021-22 were scuttled by COVID restrictions and an ankle injury that sidelined him. But I remain intrigued and planned to see him in the future.
Well, the future has arrived.
The Mystery Man
So who is Vincent Valerio-Bodon?
VVB is a 6’10” swingman who can shoot the cover off the ball. He turned 22 last month and he has four years of pro experience in the Hungarian NBIA. As a teenager, he was a point guard before a growth spurt made him a wing.
This past season, playing for Sopron KC, in a small city in Western Hungary, Valerio-Bodon averaged a modest 8 points and 4 rebounds in 26 minutes per game. But the season-long numbers don’t tell the full story.
After December, Valerio-Bodon averaged 11 points and 5 rebounds while shooting 68% from 2-point range and 48% from deep on 4.3 attempts per game. His overall shooting splits were likewise compelling: 50/41/88. And he showed flashes of shot-making off the dribble and athleticism in the open court.
Here’s a video I posted in April where you can get a better sense of his skillset.
What I Saw
Valerio-Bodon arrived at the Overtime Elite facility in Atlanta three weeks ago. I’m told he has impressed in private pickup games featuring the Thompson twins — Amen and Ausar — alongside a number of NBA players and former players who live or train in Atlanta, including Anthony Edwards, Wendell Carter Jr. and Derrick Favors.
So I went to Atlanta to see a private workout, and my instincts were confirmed: After watching him, I strongly believe Valerio-Bodon is a legitimate NBA prospect. Furthermore, he has a lot of room for development, given that he hasn’t had the training opportunities that the top international prospects do because of the demanding basketball regimen imposed on rank-and-file European players.
His shooting, especially at his size, is his calling card. When I was there, he made 73 of his 100 attempts from 3-point range as he shot from five spots on the floor. He followed that by hitting another 25 bombs in a five-minute full-court conditioning drill in which he had to shoot 3s at the top of the key on each end without a rebounder or passer.
The Future for VVB
So will VVB be drafted?
It takes only one team, but the problem is very few teams or even their international scouts are familiar with him, and the draft is only two weeks away. But better late than never, he does have 10 workouts scheduled with NBA teams before the draft.
If Valerio-Bodon isn’t one of the 58 names called on June 22, you should root for your team to pick him up as an undrafted free agent. As we’ve seen throughout the playoffs, and even in the NBA Finals, going undrafted is hardly the kiss of death for an NBA career, and VVB has a legit chance to continue his unique journey.
A swingman who can shoot? I will take him on my beloved cavs please.