Throughout the 2024-25 season, Babcock Hoops will provide comprehensive scouting reports on top 2025 NBA Draft prospects, analyzing their strengths, questions, and potential at the next level. Our reports offer an in-depth look at each player's development and draft outlook.
Sergio De Larrea
Position: Guard
Team: Valencia Basket (Spain)
Class: International
Height/Weight: 6'6", 175 lbs
Birthdate: December 4, 2005
Player Overview
Sergio De Larrea is a crafty lead guard with positional size and intriguing playmaking potential. His ability to manipulate defenders with change of pace, use angles to attack the rim, and showcase solid shooting mechanics makes him a compelling prospect. His passing vision stands out, but he needs to refine his decision-making and limit unnecessary risks with the ball.
While De Larrea’s offensive IQ is high, his athleticism—particularly his burst and lateral quickness—raises concerns about his defensive impact at the next level. Additionally, he can be stagnant off the ball, limiting his effectiveness when he isn’t initiating the offense. If he can improve his defensive impact, increase his shooting efficiency under pressure, and become more consistent in a high-usage role, De Larrea’s upside as a lead guard will be even more evident.
"I'm intrigued by De Larrea's size and craftiness with the ball. However, his lack of athleticism and defensive limitations are concerns, at least to some degree. Regardless, he's an interesting prospect who should generate plenty of draft interest." — Matt Babcock, NBA Draft Analyst
Strengths
Crafty Ball Handler: Uses angles and change of pace effectively to create space.
Three-Point Shooting Mechanics: Has a solid foundation as a shooter, though minor refinements are needed.
Passing Vision: Advanced court awareness and ability to find teammates in creative ways.
Positional Size: At 6'6", he has excellent height for a lead guard.
Smart Tempo Control: Knows when to push the pace and when to slow things down.
Concerns
Lack of Burst: Lacks elite first-step quickness, which could hinder his ability to create separation.
Off-Ball Stagnation: He needs to be more active and engaged when he’s not the primary ball-handler.
Defensive Limitations: Lateral quickness and on-ball defense are question marks at the next level.
Turnover Prone: Can force passes off the dribble and must improve decision-making.
Questions
Can he make a defensive impact at the next level?
Can he produce at a higher volume while limiting turnovers?
Will he be able to speed up his shot release and become a more efficient perimeter scorer?
Bottom Line
Sergio De Larrea’s blend of size, ball-handling creativity, and playmaking makes him an intriguing prospect. His ability to read the floor, change speeds, and shoot from deep gives him a clear offensive foundation. However, to elevate his stock, he must improve his defensive impact, refine his decision-making, and add more variety to his off-ball movement. If he can make strides in these areas, De Larrea has the tools to develop into a high-level lead guard at the next level.