[The following scouting report is part of a series on potential 2023 draft prospects from Sports Business Classroom alumni.]

Bilal Coulibaly
Frame: 6’6″ 230 lbs
Position: Wing
Team: Boulogne-Levallois (Betclic Elite)
2023 Draft Age: 18
Stats via www.basketball-reference.com

Offense

Coulibaly is a long wirey athlete who thrives at slashing and getting to the rim. He is at his best when attacking off the catch with his size, agility, and body control to pierce defenses. Coulibaly finishes with finesse and power, slithering around defenders with Euro-steps, hanging in the air absorbing contact at the rim or rising for dunks. He’s especially potent in transition.

He is exclusively a right-handed finisher, which can be problematic on the left side of the court. Coulibaly’s length helps him outreach defenders on the offensive glass to finish his own misses. His handle has improved over the past year, operating as a primary ball handler for Metropolitans 92’s U21 team.

Coulibaly relies on hesitations to get to his spots and will pull out combo moves. With his improved skill and agile physical profile, he’s become a more difficult player to guard. He keeps his dribble alive when pressured by opposing players or when offensive sets are blown up. The handle is still loose, leading to turnovers when slashing through traffic.

Coulibaly’s vision and playmaking have improved. He finds the open man in transition after grabbing the defensive rebound and pushing the break. He’s progressed in the half-court at finding cutters or big men at the dunker’s spot when slashing. He has shown flashes of being able to thread needles as a pick-and-roll ball handler, waiting out defenses with his improved handle until he finds a lane he likes.

His playmaking is still a work in progress, as his delivery can be too soon or late. He can be selfless to a fault at times, especially with the ball in his hands, but the development thus far has very much been positive. 

Shooting is an area of Coulibaly’s game that has also seen strides, jumping from 20.9 percent last year to 31 percent this season, according to proballers.com. He is comfortable as a spot-up shooter, possessing a high release. Given his 7’2 wingspan and full extension, his shot is difficult to contest. He hops into his attempts well and has proper hand placement on the ball. His free throws also saw a jump from 67.5 to 77.4 percent.

Coulibaly is not much of an off-the-dribble shooter from behind the arc but does opt to pull up around the elbow or free-throw area. He tends to hang in the air on these shots, and his release is lower, making his shot much easier to contest, resulting in additional misses.

Defense

Coulibaly has flashed real upside as a point-of-attack defender. His quick feet allow him to stay in front of ball handlers and get around ball screens. He uses his length to cause havoc for ball handlers.

With his thin frame, Coulibaly does get pushed around at times, but he does a good job recovering with a steady motor. His length also gives him some leeway to either swipe for the ball when pushed off his spot or surprise offensive players who think they have him beat. He does a solid job of gambling for steals on the ball and often comes away with it by poking the ball out of the hands of shorter players. He averaged 2.5 steals per game this previous season. 

As a help defender, Coulibaly could be more consistent. He has shown flashes of being very effective as a strong side defender, rushing attacking players and picking their pockets—but his timing off the ball leaves him susceptible to giving up open shots. This inconsistency is evident at the nail, with flashes of reading passes and intercepting them like a safety, but a slow reaction time that can create an advantage for the offense.

As a weak side defender, Coulibaly isn’t nearly as effective, as he can wander a bit and struggles when closing out on his man when multiple passes away. He did show flashes of being a weak side rim protector (at 1.2 blocks per game), which is a part of his game that should grow as he gains more experience and learns better positioning.

With his size and quickness to reach the ball midair, Coulibaly thrives as a defensive rebounder. His understanding of positioning and angles needs to improve, as he primarily relies on his physical tools at this point, but that at least gives him an excellent starting base to work from. 

Looking Ahead

Coulibaly is a player with immense upside, given his plus physical profile and growing skillset that improves year by year. His developing on-ball abilities, real shooting upside, and defensive strengths make him a prospect full of intrigue.

Although not close to a finished product, Coulibaly should contribute as a high-energy, end-of-the-bench piece for an NBA team from day one—who has the potential to develop into a long-term two-way star.