The freshman class in college basketball this season has been outstanding. The top guys, of course, are Darryn Peterson (Kansas), Cameron Boozer (Duke), and AJ Dybantsa (BYU). However, Hannes Steinbach of Washington has been a force to be reckoned with through his first seven games played. Averaging 17.9 PPG, 11.9 RPG, and 2.7 APG on a blistering 64.9 FG% , Steinbach has showcased his impact on both sides of the ball with his feel, fluidity, and red-hot motor, which has only helped his stock and is quickly raising Washington’s ceiling. The German Husky provided the basketball world with glimpses of what he could become in the BBL (Basketball Bundesliga) last season, posting 9.1 PPG and 6.9 RPG across 41 total games . These are not world-breaking numbers, but remember the context: this is the highest-level pro league in Germany, and he was doing this at 18 years old! With all this in mind, Steinbach’s early campaign production becomes even more enticing for NBA teams. Now, let’s get into what he does well, his areas of growth, and how he potentially projects to the modern NBA.
Player Bio:
• Height- 6’11 (Tankathon)
• Weight- 220 lbs. (Tankathon)
• Wingspan- 7’1 and 3/4 (EuroCamp ’24)
• Standing Reach- 9’1 (EuroCamp ‘24)
• Draft Age- 20.14
• Position- Forward/Big
• Nationality- German
Offensive Game: Scoring & Feel/IQ
• Very Mature Game/Style: Evident that he has played at the professional level already. Super impressive for a 19-year-old.
• Pairing of Strength/Touch is Real: Currently shooting 68.6% at the rim on 51 total attempts . Scores here off of face-ups, running in transition, and deep post touches after sealing hard. Simple, yet effective.
• Solo Break Starter: Legitimate flashes of pushing the break himself and going coast-to-coast. Truly unique skill that translates to the modern NBA greatly.
• Smart Passer: Doesn’t force the issue on his touches. He is always surveying the floor in post possessions and short roll situations. Clear ability to hit the skip pass and make quick reads when being doubled.
• Efficiency: Currently shooting an awesome 64.9% from the field with a 69.3% TS .
Key Takeaways: NBA teams are always looking for modern big men who can dribble, pass, and shoot (4-6 from three) . Steinbach fits this mold offensively. He will be effective in multiple offensive situations as a rim runner, short-roll playmaker, and an occasional initiator. This versatility allows him to plug into a fast-tempo scheme while still providing nice value in half-court scenarios. That skill set will elevate an offense in many different contexts.
Physical Tools & Rebounding
• Absolute Monster on the Glass: Nonstop motor when the shot goes up. Always looking to do the dirty work on the interior on both ends of the floor. Boasting an outstanding 17.4 OR% and a 24.0 DR%. Averaging 11.9 a game.
• Positioning/Strength: Leverages his size/power advantage to win the positioning battle— both on the glass and when sealing defenders on the interior. Offensively, he establishes early advantages, securing deep catches and creating easy angles for the entry. Rebounding-wise, he consistently seeks contact and boxes out well, a testament to his impressive numbers.
• Elite Hands: A niche trait with Steinbach is his ability to snag just about any pass or rebound coming his way. While it may seem minor in the grand scheme of his evaluation, he’s got vice grips for hands and uses them to his advantage when catching in traffic and keeping the ball high and away from smaller defenders.
• Size/Fluidity: At 6’11, Steinbach has impressive movement skills. He runs the floor hard in transition, and his grab-and-go ability stands out as he showcases coordinated footwork downhill, controlled step-overs, and long-stride euro steps. His movement is simple and efficient, uncommon for someone of his stature.
Key Takeaways: Activity on the glass is Steinbach’s calling card at this stage in his development. He won’t be an uber-athletic big man who is constantly flying above the rim for lobs, putbacks, or posters, but he is light on his feet and a quick jumper off the ground. This could really play to his advantage at the NBA level, where he will have to deal with more vertically gifted athletes. He’s a rare case of a player his size, pairing that mobility with great hands and coordinated footwork, allowing him to win the second-chance war on a nightly basis.
Areas of Growth
• Defending in Space: Despite his fluid movement with the ball, Steinbach could be susceptible to being hunted on the perimeter defensively. He does not possess the lateral speed to recover as often as some would like to see. It is not an issue of effort, however, just the fact that he could struggle guarding better athletes and players one-on-one when the situation arises.
• Rim Protection: This is where Steinbach’s lack of elite vertical pop becomes apparent. His reported 9’1 standing reach would sit below the NBA average for centers, not that he will be limited to a particular position in the frontcourt, but definitely something to keep in mind when projecting his defensive translation. To compensate, Steinbach will need to consistently win the position and timing battle and become a student of the law of verticality to challenge drivers and high-level athletes at the rim.
• Perimeter Scoring: It’s far too early to jump to any conclusions on whether or not Hannes will be a reliable shooter from the outside in the NBA, but it would be encouraging to see the volume from beyond the arc increase as the Huskies progress with their season (Only 4-6 from three). A nice indicator that he will eventually step out and shoot more from deep is, once again, how good his touch is around the rim, as well as solid numbers from the charity stripe (25-34, 73.5%). The mechanics are smooth too, which is always a good sign. Just needs to show more consistent willingness to step out on pick-and-pop actions and confidently take the shot.
Key Takeaways: Areas of growth are never an attempt to diminish a prospect during their evaluation. These particular traits for Steinbach defensively are aspects that could be suppressed on a team with a specialist in rim protection. So, if Steinbach does find himself on an island with an excellent shot-creator, he can at least funnel that player to his help side, allowing him enough time to recover and scramble.
As for the three-point shooting, it is a matter of how often he takes and makes once Washington gets deeper into Big Ten competition. Opponents will have more than enough tape on Steinbach to adjust to his skill set and essentially force him to beat them from the perimeter, a challenge that will play a factor in the rest of his evaluation and development. Overall, Steinbach’s draft stock will depend on how he deals with these adjusted game plans and scouting reports.
Base Statistics & Advanced Metrics (BartTorvik)
Legend: TS% = True Shooting Percentage | BPM = Box Plus-Minus | FTR = Free Throw Rate | USG% = Usage Rate | 3PA/100 = Three-Point Attempts per 100 Possessions
*FIRST SEVEN GAMES*
• 17.9 PPG - 11.9 RPG - 2.7 APG - 0.7 SPG - 1.0 BPG - 1.7 TOPG
• 64.9 FG% - 66.7 3FG% - 73.5 FT% - 31.6 MIN
• 69.3% TS - 11.6 BPM - 45.9 FTR - 22.5 % USG - 1.5 3PA/100 Possessions
NBA Projection & Player Comp (Style)
Hannes Steinbach projects as one of the more unique prospects in this loaded class. His profile as a balanced bruiser who can function as a hub in half-court actions while also creating his own offense in transition should be highly valued as the process unfolds. He has a legitimate pathway to become a stud on the offensive side of the ball. The flashes are there of being a multi-faceted post scorer, featuring baseline fades and simple strength work on the block. Combine that with being a truly sound passer with basketball smarts, and we could be seeing a potential star in the making.
The idea of Steinbach landing with an organization that prioritizes an up-tempo scheme should intrigue scouts and coaches in search of a modern 4/5. The Boston Celtics and the Golden State Warriors are two teams that come to mind when thinking about Steinbach’s fit in the current NBA. With the way that Steve Kerr uses Draymond Green’s niche skill set as an occasional hub, break starter, and screener offensively, Steinbach could be deployed within the same context with his playmaking feel, movement skills, and size. The Celtics lead the league with 43.5 three-point attempts per game , and even with Steinbach’s current low perimeter volume, his versatility could translate well in that environment, particularly on the glass. His relentless rebounding activity would be a natural complement to a team so heavily reliant on the long ball, allowing Steinbach to create extra possessions and generate additional clean looks from deep through second-chance opportunities. In the right ecosystem, his rebounding, feel, and offensive upside position him to make winning plays from day one, while still leaving room for meaningful offensive growth as he continues to expand his game to the perimeter.
Player comparisons naturally vary throughout the draft process, which is part of what makes evaluation so nuanced. Stylistically, for Hannes Steinbach, a mixture of Mason Plumlee and Moritz Wagner comes to mind. Mason Plumlee, a thirteen-year veteran, has sustained a respectable career with his activity on both ends of the glass, but is also an excellent passer capable of making high-level reads and operating as a hub around the perimeter, a trait that Steinbach shares with the former Blue Devil. The similarities between Wagner and Steinbach extend beyond their German roots. Moritz plays with an edge that energizes his teammates, and Steinbach mirrors that same relentless activity level. They both sprint hard in transition, operate effectively in short-roll actions, and can both put the ball on the floor off closeouts and fake handoffs. Although Steinbach’s ceiling is higher, these comparisons illustrate his potential role in the early stages of his career, as well as his uncommon arsenal for a prospect.
Final Evaluation
Washington Huskies freshman star, Hannes Steinbach, is a multi-dimensional chess piece whose collection of effort, skill, and intelligence makes him one of the more notable prospects in the 2026 Draft. He excels as a glass cleaner, passer, and owns the blueprint to eventually space the floor, with the ability to impact both transition and half-court offense from day one. Concerns will be raised about his verticality and three-point volume, but his maturity and previous pro experience create a road to NBA success. With the right team, he projects as an immediate contributor with genuine upside to develop into an excellent and effective player for a long time. The rest of this season will be crucial for his progression as a player and how scouts view the German Husky.
Game Film: Steinbach v. USC
https://x.com/B1GMBBall/status/1997484977844273460?s=20