Is Sarr the one? Wildcats teen bolts up charts

So much so, multiple top NBA draft experts have the Perth Wildcats Next Stars signing in the conversation for pick one.

The athletic 216cm Frenchman Sarr had tongues wagging after an eye-catching game one against the Ignite - consisting of a host of top prospects including Matas Buzelis and Ron Holland - amassing 17 points, seven rebounds and six blocks.

He followed that up with 26 points, 10 rebounds and six blocks in the second game two days later to help the Wildcats split to series 1-1.

"French 7-foot-5 teenager Victor Wembanyama introduced himself to the basketball world when he played two exhibition contests against the G League Ignite months before becoming the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NBA draft," ESPN and Andscape's senior NBA write Marc Spears wrote on Tuesday.

"Another 7-foot teenage center from France has also played his way into the conversation for the No. 1 pick for the 'wide-open' 2024 NBA draft after his showing in two exhibition games against the Ignite last week."

Jonathan Givony of Draft Express labelled Sarr "the story" of the Wildcats-versus-Ignite series and had him climbing to pick No.5 in his latest rankings.

"The story of these two Perth-Ignite games has to be Alex Sarr," Givony said in a video shared to his 200,000 Instagram followers.

The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor described the inaugural Wildcats Next Stars signing as an "absurd defensive prospect" and believes he's a chance to be called out first in next year's NBA draft.

"What an absurd defensive prospect. Covers so much ground. Never stops hustling. Just had a possession sticking to Ron Holland the length of the court before swatting him. Nasty," O'Connor tweeted.

Club legend Damian Martin told Channel 10 that Sarr's performances had taken him by surprise.

"He's surprised me in those first two games, but in a very, very good way," Martin said.

"His draft stocks have gone up. They were expecting him to be around picks 10-15 in next year's NBA draft, now I think you're going to be looking at a player who's going top-10."

Pro Insight's senior analyst Tyler Glazier added "I think Sarr was probably the prospect who helped himself the most (in Ignite series)".

All eyes will be on Sarr in the upcoming NBL Blitz on the Gold Coast when the Wildcats take on Adelaide (on Sunday), Cairns (next Tuesday) and New Zealand (next Thursday).