Stanford’s Maxime Raynaud is turning heads in the basketball world. The 7’1″ French center has made a meteoric rise up NBA draft boards, catching the attention of scouts and analysts after an impressive performance at the NBA Draft Combine. Here’s why Raynaud’s stock is suddenly surging.
Maxime Raynaud’s NBA Draft Combine Breakout
A recent tweet from DraftExpress highlighted Raynaud’s stunning leap in the ESPN Top 100 rankings, stating:
“Maxime Raynaud jumped to the No. 22 spot in the ESPN Top 100 after his strong showing at the NBA Draft Combine. The 7’1 French big made 67 3s in 35 games this season. Didn’t fully focus on basketball until his senior year of high school, committing to Stanford as a walk-on.”
Maxime Raynaud jumped to the No. 22 spot in the ESPN Top 100 after his strong showing at the NBA Draft Combine. The 7’1 French big made 67 3s in 35 games this season.
Didn’t fully focus on basketball until his senior year of high school, committing to Stanford as a walk-on. pic.twitter.com/yar50bsadJ
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) May 22, 2025
Raynaud’s journey is unique. Unlike many top prospects, he didn’t dedicate himself fully to basketball until late in high school. Despite this, he walked on at Stanford and quickly became a standout.
The Impact of the NBA Draft Combine on Raynaud’s Draft Stock
The NBA Draft Combine has become a critical juncture for prospects like Raynaud, offering a platform to demonstrate their abilities in a controlled environment. For Raynaud, the combine was an opportunity to prove that his success at Stanford was not a fluke but a sign of his readiness for professional basketball.
Raynaud’s combine results were impressive, with measurable improvements in his athleticism and shooting accuracy. He recorded a 28.0-inch no-step vertical jump and a 31.5-inch maximum vertical jump, figures that, while not elite, were respectable for a player of his size and demonstrated his potential as a mobile big man.
His work on shooting stood out, as he made 67 three-pointers in 35 games his last season at Stanford and this continued during his time at the combine. His outstanding talent for stretching the court matters more in the NBA each year and that fact convinced scouts that he would be valuable from the beginning.
Unlike many others in the league, Raynaud started to focus on basketball as a senior in high school, much later than when most top prospects do. Kevin chose Stanford instead of heading to Europe right after high school which reflects how committed and confident he was in himself.
While his training was unusual, it has clearly helped him climb the draft charts fast. It also shows how players of many backgrounds and experiences are finding ways to succeed in the NBA.
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Raynaud’s transformation from a Stanford walk-on to an important draft name is an amazing tale of commitment and promise. Thanks to his impressive performance at the Combine, viewers should now watch him closely, given his skill shooting from deep and late improvement.
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