While not the most recognized international player eligible for the 2009 NBA Draft, pro scouts are acutely aware of Jerebko. His vastly improved offensive game has many experts viewing Jerebko, an Andres Nocioni (Sacramento) clone, as an immediate NBA frontcourt contributor at both small and power forward.

Jerebko is the son of an American basketball player of Russian heritage who moved to Sweden to play and later coach and married a Swedish woman. Jerebko was highly regarded on the European junior circuit before joining the professional ranks. He was offered a contract by Real Madrid before Angelico Biella, with whom he went on to star as a combo forward for two seasons.

Jerebko also entertained the thought of playing college basketball. He was recruited by prestigious programs -- among them Syracuse, Boston College and West Virginia. After an excellent showing in the 2007 U-20 Division B European Championships in Poland, he was offered a three-year contract by Biella.

He became automatically eligible for the draft in 2009, as he continued to make progress throughout his international career. His American background and comfortable buyout situation (he has just one more year on his contract with Biella) are also big plusses, as NBA teams have targeted him as high as the late first round.

Jerebko has also proven that despite his lean frame, he is perfectly capable of providing lockdown defense. He has registered 93 steals in his last 71 games and improved his 3-point shooting skills (26.8 percent in 2007-08 to 34.7 percent this season).

Jerebko began playing organized basketball with the Boras-Marba Basketball organization in 2004-05 at age 17. Competed in the Swedish second level, he averaged 20 points and 11 rebounds per game during the 2005-06 campaign. After that season, he signed a two-year contract with Plannja Basket Lulea, a team that competed in the Swedish Basketligan first division. He averaged five boards and ten points per game in helping the squad capture the national title.

Prior to signing with Angelico Biella, Jerebko played for Sweden's Under-19 team in Warsaw. He led the team in scoring (19.1 points per game) and rebounds (10.2 rebounds per game), averaged a pair of assists and two steals per game. In 45 games with Plannja Basket in 2006-07, he averaged 20.4 minutes, 9.2 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.0 assists per game.

In 2007-08, Jerebko appeared in 33 games for Biella. He logged 539 minutes of action, averaging 5.1 points and 3.3 rebounds per game as a combo forward. He shot 58.2 percent from two-point range and came up with 33 steals to go with 11 blocked shots.

Jerebko was a member of the All-Bosmans Team in Italy Serie A League action in 2008-09. He became a fixture in Biella's frontcourt in 2008-09, starting all 38 games. He almost doubled his scoring output from the previous season, pouring in 356 points (9.4 per game), making 56.9 percent of his field goals from two-point range and 26 of 75 3-pointers. He averaged 5.9 rebounds per game, handing out 28 assists while coming up with 60 steals.

Positives: Has greatly improved his physique, strength and bulk since arriving in Italy two years ago, reducing his body fat while increasing his weight from 192 to 232 pounds … Has added the power and size to combat power forwards at the next level but moving to small forward saw his offensive game steadily (averaged 9.4 points per game in 2008-09 compared to 5.1 points the previous season) … Highly efficient on the defensive end, as he uses his timing and reach to get high above the rim for rebounds and is a scrappy performer when he gets into the passing lanes, leading Italian League big men with 60 steals this year (93 in 71 games over two seasons) … While his blocked shot totals are low, he plays out on the wing and has the elevation skills and proper footwork to contest shots … Shows very good focus, especially with his off-ball defensive posture, staying low in his stance while displaying quick feet to prevent slashers from penetrating … Uses his body well to box out and set screens … Knows his limitations as a scorer but is perfectly comfortable playing multiple roles (three and four spots) … Has good balance and body control getting up and down the court and keeps a strong base when anchoring in the paint, as he is hard to move out when going for the defensive boards … Efficient slasher who needs to improve his ball-handling skills, but can put the ball on the floor … Plays with good basketball IQ and instincts … His dedication in the offseason greatly impressed scouts, adding needed weight to bang with the bigger frontcourt types, but improved on his already impressive quickness, showing good intensity and body weave taking the ball to the rim vs. double teams … His ability to run in the open court for long stretches is ideally suited for the NBA's wide-open offensive attacks … Has the speed to handle the catch-and-shoot situations and the loose hips to work his way into the open in half-court action … Still a work in progress as a shooter, but has improved his footwork (sets quickly and elevates) to help in developing an adequate mid-range jumper (57.3 percent shooter from the field, including 34.7 percent from the perimeter) … Muscles his way under the basket and knows how to get separation with his body to deliver putbacks on the

offensive glass … Has developed an aggressive offensive game, attacking the basket and proving capable of absorbing contact … Unselfish with the ball and while his assist totals are just average, he can kick the ball out to the open target rather than try to force his own shot … On the defensive end, his long wingspan and active hands allow him to consistently contest shots and he is adept reaching around to deflect the ball, making him one of the better defenders in the international ranks … Does a good job of opening his hips and sliding out when rotating defensively and has the balance to stay in front of perimeter shooters … Alert to handling switches on screens and times his leaps well to make it hard for shooters to get off a contested shot … Uses great leaping ability to his advantage, gets himself up and over the rim to deliver resounding dunks (67.7 percent of his two-pointers came under the basket).

Negatives: Can draw contact, but he pushes the ball forward from his chest at the foul line … Too predicable offensively, and isn't comfortable enough with his jumper to step back and fire consistently from mid-range … Needs to be more assertive when he puts the ball on the floor and is prone to turnovers with his high dribble … Struggles to create his own shot off the dribble … Does a better job of setting his feet on the pull-up jumper, but needs to square his elbow in order to improve his accuracy … Has good lateral quickness, but is limited as a ball-handler and looks hesitant using spin and hesitation moves to get the defender off balance … Needs to hasten his methodical release, as to avoid giving the defense time to recover.

Compares To: ANDRES NOCIONI, Sacramento -- Jerebko surprised more than a few NBA scouts with his developed frame and improved aggression at 232 pounds than he had as a lanky 192-pounder. He is developing a decent pull-up jumper and shows that he has the athleticism to take the ball to the rim with a strong inside game. His perimeter shooting is a work in progress, but he needs to quicken his release, as he has the range to connect from NBA 3-point area. As a defender, his versatility stands out. He is strong enough to combat power forwards, quicker than most small forwards and creates a good mismatch with his lateral movement to stay in front of shooting guards on the perimeter.

--Report by Dave-Te' Thomas

Earned Italian Serie A League All-Bosmans Team honors … Appeared in 38 games, as he logged 977 minutes of action, scoring 356 points (9.4 per game), as he shot 56.9 percent from two-point range (116 of 204), 34.7 percent from 3-point range (26 of 75) and 74.2 percent from the foul line (46 of 62) … In four European Championship contests, he totaled 47 points (11.8 points per game), 37 rebounds (9.3 per game), four assists, two blocked shots, seven steals and eight personal fouls … In Serie A competition, he scored 309 points (9.1 per game) to go with 187 rebounds (5.5 per game), 23 assists, 12 blocked shots, 53 steals and 88 personal fouls … Scored in double figures in 16 of 34 Serie A games, producing four double-double performances.

Joined Angeklico Biella, appearing in 33 of the team's 34 games … Scored 168 points (5.1 per game), as he connected on 57 of 98 two-point field goals (58.2 percent), shot 26.8 percent from 3-point range (11 of 41) and put in 21 of 31 free throws (67.7 percent) … Grabbed 108 rebounds (3.3 per game) with 19 assists (0.5 per game), 33 steals (1.0 per game) and 11 blocked shots (0.3 per game) in 539 minutes of action … Charged with 82 personal fouls … Scored in double figures four times, including in his last two games and produced one double-double performance.

In 71 games over the last two years with Pallacanestro Angelico Biella, Jerebko scored 524 points (7.4 per game), as he made 173 of 302 two-point field goals (57.3 percent), 37 of 116 3-pointers (31.9 percent) and 67 of 93 free throws (72.0 percent) in 1,516 minutes (21.4 minutes per game) … Totaled 332 rebounds (4.7 per game) with 47 assists (0.7 per game), 93 steals (1.3 per game), 25 blocked shots (0.4 per game) and 178 personal fouls (2.5 per game).

No major injuries reported.

SWEDEN BASKETLIGAN COMPETITION: Jerebko began playing organized basketball with the Boras-Marba Basketball organization in 2004-05 at age 17 … Competed in the Swedish second level, he averaged 20 points and 11 rebounds per game during the 2005-06 campaign … After that season, he signed a two-year contract with Plannja Basket Lulea, a team that competed in the Swedish Basketligan first division … Averaged five boards and 10 points per game in helping the squad capture the national title … Prior to signing with Angelico Biella, Jerebko played for Sweden's Under-19 team in Warsaw … Led the team in scoring (19.1 points per game) and rebounds (10.2 per game), as he averaged a pair of assists and two steals per game … In 45 games with Plannja Basket in 2006-07, he averaged 20.4 minutes, 9.2 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.0 assists per game.

Born 3/02/87 in Boras, Sweden.