Since the start of the Pro B season, he had set many defenses on fire, he who was by far the top scorer in the championship (21.4 points at 50%, 4 rebounds and 6.1 assists in 9 matches, not to mention its 25.4 units average in the Leaders Cup). “He was really impressive, he’s a repeat offender,” thus summed up Benjamin Monclar, one evening when the Savoy leader had accumulated 31 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists against Antibes.
But that is now ancient history. Eric Washington (1.83 m, 28 years old) will no longer please the Halle Marlioz, Aix-Maurienne having had to resolve to release him, against transfer fees. Having to be satisfied until then with an anonymous career between Cyprus, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Hungary (including a season in the second division), the American wanted to seize the opportunity given to him to take a leap forward. His enormous performances in the AMSB jersey opened the doors to the Bundesliga for him, even if it means giving up the MVP trophy of Pro B, of which he was already part of the trio of favorites in the company of Stéphane Gombauld and Nic Moore (which has replaced him for two years with Boulazac).
“A few weeks ago our leader, Eric Washington, informed us of insistent requests received and in particular from a German first division club wishing to secure its services. We told Eric and his advice at first of our refusal to release him, it seemed important to us, for many reasons, starting with respect for his contract, that he could finish the season within ‘Aix Maurienne Savoie Basket.
With regret and despite many discussions, we had to resolve to see him leave in January, because it is not in our philosophy to keep a player whose personal ambition no longer corresponds to the collective spirit of the group, we we really regret his choice which goes against the interests of the group but we wish him good luck in his new adventures. “
Ramseyer’s return
Nice surprise of the Pro B season with its record of six victories in ten games, in part thanks to Washington, Aix-Maurienne will therefore have to hire a new leader. But the Savoyard team has already proven that it was able to get by without its leader: on December 17, the Aixois won in Lille (70-69) while their now ex-leader had remained on the shores of Lac du Bourget.
On the other hand, Emmanuel Schmitt can still rejoice in a news: the announced return of David Ramseyer. Operated on the foot, the Franco-Swiss interior (linked with Aix-Maurienne until 2024) had not yet played for the season. He was the best player in the AMSB last year (15.2 points at 56% and 5.5 rebounds).
