Basketball: Aveyronnaise Leïla Lacan in the big leagues

This time it’s heavy. Very, very heavy even. Forget the usual precautions. Those escorting the young selections. Even freelancers in the A during “simple” friendly matches. Leïla Lacan, the Ruthenian who celebrated her 19th birthday on June 2, was selected this Saturday among the 12 blue players who will compete in the Euro in Israel and Slovenia from next Thursday. National coach Jean-Aimé Toupane having trusted the young post 1 or 2 despite the fact that she only discovered the national elite in clubs this season with Angers. A meteoric rise. In the image of his exceptional predispositions and his extraordinary potential.

Moreover, when taking part in the preparation campaign for this continental competition for which France will aim neither more nor less than the title, his coach at UFAB 49 Aurélie Bonnan was full of praise. “Leïla has talent, the head that goes with it. Principles and values, the mentality needed for the high level, the management of events where she learns, with an ability to adaptshe said. He is someone who has what it takes in the head and the legs, as they say.“So to the point of discovering a major tournament with the seniors, she who was already used to playing them – often outclassed – with the young national teams.

Successful preparation

“Today, there are players who have more experience. But it will depend on how the training sessions go, the friendly matches too, in relation to the minutes that the coach wants to give him.Bonnan had said again when we mentioned a few days ago the possibility of remaining in the 12 for Lacan. In the club, she is used to a major role. Here it will be different. It’s up to her to use her ability to adapt, with the ardor of youth, to show what she is capable of doing. In my opinion, things are not fixed yet for the staff. I think she still has her chance.“

From the top of her 80 meter, the native of the piton will therefore have taken only four preparation matches, the time to put on 22 points, and a dozen days to convince the staff to trust her, even before the last friendly meeting scheduled yesterday evening against the British. Overtaking in particular the leader of Bourges Pauline Astier, who remained at the dock, like the pivot Helena Ciak.

This selection also happens in a particular context. The star of the team, Marine Johannès, is not there. Due to a round trip to the United States to sign his contract with the New York Liberty franchise. Generating a strong resonance controversy.

In the footsteps of Ginette Mazel

For Lacan, the rookie, like Marie-Paule Foppossi (Tarbes), it will be a question of showing up to expectations. And the N°42 of the French team almost never disappoints in such cases. The last Aveyronnaise to have worn the blue jersey at this level was Ginette Mazel, emblematic captain in 97 matches in blue from 1953 to 1964. A path mapped out for her successor? The future will tell. And that will first go through the first match of this Euro, like no other for Aveyron basketball, against Germany next Thursday (8:45 p.m.).