ELITE Hopes – Maxence Lemoine has just scored 38 points in ELITE Hopes against Paris. The Strasbourg back, who is still only U17, is revealing himself this season.
If Strasbourg came within 3 points of Paris Basketball (97-94) this Wednesday, December 13 in an advanced match of the 17th day of the Espoirs ELITE championship, a player caused a sensation in the Alsatian camp.
Maxence Lemoine (1.87 m, 16 years old) scored 38 points on 14/25 shots, including 2/8 from 3-point range, in addition to giving 4 assists and causing 8 fouls. The back of the SIG certainly lost but while he is only U16, he establishes himself as one of the very best attackers in the U21 category.
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Elected in the ideal five for the month of November, with 18.2 points, 5 assists and 2.2 interceptions on average for 16.8 evaluation in 30 minutes on average but above all four victories in four matches, the former player of the US Saulce Basket is gaining even more power. “Indeed, Maxence had a big match on Thursday, it resulted in a lot of skill, particularly near the basket, describes his coach Thierry Boess. He had already warmed up in Blois (29 points, Editor’s note) where he took charge of the match on the offensive level.. However, this time the SIG lost. “He, like me, is disappointed, happy with his performance but still disappointed by the defeat,” he recalls, mentioning that the primary quality of his young foal is his side. “competitor”.
Maxence Lemoine at Euro U16 in August 2023 (photo: FIBA). Training with pros since November
Arriving at the SIG Strasbourg training center after having been a brilliant player in U15 ELITE (with a peak of 46 points in a high group team), at the CTC Avant Garde Tain Tournon Basket Club, this scoring guard directly joined the U21 group (5.1 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 18 minutes in 2022-2023) while having a major role in U18 ELITE (12.9 points per game). After his U16 EuroBasket ended with the bronze medal (2.9 points and 1.9 assists in 11 minutes), the native of Auxerre remained on this double project. But if he played eight matches well during the first phase of the U18 championship (18.6 points), he gained ground in Espoirs to the point of joining the training of the professional team ” since three weeks ago. He still has his lessons but as soon as he can he is in the pro group, with responsibilities on 4x4s and 5x5s. It’s a new step to take but it’s done little by little. »
Excellent on the pitch, Maxence Lemoine is particularly so thanks to his state of mind and his gray matter. “He’s a player who really has his head on his shoulders, who pursues studies – I’m not saying that he’s brilliant, but that he really has a very good education – and basketball, in the same way. , by being competitive, always going all out”continues his coach, who himself went through the SIG – then in Pro B – in the early 90s.
“A joy from the coach” Maxence Lemoine against Paris this December 13, 2023 (photo: Kuratiano)
To take a step forward, Maxence Lemoine has “fortunately plenty of points on which to improve” says the former WOSB coach (NM2). “Particularly the problem as a playmaker, when you score a lot of points, is to involve your teammates a little more. That’s going to be the big challenge between points scored and assists. At the start of the season he had a little trouble”, believes Thierry Boess. Furthermore, as a guard who does not rely on a dominant physique, he cannot afford not to be a strong shooter, both off the dribble and in catch and shoot. If he advances (32.8% 3-point success on 3.9 attempts this season), he still has room for improvement at this level. “He was refusing 3-point shots a bit so we did a good job on his long-range shooting. It’s true that he doesn’t refuse them anymore so that’s already good. We will continue to work on this long distance shot to get a little further away from the basket”, describes Thierry Boess. Furthermore, now expected as the major player of the SIG U21s, the left-hander must achieve a “big work on leadership. It’s true that he is very young, he plays in U21, but he must take leadership, not only offensively, by bringing all these positive vibes to all his teammates, to involve them. »
Finally, on the other side of the field, if he is a good player, to the point of having been used mainly for defensive missions at Euro U16, he can do even better. “Defensively, he is very, very good on the ball carrier. He puts a lot of pressure, he defends well on the rise of the ball and everything. He still has room for improvement when he is a little further from the ball. » More generally, Thierry Boess confides his “happiness to train him. He’s someone who has a head on his shoulders, who continues to work.” To achieve very high goals.
The opinion of Raphaël Desroses, Paris Basketball coach:
“He’s a very good player. When we see his performances, he has clearly reached the milestone of the Espoir championship. Beyond his performances, what interests me the most is his character. We see that he is not afraid, that he goes after all the balls, but that he is also correct in his choices. When there are difficult baskets, it is because the situation demands it.
Otherwise, he does not hesitate to make the team play, even if he has scoring instincts. He is a truly complete player who also gives his all in defense. A player to follow. I will keep my eye on him. There are interesting players in this 2007 generation. We have one with Ilian Moulanga (leader/back who regularly faced Maxence Lemoine with CTC Montpellier Métropole), there is also Adam Atamna at ASVEL and many others. This is a generation that has already passed the milestone of the Espoir championship. »
2023-12-15 16:12:31
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