Zaccharie Risacher and Alexandre Sarr occupy the first two places in the latest ESPN mock draft. A third French representative, Tidjane Salaün, is in the top 15.
Almost three months to the day of the NBA’s annual high mass, all the lights are green for French basketball. In the latest forecast updateESPN for the next draft, which will take place on June 26 and 27 in Brooklyn, Zaccharie Risacher and Alexandre Sarr still occupy the first two places. This was already the case during the American media’s latest predictions at the end of February.
These are of course only predictions, which will also be refined in the coming weeks with the outcome of March Madness (the American university tournament) and the traditional lottery, where the franchises will be fixed on their position in the draft . But seeing Risacher and Sarr occupy the top of this ranking, a year after the draft of Victor Wembanyama in first position, is necessarily a very positive signal for the two young French players.
Son of former French international Stéphane Risacher, Zaccharie Risacher has taken another step forward this season with Bourg-en-Bresse. Having left ASVEL to acquire more responsibilities, the young winger (19 years old on April 8, 2.06m) asserted himself under the colors of the Ain club, currently fourth in Betclic Elite and qualified for the semi-finals. -Eurocup finals (C2).
Risacher: “It’s in front of my eyes but I quickly refocus on my life which is real”
“I’m distancing myself but I’m on the networks like anyone else,” he confided to RMC Sport a fortnight ago about his No. 1 place in the draft predictions. “is in front of my eyes but I quickly refocus on my life which is real and not behind a phone. I first look at the Betclic Elite ranking, then the Euroleague and finally the NBA. Bilal (Coulibaly) and Victor showed the path for French players. It’s very inspiring for me.”
A few days ago, RC Buford, general manager of the San Antonio Spurs, traveled to Roanne to observe him. The draft system being designed to allow the lowest ranked franchises to select the best young people on the planet, Victor Wembanyama’s team, third worst record in the entire NBA (15 wins, 56 losses), is indeed good placed to hope to welcome the Frenchman.
Sarr still No. 2
A second Habs can hope to have the favor of the San Antonio Spurs and the worst teams in the league: Alexandre Sarr. Inside Perth (Australia), little brother of Olivier Sarr, Oklahoma City Thunder player, hot on the heels of Zaccharie Risacher. “We are looking at a 2.16 m boy who is establishing himself as a first-rate circle protector, analyzes Emmanuel Le Nevé, draft specialist for the French media Span. Today it is his entry ticket to the NBA and what will give him minutes on the court.” With his Peth Wildcats team, he was recently eliminated in the semi-finals of the Australian championship playoffs and neo- Zeeland.
Salaün loses a few places but remains in the top 15
Sparkling in the Cholet jersey and author of 18 points in his team’s victory against Saint-Quentin this weekend (73-69), Tidjane Salaün is the third French representative in the top 15 of the ESPN mock draft. Ranked 13th by the American media about a month ago, the versatile 18-year-old winger (2.03m), elected Betclic player of the month for January, lost five places.
ESPN’s predictions for the 2024 NBA draft
- 1. Zaccharie Risacher (winger, Bourg-en-Bresse)
- 2. Alexandre Sarr (power forward, Perth)
- 3. Rob Dillingham (leader, Kentucky, USA)
- 4. Nikola Topic (leader, Mega MIS, Serbia)
- 5. Donovan Clingan (center, UConn, Etats-Unis)
- …
- 13. Tidjane Salaün (winger-strong winger, Cholet)
- 37. Melvin Ajinça (winger, Saint-Quentin)
- 43. Pacôme Dadiet (winger, Ulm)
Felix Gabory Journalist RMC Sport
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2024-03-25 15:58:55
#Wembanyama #French #Risacher #Sarr #top #forecasts #draft
