Barring a twist, Alexandre Sarr will not be number 1 in the 2024 Draft. He has not been tested by the Hawks, and the French interior should instead join Bilal Coulibaly at the Wizards. There will undoubtedly be more responsibilities, even if he still believes in this first place to succeed Victor Wembanyama.
“I bring a lot of versatility on the defensive and offensive side, which allows me to understand a lot of different schemes. And I can match up with a lot of different teams. My goal is to be number 1. I want to be the best at everything I do. And that’s what being number 1 is all about.” he explains to Andscape.
A challenge player
Olivier Sarr's brother recalls that he lived in Atlanta, and that even at that time, it was a big challenge. “After my second year at Real Madrid, I wanted to take on a new challenge. I wanted to come to the United States and compare myself to other players who were the best in the world at our age.” he recalls. “I thought it was very important for me to take on new challenges. I lived in Atlanta when I played for Overtime Elite. So I know this city well. It's a pleasant city. I mostly hung out around the OTE Arena and Atlantic Station. I used to go to the cinema…”
At the time, he was watched over by two former NBA players, who had become leaders of this league for high school students: Carmelo Anthony, member of the steering committee, and Damien Wilkins, the GM of Overtime Elite.
“What Alex brings to the game is his skills with that size, his ability to dribble, to guard the rim, to get out of the way, to make a jump shot, to defend well, those are all qualities that must have “, explains Anthony, who has become an ambassador for the NBL Next Stars program in Australia. “If you’re tall and that size, you have to have all those attributes. You have to be tough…and he ticks all those boxes. And above all, when we know that the league is getting younger and younger, we say to ourselves that there are no limits for him.”
The Overtime Elite places its pawns in the NBA
Wednesday evening, Alexandre Sarr could become the highest drafted player passed by Overtime Elite. Even higher than the Thompson twins, selected in 4th and 5th positions in 2023.
“When Alex came to Overtime Elite three years ago, I told him he could become the first pick in the Draft” Wilkins says. “But I’m not sure he fully believed it at the time. For two years, Alex bought into what we offered at OTE – unlimited resources, extremely competitive matches, training on and off the field – and he truly flourished. Over the past year, I have seen him refine his game, strengthen his body and completely transform into a player who will thrive at the next level. We are extremely proud to be part of his journey.”
