The weeks pass, the hierarchy remains, and we begin to believe that France will have a second first choice in the Draft (consecutive) in four months. Zacharie Risacher is more than ever in an excellent position to succeed Victor Wembanyama. Right behind him, Alexandre Sarr took advantage of low-stakes matches in Australia to confirm its rise to power before the NBL playoffs. The duo is currently in consensus, even if the general level of this 2024 promotion leaves the hierarchy still possibly open.
Zaccharie, Risacher new first choice for CBS and The Athletic
If ESPN, the reference for “mock drafts”, had made “Zach” Risacher its number one for several weeks, other American media had not yet made the switch. It is now done. The Bourg-en-Bresse winger is at the top of CBS's forecasts and The Athletic. For these last ones, ” he is clearly number one at this moment“.
Well during the Leaders Cup ten days ago despite the elimination of the JL in the semi-final against Nanterre (despite 16 points from his prospect), Zaccharie Risacher was however unable to build on this form in the blue jersey. Called up for the French team for the first time for the Euro 2025 qualifying window, the 18-year-old will have spent only four minutes on the floor for his first selection on Friday against Croatia. A little behind (0/2, one rebound, one foul), he was unable to return to the game, hit in the face. Zaccharie Risacher had to be stitched up and was placed under concussion protocol, depriving him of the Blues' second match, this Monday in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Victim of a blow to the face against Croatia, Zaccharie Risacher must follow a concussion protocol before resuming any sporting activity. He will not accompany the Blues to Tuzla, in Bosnia.#TeamFranceBasket | #PassionatelyBlue | #EuroBasket
— French Basketball Teams (@FRABasketball) February 24, 2024
Also present with the French team – him as a training partner – after taking part in the Leaders Cup with Saint-Quentin, Melvin Ajinça recovered well from a missed outing in Paris just before our previous draftometer. The winger confirmed his qualities as a scorer/shooter by passing 19 points (tied season record) at 4/8 from afar in the Coupe de France against Nanterre, then 11 points at 3/7 behind the arc in Paris in Leaders Cup. He will need to confirm this kind of performance and regain consistency in the coming weeks, as he flirts between the end of the first round and the start of the second.
Sarr puts himself forward
Higher up on the boards, Alexandre Sarr (2nd at ESPN, and The Athletic, 3rd at CBS) confirmed around ten days ago that his injury was nothing more than a distant bad memory. The pivot took advantage of the last two NBL regular season games to gain minutes and confidence. In two games without a stake when Perth was already assured of finishing second, the Toulouse native signed 11 points and 6 rebounds in Illawarra, then 17 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 blocks two players later against Tasmania.
His next outings will be even more scrutinized, starting on March 8 with the semi-finals of the Australian championship, synonymous with intensity and stakes which will go up a notch.
A significant audience of NBA executives in Tasmania came to watch Alex Sarr in Perth's regular season finale. 17 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks in 21 minutes for the projected No. 2 pick. pic.twitter.com/n0aduxILQf
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) February 18, 2024
Tidjane Salaün was able to benefit from around ten days of break. Still announced 8th by ESPN, the winger however fell in the latest Bleacher Report update, from 11th to 26th place! Possible good news, his Cholet Basket team replaced Craig Randall II, compulsive shooting glutton (more than 10 3-point attempts on average in Betclic Elite) with the much more collective Nick Johnson, 42nd choice in the 2014 Draft and past two seasons in Nanterre.
Note that among the players constantly progressing in the “mock drafts”, the former prospect from the Chalon-sur-Saône training center Kyshawn George is inviting himself into the discussion to be selected in the first round (16th for The Athletic). The Miami college guard could follow the example of Thabo Sefolosha and Clint Capela, other Swiss who passed through Chalon before being selected for the NBA Draft.
