Now less than three months before the NBA Draft (June 26 and 27), the hopes of world basketball are entering the final sprint of their season. For the majority of NCAA prospects, this has already entered the pre-draft phase. This is also the case ofAlexandre Sarreliminated in the semi-finals of the Australian championship.
The latter, like his friend Zacharie Risacher, enters this final stretch in an enviable situation, still ahead of forecasts. But their place is not secure, and increasingly popular.
Zaccharie Risacher experiences his “rookie wall”
As since the start of our Draftomètre meeting, the two Habs occupy the top of the mock drafts of all the US media. The latest version of the ESPN reference offers an unchanged order: the Bourg-en-Bresse winger gets ahead of the Perth interior. Same story for The Athletic, or for the latest update of The Ringer. But the status of Zaccharie Risacher seems less and less established, in a Draft where the absence of talents far above the rest like Victor Wembanyama last season levels the hierarchy. “ Risacher remains number one for now » thus tempers The Athletic. “ It could very well end differently, and workouts will play a crucial role in the process. »
The former resident of the ASVEL training center is going through a more difficult phase, particularly following his concussion suffered with the French team at the end of February.
Zaccharie Risacher has only passed the ten-point mark in one of his last six matches in all competitions. However, the calendar offers him the ideal opportunity to recover and make an impression. JL Bourg plays the beauty of the Eurocup semi-finals against Besiktas on Wednesday (7:30 p.m.) at home.
Back-to-back threes by top #NBA draft prospect Zacharie Risacher as his team JL Bourg gets the win over Besiktas in Game 1 of the best-of-three semifinals #BKTEuroCup series pic.twitter.com/xaF7bTAWvm
— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet) March 26, 2024
In Turkey, “Zach” had one of his worst matches of the season with four points at 2/7 and a statistical line remaining blank around. Offering the first European final in the history of his club by returning to his form from the first half of the season would score him points.
A month of March, and it doesn't start again
Because behind, there is no shortage of contenders for this first choice place in the Draft, starting with Alexandre Sarr. If his season ended in mid-March, his defensive qualities confirmed throughout his season in Australia and some flashes in attack perhaps make the Toulouse player the most intriguing candidate. Second in mocks from ESPN, The Ringer or The Athletic and still number one for Bleacher Report, Alexandre Sarr is on the other hand at the top of the “Big Board”, which takes into account talent as much as potential, by The Ringer.
Zaccharie Risacher is frequently seen as a more “secure” player, perfectly in the mold of the “wings” sought in the NBA currently, even if his ceiling can sometimes seem lower.
The two men also benefit, it is true, from a generation of NCAA or G-League freshmen who have not been able to show themselves sufficiently brilliant and/or regular to shake up the situation. On a (very) ascending phase a few weeks ago, Kentucky players Rob Dillingham and Reed Sheppard missed out on their March Madness, eliminated in the first round by the modest Oakland university. Among the players still in the running and considered for the lottery, Connecticut pivots Donovan Clingan (5e for ESPN, +4 places compared to before March Madness) and Purdue Zach Edey (14e), are those who could benefit the most from a choice performance next weekend at the Final Four without being serious rivals to aim for 1D Draft Square.
Tidjane Salaün and Melvin Ajinça in the infirmary
The other French people do not fall into this category either. Tidjane Salaün plateaus despite a very good match on March 23 in Betclic Elite against Saint-Quentin (18 points). The Cholet Basket winger was not in his team's victory in Nancy last Saturday, twisted ankle in training. Here he is on the edge of the Top 10 for The Athletic, of the lottery for ESPN and The Ringer (13e), or even completely from 1er tour for Bleacher Report (26e).
He was also injured. following two consecutive shocks to the sternum“, Melvin Ajinça (Saint-Quentin) steps back and sees the hopes of the first round fade away (35e for The Ringer, 37e for ESPN, 38e for The Athletic, 44e for Bleacher Report). Ulm winger Pacôme Dadiet (43e for ESPN and Bleacher Report, 51e for The Athletic) is even further. Great story from the end of the NCAA season and qualified for the Final Four with the surprise North Carolina State, Mohamed Diarra does not appear in the forecasts for the moment.
