France's Risacher selected to Atlanta Hawks with top pick in NBA Draft
French teen basketball player Zaccharie Risacher was selected by the Atlanta Hawks with the first overall pick in Wednesday's opening round of the NBA Draft. The 19-year-old forward impressed the Hawks as a catch-and-shoot scorer with ideal size for a wing player.
France's Zaccharie Risacher was selected by the Atlanta Hawks with the first overall pick in Wednesday's opening round of the NBA Draft.
The 19-year-old forward, who stands 6-foot-9 (2.06m), was the second Frenchman in a row to be chosen number one after Victor Wembanyama was taken by the San Antonio Spurs with the top pick last year.
"It's a blessing, you know," Risacher said. "So exciting. There are a lot of feelings and emotions right now. I don't know what to say but it's definitely special.
"For three years, what I have been through, and my family is here -- I'm so happy. This is amazing."
French players were chosen with three of the top six picks overall, setting an NBA record for the most international players taken in the top 10.
Risacher helped spark JL Bourg to this year's EuroCup final, which was won by Paris Basketball.
He became the second-youngest player to be named the EuroCup Rising Star and last month was named the French league's 2023-24 Best Young Player after averaging 10.1 points and 3.8 rebounds in 22 minutes a game for JL Bourg.
French 19-year-old 7-foot (2.13m) center Alexandre Sarr was selected second overall by the Washington Wizards.
Sarr played last season for the Perth Wildcats of Australia's National Basketball League.
"Everywhere I played it just built me for this moment," Sarr said. "It's so special."
