four things to know about Zaccharie Risacher, chosen No. 1 in the draft

The 19-year-old winger, who played for Bourg-en-Bresse this season, was chosen first by the Atlanta Hawks. A not-so-surprising performance.

He has already equaled a French basketball record. Winger Zaccharie Risacher did as well, just a year later, as Victor Wembanyama by becoming the second Habs to be chosen in first place in the draft, Wednesday June 26. It is during this annual event that NBA teams select new eligible players, mainly from the university and international ranks, in order to strengthen their rosters. Franceinfo: sport looks back at the journey of the new figurehead of French basketball across the Atlantic.

Best hope of the French championship and the Eurocup

First choice at just 19 years old – he was born in April 2005 – Zaccharie Risacher is the precocious type. Last summer, the winger played in the U19 World Cup a year early, finishing with the silver medal. In the process, he signed a fine individual season with Bourg-en-Bresse, one of the best French teams of the moment, semi-finalist of the French championship and finalist of the Eurocup, the second level of European cups. “Zaccharie, no one expected him at this levelestimated Simon Darnauzan, a former player who notably played for Bourg-en-Bresse and consultant for the Skweek channel, interviewed before the draft. It exploded very, very quickly.“Elected best prospect of the season in both competitions, Zaccharie Risacher was able to display, in Ain, his palette, already wide for his age, between his quality of outside shooting (45% at three points in the Eurocup) and his defense.

A reliable shooter coupled with a good defender

Trained in part at Asvel from 2020, he discovered the professional world with the Villeurbanne club, but did not explode there. Drowning in the dense workforce of the club chaired by Tony Parker, he chose to be loaned to JL Bourg-en-Bresse to get playing time this season. From a player at the end of the bench, he was given responsibility as a starter by coach Freddy Fauthoux, also a former international. “He’s really stunningenthused François Lamy, consultant for the Burgundy club and former general manager of Asvel, to West France. He is an outside height of 2.07 meters, very fluid, comfortable with the ball in hand, with a very reliable shot. It’s a template that you don’t see every day. He has a pretty amazing sense of the game, it’s very impressive.”

It’s France brother 🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷

— Wemby (@wemby) June 27, 2024

“There are a lot of things I can bring to an NBA teamZaccharie Risacher promised ESPN. My main strength is my shooting. Then come my defensive qualities. And finally, my ability to do what is asked of me by using my versatility: I can be present on the rebound, manage possessions, finish at altitude, pass the ball… No matter what is asked of me, I will do it , and I will do it well.“

A head trauma for his first selection for the French team

His good performances opened the doors to the French team at the end of February during the qualifying period for Euro 2025. Zaccharie Risacher, however, was not able to benefit for long, coming off after four minutes of play against Croatia after having received a blow to the face. The winger had to be stitched up and missed the second match against Bosnia-Herzegovina due to a concussion protocol.

On his return to competition with Bourg-en-Bresse, he experienced his only slump of the season, before gaining momentum again, like his high-flying final phase in Betclic Elite (15, 1 points at 52.6% shooting success, 7.4 rebounds on average). However, not enough to be part of the France group for the Paris Olympics.

A family in blue-white-red

Zaccharie Risacher had the DNA for the job. His father, Stéphane Risacher, also played at a very high level, notably with Lyon, PSG Racing and Chalon-sur-Saône, but also in prestigious clubs abroad in Greece (Olympiakos Piraeus) and in Spain (Malaga). A complete winger like his son, he was part of the French team – with which he has 124 caps – at the Sydney Olympics in 2000. The Blues won the silver medal, the first feat of arms for the French team since the 1950s.

Stéphane Risacher was also able to tell his son about his discovery of the NBA, he who, with PSG, had faced the Chicago Bulls, defending against a certain Michael Jordan at Bercy, during a friendly tournament in 1997.My father has a special place in my life and in my career, he advises me a lot”, “Zacch” admitted to Radio France last December.

Besides Zaccharie, the Risacher family has another champion seed. Aïnhoa made her professional debut this season at Asvel at the age of 16, after being voted best player in the European Under-16 Championship with the French team last summer.