Risacher is one of two Frenchmen thought to be in the running for number one pick this year and basketball runs in his family, with his father Stephane a silver medal-winner with France at the Olympics in 2000.
He is 19 but made his debut in Europe’s premier basketball competition, the EuroLeague, for French team ASVEL at the age of just 16 in 2021.
The ASVEL president is Tony Parker, a former NBA point guard who won four championship rings with the San Antonio Spurs, and the Texan outfit has forged some long-running connections with France.
Last year, the Spurs made Wenbanyama the first ever Frenchman to be drafted number one – and Risacher will be hoping to follow suit.
Heading into this season he was already seen as a promising prospect, before transferring to another French team, JL Bourg. There, he has really worked on his shooting and scouts will be hoping to see this continue.
Risacher could potentially become a player who fits seamlessly into an NBA offence, able to score from anywhere on the floor, without needing the ball in his hands too much.
He is also a good perimeter defender. But despite his 6’8’’ (2.03m) height, his lack of athleticism means he is not considered a great finisher at the rim, nor is he a strong rebounder yet.
However, he is still young, and there is a possibility that these skills could improve as he develops physically.
