Emerging French basketball talent Alexander Sarr raises draft stock with stellar preseason performances

Posted : 12 September 2023

In the recent NBA draft, Victor Wembanyama claimed the spotlight as the No. 1 pick in 2024, and there's a chance that the top pick in the 2023 draft may also belong to a French interior player. Allow me to introduce Alexander Sarr, a rising talent in the basketball world. Standing at 2.16 meters tall and 18 years old, Sarr has been turning heads and steadily improving his draft stock with each passing week.

Sarr's basketball lineage is impressive. He is the son of a former basketball player and the younger brother of Olivier Sarr, who currently plays for the Oklahoma City Thunder and had a stint in Real Madrid's youth system. At the age of 17, Sarr made the move to the United States and joined Overtime Elite. This season, he's showcasing his skills with Perth in the Australian Premier League.

In the past few days, Sarr has demonstrated his dominance in two preseason games against the G League Ignite, a team from the NBA Development League. In the first game, he contributed 7 points, 6 rebounds, and an astonishing 26 blocks. In the second game, he elevated his performance with 10 points, 6 rebounds, 3 blocks, 3 assists, and 5 steals.

NBA general managers are taking notice of this intriguing talent. "He's a very interesting prospect," said one GM. "A safe bet for a top pick in 2024, and he might even go first overall." Unlike previous drafts, the 2023 draft appears to be wide open, with no clear-cut favorite for the top selection.

Sarr himself is confident in his abilities. "I can play all five positions," the French interior player stated. "I believe I have a unique skill set, but I prefer not to compare myself to other players." At the age of 17, he played a pivotal role in leading the French under-12 team to a bronze medal at the World Championship, averaging 3 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 4.7 blocks per game. This summer, he continued to impress with 4.5 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game at the FIFA U-<> World Championship.

Perth's general manager, Danny Mills, is thrilled to have Sarr on board. "The combination of size, talent, and basketball IQ at this age is truly remarkable," Mills remarked. "We feel fortunate that he chose to join us."

Emerging French basketball talent Alexander Sarr raises draft stock with stellar preseason performances

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