Ex-NCAA star rips Hawks’ No. 1 overall pick Zaccharie Risacher: ‘Absurd’

The Atlanta Hawks had the primary overall choice within the 2024 NBA Draft Wednesday evening, and so they chosen Zaccharie Risacher, the 19-year-old Frenchman. 

At least one observer thinks it was a nasty transfer.

Frank Mason III, school basketball’s 2017 National Player of the Year with the Kansas Jayhawks, expressed his opinion in regards to the pick on social media after taking part in towards Risacher, a 6-foot-8 ahead, in France final yr. 

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Zaccharie Risacher of Bourg-en-Bresse drives to the basket throughout a recreation towards Paris at Adidas Arena April 28, 2024, in Paris.  (Aurelien Meunier/Getty Images)

“Played this young guy in France this past season; no way he’s the number one pick in the NBA raft lol, but I guess!” Mason posted on X. “Solid young player, but # 1 pick is absurd.”

Mason, the thirty fourth overall pick by the Sacramento Kings within the 2017 NBA Draft, bounced across the league from 2017-21, taking part in for the Milwaukee Bucks and Orlando Magic earlier than attempting his luck abroad. 

HAWKS SELECT FRENCH TEEN ZACCHARIE RISACHER WITH FIRST PICK OF NBA DRAFT

He joined SLUC Nancy in France’s high league, Betclic Élite, the place he averaged 15.5 factors, 3.3 rebounds and 5.1 assists over 21 video games final season to earn himself an All-Star Game look. 

Risacher additionally performed within the ProA League with JL Bourg-en-Bresse, the place he was 18 years previous for many of his 32 video games. He averaged 10.1 factors, 3.8 rebounds and 0.9 assists per recreation over 22 minutes. 

Zaccharie Risacher smiles earlier than the 2024 NBA Draft June 26, 2024, at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y.  (Mike Lawrence/NBAE through Getty Images)

Mason missed each video games towards JL Bourg-en-Bresse, which dominated SLUC Nancy, and Risacher scored 11 and 10 factors in these conferences. 

Mason is not alone in his skepticism about Risacher taking part in within the NBA. The Ringer’s Ryen Russillo believes others who performed in France, together with Risacher’s teammates, have been doubtless shocked when the Hawks referred to as his title. 

“I get what the excessive facet of it’s, however I think about there’s teammates of him in France which can be like, (*1*)s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.