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Another Frenchman, Tidjane Salaun, was taken
sixth by the Charlotte Hornets this year.
Risacher, 19, was named the French league's best young player as
a member of JL Bourg-en-Bresse last season and is an excellent
three point shooter and elite defender with room to grow his
game.
"It's a blessing, it's so exciting," Risacher said.
"There are a lot of feelings and emotions right now. I don't
know what to say."
Risacher joins a Hawks team that missed the playoffs after
finishing 36-46 last season.
Sarr, 19, joins the Wizards from the Perth Wildcats in the
Australian league and he has also played in the U.S. and Europe.
A versatile big man who can protect the rim and shoot three
pointers, Sarr will look to provide a spark for a rebuilding
Wizards team following a woeful 15-67 campaign.
"Everywhere I played built me for this moment," Sarr said.
Reed Sheppard was chosen third by the Houston Rockets, Stephon
Castle was taken fourth by the Spurs and Ron Holland was taken
by the Detroit Pistons to round out the top five selections.
France has produced more NBA players than any other country
outside of North America, including four-time champion Tony
Parker, four-time defensive player of the year Rudy Gobert,
Joakim Noah, Nicolas Batum, and Boris Diaw.
The big night for France at the draft comes with a month to go
before the start of the Olympic Games in Paris.
The U.S. beat France to win the gold medal at the Tokyo Games
three years ago and France, led my Wembanyama, will be out for
revenge on home soil this summer.
(Reporting by Rory Carroll in Los Angeles; Editing by Peter
Rutherford) [© 2024 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
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