By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Among the hot favorites to be selected first in the 2023 NBA draft, Victor Wembanyama has decided to continue his career playing for Boulogne Metropolitans 92, according to Arnaud Lecomte of L’Equipe.
Wembanyama, 18, decided to use the player option on his contract and leave LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne, as reported yesterday, Tuesday. Next, Metropolitans 92 and the opportunity to develop at the team based in the Paris metropolitan area and compete in France’s Betclic Elite LNB Pro A.
Fellow French outfit and 7DAYS EuroCup participant Paris Basketball was initially slated among the frontrunners to secure his services for the 2022-23 season. Barring a last-minute change, the promising prospect will instead move his talents to Metropolitans 92 and focus on the domestic league working under experienced tactician Vincent Collet, who is also the senior national team selector in France.
Dealing with multiple injuries during his lone season at Villeurbanne, the Le Chesnay-born forward/center put up 6.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per contest over 15 appearances, including ten starts in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague. In the French league, he produced 8.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game.
Wembanyama has won the LNB Pro A Best Young Player award the last couple of seasons, splitting the distinctions between concluding his tenure at Nanterre 92 and moving to ASVEL with the three-year contract cut short. Potentially improving his chances to become the top pick of the next NBA draft will follow switching teams for the second summer in a row.
Photo Credit: EuroleagueBasketball.net