NZ Breakers have officially signed French NBA prospect Hugo Besson as their second import for the 2020/21 Australian NBL season.
The 20-year-old joins comptriot Ousmane Dieng in the Breakers set-up, who was added under the league's Next Star programme. Both are expected to declare for next year's NBA draft.
The leading scorer in the second division of France's national league last season, Besson has long been rumoured to join the Breakers, and Corey Webster's departure to Egypt opened up a roster spot for him. The Breakers now have one available import slot remaining, having already added former Detroit Pistons guard Peyton Siva.
The rangey 1.91m gunner should add some much-needed depth at the guard position, which took another hit this week with the release of Tai Webster due to his refusal to be vaccinated for COVID-19.
Besson posted per-game averages of 19.5 points, 4.3 points, and 2.9 assists for France's Saint-Quentin and was named to the All-league starting five.
According to ESPN, he's currently expected to be claimed in the early second-round of the 2022 draft, where he hopes to follow in the foot steps of Breakers Next Star predecessor RJ Hampton, who has shone with the Orlando Magic since they selected him in 2020.
"The Breakers have become a destination for top talent globally," says Breakers owner Matt Walsh. "It has been exciting watching RJ and his development, knowing this club played a role in that.
"Just like RJ, I expect both Hugo and Ousmane will be first-round picks in next year's NBA draft following a season playing for the Breakers and being coached by Dan."
Besson landed in New Zealand several weeks ago, and has already cleared quarantine and begun training under level 3 guidelines at the team's North Shore headquarters.
Breakers coach Dan Shamir says he is hugely excited to begin working with the Frenchman.
"When Ousmane committed to us in June we no longer had the next star position available but we liked Hugo so much that we decided to take him as an import," says Shamir.
"That in itself tells you how highly we rate him."
The ANBL season tips off on November 18, a month later than usual in the hope some of the COVID-19 restrictions will have be eased.
