Atlanta Hawks have selected forward Zaccharie Risacher with the No.1 overall pick of the 2024 NBA draft.
Risacher comes out of France, where he most recently played for JL Bourg-en-Bresse of LNB Elite, the country's premier division of professional basketball.
"So exciting," Risacher told ESPN. "There's a lot of feelings and emotions right now.
"I don't know what to say, but... I'm so blessed."
In 32 games last season, Risacher, 19, averaged 10.1 points, 3.8 rebounds and 0.9 assists for JL Bourg. He is 2.06m (6ft 9in) and weighed in at 88.4kg at the draft combine in May.
According to Spotrac, Risacher will sign a four-year, US$57.2 million (NZ$94m) contract with the Hawks.
Atlanta do not own another pick in this year's draft, which has been split into two days. The first round is being held at Barclays Center in New York, while ESPN's Seaport District Studios - also in New York - will host the second round.
Washington Wizards then took fellow Frenchman Alexandre Sarr off the board with the second overall pick.
Sarr, 19, spent the 2023/24 campaign with Perth Wildcats in the Australian NBL. He averaged 9.4 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in 27 games.
For the third time in NBA draft history, the top two picks have not had college experience. Sarr has leaned on brother and Oklahoma City Thunder centre Olivier Sarr for guidance, as he prepares to play the next level.
"He's shared a lot with me," Sarr told ESPN. "Everything I've learned is through him and he gave me all his knowledge, and to this day, it's really special to have someone like him in my corner."
University of Kentucky guard Reed Sheppard went to Houston Rockets at No.3, while University of Connecticut guard Stephon Castle landed with San Antonio Spurs at No.4. Forward Ron Holland II of G League Ignite, who will join Detroit Pistons, rounded out the top five.
In his lone season with the Wildcats, Sheppard posted averages of 12.5 points, 4.5 assists and 4.1 boards across 33 games.
Castle also spent just one season at the collegiate level, helping the Huskies secure their second straight national title by recording 11.1 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game.
"This guy, when you look at fit right there, the Spurs value winning, they value workers, they value championships and this is just the perfect player for them to draft," Connecticut coach Dan Hurley told ESPN. "This guy is just scratching the surface."
Holland appeared in 14 games this past season. He averaged 20.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.5 steals.
After another Frenchman, Tidjane Salaun, was taken by Charlotte Hornets at No.6, Portland Trail Blazers grabbed big man Donovan Clingan, a two-time champion with the Huskies in his only two seasons of college basketball.
San Antonio then had the eighth overall pick and opted to go with guard Rob Dillingham from Kentucky. Dillingham is reportedly being traded to Minnesota Timberwolves.
Purdue centre Zach Edey, a two-time National Player of the Year, landed with Memphis Grizzlies at No.9, after averaging 25.2 points, 12.2 rebounds and 2.2 blocks last season.
Another Thunder player will playing alongside his brother in the NBA, as Utah Jazz selected Colorado's Cody Williams with the 10th overall pick. Williams is the brother of Oklahoma City guard/forward Jalen Williams.
Matas Buzelis, a native of Chicago, will staying in his hometown, after the Bulls took him at No.11 from the G League Ignite. Serbian Nikola Topic then went to Oklahoma City, Providence's Devin Carter went to Sacramento Kings and Pitt's Bub Carrington was selected by Portland, but will head to Washington Wizards.
The Blazers earlier traded the 14th overall pick, as part of a package to acquire Deni Avdija from the Wizards.
Carter is the son of 13-year NBA veteran Anthony Carter.
"I caught him at the end of his career, so I had to watch highlights and stuff," Devin Carter told ESPN. "I respect... how hard he worked.
"He always got on the court for how hard he played defence, the way he led the second unit."
Outside the lottery, Miami Heat snatched Kel'el Ware of Indiana with the 15th overall pick, Philadelphia 76ers took Duke's Jared McCain at No.16 and Tennessee's Dalton Knecht went to Los Angeles Lakers, who had the 17th overall pick.
Orlando Magic, Toronto Raptors and Cleveland Cavaliers had the next three picks, selecting Colorado's Tristan da Silva, Baylor's Ja'Kobe Walter and California's Jaylon Tyson respectively.
Reuters
