Zaccharie Risacher and France Begin Action

(Image via Instagram/Zaccharie Risacher/@_zacch_10, @equipefrancebasket, @armandlenoir)

​By: Lucas Kochevar

The early taste of Eurobasket started Monday afternoon with France as they took down Montenegro in an exhibition match, 81-75. Zaccharie Risacher started the game for France and contributed two points, four rebounds and one block. Risacher struggled to find his footing in the game, but France was able to hold on and pull away down the stretch.

France jumped out to an early lead as they were up by as many as 16-points, but saw that lead dwindle in the third quarter.  Montenegro made a run with their hot three-point shooting and outscored France 28-21 in the third. France regained control of the game with an 8-0 run to start the final period. Montenegro survived that blow and went on another run to cut the lead to three with under a minute left. Despite this, they were unable to get a stop and France secured the win.

Other notable players in the game included Wizards forward Alex Sarr on France and Bulls center Nikola Vucevic on Montenegro. Both players scored 19 points. France’s roster consists of many new faces as they enter a new era of international play. Rudy Gobert, Evan Fournier and Nicolas Batum have been prominent members of France’s team for the better part of the decade. They look to pass it on to guys like Wembanyama, Risacher and Sarr now.

The Hawks have multiple players that will be potential participants in Eurobasket 2025, including Kristaps Porzingis for Latvia, Vit Krejci with the Czech Republic and Eli Ndiaye with Spain. Ndiaye might not play as he suffered a wrist injury that kept him out of the Hawks last four Summer League games. There was also talk that Nikola Djurisic would be a member of Serbia, but was excluded this time around. 

Ndiaye might be in action on Tuesday and Thursday as Spain will play. He could play his fellow teammate, Krejci, as they take on the Czech’s on Thursday. Risacher and France will be back in action on Friday as they take on Great Britain.