France playmaker Dimanche uses Seraphin camp to go from Guyana to U19 World Cup

CHOLET (France) - Karlton Dimanche has a special connection with Kevin Seraphin and the point guard talent used the French veteran’s camp to sprout a career that brought him from Guyana to the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2019.

Dimanche was discovered at Seraphin’s camp in the country in northern South America in 2015 and arrived in Cholet. Four years later, he will be one of the leaders for France at the U19 World Cup in Heraklion, Greece, where the team hopes to reach the podium for the second time in five editions.

Karlton Dimanche was discovered at Kevin Serapin's camp in his native Guyana

"I can’t wait to be there because being qualified for this kind of event doesn’t happen every day. We showed beautiful things at the FIBA U18 European Championship 2018 and we want to confirm them," said Dimanche of France’s third place showing at the U18 continental championship.

“WE KNOW A SPOT ON THE PODIUM WILL BE TOUGH BUT WE WILL BE IN THE FIGHT.”- Dimanche

France are back at the U19 World Cup after finishing seventh in 2017 for their first back-to-back appearances since 2007 and 2009.

"We know a spot on the podium will be tough but we will be in the fight," said Dimanche, who averaged 8.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, 3.9 steals and 3.4 assists at the U18 European Championship.

At this summer's U19 World Cup, France are drawn into Group D in Heraklion along with China, Puerto Rico and Serbia. The game against Serbia will be particularly intriguing since France lost 78-67 to Serbia in the U18 European Championship Semi-Finals as Serbia went on to win the title - thanks in large part to their big man duo of MVP Marko Pecarski and Filip Petrusev.

"It will be an interesting game because they are the European champions. We were dominated from the first to third quarters. It’s up to us to get into the game with a strong defense on their low post players. They ran out of freshness in the 4th quarter," Dimanche said of the Semi-Final, where he collected 8 points, 5 steals, 2 rebounds and 2 assists.

At the club level, the 6ft 4in (1.93m) playmaker helped Cholet win the French U21 Espoirs title last season. And Dimanche has shown his all-around skillset this season as he has flirted with a triple-double multiple times in averaging 17.0 points, 8.9 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 2.7 steals in the U21 league while also playing in the ProA 17 times and averaging 0.8 points, 1.1 rebounds and 0.4 assists. The U21 league experience has helped him gain more leadership.

"I learned to be one of the leaders but that your work is never perfect," said Dimanche, whose mother played basketball in Guyana and was MVP there a number of times.

France’s only podium finish at the U19 World Cup came in 2007 after the likes of Nicolas Batum, Alexis Ajinça, Edwin Jackson, Antoine Diot, Adrien Moerman had won the U18 European Championship in 2006.

France's last team to finish on the podium at the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup - in 2007

"Our goal is to be among the top nations in the world," Dimanche said of France’s expectations in Heraklion. "We need to continue to defend and increase our efficiency on offense, which will be important for all matches."

Dimanche’s journey to Heraklion began way back in Guyana in South America. And it’s thanks to Kevin Seraphin that he is Greece-bound with France.

FIBA