Risacher, Houinsou, Perrin highlight France squad going to training camp

PARIS (France) - France start a training camp for the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2023 as one of the contenders for the title with some high level names topped by Zaccharie Risacher, Zacharie Perrin and Kymany Houinsou.

Head coach Lamine Kebe has called 18 players to the camp in Temple sur Lot which runs from May 24 to June 5. Invited are seven players from the France team which finished fifth at the FIBA U18 European Championship 2022 as well as two player who helped France take third at the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2022.

France's training camp roster for the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2023

Melvin Ajinca, Mateo Bordes, Ethane Bourgade, Alexandre Bouzidi, Aurele Brena-Chemille, Simon Correa, Halvine Dzellat-Diakeno, Lucas Fischer, Romain Hoeltzel, Kymany Houinsou, Bradley Kouassi, Izan Le Meut, Noah Manet, Romain Parmentelot, Noah Penda, Zacharie Perrin, Zaccharie Risacher, Yanis Tonnellier. 

Houinsou and Perrin were both on last summer’s U18 team, which lost to Slovenia in the Quarter-Finals but bounced back with two wins to return to the U19 World Cup for the seventh time. The others from that team are Melvin Ajinca, Alexandre Bouzidi, Halvine Dzellat-Diakeno, Noah Manet and Romain Parmentelot.

Zaccharie Risacher

Risacher was a leader on the U17 team last summer and will also be joined by Noah Penda from the 2005-born generation in playing a year up.

France famously reached the U19 World Cup Final for the first time in 2021, powered by Victor Wembanyama, who is actually eligible to be playing in the event this summer. Besides taking second in 2021, France finished third in 2007 and 2019.

France have been drawn into Group A of the 2023 edition along with Canada, China and Spain. All four teams will advance to the Round of 16, where they will cross over with the teams from Group B - United States, Slovenia, Lebanon and Madagascar.

The U19 World Cup runs from June 24-July 2 in Debrecen.

FIBA