2023-24 Roster Rundown: Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse

Going into its fourth consecutive BKT EuroCup season – and its second under head coach Frederic Fauthoux – Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse has established itself as a club that is always knocking at the door of bigger accomplishments on the European stage. With seven new players – including NBA Draft prospect Zaccharie Risacher – added to a core that helped Bourg reach the eighthfinals last season means that early adaptation will be the key to its ambitions in wide-open EuroCup Group B when play starts on October 2.

BACKCOURT

Bourg has the comfort of knowing that the ball will be in experienced hands, since Axel Julien and Hugo Benitez have shared the team's starting and backup point-guard duties, respectively, for the last two seasons. To that mix comes well-traveled JeQuan Lewis, who excelled in the German League last season after having played previously in the G League, South Korea, Greece, Taiwan, Israel and Estonia. Sharpshooter Bryce Brown comes to Bourg from winning a Polish League title, while Jeremy Morgan – the only newcomer with previous EuroCup experience – comes off a German League title with Telekom Bonn. Isiaha Mike is the team's only double-digit scorer from last season to return, so he will be relied on considerably to keep up his consistency and ability to get to the basket.

FRONTCOURT

Risacher can be expected to get a lot of time to prove himself at small forward, while forward Maxime Courby, the most-accurate three-point shooter in EuroCup history, brings veteran leadership to the frontcourt. The sole other returnee is Angolan international Kevin Kokila, a part-time starter at center last season. In to help at power forward is experienced Maksim Salash, a former FIBA basketball Champions League titlist. At the center spot, Kokila will share time with 25-year-old Bodian Massa, who was the sixth-best rebounder in the French League last season for Strasbourg (7.3 per game), and another youngster, 22-year-old Nigerian international Godwin Omenaka, who last played in Hungary.

PLAYER TO WATCH

Zaccharie Risacher is a player to watch on a global basis due to his excellent length and skills for a 2.04-meter-forward who can play at least three positions. Still just 18 years old, Risacher has as many EuroLeague games under his belt, having averaged 3.2 points and 1.8 rebounds in 13 minutes last season for LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne, the team from whom he was lent to Bourg. Risacher, whose father Stephane was an elite EuroLeague player, has excelled at all junior levels, including the Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament, and is now poised to make an impact at the next level. There is little Risacher cannot do, as he runs, handles, shoots, rebounds, steals and assists in equally impressive numbers.

OUTLOOK

Coach Fauthoux might have his work cut out for him with such a young team with little EuroCup experience. Nonetheless, the fact that three backcourt players in their primes - Benitez, Julien and Mike - bring plenty of know-how should make the growing pains less severe. The backcourt and wing production will be key since Bourg is youngest and least experienced under the rim. Massa is the team's tallest player at 2.08, which means that perimeter play and fastbreaking will likely be Bourg's style until the big men can adjust. Bourg played better on the road than at home last season, but with just six teams going to the playoffs from each group under the new EuroCup format, protecting Ekinox arena becomes an imperative for the French team going into the EuroCup season.