At just 18 years old, Bastien Grasshoff has become an indispensable player for MSB this season, and has now officially signed his first professional contract. This achievement is a well-deserved reward for the young forward, who has emerged as one of the revelations of the Betclic Élite league.
Grasshoff joined Le Mans at the U15 level and has steadily progressed through the club’s ranks, currently averaging 7.3 points per game in the French championship. The native of Marseille nearly missed his chance to break through, but the management of the Sarthe club ultimately placed their trust in him.
Recalling his initial journey, Grasshoff explained: “I sent my CV to six or seven clubs. I received negative feedback from some, others didn’t even respond, and I managed to get two tryouts: one at Le Mans and one at Pau. At Pau, they didn’t want to take me because they were looking for someone more experienced, already ready to play at the ‘espoir’ (prospect) level. In any case, I felt better at Le Mans. Hugo Legentil, the U18 coach, had seen me previously during a tournament in Montpellier and had been impressed.”
