Hugo Yimga-Moukouri has received a well-deserved award! After an outstanding debut season in the professional league, the Nanterre rookie has been named the Betclic Élite’s Best Young Player of the season. He finished ahead of Bastien Grasshoff from Le Mans, who was recognized as the best young player for the latter half of the championship, and Adam Atamna from Villeurbanne, both of whom also had strong seasons.
However, it was the Parisian player who truly dominated the competition. As part of a team that surprised the entire French basketball scene this season, the 18-year-old small forward made a significant impression. With averages of 8.9 points and 3.8 rebounds, which don’t fully reflect his stellar season-ending performance, he has already established himself as a key player for one of France’s top teams.
In the April issue of MaxiBasket, he discussed his successful decision to remain in France to complete his development:
“France has always given me everything. Here, I was trusted, and I received a lot of help. So, first and foremost, I am very grateful for that. And also, when you see players like Victor (Wembanyama), Zaccharie (Risacher), Nolan (Traoré), who stayed here and are doing well, it makes you want to stay too. You think: why not us? I’ve always trusted the French system, and today, it seems to be working out well, so I’m satisfied with my choice.”
