Upsides

• He is a big wing, stands at around 6’10 and has long arms

• He has been an insanely efficient 3-point shooter, it’s super impressive for someone his age to be that efficient against professional competition

• Good passer, he makes good reads and is good at executing tough passes

• Great off-ball defender, he gets into passing lanes, switches well, is a good help defender

• He is a good on-ball defender as well, he can stick with some smaller players while handling wings and most forwards well

• Playing well against professional competition, which is pretty much always a sign that a prospect is going to have a good NBA career

Downsides

• He isn’t the most athletic guy in the world, so it could take him a little bit to get used to the pace and athleticism that’s in the NBA

• He can struggle guarding stronger players

• Ball handling is inconsistent

Conclusion

• Zaccharie Risacher has a skillset that fits perfectly with what NBA teams want out of a wing

• He has a high floor due to his defensive versatility and shooting capabilities, these will keep him in the league for a long time

• Not as high of a ceiling as other prospects in this draft due to limitations as a shot creator, but he still could be an all star caliber player one day

Shades of: Trey Murphy, Johnathan Issac, Nic Batum

May: can’t see him being anything more than a 3&D guy right now. Not great body control or change of direction, been in a shooting slump, his defense is very strong and that’s why he’s still a lotto pick but without him hitting all of his jumpers, it’s hard to see what he will do. Good off ball mover but doesn’t do anything else on offense. Don’t see him projecting to be a self creator

January:Risacher might have the highest floor out of the entire class, and one of the highest ceilings. He’s the perfect NBA wing for the modern game - an incredible cutter and off ball mover, a great shooter off of movement and catch and shoot, a strong passer and can finish well and get to the rim. He’s the best offensive player in the class, and his defense is also very good! He’s a great athlete and has a great defensive stance, he doesn’t fall asleep off ball and closes out well. There’s nothing in his game I can point out as a flaw, and for that reason I’ll have him going first.

Comp: Brandon Ingram with more defense

Likes:

• One of the youngest prospects in this draft, turned 19 early April.

• Has a good height for a SF being 6'8.

• Don't mind his finishing at the rim. It's decent, he can have some nice takes and some highlight finishes. Wished he got to the basket more often though and that he didn't miss as many point-blank layups/dunks.

  +

  Worries:

• Risacher's shot is really concerning. Where I stand now, I dislike his shooting ability more than I like it. He's really inconsistent, one game he could go cold and not score once from the field, then the other he could heat up from three and knock down a couple of shots from deep. This would honestly be an issue if it wasn't for how young Risacher is, and that there's hope his shot could improve later on. But at the same time, I'm not sure if I do think his shot is going to improve. Him being 74% from the FT line brings up even more questions as to how his shot is going to translate at the next level. The flashes he shows are nice, so I wouldn't completely put his shot down (he's still 35% from three, which is alright), but I wouldn't give his shot too much praise and rely on it being a pro of his game.

• Risacher's defensive ability is super interesting. Although he shows a lot of promise, being able to apply pressure well, keep up with his opponent's movement off the ball and laterally (for the most part), and navigating through screens well, he also has a lot of flaws and needs polishing on this side of his game. His age can really show at times, looking like a deer in headlights. It's not uncommon for him to look lost and get blown by/honestly outplayed by his opponent. His close-outs can be pretty weak and he's not consistently providing his A-game on defense. He's not a presence in the paint, his length doesn't actually seem to do much in the post (it does in the perimeter or slightly inside of it), and he can be reserved at times near the rim. He jumps a bit too much, leading to fouls (2.3 per game) or better looks for his opponents. He has his hustle plays every once in a while, just wish he had them more. The potential is there, and I think there's more to like than dislike, but work needs to be done. His stats don't show what he can do defensively, only getting 0.8 steals and 0.4 blocks per game. He looks better on film, something to keep in mind.

• I like Risacher's rebounding ability a lot more than some of the other stuff he offers. He always seemed to try at least a little bit, boxing out and creating opportunities for his teammates to get a board if the ball didn't fall to him, but some of his efforts could be lazy and not good. Occasionally he would struggle to get a good grasp of the ball once it started coming down, or he wouldn't hold up too well against the person he was boxing out. Keep in mind he only averaged 3.9 rebounds per game.

• Risacher's efficiency is a big worry. I skimmed through it when talking about his shot, but he can have huge game contrasts. Again, one game he could make no FG attempts and get his points purely from free throws, then the next game he could drop 20 and have a good shooting and finishing night. Consistency is key, and Risacher can't provide that right now.

• Risacher isn't too skinny, but he doesn't have an ideal weight either. He weighs 204, which isn't bad for a SF, but for a 6'8 guy, it's not great. He looks slimmer than that on film. I think it would really benefit him if he put on some more muscle, I doubt he'll be very productive in the paint doing stuff like boxing out if he doesn't gain more weight.

• Not that big of a fan of his ball handling. Not like he shows what he can do with the ball often, but when he does, it's just kind of whatever. What he has works fine for the most part. He spams the same behind-the-back move though, and while it looks clean, it seemed to lead to turnovers a lot more than it should've. Didn't really show anything else off either.

• 43% from the field, nearing bad territory, but just kind of mediocre (or slightly below it) right now.

• Could lower his turnovers. Averaging 1.3 a game right now, which isn't awful, but it could be better.

  +

  Dislikes:

• Rarely passes the ball and doesn't show much upside as a playmaker. Only gets 0.9 assists per game and has a bad assist/turnover ratio, 0.69.

• Don't like his off-ball movement. Not to say he doesn't cut or move around, but it's not often enough he does so, and his cuts rarely lead to anything.

• Similar to Ron Holland, I think buying into Risacher is buying into what he could be, not what he is right now. He's super flawed but shows flashes of being a good player. He could also just be a bust, and not develop into what he could become.

  +

  Personally, I lean more into not buying into Risacher. He has tempting parts of his game, but I think he's a little too risky and I'm not completely sold on his potential. I think it'll be different for everyone else, but I don't see "1st pick" with him. It's my first time looking at him, and I don't see the hype. I don't even think what he could be should warrant him being the 1st pick. Maybe that's just me though...

  Prospect rating: High D.

Zaccharie Risacher

[img]http://i.imgur.com/eqvjGCS.png[/img][/url]

https://youtu.be/A8R9J40cVI0?si=UWYxCoCCkXMoYNS4

This is my 3rd choice should Spurs get a top 3 pick in the draft. I find it hard to gauge defensive stats in euro leagues. But this guy has length, a nice jumper, and offensive upside.

Zaccharie Risacher - JL Bourg / France (SF/PF - HT: 6’9” - WING: - 6’11” - WT: 210 - A: 19y)

- Huge 3 and D power wing
- One of the best shooters in the draft, was at an insane 46% from 3 but has cooled off recently
- Shows secondary playmaking flashes, especially in transition when he can grab and go
- Great defender, guards the other teams best player 1-4 every game
- Doing this all on a really high level French team but not starting
- He doesn’t have much offensive creativity, not going to be much of a creator on-ball
- Shades of Jabari Smith Jr, Trey Murphy III, Keegan Murray, MPJ
- Best fit: Detroit, Memphis, Portland, Chicago, Washington, Toronto, Atlanta, New York
- Worst fit: fits everywhere, maybe Utah due to tall shooting forward overload

Range: 2 - 11

Poste(s) : SF

Âge : 18 ans

Taille : 2m05

Stats : 10.0pts, 3.4reb, 0.9ast, 0.9stl, 0.4blk

Adresse : 45%fg, 37%3pt, 71%tf

Ailier shooteur adroit et grand, Risacher a un potentiel hyper intéressant en tant que 3&D à gros volume. Véritable connecteur en attaque (courses, passes en rythme, défenses on et off-ball), il faudra néanmoins que la franchise qui le draftera montre de la patience et un vrai savoir-faire pour l’aider à se développer. En pleine progression au tir, il affiche des pourcentages impressionnants cette saison, bien que ce fut irrégulier jusque là. Risacher pend souvent les bonnes décisions balle en mains, notamment à la passe, mais ses difficultés à marquer près du cercle et son faible pourcentage aux lancers francs inquiètent les scouts. En tout cas, sa longueur, sa discipline et sa vitesse latérale en font déjà un défenseur collectif solide. Attention cependant à ne pas être assez "méchant" en défense et "timide" en attaque...

Tier 1 - Ceiling:

All-Star, Fringe All Defense Team/Top 10 Three Point Shooter

Nationality

French

Draft Day Age

19.20

Wingspan

6'11

Avg ranking (top 6 NBA draft sites) 4.5

My Jan Ranking 2

Best Case - Shades of/

Jalen Johnson

Mikel Bridges

Peja Stojakovic

Stats:

22.8 MPG

11.4 PPG

65.5 TS% on 7.4 FGA

47.3 3PT% on 3.1 FGA

70.9 FT% on 3.0 FTA

10.7 TRB%

8.1 AST%

2.2 STL%

2.1 BLK%

15.2 TO%

21.4 USG%

116.4 ORTG

102.0 DRTG

Overview: Zacharie Risacher is a 6'10", 204-pound small forward currently playing for JL Bourg in the French LNB Pro A league and the EuroCup. He's rapidly rising as a potential top-10 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, captivating scouts with his unique blend of size, shooting, and defensive versatility.

Strengths:

• Elite shooter: Risacher's most defining feature is his elite shooting ability. He boasts a smooth shooting stroke with consistent mechanics, making him a threat from beyond the arc. This skill translates well in both catch-and-shoot and off-the-dribble situations.

• Size and athleticism: Standing tall at 6'10" with a good wingspan, Risacher possesses the ideal frame for a modern NBA wing. He's surprisingly athletic for his size, showcasing quickness and explosiveness that aid his defensive versatility and finishing ability.

• Defensive potential: Risacher displays promising potential on the defensive end. He utilizes his size and mobility to effectively guard multiple positions on the perimeter, disrupt passing lanes, and contest shots at the rim. His defensive IQ is also improving, allowing him to anticipate plays and rotate effectively.

• High basketball IQ: Risacher plays with a cerebral approach, demonstrating good court vision and decision-making abilities. He understands his role within the team scheme, makes smart cuts off the ball, and finds open teammates with timely passes.

Weaknesses:

• Limited offensive creation: While a proficient scorer, Risacher still needs to refine his offensive creation skills. He primarily relies on his shooting prowess and off-ball movement for offense and can struggle against tight on-ball defense. Expanding his dribbling and playmaking abilities would significantly elevate his offensive repertoire.

• Strength and physicality: Compared to NBA-caliber players, Risacher needs to add more muscle and physicality to his frame. This will improve his ability to finish through contact, battle for rebounds against stronger opponents, and defend more effectively against power forwards.

• Experience against elite competition: Although performing well in the French league and EuroCup, Risacher hasn't consistently faced the level of competition he'll encounter in the NBA. The jump in athleticism, physicality, and overall talent could pose an initial challenge as he adjusts to the NBA game.

Overall: Zaccharie Risacher is a highly intriguing prospect with the potential to develop into a valuable "3-and-D" wing in the NBA. His elite shooting, size, and defensive versatility are highly sought-after qualities, making him a potential difference-maker on both ends of the court. If he can continue honing his offensive creation abilities, add strength to his frame, and adjust to the increased competition level in the NBA, he could become a key contributor for a team seeking a versatile wing player.

Additional Notes:

• Risacher is known for his work ethic and dedication, consistently working on improving his skills and adapting to the game.

• Some scouts compare him to a young Nicolas Batum due to his size, shooting ability, and defensive potential, while others see him as a more offensively focused player in the mold of Khris Middleton.

• His shooting ability and defensive versatility make him a perfect fit for teams seeking a player who can contribute immediately and grow into a key role in the future. Overall, Zacharie Risacher is a player to watch closely in the lead-up to the 2024 NBA Draft. He has the talent and potential to make a significant impact on the league for years to come.