Zaccharie Risacher: The floor is there, but how high is the ceiling?
The French Wing has been tearing apart Pro A while displaying flashes of brilliance, but can he be a consistent on-ball option?
A well-documented prospect over the last 2-3 years, the man with Olympic genes, Zaccharie Risacher, has ascended to a premier prospect over the previous year. After a poor showing at the Nike Hoop Summit in April last year, the Frenchmen bounced back strongly after an offseason transfer to JL Bourg from LDLC Asvel, owned by former Champion Tony Parker.
With the transfer to JL Bourg came a significant uptick in playing time, shooting up to around 20 minutes a game and achieving double-digit scoring averages. After settling in quickly to his role as an off-ball wing, Risacher thrived domestically and continentally as JL Bourg played an extensive schedule with the Euro Cup throughout the season.
As June's NBA Draft approaches, decision-makers are puzzled by Risacher's on-ball upside due to his lack of pick-and-roll experience and inability to create his own shot. Risacher has been consistently putting in winning performances, elevating the bigger the stage gets.
Throughout this year's LNB Pro A season with JL Bourg, Risacher averaged 10.1/3.3/0.9 on 43.9/35.2/74.0, albeit with a massive shooting slump since January, which he recently broke out of before the Pro A playoffs. As for the Euro Cup, Risacher took advantage of his extra opportunities, excelling with an efficient 13.1/3.6/1.1 on 56.6/56.1/65.9 with impressive performances on the road in front of hostile crows like against Aris BC in Greece dropping 20/3/1 with excellent efficiency and defense.
With that being said, what makes Risacher so intriguing as a prospect, and more importantly, why is his range so big?
Strengths
At the heart of Risacher's game is his three-point stroke. As evidenced over the last year, Risacher shot an amazing clip well above average for the NBA, hovering around 40% for most of the year while his peers struggled. Risacher's immediate 3-and-D capabilities as an off-ball mover, shooter, and defender make him an attractive pick. Still, in a draft without high-level individual creators, Risacher is different from what many look for in a #1 pick. Mechanically, Risacher is excellent and has been for a while. At 6'10" with a 6'10.5" reported wingspan, Risacher can get his shot off over anybody with a high release point elevating over contesting defenders.
Defensively, Risacher is highly versatile due to his 6'10" frame, which currently allows him to hound defenders 1-4, which gives hope he could one day guard 1-5. Additionally, it's worth mentioning that Risacher should have no problem filling out his 6'10", 210 lb frame, which will help him guard larger players a few years down the line. Risacher's quickness on his feet allows him to slide with quick guards, while his length aids him in guarding lankier wings on the perimeter.
Risacher's current skillset is tailor-made for teams ready to win à la JL Bourg. Still, teams like Atlanta, Washington, San Antonio, Charlotte, etc., are rebuilding and could benefit from another prototypical NBA wing with a high floor and potentially All-Star upside should Risacher's game continue to develop off the bounce in the pick-and-roll and creating for himself. With his high feel for the game, expect Risacher to hit the ground running in the States.
Weaknesses
It's no secret that the prospects atop this year's NBA Draft are not the most refined offensively, especially in the self-creation category, and Risacher is no exception. Risacher has shown flashes of self-creation with quick punch dribbles or between-the-legs dribbles to create a bit of separation to get his shot off, but generally, self-creation-wise, Risacher leaves a bit to be desired. Risacher has more to his game as a creator, but he's confined to his role as a 3-and-D spacer for JL Bourg. With Risacher's transition to an NBA developmental environment, teams atop the draft should lean towards allowing him to experiment more with the ball in his hands.
Furthermore, Risacher lacks the playmaking acumen of a future high-level NBA creator at this stage in his development. Still, the more looks he gets with the ball in his hands, the more confident I am that Risacher can develop into a solid playmaker for himself and others. Risacher's effective 3-point shot allows him to attack closeouts, which displays flashes of on-ball brilliance. For Risacher to reach his full potential, he must be drafted to an organization fully invested in his development with a reasonably long runway.
Wrap-Up
With his elite three-point shooting and versatile defensive skills, Zaccharie Risacher is a tantalizing prospect. His ability to thrive off the ball and his quick adaptation to increased playing time at JL Bourg make him an attractive option for teams seeking immediate 3-and-D contributions. Despite a shooting slump earlier this year, Risacher's resilience and impressive performances in high-stakes games showcase his potential to excel on bigger stages alongside his excellent 3-point percentages.
However, Risacher's draft range remains wide due to his limited experience in self-creation and playmaking. For teams willing to invest in his development and allow him to experiment more with the ball in his hands, Risacher could evolve into much more than a role player. His high basketball IQ and physical tools provide a solid foundation, and with the right environment, he could reach his full potential and become a significant asset in the NBA.