Atlanta Hawks select Zacharie Risacher with No. 1 pick in NBA Draft

The choice is made and Zaccharie Risacher is the first name called in the 2024 NBA draft.

The Atlanta Hawks selected the 19-year-old French forward with the first overall pick in the draft on Wednesday night. Risacher spent last season overseas with Betclic Elite’s Mincidelice JL Bourg in France.

The 6-9 forward averaged 10.1 points, 3.8 rebounds and 0.9 assists last season on 44 percent shooting from the field and 35 percent from deep.

Risacher now joins an Atlanta team that features star point guards Trae Young and Dejounte Murray. With the Hawks missing the playoffs and finishing with a 36-46 record, the franchise is hoping Risacher will be a beneficial addition as questions arise elsewhere on the roster.

Moments after Risacher’s name was called, fellow Washington native Alex Sarr was taken No. 2 overall by the Washington Wizards. Kentucky guard Reed Sheppard was selected third overall by the Houston Rockets. The Spurs selected UConn’s Stephon Castle fourth overall, while the Detroit Pistons selected G League Ignite forward Ron Holland II fifth overall.

Risacher is the second consecutive international player to be selected first overall after the Spurs used their first pick on Victor Wembanyama a year ago. The Hawks’ selection Wednesday marks the fourth international pick to be taken first.