The 17-year-old is projected to be a lottery pick in next year's NBA Draft
Noa Essengue overflowing with confidence, looking ahead to France debut
Player Spotlight
10 Mins read
Heading into the national team break, Noa Essengue is brimming with confidence after standing out for ratiopharm Ulm in the BKT EuroCup, and he cannot wait to make his debut for France.
The 17-year-old has taken the next step with Ulm in his second season in Germany and is showing why he is considered one of the top young talents in the world, ranking fourth on the team in scoring (13.1 ppg.), first in index rating (17.0), first in rebounds (5.2 rpg.), tied for first in steals (1.1 spg.), and second in fouls drawn (4.2 per game).
“I'm really good, really confident,” Essengue, who is shooting 63.4% on two pointers and 40% on three-pointers, tells David Hein. “When I'm in a game, I know I can drive, and I know if someone closes out on me, I can pass the ball. I know my teammate goes to make a shot or goes to rebound, so I'm really confident about my team.”
That is a major jump from his first season in the EuroCup last year, when he averaged 2.7 points and 1.7 rebounds in about 6 minutes per game over seven contests.
This season’s EuroCup numbers are also higher than what he is producing in the German League, where he has posted 7.5 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 0.8 steals in eight games.
Essengue is not surprised at all about his production, even though he will not turn 18 until December 18.
“I worked out all summer. I worked out every day and I played [for the U18] national team,” says the Frenchman, who worked out this past summer in Orlando in the United States.. “And already last year, I practiced with the guys in the BBL and EuroCup. So I already knew the team. I'm not surprised.”
This season has seen a major highlight already as Ulm took a trip to the United States to play an exhibition game against the Portland Trail Blazers. Essengue led the team in scoring that night with 20 points in a 111-100 loss – though the game was still close midway through the fourth quarter.
“We did a good job. We only lost by 11, so that's a good performance by the whole team,” states Essengue, who also picked up 8 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals. “So I'm just feeling good and proud of my team.
“We played all together. We played our game. We loved playing against an NBA team, because we don't play every day against an NBA team. So everyone was excited.”
Essengue still faces a major disadvantage because of a lack of muscle mass since he is still so young and physically hasn’t developed into an adult’s body – yet. But that has not slowed him down from fighting in the paint at both ends and driving to the basket on offense.
The Orleans native was dominant at youth level, being named the MVP of the Adidas NextGen EuroLeague Dubai tournament last season. His amazing performance helped Ulm become the first German club to win an ANGE qualifier. That all-around game is starting to translate to the senior level.
“The coach trusts me, my teammates trust me, so I can play my game,” he says. “I'm not stressed about nothing. I know if I make mistakes, that's not wrong. My teammates can cover me, so I just play my game.”
The national team window will have a special meaning for Essengue as he was nominated for the French senior team for the first time for the two games against Cyprus in the FIBA EuroBasket 2025 Qualifiers.
“I just want to say thank you to my coach [Frederic Fauthoux, head coach at Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse]. I know that it's my first time. I'm really excited,” Essengue says. “Just playing with some guys I have been watching on TV since I'm young, and to represent my country, that's just amazing. That's my dream since I was a kid. I'm just happy. I'm excited for this moment.”
Essengue is also looking forward to playing with Nolan Traore, with whom he played at the FIBA U18 EuroBasket 2024 and who also starred at last season’s ANGE for U18 PFBB INSEP Paris.
But of course, it will be great to learn from the likes of Andrew Albicy, Axel Bouteille, Paul Lacombe, Nicolas Lang, Adam Mokoka and Yoan Makoundou.
“Everyone on the team has had a big career, so I can learn from each of them. They can give me some advice for getting better,” Essengue says.
This will be another big experience that will make the young talent that much better.