Assane Sankare is joined by Nathan Soliman, Fynn Schott, Karim Lopez and Veniamin Abosi on the ANGT Paris all-tournament team.

Sankare wins MVP in helping Next Generation Team Paris make history 

Assane Sankare claimed the Most Valuable Player trophy after making history with the U18 Next Generation Team Paris as he helped NGF become the first select team to take first place in a qualifying tournament.

Sankare collected 20 points, 12 rebounds and 3 blocks for a performance index rating of 33 in NGF’s 86-78 victory over U18 PFYM INSEP Paris in the ANGT Paris first place game.

Sankare was joined on the All-Tournament Team by Nathan Soliman of runner-up PFBB, Fynn Schott from U18 Gran Canaria, Karim Lopez from U18 Joventut Badalona and U18 Olympiacos Piraeus’s Veniamin Abosi.

For the tournament, Sankare averaged 14.8 points, 11.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 2.5 steals and 1.5 blocks for a PIR of 24.8. He ranked second in index rating, first in steals and first with 5.2 offensive rebounds, second in rebounds, tied for third in blocks and 10th in scoring.

Soliman tallied 12 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal and 2 blocks for a PIR of 17 in the first place game. Over the four games, he averaged 10.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.2 blocks for an average rating of 16.0. The 14-year-old was tied for fifth in blocks and tied for 10th in PIR.

Schott collected 18.0 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.2 blocks in totaling a 23.0 PIR. He was second in scoring and second with 4.5 offensive rebounds, third in PIR and tied for third in total rebounds.

Lopez was worth 17.8 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.2 steals and 2.0 blocks in averaging a PIR of 28.0. He led the competition in PIR and blocks and was third in points and tied for third in rebounds.

Abosi had 15.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.2 blocks for a PIR of 19.0. He ranked fourth in assists and steals, fifth in PIR, tied for fifth in blocks, eighth in points and ninth in rebounds.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Showing UP in Paris 🤝<br><br>These young ballers are all part of the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AdidasNGT?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AdidasNGT</a> All Tournament Team 🔥 <a href="https://t.co/vyQeh2Dtqf">pic.twitter.com/vyQeh2Dtqf</a></p>&mdash; Turkish Airlines EuroLeague (@EuroLeague) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague/status/1777027139465892233?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 7, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

He is joined by Nathan Soliman, Fynn Schott, Karim Lopez and Veniamin Abosi on the all-tournament team.

U18 Next Generation Team Paris v U18 PFYM INSEP Paris (2024-04-07T14:45:00.000Z)

LIVE BLOG: U18 Next Generation Team Paris vs. U18 PFYM INSEP Paris

<incrowd-live-blog id="66123e1c6749947269e46dff" client-id="EUROLEAGUE" server="standard"></incrowd-live-blog><script src="https://live-blog.incrowdsports.com/index.js"></script>

SUIVEZ L'ANGT PARIS ET LES MEILLEURS PROSPECTS EN DIRECT 

Follow all the games of the ANGT Paris tournament, live!

NGT Paris tops INSEP 86-78 for first place at ANGT Paris

LIVE BLOG: U18 Joventut Badalona vs. U18 Gran Canaria

<incrowd-live-blog id="66123d7139913db4f361c5df" client-id="EUROLEAGUE" server="standard"></incrowd-live-blog><script src="https://live-blog.incrowdsports.com/index.js"></script>

U18 Joventut Badalona 70-72 U18 Gran Canaria

U18 Joventut Badalona v U18 Gran Canaria (2024-04-07T12:30:00.000Z)

LIVE BLOG: U18 Olympiacos Piraeus vs. U18 Panathinaikos Athens

<incrowd-live-blog id="66123caf39913db4f361c5db" client-id="EUROLEAGUE" server="standard"></incrowd-live-blog><script src="https://live-blog.incrowdsports.com/index.js"></script>

U18 Olympiacos Piraeus 85-66 U18 Panathinaikos Athens

U18 Olympiacos Piraeus v U18 Panathinaikos Athens (2024-04-07T10:15:00.000Z)

The 14-year-old son of a former EuroLeaguer, Nathan Soliman has turned some heads at the ANGT Paris

Top talent Soliman just wants to be the best

U18 PFYM INSEP Paris has developed some of the greatest players in basketball history. The likes of Tony Parker, Boris Diaw, Evan Fournier and Ronny Turiaf have come up in the hallowed halls of the famed academy in the French capital. Current PFBB talent [Nathan Soliman](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/ngt/players/nathan-soliman/013061/) is the youngest to ever attend the academy, but the 14-year-old’s only concern is becoming the best. 

Soliman has not looked out of his element at all during the Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament Paris, despite him not turning 15 until May. 

“For me, the ANGT is just one step among many. Of course, I’m honored to take part at my age, but right now I am only thinking about victories,” said Soliman, who averaged 9.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.0 blocks in the group stage for PFBB. “The fact that the tournament is in Paris is an advantage because the public and our families are with us. But it really doesn’t change anything about how I play.”

Soliman impresses observers with a muscular 2.03-meter frame combined with versatility, mobility, feel for the game and ability to finish - and that at 14. 

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Nathan Soliman born 2009…<br><br>HOOPIN’ at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AdidasNGT?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AdidasNGT</a>, what were you doing at 14 years of age? <a href="https://t.co/8jAy8O8PT5">pic.twitter.com/8jAy8O8PT5</a></p>&mdash; Turkish Airlines EuroLeague (@EuroLeague) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague/status/1776255907535388768?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 5, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


"Nathan is our first player to come into our program two years in advance. He is a real competitor and he likes all the challenges he has to deal with at PFBB INSEP. Since his first international competition last summer, he still wants to improve to be the best player," INSEP coach Lamine Kebe said of Soliman.

"His body is getting better, his all-around game is developing. He can play in the youth categories and dominate and fight against professional adult players. He plays both and has the ability to express his game in many different ways: in the paint posting-up, setting screens, playing PNR and shooting from everywhere. He is a good teammate, very smart, he likes joking and playing games."

When his age is brought up, Soliman simply deflects: “It doesn’t mean anything to me. I’m just ahead of my generation. That’s all it means to me.”

Soliman was born in Vichy and grew up in Reze, near Nantes, as the son of [Williams Soliman](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/williams-soliman/tfb/), who played one season in the EuroLeague for Roane in 2007-08 after helping the club to the French League crown a season earlier. 

The elder Soliman also played for the French national team, competing at the FIBA EuroBasket 2009. Williams continues to play this season, dribbling the ball for Alerte Juvisy in France's fifth-tier at age 44. 

My father instilled in me the values that will enable me to succeed such as hard work, respect and punctuality. 

When asked who would win in a one-on-one between father and son, the younger Soliman said: “Honestly I don’t know. I’d say me but it’s certain that I’m no match for his body.”

The elder Soliman stands 2.04 meters and was one of the best post-up players in France with excellent back-to-the-basket play and long arms and athleticism. 

“My father instilled in me the values that will enable me to succeed such as hard work, respect and punctuality. The same goes for my mother who has always been there for me,” said Nathan, whose mother Séverine, played up to the women's second division. 

Even though basketball was so prevalent in his life, the young Nathan was actually not fully into hoops for some time. He practiced swimming, tennis and handball and did not start with basketball until age 9. 

“My level in other sports was pretty good, but I chose basketball because it offered me a greater future,” Soliman said.  

And basketball is not the only thing for Soliman, who also partakes in drawing, video games and reading. 

“Drawing is a hobby, video games are a way to communicate with my friends in Nantes and reading is an escape. It takes the pressure off,” said Soliman, who listed Guy de Maupassant, Jules Vernes and Mary Shelley as some of his favorite authors. 

With those interests and values instilled in him, Soliman wanted to put more focus on basketball. And a move to INSEP was the next address. 

“I decided to join INSEP because it was the quickest way to be the best,” said Soliman, who arrived at the academy in 2022 at age 13 - two years earlier than most players are accepted into the program. 

His parents accompanied him to Paris for the transition, which he appreciates, but knows eventually he will be on his own. 

“I know that if I want to be the best, that I’ll have to make sacrifices and seeing my family less often is part of that,” he said. 

Soliman also is aware of the attention surrounding him. But he says he pays it no mind.

“I don’t worry about that. I have people who surround me every day. They take care of it - the coaches, my parents and my agency.”

Nathan Soliman is busy working on becoming the next best young talent.  

Top talent Soliman just wants to be the best 

 LIVE BLOG: U18 Paris Basketball vs. U18 AS Monaco

<incrowd-live-blog id="6611e1a839913db4f361c5d7" client-id="EUROLEAGUE" server="standard"></incrowd-live-blog><script src="https://live-blog.incrowdsports.com/index.js"></script>

U18 Paris Basketball 93-87 U18 AS Monaco

U18 Paris Basketball v U18 AS Monaco (2024-04-07T08:00:00.000Z)

 LIVE BLOG: U18 PFYM INSEP Paris vs. U18 Gran Canaria

<incrowd-live-blog id="660faa1a9f4ee1bd58994233" client-id="EUROLEAGUE" server="standard"></incrowd-live-blog><script src="https://live-blog.incrowdsports.com/index.js"></script>

 U18 PFYM INSEP Paris 92-60 U18 Gran Canaria

U18 PFYM INSEP Paris v U18 Gran Canaria (2024-04-06T18:15:00.000Z)

 LIVE BLOG: U18 Panathinaikos Athens vs. U18 AS Monaco

<incrowd-live-blog id="660fa9c89f4ee1bd5899422f" client-id="EUROLEAGUE" server="standard"></incrowd-live-blog><script src="https://live-blog.incrowdsports.com/index.js"></script>

 U18 Panathinaikos Athens 92-88 U18 AS Monaco

U18 Panathinaikos Athens v U18 AS Monaco (2024-04-06T16:00:00.000Z)

 LIVE BLOG: U18 Olympiacos Piraeus vs. U18 Paris Basketball

<incrowd-live-blog id="660fa9825561458674f5a59a" client-id="EUROLEAGUE" server="standard"></incrowd-live-blog><script src="https://live-blog.incrowdsports.com/index.js"></script>

 U18 Olympiacos Piraeus 92-65 U18 Paris Basketball

U18 Olympiacos Piraeus v U18 Paris Basketball (2024-04-06T13:45:00.000Z)