Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament Varese MVP Zacharie Perrin was the talk of the event.
Perrin’s route to Antibes helps him become ANGT Varese MVP
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Perrin took the ANGT Varese by storm for the Next Generation Team Varese and averaged 17.7 points on 62.4% two-point shooting, 10.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.7 steals, 0.7 blocks and 6.0 fouls drawn for an index rating of 23.0. NGV reached the first-place game at ANGT Varese to become the first Next Generation Team to get that far.
One of the things that separates Perrin from the many top talents in France is that the center’s rise came at a second division team and not at one of the country’s youth talent powerhouses.
“I am really happy about this because it’s really hard to be named MVP of the ANGT because there are a lot of good players,” said Perrin, who ranked first in scoring and PIR and second in rebounds and fouls drawn.
Perrin tallied 11 points and 7 rebounds in the first-place game, which his team lost to U18 PFYM INSEP Paris. It was a game that meant a lot to the 2.07-meter big man because it was against the famed French institution, which included five players who were his teammates on France’s team at the FIBA U18 European Challengers 2021.
“I was happy about playing against them. I know them really well and it was really cool,” said Perrin, who had played with Rayan Rupert, Melvin Ajinca, Alexandre Bouzidi, Simon Correa and Mael Hamon Crespin.
Those players are also playing at PFYM, which is one of the most established and successful producers of French players. Perrin did not receive that opportunity. Nor did places like LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne, Cholet or SIG Strasbourg come calling for the big man who hails from Besancon, which is located in eastern France near the border with Switzerland.
“The very well-known places did not really see my potential at the time as I was not developed yet,” said Perrin, who started playing the game at age 9 and eventually headed down to the French Riviera between Cannes and Nice to join Antibes. “The offer that Antibes made me was very fitting and I thought it was a great way for me to develop as a player and as a person.”
Playing for the ProB second division club also gave the youngster more chances.
“It’s been great for me because it gives me an opportunity to play for different categories - U18, U21 and professional. I also train with the pros and have been in a few games,” said Perrin, who has collected 4 points and 4 rebounds in 7 minutes over two games in the second division. “Instead of playing with a well-known first division team where playing time would be limited, Antibes is much more interested for me to develop.”
That’s not to say that Perrin automatically was able to shine with Antibes’s first team.
“It was pretty tough at the beginning. The difference between the younger categories and the pros was a big jump for me. But I’ve been training for four or five months now and I have adapted and the coach has shown a lot of trust in me,” he said. “It has helped me develop physically - to play tougher, stronger, and develop my tactical vision and technical skills. The physicality is much tougher so I have to show my skills as well to earn some minutes.”
Perrin said his style of play - an inside-outside offensive game while blocking shots and getting steals on defense - is very similar to his role model.
“I’ve always worshipped and watched Anthony Davis because he’s a tall player who is very versatile, has a great shot, handles and skills. That is something that has always inspired me. Not to just be a big man that can score under the basket but also shoot from the three-point line and be versatile,” Perrin said.
The world is definitely seeing Perrin and his game now - even if that wasn’t the case early on.