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
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5 Mins read
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 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.
"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, 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.