From Landes to the United States, the rise of Martin Carrère and Théo Pierre-Justin to the NCAA

LBasketball is their whole life. Natives of Landes, and teammates for a season (at Adour Dax in U15, and at Pôle Espoir des Landes), Martin Carrère (18 years old, fullback, 2.03 m), and Théo Pierre-Justin (19 years old, winger -strong, 2.06 m) are starting a new chapter in their young career. They will play this season in the NCAA, the prestigious American university championship. Martin Carrère (trained at the Buglose-Pontonx Youth Sports Union) was attracted by Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), in Richmond, in the state of Virginia. While Théo Pierre-Justin (trained at Basket Cap de Gascogne) settles down in Chicago, Illinois, at DePaul University.

After a summer filled with international competitions with the French team (U20 European champion for Théo and 5^e of the U18 European Championship for Martin), the two Landais discover a “new world”. “It’s really high level. I have already evolved in a few weeks,” says Martin, who has gained seven kilos (of muscle) since his arrival.

An obvious choice

Martin Carrère had been playing at Limoges CSP for three years. “The club wanted to sign me my first professional contract in March,” remembers the young full-back. But the unstable situation of the club, which was on the verge of bankruptcy, convinced him to wait. “I had planned to start my professional career there, but with the change of management, what was offered to me was not maintained. »

His choice is made. Direction Virginia. In particular “to continue classes”, an essential point in the life of the young student, who obtained his baccalaureate with honors last July. “It was going to be very complicated to continue my studies while training at this pace. The NCAA is the best option for my development as a player. But it is also a life experience. Over these first months, I have absolutely no regrets. »

Matthieu Donnard, the coach of the Limoges CSP hopefuls, says he is “proud” to have been able to coach him. “Martin likes the challenge. He embarks on a project that he has chosen, and he has all the qualities to make it work. » He evokes the “Landes character”, specific to the players of the department. Olivier Chaume, the director of the Limoges CSP training center, speaks of a “Nicolas Lang (record holder for the number of three points scored in Betclic Elite, Editor’s note), with five centimeters taller, and athletic qualities (laughs )”.

The speech is similar for Théo Pierre-Justin, who played with the Chorale de Roanne, before making the big leap to the country of Uncle Sam. “It was the best option for me”, indicates the champion of Europe U20. Last season, he spent mainly with the professional group, in Betclic Elite.

“Roanne’s big mistake”

A first season in the elite, tarnished by the club's relegation to Pro B. “We go down with Roanne, and the management lets me know that there is no real project for me. I already had experience, yet I was told that I would be on the 12th^e team player in Pro B.”

He continues: “I still didn't have enough experience for another Betclic Élite club to trust me. And I didn't want to go play in lower divisions. » After discussions with his agent, Théo decides to try to live the American dream.

Jean-Denys Choulet, current coach of the Kosovo national team, and coach of the Chorale de Roanne until last March, is convinced that he made the right decision. “He has all the weapons to make a career. This is a very good choice for its development. And we can't blame him for leaving if he wasn't wanted. »

“He has all the weapons to make a career. It’s a very good choice for its development”

For him, he should already be a “Pro B starter”. “It’s a big mistake for Roanne to deprive themselves of a player like that,” explains the technician. The 66-year-old man was seduced by “his size, his ability to shoot three points, and his mobility”. It allowed the player born in 2005 to have an important place in the Roanne rotation. He adds that he “strongly appreciated” Théo, particularly his kindness. “He is very well behaved, grateful for what we do for him. He's a bit of the opposite of some young players who want everything immediately, and who think we owe them everything. »

“It’s really different”

Since then, the two young men have plunged into another universe. “I arrived on Saturday or Sunday, and on Tuesday, I started classes,” recalls Martin Carrère. No time to breathe or get used to the time difference, the serious things are already starting. A busy schedule, with a lot of sport, and few classes compared to the French system. “I only have seven hours of face-to-face lessons per week. It’s really different, and more suited to the pursuit of basketball,” says the former Limougeaud.

In Chicago, days also revolve a lot around basketball. “I wake up at 7 a.m. I have a first individual workout at 8 a.m., for 45 minutes. Then, it's a 9 to 10 a.m. weight training session, and we continue with a video session. Before finishing with basketball practice until 12:30 p.m. I only have classes on Monday and Wednesday afternoons in person. I manage to follow the videos when I have time,” explains Théo.

The NBA in the back of my mind

The NCAA allows athletes to participate in college competitions for four seasons. The best players don't even finish their studies and try their luck in the big league, the NBA. “The only thing that would get me out of college before my four years were up would be the NBA,” Martin said. I think about it, but there are so many steps before that I don't focus on it every morning when I get up. But I'm getting closer. I meet very talented players every day. I'm still young, I have a lot of room for improvement. I know nothing is guaranteed, but it would be huge. »

The former Ligerian could also shorten his stay, if an opportunity presented itself. “The NBA is in the back of my mind, that’s for sure. I'm focused on the moment, but it remains a goal. Logically, I'm doing my four years, but if I'm good in my second season at DePaul, and I have something interesting coming up, I may change my plans. »

Still attached to the Landes

Both players have very good memories of their Landes years. “We did a year together at the Pole, but before that, we were already competing against each other as youngsters,” recalls Théo. “Martin liked to challenge me when we played against. But also during our year at Adour Dax, laughs the strong winger. He's a good friend! »

“The only thing that would make me leave university before the end of my four years would be the NBA”

“Theo is my guy,” replies the native of Pontonx. We often meet at basketball games, in the stands. » For him, these two years at the Pôle Espoir des Landes are his best years, despite Covid-19. “It was the first time I went to boarding school, and it allowed me to meet incredible people. Even without playing official matches due to the various confinements, we continued to train. We were almost the only ones in France! »

Even thousands of kilometers from home, the two athletes assure, they will try to follow Landes basketball. Théo will especially follow the ESMS “on Instagram”, which welcomed him this summer to “train and keep the rhythm”. While his colleague will follow, like all the Landes, the legendary Landes World Cup.

What is the NCAA

The NCAA is widely followed in the United States. Last season, it earned 1 billion euros in revenue. Since 2024, players can receive a salary, in addition to their scholarship, which was until then their only income (paying tuition fees).