Sparkling against the Portland TrailBlazers on the night from Wednesday to Thursday, Noa Essengue reaffirmed his status as a French basketball prodigy. And he showed why he continues to rise ahead of the 2025 NBA Draft.
Sometimes you have to know how to seize an opportunity when it presents itself and Noa Essengue understands that perfectly. The Frenchman, who plays in Germany with Ratiopharm Ulm, took advantage of the confrontation against the Portland TrailBlazers, in the middle of the NBA preseason, to shine in front of all the scouts on the planet.
Author of 20 points and 8 rebounds, Noa Essengue showed why he was one of the most talented players of his generation. A confirmation, already, for the 17-year-old Frenchman, expected quite high during the 2025 NBA Draft.
Trained in Orléans and at INSEP
Originally from Orléans, Noa Essengue studied in the Loiret before logically joining Pôle France. A precocious talent, he shone from an early age with the Federal Center team in Nationale 1, the third level of French basketball.
In a team used to being beaten quite clearly, the difference in age and physique being detrimental to the INSEP players, he managed to exist offensively with a few flashes. He notably scored 21 points against Charles in February 2023, when he was just 16 years old.
An early departure to Germany
Licensed with ASVEL during his entire time at INSEP, Noa Essengue however decided to go to Germany to begin his professional career. In July 2023, he signed with Ratiopharm Ulm, the former club of Killian Hayes currently in distress in the NBA. He then found another Frenchman there, Pacôme Dadiet, since drafted by the New York Knicks (25th choice in the 2024 Draft).
During his first season with the German club, he played mainly with the reserves, but also earned minutes with the pros in the Bundesliga and the Eurocup. This year, his status is changing and he is applying for a much more important role on the wings of Ratiopharm.
ANGT 2024 MVP
During his first season in Ulm, Noa Essengue was also able to shine at the Adidas Next Gen Tournament (ANGT) in Dubai, a tournament for players under the age of 18 organized by the Euroleague. He had already appeared there in 2022 and 2023, but it was in 2024 that he excelled.
Reaching the final with his team, the Frenchman produced an XXL performance: 33 points (10/17 shooting), 18 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 interceptions and 4 blocks. Enough to be elected MVP of the tournament and assert his status as a player with enormous potential.
From the same generation as Nolan Traoré
Noa Essengue is part of the 2006 generation in the French team, with whom he notably won bronze at the Euro U16 in 2022. Among the Blues, he rubbed shoulders with a certain Nolan Traoré, another highly anticipated French basketball prodigy during the 2025 Draft to strengthen the French contingent in the NBA.
If he is not announced as high as the leader of Saint-Quentin, possible top 5, Noa Essengue could still be invited among the lottery picks. According to the latest rankings from ESPN, he could be chosen around 15th position. This bodes well for a player whose popularity is already starting to rise and who still has everything to prove with Ulm on the European scene.
The words “Minnesota Miracle” and “No-Call” are erased from my vocabulary. My heart mourns the retirement of Drew Brees.
