Photo: overtimeelite.com

Confirmed as the newest NBL Next Star, French phenom Alexandre Sarr is preparing to pack his bags and move to the other side of the world at just 18 years of age.

It’s a daunting prospect, for sure, but one Sarr is prepared for according to Wildcats General Manager of Basketball Operations Danny Mills.

“Alex is from France, but he went to Real Madrid’s youth academy at the age of 15, and then he spent the last two years in Atlanta at the Overtime Elite facility there in Georgia,” Mills told SEN.

“He’s been away from home for quite a while.

“A really cool part of it is his mum and dad are coming to Perth and are going to experience Australia with him which is really cool. They’re going to be coming down in July and we can’t wait to show them around Perth and show them Australia, and give them the best experience they can for the time they’re here.”

Ahead of the signing of Sarr, the Wildcats were one of the few NBL clubs not to take advantage of the Next Stars program since its introduction in 2018-19 season.

The Breakers have seen huge success in bringing RJ Hampton, Ousmane Dieng, Hugo Besson and Rayan Rupert into their program, while the Hawks put themselves on the world stage with the signing of LaMelo Ball for NBL21.

Mills says the club’s decision to not employ a Next Star prior to NBL24 has not been down to a lack of options. Rather, the club was waiting for the right fit.

“I’ve been in this role now for two years and the Next Stars program is something we’ve looked at extremely extensively, and we really feel like we’ve found the right guy,” he said.

“There are other ones we’ve looked at over previous years that just haven’t been the right fit for us as a club.

“To finally have the first Next Star prospect for the Wildcats is really exciting and something we really think is going to give us a chance next year to improve in areas we want to impress.”

Sarr, like Illawarra Next Star AJ Johnson, is currently projected as a top 20 selection in the 2024 NBA Draft.