Reggio Emilia Takes a momentary step back from ambition NBAthe young long man from Reggio Emilia Momo Faye.
By today the very promising Senegalese center should withdraw his eligibility for the NBA draft 2024, scheduled for June 26th. A formal act required for those who, like Faye, are not yet 22 years old and must therefore formalize their availability to be chosen by the NBA before the age limit set by the regulation, calibrated on the fourth year of college USA.
This is not a definitive farewell to the dream, far from it. Faye will also be able to declare herself eligible in 2025 and in 2026 she will automatically become eligible, due to personal data.
This is probably a tactical choice by his representatives, designed to allow the boy to work more calmly on his development.
In the immediate future, unless some European great decides on a massive immediate investment, the decision entails the player’s permanence in Reggiana Basketball at least for another season.
In recent weeks, the 19-year-old originally from Senegal has carried out several auditions with the coaches of some NBA franchises. Some went better, others perhaps less brilliant, but the various tests have confirmed that there may be interest. And the opposite would be difficult, considering Faye’s physical chassis, who at 19 already has impressive strength, muscular definition and speed of movement, combined with a good propensity to work, seen in the improvements in offensive movements over the course of the year.
He will still have to improve on his readings, and this aspect only improves as he plays, and the same goes for his percentages from the foul line.
For a big man like him, having reasonable effectiveness from the line can be the great distinction, because he will suffer many fouls. And being identified as a target, as has already happened, doesn’t help.
With the shirt Unahotels he will still have minutes and responsibilities, the ideal scenario to continue on the path.
In general, already being a second NBA choice is manna from heaven, of course. Faye, however, is not in deep trouble, he is placed in a good context in Unahotels and even playing a waiting game, with other seasons to try again, is a more than understandable strategy.
Yes, because giving up the 2024 NBA draft can also be seen as a move in perspective. Despite being a rather weak year compared to other recent ones, a 19-year-old seen only in Europe would have had little chance of moving up the order. With an extra year, the focus may change and so will the number of choices.
And let’s not talk about trifles. Whoever is chosen in the first round, i.e. the 30 initial calls, has a guaranteed multi-year millionaire contract.
The second round, from 31 to 60, provides less secure access, both economically and in terms of temporal stability, and still leaves the NBA rights in the hands of the franchise that made the choices.
It should be remembered that the choice does not imply an automatic passage overseas. The draft is a mechanism designed to guarantee internal balance and in concrete terms assigns control over a player only in the NBA context. The graft is not necessarily made in the year of the draft (there are athletes chosen 15 years ago who have never played in the NBA) and any existing contracts must be dissolved. This would be the case with Momo Faye, linked by a multi-year agreement with Pallacanestro Reggiana.
The boy would probably have remained in via Guasco, unless there was an unlikely call in the first round, the waiver gives another portion of certainty in this regard to the management in view of the next movements.
The basic idea is to replicate the structure launched in March with Tarik Blackthat is, two pure centers of size, to be alternated to always have a great presence in the area.
The hope would be to continue with Black, the path remains open but much will depend on the will of the US veteran and above all on any offers he will receive after the brilliant season finale played in the red and white.
In any case, Faye will be one of the cornerstones of the upcoming Unahotels and being able to count on a big man with that explosiveness on rebounds, blocks and plays in the area is certainly a good starting stone.
If a cup is also played, his physicality will be even more useful, thinking of the bodies that roam the area between the BCL and the Eurocup.
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