Alexandre Sarr
No. 20 – Perth Wildcats
PositionCenter
LeagueNBL
Personal information
Born (2005-04-26) 26 April 2005 (age 18)
Listed height7 ft 1 in (2.16 m)
Listed weight217 lb (98 kg)
Career information
Playing career2021–present
Career history
2021–2022Team Overtime
2022–2023YNG Dreamerz
2023–presentPerth Wildcats
Career highlights and awards
  • All-OTE Second Team (2023)
Medals
Men's basketball
Representing  France
FIBA U19 World Cup
Silver medal – second place 2023 Hungary Team
FIBA U17 World Cup
Bronze medal – third place 2022 Spain Team

Alexandre Dam Sarr (born 26 April 2005)[1] is a French professional basketball player for the Perth Wildcats of the Australian National Basketball League (NBL). He is 7'1" (2.16 m) and plays as center.

Early life and career

Sarr grew up in a family of basketball players in Bordeaux, France, then later Toulouse.[2] He started playing basketball at the age of four.[3]

In 2019, Sarr joined Spanish club Real Madrid.[4] He played two seasons for the club's cadet youth team.[4][5]

Professional career

In 2021, Sarr moved to the United States to join the newly established Overtime Elite league in Atlanta, securing him an alternative professional pathway with a guaranteed minimum salary of at least $100,000 per year.[4][6] He played two seasons at Overtime Elite, the first with Team Overtime[7] and the second with YNG Dreamerz.[8] He earned second-team All-OTE honours in 2022–23.[9]

On 9 May 2023, Sarr signed with the Perth Wildcats of the Australian National Basketball League (NBL), joining the team as part of the league's Next Stars program for the 2023–24 season.[5][10] He entered the season as a highly touted draft prospect.[11]

National team career

In 2021, Sarr debuted for the French junior national team[12] and helped them win the FIBA U16 European Challengers.[13] He helped France earn bronze at the 2022 FIBA U17 World Cup[5] and silver at the 2023 FIBA U19 World Cup.[14][15]

Personal life

Sarr's father, Massar, is a former professional basketball player from Senegal, while his older brother, Olivier, currently plays in the NBA for the Oklahoma City Thunder.[6]

References

  1. ^ "Alexandre Dam SARR". fiba.basketball. Archived from the original on 9 May 2023.
  2. ^ Pantel-Jouve, Gabriel (9 May 2023). "Alexandre Sarr va démarrer sa carrière à Perth, en Australie". bebasket.fr (in French). Archived from the original on 9 May 2023.
  3. ^ "ALEX SARR - We Got Next". YouTube. Perth Wildcats. 22 September 2023. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
  4. ^ a b c "Ex-Real Madrid prospect Alexandre Sarr is the first European οf Overtime Elite League". eurohoops.net. 1 July 2021. Archived from the original on 9 May 2023.
  5. ^ a b c "French sensation Alexandre Sarr joins the Perth Wildcats". Wildcats.com. 9 May 2023. Archived from the original on 9 May 2023.
  6. ^ a b Zagoria, Adam (1 July 2021). "Overtime Elite League Signs First European Player In Alexandre Sarr". forbes.com. Archived from the original on 9 May 2023.
  7. ^ "Team Overtime". overtimeelite.com. Archived from the original on 12 April 2022. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  8. ^ "YNG Dreamerz". overtimeelite.com. Archived from the original on 29 May 2023.
  9. ^ "Alexandre Sarr". overtimeelite.com. Archived from the original on 9 May 2023.
  10. ^ Robinson, Chris (9 May 2023). "Alexandre Sarr: Perth Wildcats sign French teenager on Next Stars deal". TheWest.com.au. Archived from the original on 9 May 2023.
  11. ^ O'Donoghue, Craig (23 September 2023). "NBA scouts vow to be in Australia all season watching Perth Wildcats Next Star Alex Sarr playing in NBL". TheWest.com.au. Archived from the original on 23 September 2023. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  12. ^ "Alexandre Dam Sarr". fiba.basketball. Archived from the original on 9 May 2023.
  13. ^ Feldman, Joseph (2 May 2022). "Sarr Named to U17 French National Team Select". overtimeelite.com. Archived from the original on 9 May 2023.
  14. ^ "Spain on top of the world again - outlast France in OT thriller for second title". fiba.basketball. 2 July 2023. Archived from the original on 3 July 2023.
  15. ^ Woods, Dan (3 July 2023). "Sarr's Star Performance at World Cup". NBL.com.au. Archived from the original on 3 July 2023.