Wildcats host potential future Next Star over pre-season

17-year-old French guard Nolan Traore has been training alongside Sarr and the rest of the Wildcats for the past month, and will suit up for the club’s Academy side on Friday night.

Traore has already represented France at youth level and was recently listed by ESPN as one of the top ten NBA prospects to compete at last month’s FIBA U18 European Championships.

Wildcats GM of Basketball Danny Mills says the presence of Traore at their pre-season camp is helping the club improve its standing as a development pathway on the world stage.

Traore's talents will be on full display during the Wildcats' pair of pre-season hit-outs against the NBL1 All Stars on August 25 and 27, lining up for the Wildcats Academy in the curtain-raiser.

“For us, this is what we’re trying to build,” Mills told The West Australian.

“We want to have young and talented payers – no matter where they are from – wanting to come to Perth and play in our program.

“If there’s opportunities like this presented to us, we will take them with two hands. Nolan has been fantastic.

“It’s an awesome experience for him to train with a pro team down here and get a better understanding of the Next Stars program, if that’s something he’s looking at for next season.”

The Wildcats have injected their NBL24 roster with a smattering of high-level young talent, around projected first round pick Sarr.

Former Melbourne forward David Okwera has joined the club, alongside Centre of Excellence graduate Ben Henshall and highly touted Tall Blacks prospect Dontae Russo-Nance.

“We are always going to be in ‘win now’ mode and the goal is to win a championship and make the finals series, but you’ve always got to be looking at the future and having a longer lens.

“If players and player representatives can look at Perth as a program of a high standard and want to come here, that’s exactly what we want.

“We are forward thinking and want to keep all avenues open.”

Traore said the Next Stars program was a definite lure amid a great month with the Wildcats.

“It’s a good option. I like it. It would be great for me and for the league,” Traore told The West Australian.

“My month has been great. It’s been a good experience for me to be in Perth. I will consider every option with my family.”

NBL general manager of Next Stars Recruitment Liam Santamaria and the program’s ambassador David Andersen were both at Wildcats training on Thursday.

Santamaria said Traore, who had been on his radar for a while, had impressed everyone with his performances on the training court.

The Wildcats will open their NBL24 season on Friday, September 29 against Tasmania.