The New Orleans Pelicans went big on Wednesday night when they selected Yves Missi with the 21st overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.
The 6’11 center averaged 10.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks in his freshman campaign at Baylor University during the 2023-24 season en route to All-Big 12 Defensive Team and All-Big 12 Freshman Team honors.
Missi was born in Belgium, grew up in Cameroon, and attended Prolific Prep in Napa, California.
The 20-year-old has little experience, having only been playing organized basketball for about six years. At one point in high school, Missi was an unranked prospect, but that all changed, and now he’s in the NBA.
“I haven’t been playing basketball that long,” he said. “I’m still learning each and every day, every time I step on the court. Obviously, I wasn’t ranked, and it wasn’t something I was paying attention to. To be honest, I was trying to have fun on the court. Obviously, brought me from Cameroon all the way to here. You never know where the basketball can take you. Just being here is amazing. It’s a blessing, and I have to thank God to be able to put me in this position.”
MIssi is a project at this point, but his potential is undeniable. He’ll probably be able to come in and be active on the defensive end for New Orleans, bringing a new energy and skill set to the team. His development will be one to watch.
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