Pic credit: ratiopharm Ulm

Meissa Faye (198-SF-2007) is a 18 year old 198cm forward playing his first season in the ratiopharm Ulm organization. This season he has gathered duty in 4 competitions. He helped the Pro B team reach the pro B final averaging 17/471/1 stats and helped the NBBL (U-19) team reach the NBBL Top 4 tournament in Berlin averaging 16/4/2 stats and also played 6 Eurocup games and 1 easyCredit BBL game. He began his basketball career with Pole Paris France (NMI) and last season averaged 9.1ppg, 2.6rpg, 1.8apg, FGP: 49.6%, 3PT: 30.7%, FT: 72.7%. He has played Angt and last summer played at the FIBA U18 EuroBasket in Belgrade (Serbia) winning the silver medal averaging 8.4ppg, 3.4rpg, 1.7apg, FGP: 47.1%, 3PT: 35.5%. He spoke to germanhoops.com about his basketball career.

Thanks Meissa for talking to germanhoops.com. You played 1 easyCredit BBL game against Chemnitz. What kind of an experience was that. What do you feel is still missing from your game to play more minutes?

A German passport, because I played more in Euro cup because there is no limit of foreigners

You had your Eurocup break through scoring 16 points against Trento. How cool was that experience? What did you learn about your game in that game?

it was nice I just played like I know how to do. Coach gave me confidence and minutes so I just showed what I was capable of.

Ulm has many very talented pro´s. If you had to pick one player who has had the biggest impact on you who would it be?

I would say Tommy Klepeisz and Nelson Weidemann by giving me advices either on the mental part or on my game. They have a lot of experience and they really helped me. It’s always good to receive advices from experienced players.

You began your basketball career with Pole France Paris. How do you remember your early years there? Did you have a mentor there?

It was really impressive at the beginning to arrive in this campus where a lot of great athletes were before and you just inspired by all those NBA players who went there before. So you work hard to end up like them.

You were teammates with Nathan Soliman. How special of a player is he? He is like you also a big French prospect for the NBA.

He was great. He was ready really young and everybody knows he’s a top prospect and he will be great in the NBA. He always had that special thing that you cannot explain.

You won the Silver at the U-18 Euro in Serbia. What memories do you have of that tournament? Was the 82-81 loss to Spain one of the toughest in your career?

Honestly, it’s tough at the beginning but now I have only great memories because it was an incredible experience with great people. Great staff great players. And we can be proud of what we did. Yes, it is the toughest loss but I wasonly 18 so I know I will still win a lot of games and lose some as well. This is basketball.

Is the NCAA still a route for you? It can help but also be tough. Spaniard Guillermo Del Pino who scored 23 points against you in the U-18 Euro final went to Maryland this season and only averaged 1,7ppg.

In your career, you have to make choices so for now staying in Europe is my priority, but I don’t close no doors to anything.

What is your biggest goal NBA or Euroleague? Some Europeans that I have interviewed actually have said Euroleague. Can you understand that?

My biggest goal is the NBA, but of course I can understand it because euroleague is also a great competition with great basketball that can be more entertaining than NBA. Some players also think more of the Euroleague career than a NBA one.

How cool would the headline read Teo Millicic and Meissa Faye reach the NBA? How special of a player is Teo and how is your relationship with him?

Teo is really talented, but he is also a hard worker. He is very passionate and always try to give his best on the court. Of course it will be nice that’s a goal for both of us. And we have a nice relationship on and off the court and we always trying to get better.

You battled Boston Celtic Hugo Gonzalez once. What do you remember from that battle most?

It was a big game, the final of the Euroleague Juniors against Real Madrid. We lost after overtime but those kind of games makes you want to become better because you can see that there’s a lot of good players in Europe.

Please name your 5 teammates of all-time?

Nolan Traoré

Adam Atamna

Hugo Yimga Moukouri

Nathan Soliman

Cameron Houindo/Noa kouakou heugue

Please list your personal NBA and French Mount Rushmore of 4 best players of all-time?

Lebron James

Michael Jordan

Kobe Bryant

Kevin Durant

Wemby

Tony Parker

Nando de colo

Rudy Gobert

Hm Evan Fournier

Who is your Goat?

Tyrese Maxey

Thanks Meissa for the chat.