After Bichard and Nikolic, Challans retains four more players from NM1 championship team
August 8, 2025
Lilian Bordron
Challans: After seven contract extensions, here come the first two recruits
ELITE 2 - Vendée Challans Basket continues its recruiting for Elite 2. Paul Billong returns to Vendée, Ante Brzovic arrives from the United States and Mohammad Diop extends his Challans adventure.
URI Rams basketball Beat Charleston. Ante Brzovic under net in first half action.
Photo Credit : © David DelPoio/Providence Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
It’s official for both Paul Billong and Ante Brzovic. Vendée Challans Basketball announced this weekend the arrival of the Vendéen guard and the Croatian center who played in NCAA. Additionally, the club confirmed the extension of Mohammad Diop, a key pillar in the paint since last season.
Paul Billong returns to Vendée
Born in La Roche-sur-Yon, Paul Billong (1.93 m, 23 years old) comes from Union Rennes Basket (NM1) where he had his best professional season averaging 14.5 points, 4.1 assists and 3.4 rebounds in 32 games. Having played for Boulazac (Elite and Pro B), he brings an experienced combo guard profile despite his young age. « Paul is a combo player capable of playing two positions and fits perfectly into my vision of modern basketball, » comments coach Sébastien Lambert on the club’s website.
Stats 2024-2025 / NM1
PTS
14.5
#22
REB
3.4
#140
AST
4.1
#33
Ante Brzovic, Croatian power in the paint
Center Ante Brzovic (2.06 m, 25 years old) comes from three seasons in NCAA with College of Charleston. In 2024-2025, the Croatian averaged 18.4 points, 8.1 rebounds and 2.8 assists, with two consecutive First-Team All-CAA selections. During the summer, he played in the NBA Summer League with the Memphis Grizzlies.
Before going to the United States, Ante Brzovic developed his game in Croatia at Cedevita Zagreb’s youth academy. He now returns to Europe to start his professional career with newly promoted VCB.
Mohammad Diop extends his stay
Center Mohammad Diop (2.05 m, 25 years old) has also confirmed his presence for 2025-2026. Averaging 10.1 points and 4.8 rebounds in 42 NM1 games last season, he remains one of the pillars of Challans’ Elite 2 project. « Energy, physical impact and desire to make the team shine » will continue to be his assets next season, states the club in its announcement.
Position(s):Power Forward / Small Forward
Height:205 cm
Age:25 years (12/09/1999)
Nationality:
Stats 2024-2025 / NM1
PTS
10.1
#105
REB
4.8
#65
AST
1.1
#239
A roster taking shape for Elite 2
With the extensions of Gary Berchel, Clément Morel, Grégory Bengaber, Tanguy Touzé, Jérémy Bichard, Luka Nikolic and now Mohammad Diop, plus the arrivals of Paul Billong and Ante Brzovic, VCB already has a solid foundation. Training is scheduled to begin Monday, August 11th at Michel Vrignaud gymnasium.
Gabriel Pantel-Jouve is the founder and editor-in-chief of BeBasket, which he has been running since 2010 (formerly known as Catch & Shoot). Having studied at the École Publique de Journalisme de Tours and two universities in North America, he has developed his expertise in French basketball, from the National League to amateur divisions, over the past 20 years. Alongside this, he is also involved in the development of clubs in the Montpellier area.
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