Expatriate in Switzerland, Joanis Maquiesse returns to France to join Fos-Provence
NM1 - Relegated to NM1, Fos-Provence brings in Joanis Maquiesse, a young French player from the Swiss championship. The JFL will have his first professional experience in France.
Photo Credit : Union Neuchâtel Basketball
NM1 is a championship that can quickly become challenging for relegated teams. That’s why building a strong roster during the offseason is crucial, which is what Fos-Provence is focusing on. After bringing back Domnick Bridgewater, the BYers have just secured the services of young Joanis Maquiesse (1.94m, 21 years old) who comes from Switzerland.
A first experience in the French championship
Joanis Maquiesse concludes a long journey in Switzerland. A Locally Trained Player (JFL), the wing/guard was French U15 champion with Mulhouse Pfastatt Basket under Jean-Luc Monschau in 2017, before joining Jura Basket, crossing the border to Boncourt then Fribourg. He started his professional career there after going through the Swiss club’s youth academy. Subsequently, he went to Neuchâtel where he developed over the last three seasons, increasing his playing time and statistics. In 2024-2025, he averaged 11.1 points with 36.7% shooting, 3.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists.
His arrival in Provence makes sense given that Emmanuel Schmitt, the new Fos coach, is the former Swiss national team coach (2004-08) and coached in the LNA championship (now SBL) for fifteen years. Thus, he knows about young SBL talents and had often brought them to Aix-Maurienne in Pro B. For his first experience in France, the young left-hander will have the opportunity to continue his progression in the yellow jersey while helping the club return to Pro B.
Emmanuel Schmitt, Fos-Provence Basket coach:
« Joanis is a French player but has been playing in Switzerland for several years now. He’s a player I’ve been following for a while since he had been playing for three seasons at Neuchâtel club, which I know very well, where I spent four years.
He has an athletic profile, has improved a lot lately, has great driving abilities, and can defend multiple positions. He had a lot of responsibilities this season and evolved well. We obviously expect him to fully integrate into a ‘foreign’ championship for him, since he did all his training in Switzerland. He is promising and will need to integrate quickly into our team. »
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