Guillaume Grotzinger Commits to Loyola Chicago: NCAA Bound for the Champagne Basket Guard
Apr 4, 2026
Gabriel Pantel-Jouve
François Wibaut Heading to the NCAA: Penn State on His Trail After a Tough Season
NCAA - François Wibaut could be the next Frenchman to join the NCAA. The Élan béarnais forward (ELITE 2) is in the sights of Penn State, a struggling Big Ten program looking to rebuild by recruiting in Europe.
Photo Credit : Cécile Thomas
After Narcisse Ngoy, Guillaume Grotzinger, and potentially Talis Soulhac, the French wave toward the NCAA keeps growing. And a new name has been added to the list: François Wibaut. Having played for ASVEL, LyonSO, Rouen, and now Pau, the 20-year-old forward has attracted concrete interest from Penn State.
Penn State Rebuilding, Wibaut in Their Sights
The timing is no coincidence. Penn State is coming off a very difficult 2025-2026 season: 12 wins and 20 losses, including a dismal 3-17 in Big Ten conference play, good enough for last place. Eliminated in the first round of the conference tournament, the Nittany Lions need to rebuild.
With that in mind, Mike Rhoades’ staff is looking toward Europe, where tactically developed players with professional experience are increasingly appealing. François Wibaut (6’6″, 21 years old) checks several boxes: size, versatility, ELITE 2 experience, and time with French youth national teams.
A Profile in Line with the French Exodus
Averaging 8.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.6 assists in 20 minutes per game in ELITE 2 this season, Wibaut is confirming his progression following his stint in Rouen. Not yet a household name, he fits the mold of the well-rounded French player capable of adapting quickly.
2025-2026 Stats / ELITE 2
PTS
8.6
#110
REB
3.6
#87
AST
1.6
#117
This type of player is particularly sought after in the United States, where NCAA programs are increasingly recruiting in France. Recent examples abound: Narcisse Ngoy (Poitiers) is set to join Auburn with a massive NIL package, Guillaume Grotzinger left Champagne Basket for Loyola-Chicago, and Murray State is pushing to land Talis Soulhac (Blois).
Even guards already established in the Betclic ELITE are now being targeted.
The NCAA: A Deliberate Choice in a Well-Planned Career Path
In an interview given last summer, François Wibaut already spoke about his desire to prioritize his development:
« I made this choice for the future and the development of my career. Pau is a bigger club, with more resources and better infrastructure. »
A message that resonates with many young French players today: optimize every step. After NM1 (LyonSO), a first taste of the LNB world at Rouen, and then a more prominent role at Pau, the NCAA looks like the next accelerator.
His long-term goal is clear: aim for the highest level in Europe, with the EuroLeague in his sights.
The Exodus of French Basketball Players to the NCAA: A Bleeding That’s Accelerating
Apr 1, 2026
Gabriel Pantel-Jouve
An Increasingly Attractive System… and a Concerning One
If Penn State manages to convince François Wibaut, he will become part of a broader movement. The NCAA is attracting more and more French talent thanks to its exposure, its facilities… and its financial opportunities through NIL.
The question remains whether Élan béarnais will be able to secure any compensation should this departure be confirmed.
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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