New NCAA recruit: Ladji Kante to join Northern Illinois
Having become a true sporting and financial eldorado, NCAA has gained new attractiveness among international prospects. The American university league is attracting more and more young talents and is deeply affecting French player development as it loses more and more prospects. The latest expatriate is Ladji Kante (1.93 m, 20 years old), young prospect from Chalon.
6-foot-8 French wing Ladji Kante has committed to Northern Illinois, a source tells @247Sports.
Big pickup for the Huskies. Highly talented wing who can score from all three levels. Steal for NIU beating out multiple high majors. pic.twitter.com/nh2GMwAdmx
— Travis Branham (@TravisBranham_) May 17, 2025
Another Chalon youth academy player leaves
The locally trained player (JFL) joined Elan’s youth academy in 2021 before playing his first Betclic ELITE game this season. He played for one minute during a blowout (103-77) against Bourg-en-Bresse. With Chalon’s U21 team, he has shown great promise and finished the season averaging 14 points with 44.3% shooting, 4.1 rebounds, 4.2 assists in 29 games this season. Very athletic and versatile, he can play guard positions and was one of the leaders of Elan Chalon’s U21 team that finished ninth this season.
Zoom on Ladji Kanté (born in 2005)
Standing at 6’6″ with a 6’10 » wingspan, Ladji Kanté plays the combo guard position for Chalon-sur-Saône in the French U21 league (Espoirs Pro A).He’s currently averaging 14 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists per game, showcasing great… pic.twitter.com/rbie3pCkEL
— jonathan dogbo (@jdogbo) April 19, 2025
While his future seemed set at Chalon, the implementation of NIL changed everything. The Northern Illinois program in NCAA attracted him. The Huskies finished last in the Mid-American conference in 2024-2025 and hope to strengthen their roster with this international arrival. He had been scouted by Americans for several months, so his signing with the university program was becoming more likely as the season neared its end.
For Chalon, it’s another departure to America after Quentin Diboundje, Kyshawn George, and Mathias M’Madi. Nevertheless, Elan retains several quality prospects including Akram Naji (1.93 m, 18 years old), Yanis Tonnellier (2.14 m, 21 years old) and Noah Badibanga (2.01 m, 18 years old).
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