Thomas Cornely to reunite with Mickaël Hay in Pau
Thomas Cornely (1.90m, 33 years old), who just completed his second season with BCM Gravelines-Dunkerque, will join Élan Béarnais for the 2025-2026 season according to our information. The point guard will reunite in Pau with a familiar face: Mickaël Hay, his former coach at ADA Blois. This signing is part of the club’s revival project, as they remain in contention for promotion to Betclic ELITE.
Après deux années en #BetclicELITE sous les couleurs du BCM Gravelines-Dunkerque, Thomas Cornely va faire son retour en #ProB. Direction Pau-Lacq-Orthez où il retrouvera Mickaël Hay, son mentor à Blois durant 7 années. (@Be_BasketFr)
— Alexandre Sanson (@aem_sanson) May 20, 2025
An experienced point guard to lead the offense
At 33, Thomas Cornely will bring all his experience to Élan Béarnais. This season at Gravelines-Dunkerque, he averaged 7 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 2.3 assists in 26 Betclic ELITE games. His name had been circulating for several weeks and was added to Pau’s shortlist after failed negotiations with Antoine Eito.
Having played for Limoges, Orléans, Blois, and Coulommiers in Nationale 2, Cornely has shown steady progression, climbing through the ranks of French basketball until establishing himself in the first division. It was especially at ADA Blois, between 2014 and 2023, where he made his mark, becoming a central piece of the Loire-et-Cher project.
Reunion with Mickaël Hay
He arrives in Pau on familiar ground, where he’ll reunite with Mickaël Hay. Together, they led Blois from Nationale 1 to Betclic ELITE. Their relationship of trust could provide a strong foundation for building an ambitious team, whether the club stays in Pro B or achieves promotion this summer.
The Béarnais club hopes to capitalize on Cornely’s basketball IQ and consistency, as he’s capable of impacting games without overplaying. His signing reflects a desire for stability and strong identity around players who understand the realities of French divisions.
Nationality:
No Kanouté in Pau
The likely arrival of Thomas Cornely at Élan Béarnais means that Siriman Kanouté probably won’t be joining Pau.
After a brilliant play-in performance with Poitiers (18 points and 7 assists) to qualify Aix-Maurienne for the playoffs, the Malian point guard could join Rouen Métropole Basket, one of the other teams courting him.
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