Issuf Sanon, a Ukrainian basketball talent eyeing the NBA, has faced challenges from war to relocation. He caught NBA scouts’ attention after a standout performance at the 2017 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship, leading the Washington Wizards to draft him 44th overall in 2018. Sanon played in Washington’s Summer League before moving through Eastern European clubs.
Recently, the war in Ukraine forced him to confront bombings near his home, pushing him to relocate and join a team in the Latvian-Estonian Basketball League. Speaking with HoopsHype, Sanon shared the effects the war has had on him, how he has developed as a player, and why he believes his game is better suited for the NBA.