Poitiers
Boulazac
From the glitter of California to the calm of Vienna. This summer, Ilane Fibleuil left the UCLA team (University of California at Los Angeles) and the NCAA, the North American university championship, for Poitiers and Pro B. The continuation of a career that began at age 12 near Bièvres (Essonne). “I first played football but I quickly got tired of it. And my whole family played basketball. »
“I didn’t have an ordinary journey”
He therefore naturally turns to the orange ball. With success. “I didn’t have an ordinary journey. I did not go through the Ile de France center. I just played one match there. But, during this meeting, Jean-Aimé Toupane was present…” The current coach of the French women’s team, at the time a coach at the France pole, noticed her potential. “He invited me to take the entrance tests at Insep. » This is how the young man joined the federal structure at the age of 15. He completes a complete three-year course there, progressing to NM1. “It was there that I learned more structured, collective basketball. »
It continues a progression that has been linear until now, its qualities arousing desire as it leaves the France division. “After a good U17 World Cup with the French team (3 likes)I mainly had offers from abroad. I chose to join UCLA and the NCAA championship. » The NBA antechamber, which he is joining for the 2023-2023 season, has everything of Eldorado. But, very quickly, the American adventure takes a bad turn. “I was in the rotations, with good feedback on my performances. Then, at some point, the team started to lose. The coaches warned me that my playing time would decrease. I continued to work but quickly realized that I was going to have a hard time playing again. However, I was in great shape. »
Despite a season that he himself describes as “complicated”Ilane Fibleuil “don’t regret having tried the experience. » The time for a rebound has come. With two choices. “Either I stayed in the United States, other universities having contacted me, or I turned professional in France. »
“I’m learning what the coach expects of me”
His trajectory then crossed that of Poitiers Basket 86 which recruited him in the off-season. “He can play in the fullback and winger positions. He has great athletic qualities. He is capable of scoring important points, defending hard and performing well on the rebound.”underlines his trainer Andy Thornton-Jones. “Mohamed Diawara spoke well of the club to me. I had also heard of his reputation for developing young people while having results”adds the person concerned.
The last few months without competition and the discovery of a new environment, however, require time to adapt. “It’s different from anything I’ve seen since I’ve been playing basketball. The systems, the rhythm. I learn what the coach expects of me. It was also physically complicated at the beginning. I hadn’t trained collectively for a good six months and I contracted mononucleosis this summer. »
But, for three matches, Ilane Fibleuil (19 years old, 1.98 m) has been gaining strength. Last week, he was dominant during the qualification in Toulouse for the Coupe de France (21 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists, 31 evaluation in 32 minutes), before confirming Friday during the success in Denain in Pro B (16 points, 7 rebounds, 16 rating in 26 minutes). “This is just the beginning. I still want to show more things. »
From this Friday, October 25 at Arena Futuroscope against Boulazac, one of the contenders for accession? “This is the first time I’m going to play in this roomexplains the one who runs at 5 points, 3 rebounds, 5 evaluation a little more than 13 minutes on average per game. We are facing a big client. This is going to be nice. » Even more so if victory is at the end.
Jeanne: “It gives hope”
Author of a very good start to the season with Poitiers Basket 86 in Pro B (2nd rebounder with 9.4 shots per game, 2nd in evaluation with 18.6), Jonathan Jeanne was retained by Frédéric Fauthoux, the new coach of the France team, in order to be the training partner of the Blues for two upcoming matches against Cyprus, first in Nicosia on Thursday November 21, then on Sunday November 24 at the Arena Futuroscope from Poitiers (5 p.m.), counting for EuroBasket 2025 qualifying. “It’s a great mark of recognition for him and the club. I am not sure that there have already been many Pro B players selected for the French team”recalls Andy Thornton-Jones, the PB coach.
Jonathan Jeanne welcomed the news with a lot of emotion, he who was unable to play in the NBA, his dream, nor play in France between 2017 and 2021 after the detection of Marfan syndrome. Until new medical examinations contradict the initial diagnosis. “It surprised me after everything I had been through. It is a sign from God. It is also a recognition after the trials that I was able to overcome. Three years ago, I was in N1, in Tarbes. Things can move very quickly. My story is more than basketball. It gives hope to those going through difficult things”confides the pivot (27 years old, 2.18 m) who had already been selected for the French youth team.
