It's hard to not be impressed by Alex Sarr.
At just 17 years old, Sarr displays a maturity well beyond his years. He speaks three languages and is a world traveler who spent much of the past summer in France, Senegal and Spain before returning to the United States. Oh, he's one of the best basketball prospects in the world, too.
Sarr, a native of Toulouse, France, is back in Atlanta for his second season with Overtime Elite (OTE), the groundbreaking league that's providing a new pathway for the world's most talented young basketball players to achieve their dreams as pros. With Year 2 on the horizon, The Sporting News caught up with the 17-year-old, who basketball fans should make a point to become familiar with sooner rather than later.
For starters, Sarr stands at 7-foot-1 and is listed as a center, but even a brief look at his highlights will show you that in this era of positionless basketball, he does far too much to be bound by one position.
How many 7 footers are doing this?
— Overtime Elite (@OvertimeElite) August 22, 2022
Alex Sarr is SPECIAL 💫 pic.twitter.com/ffhYNkDlqD
As unique as he is, Sarr takes an understated approach when asked to describe his game, saying that "I just try to do what it takes for my team to win, like try to block shots, hit 3s, attack closeouts, make good reads. Just play basketball."
On one hand, it is as simple as just playing basketball, but when you're talking about a high-IQ 7-footer who can shoot, handle the ball and protect the rim, that describes an extremely high level of play.
"I feel like OTE has helped me develop my perimeter game," Sarr said of his evolution into the player he is today. "We have a lot of skill coaches over here and we train really hard. I feel like my game has really grown from Year 1 to now."
With all the tools Sarr has, it's his mentality and approach have allowed him to make the most of what OTE has to offer. When asked about individual goals for the upcoming season, he didn't list a specific individual accomplishment or achievement but instead said that "I'm just looking to enjoy every moment — every practice, enjoy the grind. I just try to get better every day, get better at what I do and enjoy my time here with my teammates."
Sarr's perspective makes sense given the rich basketball pedigree in his family. If you recognize the name, it's because Alex's older brother, Olivier, played collegiately for three years at Wake Forest, spent one year at Kentucky and recently inked a two-way deal with the Trail Blazers.
"He has a big impact on me — he gives me a lot of advice," Alex said of his older brother. "After a game, he'll tell me what I did well and what I need to improve on. If I had a bad game, he'll tell me what I did wrong and that I need to wake up sometimes."
As with any duo of basketball-playing brothers, it was only right I investigate who wins the one-on-one battles.
"We play sometimes. I never got him completely, but I got a couple of games," a smiling Sarr said before clarifying that "[Olivier's] still winning for the moment."
Sibling banter aside, the invaluable guidance that Sarr receives from his older brother is a key part of the basketball journey that spans multiple countries, taking him closer to his ultimate goals as a player.
While he's looking to enjoy the grind in the short term, Sarr got a bit more specific when it comes to the big picture he envisions.
"I'm just trying to be the best version of myself, trying to play at the highest level of course — trying to reach the NBA and be able to play with my brother for multiple years and be the best in the league."
As impressive as he is on and off the floor, he's definitely on the right path.
Note: This interview has been slightly edited for length and clarity.
