Yves Missi

Yves Missi
No. 21 – New Orleans Pelicans
PositionCenter
LeagueNBA
Personal information
Born (2004-05-14) 14 May 2004 (age 20)
Brussels, Belgium
NationalityCameroonian
Listed height6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
Listed weight235 lb (107 kg)
Career information
High school
CollegeBaylor (2023–2024)
NBA draft2024: 1st round, 21st overall pick
Selected by the New Orleans Pelicans
Playing career2024–present
Career history
2024–presentNew Orleans Pelicans
Career highlights and awards
  • Big 12 All-Defensive team (2024)
  • Big 12 All-Freshman team (2024)
Stats at NBA.com Edit this at Wikidata
Stats at Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata

Yves Thierry Missi (/ˈiːv ˈmiːsi/ EEV MEE-see; born 14 May 2004) is a Cameroonian basketball player for the New Orleans Pelicans of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Baylor Bears.

Early life

Missi was born on 14 May 2004.[1] He was born in Belgium but grew up in Yaoundé, Cameroon.[2][3] He moved to the United States in 2021 and began attending West Nottingham Academy in Maryland.[4] He later transferred to Prolific Prep in Napa, California, and averaged 9.3 points, 8.7 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game.[5] A five-star recruit, he was highly recruited and was ranked by ESPN as the second-best player in California, the 13th-best player nationally and third-best center.[6][7]

Missi played at the Nike Hoop Summit in 2023 and won The Grind Session World Championship with Prolific Prep, earning a place at the GEICO High School Nationals.[8] He also played in the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League (EYBL) and averaged 12.7 points, 9.9 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game with the PSA Cardinals.[9] He committed to playing college basketball for the Baylor Bears and reclassified to be able to join them for the 2023–24 season.[10]

College career

Missi impressed early in the 2023–24 Baylor season.[11] Following his freshman season, he declared for the 2024 NBA Draft and received a green room invite.[12]

Professional career

New Orleans Pelicans (2024–present)

On June 26, 2024, Missi was selected with the 21st overall pick by the New Orleans Pelicans in the 2024 NBA draft[13] and on July 8, he signed with the Pelicans.[14]

On October 23, Missi made his NBA debut, putting up 12 points, seven rebounds, three blocks, one assist, and one steal in a 123–111 win over the Chicago Bulls.[15]

Career statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

College

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2023–24 Baylor 34 32 22.9 .614 — .616 5.6 .4 .6 1.5 10.7

Personal life

Missi is a Cameroonian citizen.[16] He is eligible to also apply for citizenship in Belgium where he was born.[16]

References

  1. ^ "Yves Missi". NBADraft.net.
  2. ^ "NBA Draft Scouting Report: Baylor's Yves Missi". Sports Illustrated. 11 September 2023.
  3. ^ Moseley, Davis (14 July 2022). "Well-traveled five-star Yves Missi is here". Rivals.com.
  4. ^ McCallister, Mike (5 May 2022). "Yves Missi Has Developed Into a High Major Prospect". Sports Illustrated.
  5. ^ Nicholas, Foster (6 November 2023). "Bears add depth: Get to know fresh faces of Baylor men's basketball". The Baylor Lariat.
  6. ^ Biancardi, Paul; Borzello, Jeff (4 January 2023). "Top 25 junior Missi chooses Baylor, 'the right place for me'". ESPN.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ Borzello, Jeff (3 May 2023). "Yves Missi reclassifies to 2023 class for Baylor basketball". ESPN.
  8. ^ "Yves Missi". Baylor Bears.
  9. ^ "Missi commits to Baylor men's basketball". Waco Tribune-Herald. 4 January 2023.
  10. ^ Salerno, Cameron (3 May 2023). "College basketball recruiting: Baylor commit Yves Missi reclassifies, will join Bears for 2023-24 season". CBS Sports.
  11. ^ Condra, Isaac (20 December 2023). "2024 NBA Draft: Breaking Down Baylor's Yves Missi". Sports Illustrated.
  12. ^ "Several More Players Invited to Green Room for 2024 Draft".
  13. ^ Dodson, Chris (June 26, 2024). "Pelicans 2024 NBA Draft grade for Yves Missi". ClutchPoints.com. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
  14. ^ "New Orleans Pelicans sign Yves Missi". NBA.com. July 8, 2024. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
  15. ^ Dammarell, Evan (October 24, 2024). "Pelicans' Yves Missi's debut gets eye-opening Willie Green praise". ClutchPoints. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  16. ^ a b "Yves Missi Q&A". Prospective Insight. 28 March 2023. Retrieved 29 May 2024.