The Atlanta Hawks did the expected by selecting French forward Zaccharie Risacher with the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NBA draft Wednesday night.

The Hawks, awarded the No. 1 pick in a draft with no clear-cut top player, were reportedly deciding between Risacher and fellow French player Alex Sarr in the days leading up to the draft. However, the decision may have come down to the Hawks were able to see Risacher in a private workout, while Sarr reportedly declined to have a workout with the Hawks.

Risacher’s selection marks the second straight year the top overall selection is an international player. The San Antonio Spurs selected French star Victor Wembanyama with the top pick in the 2023 NBA draft.

The 6-foot-9 Risacher averaged 10.1 points and 3.8 rebounds while shooting 35.2 percent from the 3-point line while competing for JL Bourg in France’s LNB Élite league last season.

The Washington Wizards used the No. 2 pick to select Alex Sarr, who is also from France. Sarr, a 7-foot-1 frontcourt player, is a great rim protector and a good shooter in pick-and-roll situations. The 19-year-old can develop into an effective two-way big in the league after averaging 9.7 points and 4.4 rebounds per game while playing for Perth Wildcats in Australia.

The Houston Rockets selected Kentucky guard Reed Shepard with the No. 3 pick. The San Antonio Spurs decided to select UConn guard Stephon Castle with the No. 4 pick and the Detroit Pistons drafted wing player Ron Holland of the G League Ignite to round out the top-five picks.