What He’s Done
In his two years in the A-10, Hasahn French has established himself as one of the elite big men in the conference. Built like a tight end, French has been a terror on the boards, a menace protecting the rim, and a monster attacking the hoop. French averaged 9.3 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.8 blocks this past season, good enough to earn a nod to the All A-10 Third Team and a spot on the All-Defensive team as SLU marched to the NCAA Tournament.
The 6’7 French is listed at 235 pounds. Really it’s more like 250 pounds of pure muscle. French is one of the strongest players in the league and one of the most explosive leapers. There have been few things more terrifying to A-10 defenders the past two years than Hasahn French barreling down the lane with a head full of steam.
Hasahn French gets the crowd roaring at Chaifetz with a big dunk!
SLU and George Washington are playing on FSMW and FSGO. #Billikens pic.twitter.com/rYUKHEs9CB— Bally Sports Midwest (@BallySportsMW) February 25, 2018
French’s most important skills, though, are his defense and rebounding. His 8.4 rebounds were good for second in the league, and he is excellent at boxing out his man. French’s 1.8 blocks a game were 3rd in the league, and he is SLU’s anchor down low, allowing Javon Bess, Jordan Goodwin and Fred Thatch to play aggressive on-ball defense knowing that French is there to erase mistakes.
What He’ll Do
Coming off their A-10 Tournament run in Brooklyn and subsequent NCAA Tournament appearance, Travis Ford and SLU find themselves at a crossroads after losing Javon Bess, Tramaine Isabell, DJ Foreman and Dion Wiley while the rest of the conference brings almost everyone back. French, along with Goodwin, will be the cornerstones this coming year, and their improvement will almost certainly dictate SLU’s success. Obviously, French is already a great player, but he has a chance to get even better.
French will be the defensive anchor for the next two years, and opponents will dread banging bodies with him just as they have the past two years. The key for Hasahn is his offensive development. He needs to improve his free throw stroke, after shooting a putrid 36 percent from the line. French also has a chance to level up his post game. French has good footwork both with his back to the basket and facing up, and he has a very nice looking hook shot that he can get almost any time he wants. However, he only shot 49 percent from the field. If French can up his efficiency, he will be one of the most dangerous offensive players in the A-10, on a team that will really rely on him to be a consistent scorer.
If French makes these improvements as an upperclassman, don’t be surprised if he’s in the top ten of this list at the end of next year. And if both French and Goodwin can develop into top ten players in the league next year, which they both certainly have the potential to do, don’t be surprised if SLU is dancing again next year.
