Yves Missi
Yves Thierry Missi is a Cameroonian professional basketball player for the New Orleans Pelicans of the National Basketball Association. He played college basketball for the Baylor Bears and was drafted by the Pelicans with the 21st pick of the 2024 NBA draft.
Early life and high school career
Missi was born on 14 May 2004 in Belgium but grew up in Yaoundé, Cameroon. He moved to the United States in 2021 and began attending West Nottingham Academy in Maryland. He later transferred to Prolific Prep in Napa, California, and averaged 9.3 points, 8.7 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game. 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.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. He also played in the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League and averaged 12.7 points, 9.9 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game with the PSA Cardinals. He committed to playing college basketball for the Baylor Bears and reclassified to be able to join them for the 2023–24 season.
College career
Missi impressed early in the 2023–24 Baylor season. Following his freshman season, he declared for the 2024 NBA draft and received a green room invite.Professional career
On 26 June 2024, Missi was selected with the 21st overall pick by the New Orleans Pelicans in the 2024 NBA draft and on July 8, he signed with the Pelicans.On 23 October, 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.