Killian Hayes throws hat into the ring for France's World Cup team

PARIS (France) - Killian Hayes is in Paris right now with Detroit and is eager to join France at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 as they go in search of their first title in the competition.

Judging from his improvement on offense this season with the Detroit Pistons, and particularly his shooting, his chances of making the national team look better than ever.

Hayes is making a career best 33.5 percent (53 for 158) from three-point range and his scoring average has jumped from 6.9 per game to 10.0 this season.

In six of his last 11 games, Hayes has scored 17 points or more, including 26 in a January 8 game against Philadelphia. During the 11-game stretch, Hayes, whose has made 19 of 50 (38 percent) from three-point range. His three-point shooting percentage was 27.8 and 26.3 in years one and two in the NBA.

"I feel ready and I want to be part of this group," Hayes said to L'Equipe on Tuesday. "Your place is not a given, though. You have to fight for it. I was able to discuss in particular with (France veteran) Nico (Batum), about my state of mind, and the training camp planned for this summer. It's something I want to do, I want to train with the France team and try to earn my place."

Hayes, therefore, will hope to contend for a spot in the team that plays at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 in Indonesia, Japan and the Philippines.

"Yes, that's the goal," he said. "But you have to earn your place, there are many players who have been there for years. It's all going to come down to training camp this summer. I'm going to play, learn the team's game, the systems in place, and we'll see."

Something that could work in Hayes' favor is that he is a point guard that can create his own shot. He is very confident when it comes to attacking defenses, whether it's beating defenders off the dribble and getting to the basket or pulling up for jump shots.

If Hayes does make the team, he will join one that has enormous talent. Victor Wembanyama, the teenage sensation who is projected to be the first overall pick in the next NBA Draft, has already forced his way into the team and the likes of Rudy Gobert and Evan Fournier are linchpins. There is also the possibility that Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid, who hails from Cameroon, will play as he received his French passport last year.

France coach Vincent Collet, meanwhile, is keeping tabs on Hayes.

"He is clearly in my thinking," Collet said to L'Equipe. "We observe him and we see very good things, which is good news, especially at his position as point guard. He advances in a particular context, that of a team in difficulty (Detroit), but his progress and his capacity to create and pass the ball in particular, are interesting things."

At bare minimum, France coach Vincent Collet know he has another great option at point guard, along with veterans Nando De Colo and Andrew Albicy, Basketball Champions League sensation Sylvain Francisco, and World Cup 2019 bronze medalist Frank Ntilikina.

Collet already knows that Hayes is one of the finest talents ever to suit up for the country's youth teams.
 

Hayes ended up being the star attraction while leading France to the 16 European Championship title

The 1.92m (6ft 4in) point guard was the leading scorer in the France team that went undefeated at the FIBA U16 European Championship in 2017.

Against hosts Montenegro in the Final, Hayes hit two of four shots from the arc and scored 21 points, grabbed eight rebounds and handed out a couple of assists.

It enhanced his reputation, too, that Hayes was named MVP of the tournament.

Videos of his performances at the event were evidence that he was going to be a first round pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.

He ended up being picked seventh by Detroit.

At the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2018 in Argentina, he was just as dynamic against even stiffer competition as France made it to the Final.

One year later, his 17.6 efficiency per game ranked first for France as they reached the Final.

His best game was against Croatia. Hayes had 16 points, nine assists, seven rebounds, five steals and two blocks.

France won that game, 79-51.

He then erupted for 23 points and had six rebounds and five assists in a Quarter-Final triumph over Turkey. He came up big against a very good Puerto Rico backcourt in the Semi-Finals, pouring in 20 points as France won.

Hayes made the All-Star Five of that event.

Hayes put on a show with France at the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2018 in Argentina

If Collet always has plenty of players to consider when putting his national team together and is never certain about the squad until the summer, Hayes' interest in suiting up will be viewed positively.

Now the national team boss has an additional reason to keep one eye on the NBA, to gauge whether the time is right to at bare minimum have Hayes in the expanded squad.

FIBA