On Friday, October 2, seven new members were inducted into the French Basketball Academy during the General Assembly of the French Basketball Federation (FFBB), which is taking place this year in Lyon. This is the 23rd class of this "basketball hall of fame" of France. The Honorary Committee of the Academy conducted the election of the new class last spring. Under the "pioneers" category, Jacqueline BINY (1928-2008) was honored. Faithful to her city throughout her club career, Jacqueline BINY was a French champion in 1945 with the Stade Marseillais Universite Club (SMUC) and a finalist of the French Cup in 1958 with Olympique de Marseille. In the French national team, she was a key player of the first French team to win a medal at the World Championship in Chile, in 1953. She helped, with the assistance of Anne-Marie Colchen notably, the French women's team of the 1950s, to compete with the best. Under the "players" category, Sandra DIJON (born January 10, 1976), Daniel LEDENT (born March 18, 1945), and Carole FORCE (born December 9, 1968) were honored. Sandra DIJON learned basketball late and her qualities allowed her to become a professional and enter the French national team in 2001. She was one of the 12 girls in gold, European champion in Le Mans, to begin an international career that would see her selected 133 times. In club, she became a respected figure of the LFB in Bourges, LattesMontpellier, Arras or Mondeville. She also played abroad; she was champion of Latvia in 2009. In 2017, she even participated in the 3x3 World Cup held in Nantes. Appreciated by her coaches and teammates, committed, high-performing, she brought a strong inside presence. A great rebounder, capable of scoring, determined, she was an indispensable player for an ambitious team. Daniel LEDENT had a suspension shot and a remarkable scoring ability, as evidenced by his personal record of 56 points in a French Championship match. He also showed regularity at the highest level, which allowed this elegant guard to play for the French national team for a decade. Champion of France with Denain, the club in which he played until the beginning of the 1970s, this man from the North continued and completed his career in Antibes. Carole FORCE shone with the jersey of AS Montferrand, the club with which she won all levels of French youth championships, as well as with that of Stade Clermontois where she ended her professional playing career. She also played for Challes-les-Eaux, Valenciennes and Mirande, at the highest level of French women's basketball. At the point or the guard, her game vision and leadership, her regularity and commitment benefited her clubs. She was part of the French team in 1993, silver medalist at the European Championship in Perugia (Italy). Her playing experience, marked by rigor and team spirit, formed a solid basis for her transition into sports leadership roles. She is currently the president of the French Women's Basketball League. Under the "coaches" category, Vincent COLLET (born June 6, 1963) and Valérie GARNIER (born January 9, 1965) were honored. Vincent COLLET, French champion as a player under the colors of Le Mans, coach at Le Mans (French champion 2006), ASVEL (French champion 2009), Strasbourg and Boulogne Levallois, became the emblematic coach of the French basketball team, which he led between 2009 and 2024. He holds the record for the number of matches as head coach of the French team (253 matches), the record for medals (8). He won the first title (Euro 2013), the first international medals (bronze in 2024 and 2019) and reached the Olympic final twice with the French team. An exceptional career that makes him already a major name in the history of French basketball. Valérie GARNIER, a brilliant point guard, combining skill and game vision, was the first relay on the court for coach Alain Jardel during the almost 10 years she played for BAC Mirande. She won 3 French championships under these colors. She has 61 selections in the French national team. She obtained her coaching diplomas at the end of her playing career. She will be an assistant in the French national team for nearly 10 years before taking charge of the French team herself and winning 6 international medals, a record. In club, she found the path to titles in France and Turkey, at the national and European levels. Inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame, she is one of the most respected French technicians at the international level. Under the "personalities" category, Michel LEGER (born May 22, 1939) was honored. Michel LEGER founded Cholet Basket in 1975. From the departmental level to the elite of the French and European basketball, the club climbed inexorably the steps. It conquered almost all the titles up to National 2 on the way to Pro A. Cholet Basket implemented a remarkable training policy, as evidenced by the list of great names who were trained or hardened under the Cholet colors (Antoine Rigaudeau, Jim Bilba, Nando de Colo, Rudy Gobert, Mickaël Gélabale to name just a few). After 20 years at the head of the club, he passed the baton while keeping the status of Honorary Member - Founding President. He still embodies the special place that Cholet Basket has built in the French basketball landscape.