Name: Zoe Bayer
Height: 5-7
Position: Shooting Guard
High School: Putnam Science Academy
Graduation Class: 2023
GPA: 3.3
Status: Uncommitted
Zoe Bayer is a 5-7 Combo Guard from Les Sables-d'Olonne, Pays de la Loire. Bayer is an international prospect who most recently played for Union Sportive La Glacerie in France. Bayer was another international addition to the Mustangs' program as she transferred into Putnam Science Academy this past summer. With the help of global services, Up From Basketball. One of the most fascinating prospects that have come through my platform, Bayer has a mind of her own. Whether it's hoopin', in her fashion or how she comes off as an individual, Bayer is a very well rounded individual. For a prospect who thought about hanging her jersey up two years ago, Bayer is more motivated than ever. Throughout the first two games of her junior season, Bayer has been on a tear averaging 18.5 points per game tallying over 10 threes this far. I started calling her, "The French Bucket" throughout the preparation of her project because she never fails to amaze me whenever she has the rock in her hands. She's still trying to find her groove playing in a different atmosphere, but Bayer has handled it well so far. Bayer is a product in the making and best believe that she will be very special as long as she remains confident within herself. Let's get to know more about the French Bucket!
BREAKDOWN:
STRENGTHS
Active hands on the defensive end.
"Bayer relies on her offensive skillset heavy, but don't sleep on her defensive ability. She may not rely so much on foot speed, but she has no fear with having active hands and getting the best of steals."
Change of direction
"One of Bayer's best traits, her change of direction is very smooth in transition. She has solid feet, great agility off of the dribble and makes the right reads in the open court."
Elite Sharpshooter
"Bayer's best trait. The French Bucket is a knockdown shooter from deep especially off the catch and shoot. She uses a variety of moves to shake off defenders whether it's a pump fake into a one dribble pull up, or a basic pull up. Every time she releases, I have a good feeling its a swish. She was a huge part of her team's late comeback last Wednesday against Hoosac!"
Natural Playmaker
"Bayer's IQ is out of this world. well, literally because she's from Europe. I'm just playing *laughs*, but Bayer is a very smart player who always looks for open teammates and making the right play. Overthinking can get her into sticky situations on the court at times, but I'll touch more on that in her improvements section."
Scores at three levels
"Bayer is a very skilled prospect who knows when to get the job done. Point blank period. Read the next note."
Spark Plug
"One thing I admire about Bayer's game is her ability to respond when things get hard. From giving basketball a second chance and being a huge part to her team's comeback last week, Bayer has a dawg mentality to her. Even if she doesn't see it yet. She will learn more about herself throughout her journey, but I am confident that she will be very special one day."
THINGS TO IMPROVE ON
Conditioning
"Adjusting to American speed is something that Bayer is still trying to get used too. Bayer told me that she needs to work on her cardio in order to be in the best shape that she can be in."
Off-Ball Defense
"Another thing that Bayer needs to work on. Bayer told the RPN that she places herself out of position when in help defense. Adjusting to a faster pace is something that Bayer is still working on and will only come better with time."
Overthinking
"The biggest thing that Bayer has to work on. Bayer told the RPN that she heads into games nervous. She's a huge overthinker and as a person who can relate, it sucks. She tends to be a little too unselfish at times passing up shots and causing herself to get stuck in the half court game. But mind you, Bayer is a very intelligent individual who's hard on herself. She is human, it happens. But containing herself in finding ways to reduce some stress can be very beneficial in her game down the road. I believe that Bayer can be a complete package once she cleans up all of her flaws. She is a well rounded individual who has a gift and she'll only get better with time."
ZOE BAYER Q&A
When did you start playing basketball/Quand as-tu commencé à jouer au basket ?
"I started basketball when I was 7 years old."
French:
"J'ai commencé le basket à 7 ans."
Describe your game/Décris ton jeu.
"I have an offensive game, in my first basketball years, I liked to score during games. But in recent years, I liked to play with my teammates and doing assists. I developed my assists game and my defense. I like to have some steals during games. Before a game, I need to listen music, and I know how to motivate the team to go for the victory and also I like to take the decisive shots."
"J'ai un jeu offensif, dans mes premières années de basket, j'aimais scorer pendant les matchs. Mais depuis quelques années, j'aime aussi faire jouer les autres. J'ai développé mon jeu de passes décisives et ma défense. Je vole aussi beaucoup de ballons. Avant un match, j'ai besoin d'écouter de la musique, et je sais motiver l'équipe pour aller chercher la victoire et aussi prendre les tirs décisifs."
Leaving your home country during this team must've been very hard for you. How was the process of coming to the states in order to achieve your dreams/Processus pour venir aux USA?
"To come to the United States, I went through an association in Paris which deals with putting in contact players wishing to play in the United States, with american schools. This association takes care of transcribing all the necessary documents, and it also takes care of the student visa F1. I had contact with PSA, and the Paris association told me that it was a good program. So I sent a highlight video to the PSA coach, and I had a video interview. It had been several years since I wanted to go to the USA, and I ended up talking to my parents. I wanted to confront American basketball, but above all I appreciate the fact that in the USA, you can succeed in basketball and shine in studies, unlike in France where classes end in the evening, and training is often late in the evening. . Since I have being here in Putnam I have adapted very well, I like to training, the atmosphere is good, and I like so much my team and my teammates. The only negative choice I could say is that the food is much better in France *laughs*."
"Pour venir aux USA, je suis passé par une association à Paris qui s'occupe de mettre en contact des joueuses désirant partir jouer aux USA, avec des écoles américaines. Cette association s'occupe de transcrire tous les document nécessaires, et elle s'occupe aussi du visa étudiant. J'ai eu le contact avec PSA, et l'association de Paris m'a dit que c'était un bon programme. J'ai donc envoyé une vidéo highlight au coach de PSA, et j'ai eu un entretien en visio. Cela faisait déjà plusieurs années que je voulais partir aux USA, et j'ai fini par en parler à mes parents. Je voulais me confronter au basket américain, mais surtout j'apprécie le fait qu'aux USA, on peut réussir au basket et au niveau des études, contrairement en France où les cours finissent le soir, et l'entrainement est souvent tard en soirée. Depuis que je suis ici, à Putnam, je me suis très bien adapté, j'aime m'entraîner, l'ambiance est bonne. La seule chose négative que je pourrais dire, c'est que la nourriture est bien meilleure en France *LOL*."
What is a typical day for you like at Putnam Science Academy/Journée typique à PSA?
"My typical day, I wake up at 7 AM, sometimes 5 AM when basketball training at 6 a.m. I getting ready, then lessons at 8am, each lessons is 1 hour and 30 minutes. Lunch is between 11 AM and 1 PM. Then lessons until 2:30 p.m. Then, I go to the weight room from 2:30 p.m, then I have basketball training. The evening dinner at 5 PM and finally we have free time for activities or going to the basketball arena to shooting."
"Journée type, réveil à 7 heures du matin, petit déjeuner, je me prépare, cours à 8 heures, chaque cours dure 1 heure 30 minutes. Le repas est entre 11 h et 13 heures et les cours se terminent à 14h30. Ensuite je vais à la salle de musculation à partir de 14h30, et entrainement, les horaires changent. Repas du soir à 17 h et ensuite temps libre pour faire des activités où aller shooter à la salle."
How has the season been thus far for you?
"We won the first 2 games, we have a good team, but we can do a lot better. We training hard for that. The first game in PSA against Monroe CC, I was looking forward to it, but I was a little stressed right before. I hadn't played basketball game for over 10 months due to COVID19 in France and it was a real pleasure to play this first game. We won this game, but it was very difficult at the beginning of the game, because it was the first time we played together. Last week against Monroe, all the players of the team were able to bring something to win the game. The victory was important, because winning welds a team. The second game last Wednesday against Hoosac was very exciting because it was a trip and for the first time I was going to see a little the country *laughs*. We also won this match in front of a big crowd, but it was more difficult, because we were led all along the game, and we only win in the last 3 minutes. This proves the character of this team. I'm very proud of my team. For my part, I am very satisfied with the work of the team during these first 2 games, but also personally, because I was able to express myself by scoring, 16 points against Monroe with 4 3 pointers made and 21 points against Hoosac."
"Nous avons gagné les 2 premiers matchs, nous avons une bonne équipe, mais nous pouvons faire beaucoup mieux. Nous nous entraînons dur pour cela. Le premier match à Psa contre Monroe, je l'attendais avec impatience, mais j'étais un peu stressée juste avant. Je n'avais pas joué en compétition depuis plus de 10 mois à cause du COVID19, et c'était un réel plaisir de jouer ce premier match. La semaine dernière contre Monroe, toutes les joueuses de l'équipe ont pu s'exprimer, et chacune peut apporter quelque chose pour gagner le match. La victoire était importante, car gagner soude une équipe. Le deuxième match de mercredi dernier contre Hoosac était très excitant, car c'était un déplacement, et pour la première fois j'allais voir un peu du pays (LOL). Nous avons gagné aussi aussi ce match devant un public nombreux, mais c'était plus difficule, car nous êtions menées pendant toute la rencontre, et nous gagnons que dans les 3 dernières minutes. Cela prouve le caractère de cette équipe. Pour ma part, je suis très satisfait du travail de l'équipe durant ces 2 premiers matchs, mais aussi personnellement, car j'ai pu m'exprimer en scorant, 16 pts contre Monroe, et 21 points contre Hoosac."
What are some of the biggest differences or similarities that you have noticed between French and American culture/La différence entre les usa et la France?
"The big difference is the meal times. They are different in France, too later, but also the quality of the food. In France, we eat better. It's more diverse, there is good bread, seafood, etc. I would also say that people are more open in the USA than in France. In PSA, it's a bit like my second family. All the people is very kind. In France, there were 35 of us per classroom, lessons were from 8 AM to 5 or 6 PM in the evening. There was a lot of homework in France after classroom. In terms of landscapes, they are pretty around Putnam high school with the autumn leaves, but I don't have the opportunity to travel yet to see other cities in the United States and other landscapes. I hope very soon *laughs*. I am also looking forward to seeing the snow in Putnam and the region because in France I live by the sea, and in winter there is not often snow."
"La grosse différence sont les horaires des repas, ils sont differents en France, mais aussi la qualité de la nourriture. En France, on mange mieux, c'est plus diversifié, il y a du bon pain, des fruits de mer, etc. Je dirais aussi que les gens sont plus ouverts aux USA qu'en France. A PSA, c'est un peu comme ma deuxième famille. En France, nous êtions 35 par classes, les cours étaient de 8 h le matin à 17 où 18 h le soir. Il y avait en France beaucoup de devoirs à faire à la maison. Au niveau des paysages, les paysages sont jolis autour du lycée avec les feuilles d'automne, mais je n'ai pas encore eu l'occasion de bien voyager encore pour découvrir d'autres villes des usa et d'autres paysages. J'ai aussi hâte de voir la neige à Putnam et dans la région, car en France j'habite au bord de la mer et l'hiver il n'y a pas souvent de neige."
What is one thing that you miss from home/Qu'est-ce qui te manque le plus de chez toi ?
"What I miss the most about my country is good food and especially a good African food. Then family, friends and the smell of the sea."
"Ce qui me manque le plus de France est la bonne nourriture, surtout un bon plat africain. Ma famille, mes amies et l'odeur de la mer."
You’re still at a very early stage of your career. What kinds of things are you doing to make yourself the best player you can be/Vous êtes encore à un stade précoce de votre carrière, quel genre de chose faites vous pour devenir la meilleure joueuse possible ? A quoi ressemble votre formation?
"I already have a lot of training during the week, I try to improve me at each of them. When I have spare time during the day, I go to the basketball arena, and shooting, or I go to the weight room. Before coming to PSA, I did individual training with a personal trainer in France, and maybe in the future in the USA if my schedule allows it, I would do the same. The basketball training are hard in PSA, but it's good to progress and become better. I like that."
"J'ai déjà beaucoup d'entrainements dans la semaine, je m'efforce de progresser à chacun d'entre eux. Quand j'ai un moment de libre dans la journée, je vais à la salle , et je fais des shoots où je vais à la salle de musculation. Avant de venir à PSA, j'ai fais des entraînement individuels avec un coach personnel en France, et peut-être à l'avenir aux USA, si mon emploi du temps le permet, je ferais pareil. Les entrainement sont durs à PSA, mais c'est comme cela qu'on progresse. J'aime ça."
Which athlete do you look up to the most/Quel athlète admire-tu le plus?
"Michael Jordan, LeBron James and Jada Williams."
Who do you look up to as a role models/Quels coachs, équipiers, personnalités admire-tu comme modèles?
"Rui Machida, who's on the women's Japan basketball Team), Valérie Garnier, who's the coach of the women's French basketball team, Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks."
"Rui Machida, meneuse de l'équipe nationale de basket japonaise, Valérie Garnier, coach de l'équipe de France féminine de Basketball, Martin Luther King et Rosa Parks."
It’s still very early, but what are you looking forward to for the rest of the season/C'est encore tôt, mais qu'attendez vous pour la suite de la saison ? Vos objectifs à long terme?
"For the rest of the season, I would like the team atmosphere to remain the same, that we can win a lot of games, that the team can continue to progress in order to go as far as possible in the season. My medium-term goals are to be able to join a D1 university in order to continue my American dream, continue to progress, and be able to stay a few long years in the USA."
"Pour la suite de la saison, j'aimerais que l'ambiance de l'équipe reste la même, que nous puissions enchâiner les victoire, que l'équipe puisse continuer à progresser afin d'aller le plus loin possible dans la saison. Mes objectifs à moyen terme est de pouvoir intégrer une université D1 afin de continuer mon rêve américain, continuer à progresser, et pouvoir rester encore quelques longues années aux USA."
Do you have any words of encouragement or motivation for people/Avez-vous des mots d'encouragements où de motivation pour les gens?
"I would like to say you can live fully your dream, overcome obstacles and do everything to be the best person possible. We are nothing individually, but we are very strong as a team."
"Je dirais vivez votre rêve à fond, franchissez les obstacles car il y en aura, et faites tout pour être la meilleure personne possible. Nous ne sommes rien individuellement, mais on est très fort en équipe."
Zoe Bayer - Putnam Science Academy - 2023
Putnam Science Academy Profile
Zoe Bayer 2021 Fall Highlights (Open Gym)
Twitter @zoebayer7
High School Coaches Information
Head Coach: Sabrina Browne - Email
Assistant Coach: Jessica Kovatch - Email
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