Born in the USA and named after the greatest basketball player of all time, Reims' teenage striker Jordan Siebatcheu has been catching the eye this season with his fast breaks and jump shots... not to mention motion offense.
When Siebatcheu came off the bench to score at Toulouse just days after signing his first professional contract, Olivier Guegan's faith was vindicated. A former youth-team coach, Reims' current boss has taken a punt on the 19-year-old - and is being rewarded.
Auspicious
"It's been an amazing week," Siebatcheu told The Ligue 1 Show on beIN SPORTS. "I just signed a contract, then I came on and score straight away... It's great! I try to show the coach that I'm ready to impose myself, despite my young age. But it's up to him to decide."
According to Guégan, it wasn't such a hard decision… and it has paid off nicely
"I already knew him from my time with the youth team," recalled Guégan. "I decided I wanted him to play with us in pre-season to see how he'd cope... and he did more than just cope."
Along with fellow youth-team graduate Grejohn Kyei, Siebatcheu fired Reims to the Under-19 league title last season. Now the pair are thriving together in the first team - under the ever-watchful gaze of Olivier Guégan - and Siebatcheu has added to more goals to his tally.
Guégan: 'A lot of strengths'
"He's a young player who has some weaknesses - and a lot of strengths," Guégan summed up. "He'll need to keep a cool head and keep on working, and he'll be rewarded. He's one of our top young players."
Siebatcheu's next chance to shine comes as surprise third-place holders SM Caen come calling at the Stade Auguste Delaune on Saturday night.
