Pallacanestro Varese is pleased to announce that it has reached a multi-year agreement with Ismaël Kamagate, a French center born in 2001 who stands 211 centimeters tall and weighs 100 kilograms, who will wear the red-and-white jersey starting in the 2026–2027 season. Kamagate is a modern big man who combines great athleticism, mobility, and defensive instincts. He is an excellent rim protector thanks to his timing on blocks and his ability to switch onto smaller players without losing effectiveness. On offense, he is a major threat as a roller in the pick-and-roll, where he uses his explosiveness and vertical leap to finish above the rim, while also providing a presence on the offensive boards. His energy, transition speed, and impact on both ends of the court make him a player capable of making an all-around impact.
Maksim Horowitz, General Manager of Basketball Strategy at Pallacanestro Varese: “We’re very pleased to have wrapped up our summer roster moves with the addition of a player who brings an extra level of versatility to our roster. Ismaël is a big man capable of bringing stability to our defense, protecting the rim, and ensuring a dominant presence in the paint on offense as well. His two seasons in Italy have allowed him to gain a deep understanding of the league and the level of competition in Serie A. He brings talent, room for growth, and significant potential—valuable qualities that are hard to find all in one player. We can’t wait to see him on the court wearing the Varese jersey.”
Career
Born in Paris to Ivorian parents, Ismaël Kamagate initially grew up playing soccer as a goalkeeper before turning to basketball at the age of 11. He began his career in the youth academies of Basket Paris 14 and Paris-Levallois, before continuing his education in Orléans, where he played with the Under-18 and development teams. In 2019, he signed with Paris Basketball, then playing in Pro B. After a first season split between the first team and the Centre Fédéral, he became a key figure in the club’s growth, contributing to its promotion to the French top division. In the 2021-2022 season, he established himself as one of the league’s top big men: he was named to the LNB All-Star Game, where he was the youngest player in the game, and delivered a historic performance with 18 points, 9 blocks, and 5 rebounds against Roanne, earning the LNB Pro A Best Defensive Player award. After another season with Paris Basketball, in the summer of 2023, he signed a two-year contract with Olimpia Milano. In January 2024, he went on loan to Derthona Basket, a deal that was extended for the following season. In his second year at Tortona, he further improved, averaging 8.3 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game. In the BCL, he confirmed his position as one of the competition’s top big men, earning a spot on the All-FIBA Basketball Champions League First Team.
Last year he played for Beşiktaş in Turkey, contributing to a top-level season for the team, culminating in reaching the Turkish championship final, the Turkish Cup final, and most importantly, the EuroCup final (a competition in which he averaged 7.5 points and 6.1 rebounds), which he lost to JL Bourg-en-Bresse, led by new red-and-white point guard William McDowell-White.
Kamagate also made three appearances for the French senior national team in the European qualifiers for the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, averaging 5 points and 4.3 rebounds. Previously, he also played for France’s youth national teams, participating in the 2019 U18 European Championship and the 2021 U20 European Championship.