Recruiting: Michigan and Texas in lead for Mo Bamba?
A recent recruiting report states that Michigan and Texas may be the leaders for PF/C Mohamed Bamba.
Mohamed Bamba is arguably the most exciting prospect in the 2017 recruiting class.
Ranked as the 3rd best player by 247Sports Composite, Bamba is the highest-ranked player yet to choose a school.
Multiple sources tell ESPN's @jeffborzello that Michigan and Texas have the edge in Mohamed Bamba's recruitment
— Aaron Kall (@AaronsUKBBBlog) December 20, 2016
According to DraftExpress, he has the second longest wingspan in basketball history. Former UC-Irvine star Mamadou Ndiaye, standing at 7’4″, 297 pounds, measured an 8’1” wingspan. Next? 7’0″ Bamba with a span 7’ 9.5″. A nearly 8-foot wingspan is essentially unheard of, but here we are with an 18-year old kid holding the bragging rights.
Rudy Gobert is the only player in the NBA with a longer wingspan.
Even though Michigan and Texas have the edge, nothing is set in stone until pen is officially put to the paper. Teams will pull out all the stops to convince teenagers to play for their school, be it for one year (likely in Bamba’s case) or as long as the player wants to stay.
Hence, any “reports” that come out until that day should be taken with a grain of salt. Sources may have good info, but the information loses validity once a kid simply changes their mind.
Bamba’s case is an interesting one. Despite his talents projecting him to be a lottery pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, he has maintained a focus on attending a high-end academic school. Harvard has remained in consideration, along with Michigan, Duke and Texas, all very high-caliber institutions. His consideration of Kentucky seems to be more focused on basketball and the incredible track record the Wildcats have in producing big men.
Bamba is also more athletic than similar big men who boast his measurables. While Mamadou Ndiaye is a joy to watch, his momentum makes it difficult for him to be agile. Bamba is four inches shorter, but his athleticism is evident in highlight reels.
Bamba is only averaging nine points and six rebounds on the year with his high school squad, but that’s pretty much irrelevant. The youngster can drive, shoot threes, rebound, assist and block shots. He’s the full package.
With Tacko Fall having a breakout season this year, one can only imagine what a similar, more polished player in Bamba can do in college.
John Beilein, Shaka Smart, Mike Krzyzewski, and John Calipari sure have an idea. It will be a tight battle to the finish line for one of the more special talents in the class of 2017.
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