2017 McDonald’s All American Game: Meet the uncommitteds
By Chris Stone
1. Mohamed Bamba, C, No. 3
The top-ranked uncommitted recruit in this class is 7-footer Mohamed Bamba. The 18-year old is invested in his academics and is considering Duke, Kentucky, Michigan and Texas. The Wildcats are currently seen as the favorite, although all of the schools are still pursuing the future freshman who could be college basketball’s Defensive Player of the Year next season.
What makes Bamba such an exciting prospect? It all starts with his nearly 7-foot-10 wingspan and athleticism. If his wingspan measurements hold up, he’ll be the longest player ever measured at the NBA Draft Combine. Bamba has a unique combination of length, mobility and defensive instincts that allows him to be a top-tier rim protector. His athleticism, though, also means that he can step out on the perimeter and isn’t limited to patrolling the paint.
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Bamba isn’t particularly skilled on offense at this stage in his development, but he does finish well at the rim. The truth is that in the modern game, he likely won’t be called on to post up frequently and while he’ll still invest time working on those skills, they aren’t the most important ones for his career. If Bamba can be an elite defender who can rim run out of pick-and-roll, that should be enough to make him a really good college basketball player.