Hamidou Diallo is a recent transfer to Putnam Science Academy after playing last season in NYC. Diallo reclassified from 2016 to 2017 after making the transfer this summer. Back in late June I told you about Diallo being a new name for Friar fans to watch. He runs with the NYC Jayhawks on the grassroots circuit and recently attended the National Prep Showcase in New Haven, CT.
After last weekend’s flurry of visitors Ed Cooley and his staff didn’t sit at home and rest on their laurels. Cooley and his staff were spotted all over the country this past week checking in on future prospects in 2016 and 2017 but also making a point to be seen by primary 2015 target Justin Robinson. To see where the staff was this week, check out the site feature called “Where is Ed Cooley and the staff?” which is linked at the top of the page on the menu bar.
There wasn’t a ton of recruiting news this past week as the Friars were in the midst of their Italy trip. I would expect to start hearing more next week when the staff is back in the States. Visits will likely begin to be set up and the picture at the guard positions on the recruiting trail in the class of 2015 should get a little more clear.
The July live evaluation periods have come and gone and a lot of recruits have cut their lists down to more manageable figures. Some recruits have even already given commitments. Providence obviously got some good news last weekend after their Elite Camp on Saturday with two verbal commitments. The first was from a member of the class of 2017 (rising sophomores) in Javon Taylor. Taylor seems to have a good basketball pedigree and isn’t done growing.
Last year’s Elite Camp was very memorable because there was a lot of talk about a PC ‘Fab 5’ with Abu, Chukwu, Lindsey, Joseph and Terrell. PC coordinator of basketball ops Mike Jackson even set up a phone call for Abu, Chukwu, Joseph, Terrell and 2015 Donovan Mitchell (Lindsey was not at the Elite Camp) with former Michigan Fab Five member, Chris Webber. All of the stops were being pulled out.
Chukwu and Lindsey obviously wound up at PC (and Lindsey was already committed prior to the Elite Camp last summer) but Abu chose NC State, Joseph chose Syracuse and Terrell chose Oklahoma State then URI. Donovan Mitchell wasn’t planning on attending this year’s camp anyway due to a family reunion but I would think Thursday night’s commitment to Louisville solidifies his absence.
Here are the players that I have confirmed will be at this year’s Elite Camp by class and last name (I’ll update this if more names are confirmed):
A new name in the class of 2015 for Friar fans is a player who is also new to New England prep basketball. Andrew Robinson, along with twin brother Aaron, decided to do a prep year at Putnam Science Academy this upcoming season. Andrew is the more heralded prospect and he is the one that PC is showing increased interest in. The Robinson’s older brother is former Syracuse guard, Billy Edelin.
The 6’5 wing player had offers from Binghamton, Delaware, Drexel, LIU-Brooklyn, Marshall, Robert Morris, Siena and Towson after his last season at Springbrook in Maryland. He averaged a team high 17 ppg for the Blue Devils and also pulled down 6.4 rpg last season. Since announcing in late April that he will be prepping at PSA this year, he has received interest from Providence and Dayton. After speaking with a couple people familiar with his game from high school and watching some of the highlight tapes (see below), it seems like Robinson is athletic enough to play in the Big East but needs to hone his ball skills and increase his quickness. It should also be noted that Andrew is not just talented on the court. He had a weighted GPA of 4.04 at Springbrook and was the sports editor for the school newspaper.
In the July live period he will be at the Reebok Classic Breakout Camp from July 8th-11th then at the Hoop Group Summer Jam Fest from July 18th-20th.
The other new name is in the class of 2017 and will also be making his New England prep basketball debut this upcoming season. Hamidou Diallo is a 6’3 shooting guard from Flushing, NY. He runs with the NYC Jayhawks on the AAU circuit where he led the 15U team to the Elite 8 at the Pittsburgh Jam Fest during the April live period. He attended URI Elite camp on June 27th and attended NERR Elite 75 camp on June 30th and got an offer from Fairfield while on a recent visit there with another PC target from PSA, Mamadou Diarra. Diallo is young and still growing into his body but he’s a name that will likely become more familiar over the next couple of years to those that follow New England prep basketball.
pcbb1917.com - Providence College Basketball 