UNION, N.J. – The Cheick Diallo saga just continues to get better. The high school power forward prodigy from Mali is only getting better since he finished his junior season at Our Savior New American School in Centereach, N.Y.
So it came as no surprise when Diallo was the dominant player at the recently completed Nike Big Man Camp at Kean University. Diallo stood out amidst the 15 big men that attended the three-day camp.
“I learned a lot there,” Diallo said. “We did a lot of post moves and shooting.”
“He just keeps getting better,” OSNA assistant Eric Jaklitsch told Blue Star Media. “He has a tremendous motor and is a thoroughbred in the open court. Cheick doesn’t stop moving and he’s getting stronger and working on several post moves.
“His ceiling is endless and he’s going to be a special player on the next level.”
That next level or college could be temporary, meaning the 6-foot-9, 218-pound rising senior is likely a “one and done” player. In two years, he’ll likely be a lottery pick in the 2016 NBA Draft
Diallo is visiting Kentucky this weekend—the capital program of one and done players. Coach John Calipari’s Wildcats have seen 18 players go in the first round since he arrived to Lexington. Diallo holds more than 30 offers, having also visited St. John’s and Iowa State.
Diallo’s also has a 7-3 wingspan, only 6-11 Jesse Govan (7-3 ½), the Georgetown recruit from Wings Academy (Bronx, N.Y.) has a longer span.
When Diallo suits up for OSNA this season, the Pioneers will be hitting the road. Jaklitsch has put together an aggressive national schedule, with stops in Maryland, Arizona, Massachusetts, Delaware, South Carolina and two trips to events in Kentucky.
OSNA hopes the exposure will enhance Diallo’s candidacy for the McDonald’s All American Game. Diallo is a shoo-in for the coveted senior all-star classic at the United Center in Chicago.
Actually, the Pioneers hope the national schedule will earn them a spot in the Dick’s Sporting Goods High School National Tournament in New York.
“That’s our aim to be playing in the Dick’s Nationals come next April,” Jaklitsch said.
Other than Diallo, who stole the show, Ted Kapita of Huntington (W.Va.) Prep and Henry Ellenson of Rice Lake (Wis.) also enjoyed tremendous success.
At nearly 6-9, 207 pounds Kapita recently transferred schools, leaving Florida Air Academy (Melbourne, Fla.) for the West Virginia powerhouse. Kapita has a 7-2 ½ wingspan. Florida has expressed the most interest with Michigan State, Kansas, South Florida, Texas, Syracuse and Georgetown hanging around.
Ellenson is enjoying a great run on the summer circuit, raising his stock immeasurably. He’s developing post moves by the minute and possesses a high motor. At 6-11, 231 pounds, Ellenson is near lock for the McDonald’s Game and has virtually every high major on his list. He will reportedly visit Northwestern and Marquette in the coming days.
The remainder of the bigs include:
6-8 Marcus Dickerson, Paul VI (Fairfax, Va.); 6-9 Donta Hall, Liverne (Ala.); 6-8 Noah Dickerson, Montverde (Fla.) Academy; 6-9 Devonta Davis, Muskegon (Mich.); 6-9 Moustapha Diagne, Pope John XXIII (Sparta, N.J.); 6-9 Makol Mawien, Granger (West Valley City, Utah); 6-11 Jeremy Miller, New Hampton (N.H.); 6-9 Tyler Davis, Plano (Texas) West; 6-10 Daniel Giddens, Wheeler (Marietta, Ga.); 7-0 Doral Moore, Luella (McDonough, Ga.); and 6-8 Caleb Swanigan, Homestead (Fort Wayne, Ind.).
The Points
There were several outstanding point guards at the Nike Camp this week.
Here’s a listing of the attendees:
5-11 Jawun Evans, Kimball (Dallas); 5-9 Al Harris, Dunbar (Dayton, Ohio); Kendall Small, 6-0, Mayfair (Lakewood, Calif.); 6-1 Corey Sanders, Kathleen (Lakeland, Fla.); 6-5 Levan Alston, The Haverford (Pa.) School; 6-3 De’Aaron Fox, Cypress Lakes (Katy, Texas); 6-4 Stevie Thompson, Bishop Montgomery (Torrance, Calif.); 6-1 Aaron Holiday, Campbell Hall (Studio City, Calif.); 6-4 Bryant Crawford, Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.); 6-2 Jalen Adams, Cushing Academy (Ashburnham, Mass.); 6-3 Kevaughn Allen, North Little Rock (Ark.); 6-3 Malik Monk, Bentonville (Ark.); 6-3 Jalen Coleman, La Lumiere School (La Porte, Ind.); 6-5 Shake Milton, Owasso (Okla.); 6-4 Kenny Williams, L.C. Bird (Richmond, Va.); 6-3 King McClure, Triple A Academy (Dallas); 6-3 Nick Nokowiak, Sun Prairie (Wis.); 6-3 Eric Davis, Arthur Hill (Saginaw, Mich.); and 6-5 Justin Simon, Temecula Valley (Temecula, Calif.).
The top three true 1s at the camp were Monk, Coleman and Adams. Alston also performed well. His father, Rick Brunson, played in the NBA and was a star guard for coach John Chaney at Temple. Rick was hired as an assistant at his alma mater earlier this month. The younger Alston could be headed to Broad Street to play for the Cherry and the White.
