Whether it was a dazzling spin move, a point-blank finish, or a nifty bucket in traffic, Karim Coulibaly registered the high major presence that makes him such a unique threat. A native of Mali, Africa, the 6-foot-9 Coulibaly scored a game-best 17 points as Scotland overcame a jittery first half en route to a thorough 83-55 road pounding of Albright College on Monday night.
“Karim has a special talent,” explained head coach Chris Chaney, whose no.3 ranked prep team improved to a 17-0 record on the season.
“With his ability to hit outside shots, with his ability to guard nearly every position on the floor, and with him being left handed and just the toughness with which he plays, he’s bought into the leadership component significantly. With his effort and his motor, it’s just indicative of how hard we work as a team and the key things we preach as a coaching staff.”
St. Joe’s and Pittsburgh appear to be the most serious contenders in Coulibaly’s recruitment, one which has seen him rapidly rise over the last 10 months.
Georgetown, Rhode Island, Providence, Tulane, and a bevy of other programs all made trips to Scotland’s gym this fall and winter to see the unicorn-style talent. With the way Phil Martelli has prioritized him and the position-less basketball the team employs, St. Joe’s appears to be the most likely suitor for the Class of 2019 combination forward.
Coulibaly bounced back from a foul-littered performance during Scotland’s 87-77 win over Perkiomen at Chambersburg High on Saturday. He was whistled for two early fouls, relegated to the role of spectator for much of a stagnant first half in which rust emanating from three weeks off plagued Scotland.
In the second half, Coulibaly erupted to help the Knights build a 10-point lead. He reeled off points in succession, including a boisterous in-traffic dunk which swelled the spread to 53-42.
Scotland again received significant contributions from Jordon Jones. The 6-foot-6 forward out of Maryland was a presence on the glass throughout, offering second chance buckets. Clarence “Frenchy” Nadolny, the high-energy off guard from Paris, scored nine points at the start of the second half. He sliced his way to the rim gracefully, chased 50-50 balls with a ferocity, and continued to exemplify how to effectively embrace hard contact at the rim. His motor is perhaps the most appealing attribute of his game.
Robert Morris assistant coach and former NBA player Mike Iuzzolino will be at practice today to see Nadolny, who they’ve suddenly ramped up their recruiting efforts for.
Akrum Ahemed popped off the bench to hit several key buckets, stabilizing the Knights with hard drives and displaying a catch-and-stick game in the second half.
A transfer via Oak Hill, he’s vastly improved his stock with burgeoning Division-I interest from a handful of NEC programs the past few months. Several prominent JUCOs, including Panola (TX) and Eastern Florida, are looking to get him in the door should he elect to take that route late. As a qualifier, one year at JUCO would ultimately propel him to a mid-major plus caliber recruit. His status as a shot-maker and cerebral, quality guard/wing have been evident the past two games.
As is the case with many at this level, sacrificing individual numbers and performances is a necessity. Given the depth chart and the number of highly-touted recruits/commits flanking Ahemed, it’s fair to say he’d be a focal point on 95 percent of teams throughout the state of Pennsylvania.
The versatility factor was evident in 6-foot-10 Center Chris Maidoh last night, as he showed both a perimeter game and an ability to score in the low post. With Jones and Blake Owens providing a major supplementary presence to Coulibaly in the trenches, Scotland’s depth in numbers was again an overwhelming factor.
