One of the most intriguing subplots of Scotland Campus’ highly anticipated, big ticket matchup v.s. Putnam Science on a neutral Albertus Magnus College (New Haven, CT) court in the Prep National Showcase will be the return of 6-foot-9, 225-pound behemoth 4/5 Abou Ousmane.
Now at Scotland Campus, the Brooklyn native played at Putnam Science last season and still has tight bonds with several PSA players.
Given the sheer competitive nature of the event, given the fact that Putnam Science will be ferociously hell-bent on avenging a dramatic 77-74 loss in last year’s national prep semifinal, you can be assured Ousmane’s only friends on the court will have “Scotland Campus” emblazoned across their jerseys.
After playing a supplementary scorer role to Putnam Science’s then-senior 7-foot Center Russel Achewa (now at Texas Tech) in the trenches at Putnam, Ousmane now finds himself in the focal point role while in enemy territory.
With a feathery baby hook from either hand a refined pack of post moves, the Class of 2020 prospect (who has re-opened his recruitment since decommitting from Cleveland State following the firing of Dennis Felton) has adjusted seamlessly to the enhanced role. Following Scotland’s back to back to back slayings of KOA Prep (114-63) and Central International College Prep (112-64) and KEBA Prep (114-76), Ousmane is averaging 19 points and 12 boards. He erupted for 27 points and 18 rebounds during the win over KEBA Prep.
It’s no secret, the big man role has been altered significantly the last few seasons.
College programs have become in heavy pursuit of bigs who can handle the ball like a guard and shoot it from the outside. Yet with the paradigm shift, there are just few true interior bigs who can play like a 1990s NBA Center remaining.
Ousmane’s status as an old school big makes him a necessary throwback at this level.
He’s been able to use his size to not only overpower guys in the paint but simultaneously incorporate an interior skill-set. Possessing big soft hands and an ability to block and manipulate shots as a rim protector, Ousmane gives the guard-rich Knights a commanding inside presence.
Toledo is the latest program to offer Ousmane, with Rockets head coach Tod Kowalcyzk making the trek to Scotland Campus to see him on Monday. He’s garnered additional offers from Fairfield and Fordham recently, while earning an uptick in interest from programs such as Seton Hall, St. John’s, and Pittsburgh.
The physicality and workmanlike factors of his game certainly align with the type of basketball employed in the Big East. After graduating an interior core in Karim Coulibaly (now at Pittsburgh), Chris Maidoh (Fairfield), 6-foot-9 Blake Owens, and 6-foot-7 bruiser Jordon Jones, Scotland will utilize depth with 6-foot-9 Mohammed Wague, 6-foot-6 JJ Jahvon, and South Alabama-commit Caleb White, a 6-foot-9, 260-pound physical specimen from Louisana.
…Vastly under-recruited out of Salem, Wisc. (he averaged 21 PPG on 64 percent FG to go with five assists as a senior), Jaeden Zackery has established himself as a timely scorer and table setter who can orchestrate the souped-up attack.
He scored 14 points during SCS Prep Red’s aforementioned 112-64 trouncing of Central International College Prep.
At 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds, the hard-finishing Zackery is a big, high-wired guard who can score it at all three levels. When the Knights erupted from a slow start to build a 60-38 halftime lead against KOA, Zackery had back to back layins and a 3-pointer that jump-started the first half scoring onslaught. Zackery scored 18 points against KEBA, hitting a trio of 3-pointers.
Holy Cross was recently in to see the Class of 2020 prospect. With a 3.8 GPA, the Patriot League would be a fitting destination for “JZ.”
Norance Berry spent a good deal of his summer opening up a dependable outside shot, the one knock on his game heading into his senior year. Working alongside Scotland Campus head coach Chris Chaney and former Tennessee star Bobby Maze helped the 6-foot-3 guard take his glaring weakness and turn in into a strength.
Against CIC Prep, Berry flashed the new touch with four 3-pointers. With a 6-foot-10 wingspan and an ability to agitate shooters with active hands and his long reach, Berry will set a loud defensive tone for the Knights this season.
The usage rate of defensive-minded 6-foot guard Kayden Stewart will increase this week.
The Class of 2020 guard, who helped deliver Scotland a 2019 USA Prep National Championship as a senior with a memorable defensive performance, scored 24 points en route to SCS Prep Black’s 103-82 win over KEBA Prep yesterday.
Back from a wrist injury, Stewart will play multiple games this weekend across all post-graduate teams of the program. Don’t be surprised if you see him suiting up in back to back or even back to back to backs sometime soon.
Stewart has made becoming more aggressive offensively a focal point this season. He showed flashes last season, most notably with his 3-point shooting during the Mercersburg tournament. As a seasoned player, however, Stewart has become more cognizant of scoring when he has the opportunity to and using his first step and attacking ability.
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One of the program’s more coveted 2020 prospects, Darlinstone Dubar will visit Iowa State officially this week. The 6-feet-6 Dubar, a Charlotte native, currently holds offers from Notre Dame, Seton Hall, Wichita State, Auburn, Kansas State, VCU, and others.
The scoring prowess Dubar possesses is one of the more intriguing components of his trade. He erupted for 34 points during an eyeball to eyeball matchup with Bella Vista Prep’s Terry Armstrong as a senior last season.
An elite level finisher, Dubar has shown he can hit the 3-point shot with consistency and get a timely bucket with his slashing ability. He’s adept at freeing up space and using the backboard. He’s got a pull-up game, a knack for the corner three-pointer, and an ability to get the ball upstairs and pull off that dazzling dunk.
