While New York is years removed from the illustrious heyday of towering behemoths such as Kofi Cockburn and Moses Brown, there is still plenty of high upside and legitimate two way interior threats.
Out of the Bronx, Class of 2024 Riverside Hawks Center and 6-foot-11 Donda Academy (CA) prospect Steven Solano has improved in all phases of his game this summer.
As a shot blocker, a shot manipulater and a guy capable of commandeering a defense, Solano has established himself as a definitive rim protector.
“I’ve always been a defensive guy first,” said Solano, who played alongside Stepinac HS 2025 guard Danny Carbuccia in representing the Dominican Republic in the FIBA World Cup this summer.
“I try and communicate with guys on defense and be an anchor.”
Solano has paid special devotion to increasing his physicality this summer and scoring more via hustle points.
He’s a catch and face threat with a feathery mid range game. He’s also an above rim scorer who often sets a loud tone with his ability to finish lob passes in thunderous fashion.
While he’s expressed some frustration in not getting the ball enough in guard laden environments, however, Solano has developed a nose for the ball. He’s swooped in for putbacks and been a consistent source for second chance buckets.
“One thing (Riverside coach) Kerrium (Memminger) has shown me is how to really be a hungry guy inside and attack the boards,” Solano said.
“He spoke about how he coached (former Christ The King, Oak Hill Academy and Illinois big man and current NBA player) Kofi Cockburn and how Kofi was an absolute dog and would get the ball off the glass and score. He’s emphasized rebounding and being able to hustle and get points without getting the ball each possession.”
A 7-foot, 293-pound gargantuan, Cockburn enjoyed extraordinary success at Illinois.
From the island of Jamaica originally, Cockburn averaged 20.9 points and 10.6 rebounds this past season and 17.7 points and 9.5 rebounds the previous season.
And while he went undrafted, Cockburn signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Utah Jazz and was among the Top-10 rebounding leaders in the NBA Summer League, averaging 9.0 boards per game.
Illinois is also recruiting Solano, who is also hearing from Oklahoma State, Mississippi State, Virginia Tech, Fordham, and an array of others who have offered.
With his mobility and the knack for blocking and changing the trajectory of shots, Solano has the type of appeal translatable to the highest level of play.
“He’s a space eater,” Memminger said.
“He’s huge so guys have second thoughts about going to the middle with him inside there.”
Buoyed by fluid, rim to rim athleticism and his ability to move at 6-11 and 235 pounds, Solano has rare qualities which myriad unpolished, raw guys at his size tend to lack.
“He’s a catch and finish guy who rebounds the ball outside of the box extremely well,” Memminger explained.
“He has soft hands. He runs the floor and is extremely mobile for his size. His footwork is good too.”
Solano has been a bit of a basketball vagabond this last year. He spent time at Donda Academy, a high level Los Angeles based prep school backed by Kanye West, and could either be returning next month or enrolling in a NYC-based school.
He’s currently exploring all viable options.
“We are just trying to create some stability with him and have no more movement in his high school journey,” Memminger explained.
“I’m just trying to create some stability so these college coaches know where he’s at.”
