(2015) PF Kassoum Yakwe off the board

[hoosierpap 14,300]

Eric Bossi @ebosshoops
Kassoum Yakwe very active early for PSA Cardinals against NJ Playaz. He's got a newfound confidence and is playing well. #EYBL

[hoosierpap 14,300]

D1 Circuit @D1Circuit
F Kassoum Yakwe (@KassoumYakwe): 15 PTS, 10 REB, 4 BLK, 2 STL for PSA Cardinals in a win over Playaz

[hoosierpap 14,300]

Adam Zagoria @AdamZagoria
St. John's coach Chris Mullin watching @KassoumYakwe of PSA Cardinals in Lexington. May prep or reclass.

[hoosierpap 14,300]

ProScholarsAthletics (@PSACardinals) 7/1/15, 5:11 PM
Congratulations to 2016 F Kassoum Yakwe (@KassoumYakwe) for being named @NikeEYB Defensive Player of the Year.
#PSACardinals

I'm telling yooouuu

[Stuhoo 75,560]

Kassoum Yakwe Wins Nike EYBL Defensive Player of the Year Award, Targeting Summer Decision on Next Step

July 2nd, 201511:13 am

Kassoum Yakwe has been named the the Nike EYBL Defensive Player of the Year and is targeting a July decision on his future plans.

The 6-foot-7, 205-pound forward from the PSA Cardinals and Our Savior New American averaged 3.1 blocks and 6.3 rebounds per game en route to the award.

He is the second straight player from the PSA Cardinals program to win Defensive Player of the Year honors, following incoming Kansas freshman Cheick Diallo.

“Last year I didn’t have the chance to play a lot because there we had older players, and that was their last go in the EYBL. I understood all of that. I got to learn a lot from those players and my coaches.”

 

Terrance “Munch” Williams of the PSA Cardinals praised Yakwe’s importance to the program.

“Many times people overlook the importance of the defensive side of the ball,” he told SNY.tv. “Kassoum has made it respectable for the next generation of high school/ AAU guys to enjoy specializing on the defensive side of the ball as well as being a formidable offensive player. Needless to say, he’s one of the better players in the country.”

 

Meantime, a source close to Yakwe said he is targeting a decision by the end of July on what he will do next year. Yakwe could end up on a college campus in 2015 or attend prep school for one season. The source said they are “leaning toward prep” for 2015-16, with Yakwe going to college beginning in 2016.

St. John’s, Oregon, Indiana, Washington and Kansas are working “hard to get him,” and Maryland is “getting involved as well,” the source said.

 

Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress.com was at the Our Savior New American-Linden game in February and came away impressed by Yakwe’s athleticism.

“He’s a freak athlete,” Givony said. “He guards, he rebounds, he blocks shots. He has an amazing body with a long wingspan. There are not many guys in college with those physical attributes. If he develops a reliable corner 3, he is going to be an NBA player.”

[rebelhoosier848891 9,588]

One to watch. I like the idea of a defense-first minded player to add to the mix!

[hoosierpap 14,300]

Andrew Slater (@ASlater247) 1:26 PM
6'8" Kassoum Yakwe'16 @KassoumYakwe , who lead the EYBL in blocks, has been offered by Maryland, per source. #Terps

[WayneFleekHoosier 46,725]

We need 4-6 2016s. Better pop the cork with someone soon.

[hoosierpap 14,300]

Pap, we gonna land this guy?

There isn't anything to suggest that at this point I don't think. If IU somehow pulled him for 2015 it would be a significant addition but looking like he could go prep

[hoosierpap 14,300]

Alex Bozich (@insidethehall) 7/10/15 12:00 PM
I'm told Tom Crean currently watching BABC (Bruce Brown) vs. PSA Cardinals (Kassoum Yakwe) at the Peach Jam. #iubb

[hoosierpap 14,300]

Yakwe averaged something like 12 rbs and 6 blocks through Peach Jam. If he reclassifies i'm told IU will put a full court press on him. Decision may run close to the beginning of the semester, much like Holt, but Yakwe is an instant impact guy on the defensive end.

[Stuhoo 75,560]

A late addition that makes perfect sense. Exactly why an open spot can be extremely valuable. 

 

Learns during his freshman year, and then becomes a rotation regular by his sophomore year.

[WayneFleekHoosier 46,725]

This would be a move I'd fully support.

*sidenote- if we get Yakwe, I predict it leads to an offseason transfer next year directly. Lots of clutter at the 4 spot. Depends on who wins out.

[Josh 12,360]

Are we recruiting both Yakwe and De'ron Davis for the same position?  Maybe if one pops for IU the other does not?

[bnkepner 1,509]

Are we recruiting both Yakwe and De'ron Davis for the same position?  Maybe if one pops for IU the other does not?

They are probably both  power forwards but have two different games. De'ron Davis is more of a stretch 4 and has a highly developed offensive game. Yakwe is not as polished on offense. From all the clips and games on youtube that I've watched he gets most of his buckets in transition, jump shots at the top of the key, and buckets off the pick n roll. Yakwe's strength is his defense. De'ron Davis on the other hand is one of the best stretch 4's in his class. He has the ability to play with his back to the basket as well as create off the dribble. So if you had to say which position they both play, it would be the 4, but they are completely different ball players. 

[ccgeneral 38,084]

‏@AdamZagoria: 2016 F @KassoumYakwe will take an official to St. John's Aug. 13-15, source tells @SNYtv. May reclass to 2015 or prep.

[biteoftheapple 4,115]

Mullins really is working hard to recruit. He has the press on all these New England kids.

[hoosierpap 14,300]

‏@AdamZagoria: 2016 F @KassoumYakwe will take an official to St. John's Aug. 13-15, source tells @SNYtv. May reclass to 2015 or prep.

Have to imagine they're the favorite

[ccgeneral 38,084]

Have to imagine they're the favorite

Might be a good thing. NCAA checking out Our Savior New American School. Cheick Diallo not cleared @ Kansas and Damion Wilson not cleared @ Pitt. Others could be affected to.

[rebelhoosier848891 9,588]

Good find CC. I've been watching this one too.  May be some recruiting/eligibility issues brewing on this one.  Pass for now.