By ADAM ZAGORIA
Juniors Adama Sanogo and Bretner Mutombo will debut for The Patrick School (N.J.) on Saturday at the Hoophall Classic against IMG Academy (FL), while Jonathan Kuminga remains doubtful with an ankle injury, coach Chris Chavannes told ZAGSBLOG.
Sanogo and Mutombo have sat out the state-mandated 30 days per NJSIAA rules.
Without all three players, the Celtics beat Auburn commit Sharife Cooper and McEachern (GA), 75-72, Friday night East Orange, N.J. Cooper scored 37 points in the loss, while Zarique Nutter paced the Celtics with 25 and Noah Farrakhan had 17.
Patrick School holds off McCeachern GA 75-72 in wild one. Zarique Nutter 25. Sharife Cooper 37 in brilliant performance for McCearchern pic.twitter.com/jiwaCKR5uB
— NJ Hoops (@NJHoops) January 18, 2020
The 6-foot-8 Kuminga and the 6-10 Sanogo transferred to the Hillside, N.J. school from Our Savior New American on Long Island, while the 6-11 Mutombo transferred from Lincoln Academy (GA).
Kuminga became eligible to play beginning in the Kyrie Irving Invitational at Barclays Center on Dec. 23 and scored 20 points in a win over rival Roselle Catholic.
More @JonathanKuming6 highlights via the @YESNetwork pic.twitter.com/p923rpb7Jd
— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) December 24, 2019
He then injured his ankle in a Jan. 3 loss to Sierra Canyon (CA) on ESPN2 and hasn’t played since while wearing a boot.
A native of the Congo, Kuminga is the No. 1 prospect in the Class of 2021, and is a projected Top 10-pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, per ESPN.com.
He is being recruited by Duke, Kentucky, Auburn and Texas Tech, among others.
Sanogo, originally from Mali, is ranked the No. 10 center in the Class of 2021 per 247Sports.com and holds offers from Seton Hall, UConn, Xavier, Oregon, TCU and Marquette, among others.
Mutombo is ranked the No. 17 center in the Class of 2021 and holds offers from TCU, Penn State and Georgia, among others.
This story has been updated.
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