Moustapha Diagne, a 6-foot-9, 245-pound center from Pope John XIII, will visit Syracuse Feb. 1 for the Duke game, coach Jason Hasson told SNY.tv.
“We haven’t decided if it’s going to be official or unofficial yet,” said Hasson, whose team plays St. Anthony Sunday in the Hoop Group Tip-Off Showcase at West Orange High School.
Syracuse head man Jim Boeheim watched Diagne at Pope John in September, and the staff is due “back through in the next week or so,” Hasson said.
Syracuse just landed a pledge from 2015 Trenton Catholic guard Malachi Richardson, and has a tradition of landing top players from New Jersey, including current freshmen Tyler Ennis and Tyler Roberson.
Hasson said Syracuse and Rutgers were currently working “the hardest to get [Diagne].”
“[Rutgers] coach [Eddie] Jordan was at a scrimmage Monday night at Gill [St. Bernard’s],” Hasson said.
Diagne holds offers from Villanova, Memphis, Penn State, St. John’s, Cincinnati, UConn, Seton Hall, West Virginia, Temple, Cleveland State, Oregon State, Iona, Manhattan, La Salle and Rhode Island.
He has high interest from Kansas, Ohio State, Florida, Pitt, Illinois, Marquette, UCLA and Minnesota.
“He’s a very physical inside presence on both ends of the court,” Hasson said. “Defensively, he is a very good shot-blocker and great trapper. He can guard perimeter guy as well. On offense he has hooks with both hands and great power game. He has expanded his game from last year to include face-up moves from the elbows and 3-point shooting range. His fitness and intensity allow him to play with a high motor for the entire game.”
