Bourama Sidibe is headed to Syracuse.
The 6-foot-10 native of Mali committed to the Orange on Monday at St. Benedict’s Prep after also considering Oklahoma State, Texas Tech and Seton Hall.
“I’m very excited for Bourama,” St. Benedict’s coach Mark Taylor said. “He has earned it. He’s worked very hard and has made tremendous improvement and development over the past three years. Not many people have Bourama’s length, athleticism and timing. He is a game-changer and fits Syracuse’s style like a glove.”
Sidibe took an official visit to Syracuse two weekends ago and associate head coach Mike Hopkins then visited Sidibe at St. Benedict’s, the school that also produced former Orange point guard Tyler Ennis.
“They love me,” Sidibe said of Syracuse.
“Mike Hopkins absolutely loves him. He said Bourama is a cross between Jerami Grant and Tyler Roberson,” Taylor said of two Syracuse forwards. “Bourama in many ways is better, he is longer and has a better shot. When he fills out, look out.”
Sidibe averaged approximately 13 points and 11 rebounds last season at St. Benedict’s, when the Gray Bees went 35-2.
Syracuse last week missed out on 6-10 Oak Hill forward Billy Preston, who chose Kansas, and on Saturday came up short for 6-foot Neumann Goretti point guard Quade Green, who picked Kentucky after Syracuse had recruited him for two years.
Sidibe becomes their second commit in 2017 along with Canadian small forward Oshae Brissett.
The Orange remain in the mix for 7-footer Mohamed Bamba and wings Jordan Tucker and Hamidou Diallo, who are expected to sign in the spring. Head coach Jim Boeheim saw Diallo Saturday night at the National Prep Showcase in New Haven.
The Big Man has Chosen. @StBenedictsNJ @WeR1Basketball . Congrats to Bourama Sidibe on his college pick pic.twitter.com/ziHLUTZ0Ze
— Krossover TV (@krossovertv) November 21, 2016
(Photo: AP)
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