Meet Northwest Catholic’s center of attention
From Mali to Connecticut, sophomore Diakite drawing national interest
WEST HARTFORD — The intersection of the internet and young foreign basketball players is a fascinating place. Information can be, ah, spotty.
Take Badara Diakite.
He is listed at 6-8. He is listed at 6-9. He is listed at 6-10.
Which one should I write down, Badara? You can’t be all three.
“You can write 6-9,” the Northwestern Catholic High sophomore said, breaking into a laugh. “Yeah, 6-9.”
By the time Donovan Clingan graduated from Bristol Central last spring we knew everything about him, from his friends in Little League to what he ate for breakfast.
The 7-footer was that once in a generation state high school player who not only was ranked among the top recruits in the nation, but also stayed home to play. There would be no prep school. There would be a CIAC state title and a moving tribute to his late mom, who also starred at Bristol Central. Choosing to play at UConn assured there would be much media focus.
Clingan handled it all. And for the doubters, he has immediately made an impact on the No. 2 ranked college team in the nation.
On the Mohegan Sun floor after Bristol Central had just beaten Northwest Catholic, 56-36, last March for the state title, Northwest coach John Mirabello told Clingan, “Thanks for staying. It meant so much to Connecticut.”
“What a testament to the kids who love being with their friends in high school and still get big-time basketball,” Mirabello said. “It’s such a good story. I’m so happy for him.”
“I’m not surprised Donovan has played so well,” Diakite, 17, said. “He has great impact on the defensive side. On the offensive side, he is so difficult to guard.”
So here we have a kid from Mali playing in his second year at a CIAC Catholic school in West Hartford. Not Putnam Science. Not St. Thomas More. Not South Kent. A CCC team. Clingan was never rated as high as Diakite in his high school class. Diakite is not built like Clin