Big man out of Senegal intrigues
U of M now looking at 6-10 Gueye in post
When 6-10 Abdoulaye Gueye arrived in Birmingham from Senegal last October, his coach at Central Park Christian noticed some bad habits.
“He was hesitant,” Donavan Broadnax said. “If we were running a set, you’d throw it to him, and he’d be hesitant to make the next pass. … But the way he is, as big and athletic as he is, you could tell he was much better than the guys he was playing against in Senegal.”
Those habits, after a season at the school, have mostly gone away. And now college coaches, including Josh Pastner of the University of Memphis, are starting to notice.
Gueye, whom Broadnax describes as “super skilled,” has emerged as a post-man target for the Tigers as the first July evaluation period (July 10-14) approaches. The Tigers, along with Auburn, Mississippi State, Texas A&M, Tennessee, Cal and others are heavily involved with the Senegal native.
Last year, his first year playing in the United States, the 220-pound Gueye averaged 11 points, eight rebounds, and three blocks.
“He can put it on the floor, bring it up if you want him to, and he’s got a back-to-the-basket game,” Broadnax said. “He blocks shots, rebounds, and runs the floor like a deer. He’s very competitive and he’s got a high motor.
Gueye’s willingness to play hard, more than likely, is what intrigues Pastner, who values effort and high motors. The Tigers are recruiting Gueye, along with a slew of other big men, as part of what is shaping up to be a second straight large recruiting class. With five seniors graduating, Pastner could sign up to six players for the 2014-15 season.
Broadnax, who has dealt with Pastner previously in the recruiting of former Auburn players Willie Kouassi and Bernard Morena, said he’s always been optimistic about Memphis under the fifthyear coach.
“It’s just the pedigree he comes from,” Broadnax
said. “Lute Olson is as good as it gets as far as coaches go. (Pastner) brings that mindset and energy from Arizona, and that’s what we need in the South, because we’re dominated by football.”
Gueye said his first exposure to the U of M came last year when the Tigers played UAB at Bartow Arena in Birmingham.
“They play good,” Gueye said. “I like it. I know (Pastner), he’s very good. He’s a nice coach.”
Gueye is unranked on the most popular scouting services, but that could change as soon as this month.
Because he came to America after last summer’s AAU season had concluded, many college coaches and evaluators hadn’t gotten the chance to see Gueye. That won’t be the case for much longer.
“He got that first offer from Auburn, and he was excited,” Broadnax said. “He came from another country, so his expectations (of America) are high.
“Once (the offers) are put in your face like that, it becomes more of a reality. I don’t think he can comprehend how big it’ll get, because I’m foreseeing it to be huge for him.”