Elevate Hoops interviews 2018 commit Boubacar Diakite

Yes, last night featured another road blowout, a rough game where Marquette was scorching hot early behind their fourth option shooter.

So let’s take a moment and look to the future, and an interview with the already-committed 2018 forward Boubacar Diakite, a forward from Our Savior New American.

He has a close relationship with Kassoum Yakwe - both Yakwe and Diakite are originally from Mali, and Diakite played on the country’s Under-18 team this year in FIBA play.

Julius Kim from Elevate Hoops got some face time with the 6’8” wing, who talked about his game, with some interesting comments. Diakite considers himself more of a guard despite his height, and played as a guard for Mali.

But most interesting is how, in a business that is about relation ships, the Red Storm staff sold him on the concept of the collective under Chris Mullin:

I... like the way the coaches treat the players and how everybody is equal there and it’s not just a team, it’s a family… so I really like and appreciate that. When they recruited me, I spoke with the coaches and my friend Kassoum and he would tell me a lot about the program.

He talks more about the players on the current team he has forged relationships with.

And of slightly less interest but for those curious about his game, who he admires:

I want to hustle like Russell Westbrook; I love the way that Paul George plays because of his style, my friend, Cheick Diallo, who is like a brother to me, and LeBron James because he does everything.