3-star PF Mamadou Diarra commits to UConn

UConn can wait - well, one more year anyway.

Even though Mamadou Diarra plans to spend a post-graduate year at Woodstock Academy, the 6-foot-8 power forward announced Friday morning he plans to attend UConn as part of the Huskies' Class of 2016.

"Deep down inside I always really knew I wanted to go there," said Diarra, who called Will Wade prior to his press conference to let the VCU coach know he was going to become a Husky. "I just wanted to make sure it was the right decision. At VCU, I had a good relationship with their coach, too, and I just wanted to make sure the decision I was making was the right decision."

Diarra's stock rose late with the Huskies, who originally started recruiting his teammate, 6-foot-6 guard Hamidou Diallo, at Putnam Science Academy. Assistant coach Glen Miller, who handles the UConn big men, was the first to see Diarra play and bring the three-star recruit to the attention of head coach Kevin Ollie.

Ironically, a former UConn assistant, Quinnipiac head coach Tom Moore, was one of the first to discover Diarra and tried to sign him for the Class of 2015 before his stock took off. Under Moore, the Bobcats have shown a knack for developing productive frontcourt players at the mid-major level.

The Huskies' interest in Diarra intensified in late March after he visited UConn and took part in pick-up games with several current players, including junior center Amida Brimah.

"Yeah (we talked a lot)," Diarra said. "We're both bigs, so I'm going to be at his side. And I talked to coach Ollie a lot personally and the experience I had with him was great."

Diarra, who is from New York City along with Diallo, arrived at Putnam two years ago to play for coach Tom Espinosa. However, he sat most of the first season with a deep, talented roster already in place and used a strong off-season to improve his game.

After a slow start this past season, Diarra shined during the second half, averaging 9.9 points and 7.5 rebounds for a program that won 27 games and went to the national tournament.

"I'm really hard on him, but I'm proud of him today," Espinosa said, who noted Diarra's mental confidence improved later in the season.

In addition to making major strides on the court, Diarra has turned into a solid student at Putnam Science Academy, where he is scheduled to graduate on Saturday.

Diarra flirted briefly with being part of the Class of 2015 but decided another year of prep school was the better option to allow him to work on his offensive skills.

"I think he knows he needs to get better," Espinosa said. "He's maturing a lot, he's a smart guy. He scores by dunks, putbacks, and free-throws - that's about it.

"He needs to develop his game, and he knows that, but physically he's gifted and I think he's turned the corner up there, he's mentally tough. This is a big year for him to improve his skill work."

Diarra is the first player to commit to UConn's Class of 2016. The Huskies will lose two big men after the 2015-16 season in center Phil Nolan and Shonn Miller, who a one-year transfer from Cornell.