More on UConn Basketball landing three-star big man Youssouf Singare
As a high horsepower, fluidly athletic 7-foot Center and crude shot-blocking presence, Class of 2023 Our Savior Lutheran Center Youssouf Singare had his list whittled down to UConn, Providence, and Seton Hall.
On Wednesday night, Singare committed to a UConn program which continues to net nationally ranked recruits with this star-spangled '23 class.
New York City product and UConn assistant coach Kimani Young was instrumental in landing Singare, who has added polish to his offensive game following an impressive summer with the New Heights Lightning. A transfer via Upper Room Christian on Long Island, Singare's instinctive shot-blocking and emergence as a legitimate interior scoring threat has allowed Peter Wehye's OSL team to reload.
"He's the ultimate rim protector," OSL assistant coach Malcolm Pope said of Singare.
"He's a high energy leader who leads by example and vocally. He runs the floor very hard, has great hands, finishes above the rim, and can hit the 15-footer."
Singare's relationship with UConn's Adama Sanogo, a 6-foot-9 240-pound forward who averaged 14.8 points, 8.8 boards, and 1.9 blocks last season helped steer him to Storrs, Conn. Like Singare, Sanogo is from Mali, Africa originally and played his high school basketball in the Metro area at The Patrick School (NJ).
As a rim runner with college-ready physicality at 7-foot and 210 pounds, Singare has the build to withstand life in the black-and-blue marked Big East. He's shown agility and ferocity in the catch-and-dunk game. With OSL bidding adieu to 2022 graduate Silas Sunday, a 7-foot, 250-pound behemoth now at Iona under Rick Pitino, Singare will fill the void in the middle and ultimately steer the driving lanes clear as a net-sealing defensive backbone. On the AAU circuit and in some of New York City's notable outdoor proving grounds this summer, Singare showed tremendous strides as an offensive threat.
He's materialized as a one dribble, attack the rim threat. After appearing raw when he was still getting acclimated to the pace of the game, Singare is now a guy who can finish lobs and come off the pick and roll and get above the rim.
The three-star center accumulated a handful of offers. While he chose the Huskies over the aforementioned finalists in Seton Hall and Providence, Singare had accumulated offers from the likes of St. John's, Iona, Saint Louis, Pepperdine, Charlotte, and others.
It's clear that Sanogo's influence played a role in Singare's decision.
“Yeah, Sanogo is my guy, he’s my guy,” Singare explained. “He’s my brother. He told me UConn is a great school, if you come here you’re going to have every opportunity you want to succeed."
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