While there’s always pressure following the No. 1 overall pick, Banchero didn’t seem to feel any of it. But even considering Banchero’s brilliant Summer League performances, Coach Jamahl Mosely wanted to pump the breaks on any Superman talk concerning his potential franchise cornerstone.

The second-year coach says he wants to take as much pressure off Banchero’s shoulders as possible and will focus on a holistic, by-committee approach with the team, even if Banchero may already be geared to be the franchise’s next superstar.

“I really believe that we’re going to do it by committee, honestly,” Mosley told ESPN’s Nick Friedell. “Look at the Warriors. Look at Milwaukee; you look at Memphis. There’s something about the committee in which they do it. One person will speak at times, but there’s other guys holding each one accountable. There’s one guy that will speak up and do it a different way, work in a different way. 

And while Mosely is confident his players are buying into the system, Bachero’s teammates can’t help but marvel at the talent, and potential the 19-year-old possesses. In practicing with Banchero, point guard Cole Anthony understands the Seattle native can’t do everything for the team but knows he’ll play an integral part in Orlando’s future. 

“I’ve been in the gym with [Banchero] a little bit already, seeing him out here, just doing what he does,” Anthony said to ESPN. “He’s going to help us a lot. And now I feel like we can really start building something.”

“That kid is so talented,” Anthony went on to say. “He loves the game. He works hard, and I think — he’s going to be really good.”

With a young group of players including Banchero, Anthony, Mo Bamba, Wendell Carter Jr., Franz, Mo Wagner, and R.J. Hampton, the 2022 ACC Player of the Year will have to not only focus on his individual play but also on his fit on a young roster. And even though he was a consensus five-star recruit out of high school and attended arguably the most prominent basketball university in the country, Banchero admits he’s still adjusting to the spotlight of the NBA.

“A year and a half ago, I was a high schooler,” Banchero said. “I wasn’t used to that. Now it’s different.”

But he’s not shying away from the moment, and with Mosley’s approach and the support from his vets, Banchero says he’s ready for his time in the spotlight. He dominated at Duke, averaging 17.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game on 48 percent shooting from the field, and he looks to do the same in the League.

“It’s just added intensity, added pressure, when the whole crowd’s clapping and standing up when you have the ball,” Banchero said. “It’s just stuff you dream of, in the arena where the whole crowd’s eyes are on you. You just want that moment. That’s just what I live for.”

The post Excitement Building around Paolo Banchero and the Orlando Magic’s Young Core appeared first on SLAM.

Bamba came out the gates scorching hot, exploding in the first half for 28 of his 32 points while simultaneously hitting a career-high seven threes in just 18 minutes played. The former 6th overall pick in the 2018 draft grabbed four rebounds and swatted away three shots while shooting 12-for-15 from the field in the game.

Career high night in the 1st half. Congrats Mo (via @NBA) pic.twitter.com/wHZ7LkHmUh

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) January 20, 2022

Bamba, whose previous career-high was 22, shot 7-for-8 from deep before fouling out of the game midway through the fourth quarter.

“I credit it all to my teammates. They were able to find me in different situations – whether it was pindowns, or trail threes, just different types of action. They really just embraced it. They embraced me. Without them, I don’t think I would have a career-high,” Bamba said postgame.

The Magic and Bamba will be back home in Orlando Friday night to face the Los Angeles Lakers.

The post Mo Bamba Records Most Threes Made in a Game By a Center in Magic History appeared first on SLAM.

Bamba, already one of the top shot blockers in the NBA, has expanded his game across the board with career-high averages of 10.7 points, 9.1 rebounds, 2.2 blocks, and 1.0 steals per game.

“I want to contribute it to our coaches.” Bamba told Michael Scott of Hoopshype about his growth this year, “They gave me an opportunity to get out there and play in what I can offer to the game and how I can make winning plays. It’s been listening to them, and their vision for me, and the freedom they give me offensively and defensively to go challenge shots is the biggest thing.

First-year Magic Coach Jamahl Moseley also discussed Bamba’s continuing progress with Hoops Hype.

“I think his ceiling is beyond high,” Coach Jamahl Moseley told HoopsHype. “If he continues to dominate the simple things and control what he can control, which he has been doing lately, I think the ceiling is really extremely high for him.”

Bamba had to overcome a lot of obstacles in the first three years of his career. Being buried in the rotation behind an All-Star in Nikola Vucevic and Khem Birch with former Coach Steve Clifford trying to make the playoffs left Bamba little opportunity to show what he could do. Injuries and a bout with COVID-19 did not help matters either.

With a change of philosophy in Orlando which led to the departures of Vucevic, Birch, and Clifford, Bamba has plenty of opportunities to succeed with a rebuilding team. A philosophy that he is excited to be a part of.

“I think the sky’s the limit for this young group,” Bamba said per HoopsHype. “We have a lot of talent, and we have a lot of depth in every position. I’m excited to be a part of this. I’m excited to wear Orlando across my chest. I’m just focusing on the now and the moment.”

The Orlando Magic (4-14) return to the court Wednesday to take on the Charlotte Hornets (11-8).

The post Mo Bamba Has Uncertain Future But He Is ‘Focusing On the Now and the Moment’ appeared first on SLAM.

Bamba has struggled with conditioning since he returned to action and his playing time in the bubble has been limited. Bamba played just north of 10 minutes in the first and second games of the restart.

While Bamba hasn’t been a focal point of the team’s rotation at Disney World, he’s an imposing element of the team’s defense as they embark on a first-round playoff series with the Milwaukee Bucks.

The premature shelving brings to an end the big man’s sophomore campaign, one in which he averaged 5.4 points and 4.9 rebounds per game.

Bamba was diagnosed with COVID-19 in June. He’s the 30th known NBA player to have dealt with the virus and one of several with lingering symptoms.

The post Mo Bamba Leaves Bubble to Undergo Post-COVID-19 Evaluation appeared first on SLAM.

Bamba, 21, was Orlando’s first-round pick (sixth overall) in the 2018 NBA Draft. The New York product only suited in 47 games for the Magic last season as a fractured tibia sidelined him for most of the second half.

While he was active, Bamba showed potential on both sides of the ball, averaging 6.2 points per game, 5.0 rebounds per game and swatted away 1.4 shot attempts per contest. Bamba’s cap hit for the 2020/21 season is $5,969,040, giving the Magic the opportunity to keep a promising player for a reasonable rate.

After re-signing center Nikola Vucevic earlier this offseason, the Magic kept the All-Star in Orlando long-term. Given this, it’s unlikely that Bamba sees significant time as a starter and will likely be eased into action after the injury last season.

Orlando also exercised rookie scale options on Jonathan Isaac and former first overall pick Markelle Fultz.

Related: Magic pick up fourth-year team option on Markelle Fultz
Related: Magic exercise fourth-year option for Jonathan Isaac

The post Orlando Magic Exercise 2020-21 Option On Mo Bamba appeared first on SLAM.

Orlando Magic rookie center Mo Bamba will miss significant time with a stress fracture in his lower left leg, league sources tell ESPN. For now, there's no expectation that he will need surgery.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 5, 2019

Through 47 games this season, Bamba is averaging 6.2 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in 16.3 minutes.

RELATED
Report: Mo Bamba Posts Sprint Time Faster Than John Wall, Russell Westbrook

The post Report: Mo Bamba Will Miss Significant Time with a Stress Fracture in Left Leg appeared first on SLAM.

Kyle Kuzma, last year’s All-Drip Rookie of the Year, made an appearance in the “Best of the Rest” with All-Drip Second Team member and #DadDrip king LeBron James.

The Washington Wizards (John Wall, Kelly Oubre Jr., Green) and the Los Angeles Lakers (James, Kuzma, Michael Beasley) had the most players on this week’s Fits of the Week, with each squad having three representatives.

—

To keep up with the NBA’s Survival of the Fitted, follow @LeagueFits on Instagram 

The post Fits of the Week: Russell Westbrook is Making Overalls Cool Again 🌊 appeared first on SLAM.

(The runs are being hosted by trainer Drew Hanlen in L.A., and feature Jayson Tatum, Taurean Prince, Jordan Clarkson and Meyers Leonard among others.)

Joel Embiid welcomed Mo Bamba "to the f—-ing league" in a pick-up basketball game.

: @_JohnGonz pic.twitter.com/LCjW6sdhDe

— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) June 28, 2018

Embiid enjoys nothing more than “kicking people’s asses,” and recently described how he nearly brought Sixers teammate T.J. McConnell to tears during a video game drubbing.

Per Deadspin (via “Hot Ones”):

“I’m actually really good at everything I do, especially video game related,” Embiid said.

“I was beating the shit out of him. He was about to cry. And I was enjoying it, that’s what I like doing. I like kicking people’s asses and literally being in their faces. Letting them know that they suck. That they’re trash. And that I’m better than them. Even on the court, he just gets mad about anything. I’m like, ‘Dude, just calm down.’ That day, it wasn’t a good day for him. It was really bad, but I could understand his frustration because I’m that good.”

The post Joel Embiid Dunks on Mo Bamba in Pickup Game appeared first on SLAM.

Ahead of the 2018 draft, some of the top prospects, including Atlanta’s Trae Young and Orlando’s Mo Bamba, dropped by the SLAM Suite and discussed sliding in the DMs. Peep the video above!

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NBA Rookies Reveal Their Favorite Emoji

The post Trae Young, Mo Bamba, 2018 Rookies Talk Sliding in the DMs appeared first on SLAM.

Members of the Knicks organization met in-person with Texas’ Mohamed Bamba in New York today, team sources told ESPN. The meeting is an indication that the Knicks are considering trading up from the No. 9 pick. Bamba is projected as the fifth pick in ESPN’s latest mock draft.

— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) June 20, 2018

Jonathan Givony of ESPN further reports that New York is exploring the option of trading up to the No. 4 pick:

Ian’s report is accurate. The Knicks are reportedly exploring the option of trading up to the #4 spot in the draft, currently owned by Memphis. The Grizzlies have been adamant about shedding Chandler Parsons’ contract in any deal. https://t.co/z4Yp0w6hfq

— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) June 20, 2018

Bamba averaged 12.9 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 3.7 blocks per game in his freshman season at Texas.

The draft is Thursday night at the Barclays Center.

RELATED
Report: Mo Bamba Posts Sprint Time Faster Than John Wall, Russell Westbrook

The post Report: Knicks Met with Texas’ Mo Bamba, Exploring Trading Up in the Draft appeared first on SLAM.

“That’s what the first practice was,” Kevin Garnett tells SLAM.

He was 19 years old, only a few months removed from his high school graduation. As the first player to make the leap from the preps to the pros in two decades, he made for an easy target. Even teammates wanted to send a message.

This is the NBA. Let’s see if you truly belong here.

They hit the rook with hard, illegal screens. They were extra physical on the low post. They blew him up on box outs.

Garnett wasn’t going to let that “dumb sh*t” fly. He was involved in four different fist fights on that first day alone.

“I don’t know what [my teammates] thought,” he says. “I wasn’t going to back down. I wanted everybody to know that I was there and I wasn’t going anywhere. If I had to fight everybody in the room, coaches included, I wanted everybody to make a line right here, and one at a time, step up. That’s what I was on”

When it came time for sprints, Garnett outran everyone, even the guards. It was his way of setting the tone.

“That was the only option,” he maintains.

The practice ended with KG sprawled out on the court, gasping for air. Minnesota would be back at the facility in a few hours for another practice.

“He was laying on the ground. He had given everything,” Kevin McHale, the general manager for the Wolves back then, remembers. “He’s laying down, he’s just breathing heavy. I go, you know we go again at five. He says, I know, I know, I know. I’m thinking, OK, there’s no way this kid is going to be able to put that much energy into tonight’s practice.”

But McHale didn’t know Garnett. Not yet.

“He did the same exact thing that night – Laying on the ground after that practice. He did the same thing the next morning, and the next night while we had two-a-days,” McHale recalls. “I’ve seen guys work really hard, I’ve never seen anybody work harder.”

I ask Garnett today: What kept you going? How did you do it?

There’s a brief pause.

And then his voice excitedly rises.

“F*cking pride.”

—

23 years later, Garnett is focused on helping the next generation prepare for their first taste of the NBA. He has been training top prospects Mo Bamba and Jaren Jackson Jr as part of a new Players Only Film series called NEXT UP, modeled after Area 21, developed by NBA Digital and produced exclusively for Facebook Watch by Turner and the NBA. Two episodes – one on Mo and one on Jaren – are airing this week.

Garnett knows firsthand how difficult the transition to the League can be. When he traveled to Toronto for the 1995 Draft, it was a whole different world.

“Can you imagine coming from the West side of Chicago straight to Toronto, Canada?” he laughs.  “It felt like I was in France or something, I didn’t know what the hell was going on.”

Soon the teen phenom was walking across the stage to shake the commissioner’s hand and off to begin a completely new life in Minnesota. At 19, he had to learn about managing time and money, maintaining structure amid a grueling travel schedule, and fulfilling all the duties — small and large — involved with being a rook. Not to mention meeting the challenge on the floor.

“This ain’t something where someone just comes up to you and gives you a speech or someone drops off a box or someone gives you a folder and papers and says, Hey, this is how you do it in the League. It’s not like that,” he explains.

KG attacked this unfamiliar experience the only way he knew how — by going harder than everyone else and committing himself to the game. He kept up the intensity in the gym and constantly soaked up tips from the veterans around him – guys like Sam Mitchell, Terry Porter, and Isaiah Rider.

It’s the same “OG” relationship, as he calls it, that Garnett is trying to establish with Bamba and Jackson Jr. He believes it to be a lost art in today’s NBA.

Designing and handling their workouts, Garnett’s approach has been to keep things positive.

“The workouts are to build you, not to demean you or destroy you,” he explains. “I’m hard on you, but I’m also pushing you to be the best you can be during the 45 minutes.”

Skill work is pointed and meticulous. Bamba, a seven-foot center out of Texas with an unreal 7-10 wingspan, has been concentrated on honing his offensive abilities. Jackson Jr., a 6-11 versatile forward from Michigan State, wants to strengthen his defense in preparation for a league that increasingly leans towards “small ball.”

“It’s been crazy [working with KG]. He’s The Ticket,” says Jackson, smiling. “At first you’re like, Oh my god, that’s KG, that’s the dude I looked up to.

“His intensity is unreal. He explains everything in full detail. He wants you to understand what he’s saying, and really grasp it.”

For Garnett, the process has been rewarding, seeing in both players the same ambition he had upon entering the NBA. KG takes care to also mentor the guys on what it’s like to be a rookie, how to interact with your teammates, how to adjust to the lifestyle and more.

Most of all, of course, Garnett has tried to pass on the attitude.

The one that left him collapsed on the floor every day after practice. The one that sparked four early fist fights. The one that had him working while others were out having fun. The one that brought him an MVP trophy and an NBA title.

You know, this one:

“My advice to those guys was be who you are. Don’t be afraid to learn something, don’t be afraid to mess up,” he says. “If you mess up, it’s okay. Mess up with passion, though. Mess up doing it as hard as you can do it. Let these motherfu**ers know your name. You got a chance to dunk, dunk on his ass! F*ck him! Step on this motherfu**er. F*ck that. F*ck him. That’s the attitude I’m giving them… When we hit this floor, and this ball is dribbling, f*ck you. That’s the way you got to play. If not, you’re the one being stepped on.”

And that doesn’t fly with Garnett. Never did.

Additional episodes of “Next Up” will be centered on Thursday’s Draft and the NBA Summer League. 

—

Alex Squadron is an Associate News Editor at SLAM. Follow him on Twitter @asquad510.

Photos via Getty Images.

The post Kevin Garnett is Guiding the Next Generation of the NBA appeared first on SLAM.

Among the known invitations: Arizona’s DeAndre Ayton, Duke’s Marvin Bagley III, Michigan State’s Jaren Jackson Jr., Texas’ Mo Bamba, Alabama’s Collin Sexton, Oklahoma’s Trae Young, Duke’s Wendell Carter Jr., Missouri’s Michael Porter Jr., Villanova’s Mikal Bridges, Kentucky’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Michigan State’s Miles Bridges, Kentucky’s Kevin Knox, Texas A&M’s Robert Williams, Miami’s Lonnie Walker, Villanova’s Donte DiVincenzo, Texas Tech’s Zhaire Smith, Boston College’s Jerome Robinson, Boise State’s Chandler Hutchison and UCLA’s Aaron Holiday.

No non-collegiate prospect made the cut this year, as projected top pick Luka Doncic won’t be in attendance due to his Real Madrid season.

The green room is a staging area near the podium where players wait with their families to be selected.

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The post Peep the Invite List for the 2018 NBA Draft Green Room 👀 appeared first on SLAM.

As pointed out by Jordan Schultz, Bamba’s time is faster than a handful of NBA All-Star guards that have made a name for themselves off of their quickness: Russell Westbrook (3.08), Dwyane Wade (3.08), James Harden (3.13), John Wall (3.14), Kemba Walker (3.16) and Victor Oladipo (3.25).

Had Bamba run during the NBA Draft Combine, his time would’ve tied with Georgia Tech guard Josh Okogie for the quickest of players to declare for this year’s draft.

Bamba, a 6-11 center with a 7-10 wingspan, averaged 12.9 points, 10.5 rebounds and 3.7 blocks per game during his lone season at Texas.

RELATED: Celtics Interested In Mo Bamba, Could Move Up In Draft

The post Report: Mo Bamba Posts Sprint Time Faster Than John Wall, Russell Westbrook ⚡️ appeared first on SLAM.

According to Sean Deveney of the Sporting News, the Celtics have expressed interest in Bamba:

Sources told Sporting News that Boston has expressed interest in Bamba, including interviewing him at the Chicago pre-draft combine two weeks ago. Bamba measured in with a record wingspan of 7-10 in Chicago, reinforcing his status as the most ready-made rim protector in the draft.

In order to land Bamba, Boston would need to move up in the draft. The big man out of Texas is unlikely to slide past the Magic at the No. 6 spot, per Deveney. But Celtics’ team president Danny Ainge has several assets to work with, including young talent, the No. 27 pick this year and possibly three first round picks in 2019.

Both the Grizzlies (selecting fourth) and the Mavericks (selecting fifth) are open to deals, reports Deveney.

Bamba averaged 12.9 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 3.7 blocks per game in his sole season with the Longhorns.

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NBA Exec: Bamba May Have Higher Upside Than Ayton

The post Report: Celtics Interested In Mo Bamba, Could Move Up In Draft appeared first on SLAM.

Notable prospects not attending include DeAndre Ayton and Luka Doncic, who are both vying to be the No. 1 overall pick, as well as Texas A&M center Robert Williams. Doncic is currently playing in the EuroLeague playoffs.

The combine will be held in Chicago from May 16-20.

Here’s the complete list, via Yahoo:

Rawle Alkins

Grayson Allen

Kostas Antetokounmpo

Udoka Azubuike

Marvin Bagley III

Mohamed Bamba

Jaylen Barford

Keita Bates-Diop

Tyus Battle

Brian Bowen II

Mikal Bridges

Miles Bridges

Bruce Brown Jr.

Troy Brown Jr.

Jalen Brunson

Tony Carr

Jevon Carter

Wendell Carter

Hamidou Diallo

Donte DiVincenzo

Trevon Duval

Jacob Evans

Bruno Fernando

Melvin Frazier Jr.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Devonte Graham

Devon Hall

Jaylen Hands

Kevin Hervey

Aaron Holiday

Kevin Huerter

Chandler Hutchison

Jaren Jackson Jr.

Justin Jackson

Alize Johnson

George King

Kevin Knox

Sagaba Konate

Caleb Martin

Cody Martin

Yante Maten

Brandon McCoy

De’Anthony Melton

Chimezie Metu

Shake Milton

Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk

Malik Newman

Josh Okogie

Jontay Porter

Michael Porter Jr.

Billy Preston

Jerome Robinson

Mitchell Robinson

Collin Sexton

Landry Shamet

Anfernee Simons

Zhaire Smith

Omari Spellman

Khyri Thomas

Gary Trent Jr.

Allonzo Trier

Jarred Vanderbilt

Moritz Wagner

Lonnie Walker

PJ Washington

Austin Wiley

Kris Wilkes

Kenrich Williams

Trae Young

RELATED
NBA Exec: Bamba May Have Higher Upside Than Ayton

The post The Full 2018 NBA Draft Combine List 👀 appeared first on SLAM.

In a story by The Athletic‘s Michael Scotto, the NBA exec said that Bamba’s elite skill (shot-blocking) may give him the edge over Ayton.

Story: NBA executives weigh in on 5 prospects with NY roots, including Texas' Mo Bamba, Kentucky's Hamidou Diallo (@hamidoudiallo), Arizona's Rawle Alkins (@Iam_RawleAlkins), Georgetown's Jessie Govan (@JGovan15) and St. John's Shamorie Ponds (@ShamorieP). https://t.co/diODSuMimB

— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) May 4, 2018

Via HoopsHype:

“I like Bamba a lot,” an Eastern Conference executive told The Athletic. “He’s one of the top picks for me. I would seriously look at him and DeAndre Ayton and see who has the bigger upside. I think his upside may be better than Ayton’s. He’s such an elite shot blocker.

“His skill level isn’t bad, and it’s getting better. He has a nice touch, and he’s going to get better. Ayton has a super body right now. Bamba needs to get stronger. But you can’t go wrong either way. Which one has the drive to be great? Ayton right now is the better overall player, but Bamba has an elite skill.”

The post NBA Exec: Bamba May Have Higher Upside Than Ayton 👀 appeared first on SLAM.

Sheck can credit at least part of his recent success—which includes a record deal under Travis Scott’s Cactus Jack Records and Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. Music—to his relationship with Bamba.

“I really get inspired by certain things, and Mo would always say, Yo, you need to throw me in a song!” Sheck tells us during a visit to the SLAM office in late February. “I decided to make a song about him, but the song was really about my recruitment as an artist and comparing it to the recruitment of a player like Mo. That’s why I named my song ‘Mo Bamba.’” The song and video have taken Sheck to new heights and places—one day after our photo shoot and interview, Wes is off to Europe for club appearances and performances.

Sheck, who is rocking a super rare pair of Nike HyperAdapt 1.0s while talking to us about Lil Dicky’s shot selection and what Kanye wears when he hoops with him in L.A. (“He wears Yeezy basketball sneakers. Unreleased joints, shit is crazy”), was a skilled point guard in high school, and even led the city’s public league in assists per game during his junior year. But his life went in a different direction when he got the invite to be a part of 2015’s Yeezy Season 3 fashion show at Madison Square Garden.

“I had a Bronx Borough playoff game and I had to make a decision, like, Am I gonna be a part of this game, or be part of this fashion show? And I made the decision to go to Yeezy Season 3. That show opened up doors for me, and it opened up my mind.”

Though he can’t legally buy a drink yet, Sheck Wes is already well traveled. As a young kid, he spent his time back and forth between Harlem and Milwaukee, where his mother owned a hair salon, and he discovered a passion for sneakers at the Number One Sports store next door.

After he chose music over ball, Wes started “living this wild lifestyle” which led his mother to send Sheck to Senegal to get his mind right. Once back in the States, Sheck started getting everything he ever dreamed that he would achieve from basketball—but not in the way he originally planned.

“Everything I wanted from basketball, I get now from making music. Like a damn SLAM interview, that’s amazing.”

—

Peter Walsh is a contributor for SLAM. Follow him on Twitter @peter_m_walsh.

Photos via Getty Images.

The post Welcome to the Life of Sheck Wes, the Next Star of Harlem 🔥 appeared first on SLAM.

The 19-year-old Bamba finished with 13 points (5-9 FG), 13 boards, 4 blocks and this vicious dunk over 23-year-old redshirt senior Khris Lane.

Mo Bamba: Not fair #HookEm pic.twitter.com/ZLnvYxZ352

— Ezra Siegel (@SiegelEzra) December 6, 2017

The post Texas’ Mohamed Bamba Posterizes VCU Defender appeared first on SLAM.

Now that my Texas commitment is yesterday’s news, I wanted to elaborate on why this spring wasn’t nearly as stressful as you guys might think. My recruitment was very structured and organized, which allowed me to focus most of my attention on forming relationships and determining where I felt most comfortable.

I’d always heard stories about how personable Shaka Smart is, and how he really aimed to connect not only with players but with their families too. Well, he exceeded all my expectations. I know that he will use every University of Texas resource possible to prepare me for the next level both on and off the court.

In closing, I would like to thank everyone who played a part in this. From the people of Westtown, who brighten my day with quick smiles and greetings, to the members of my family who go above and beyond by supporting me through life and the many obligations that come along with playing basketball at the highest level. Finally, I’d like to thank SLAM Magazine for this platform that has enabled you to hear my honest thoughts directly from me.

The post HS Diary No. 10: Mohamed Bamba appeared first on SLAM.

DeAndre Ayton
7-0, PF, Phoenix (AZ) Hillcrest, Arizona
Ayton led Hillcrest Prep to a 33-6 record and the Grind Session’s national title after averaging 26 points, 15 rebounds and 3.5 blocks per game this past season. The Nassau, Bahamas native will soon be the latest prospect from the Caribbean to show out at the collegiate level while he aims to take head coach Sean Miller to his first Final Four appearance with the Arizona Wildcats.

Mohamed Bamba
6-11, PF, West Chester (PA) Westtown, Texas
Averaging 12 points, 12 rebounds and 6 blocks per game, Bamba helped lead his team to a 32-2 record this past season. The Harlem native has an already-scary 7-9 wingspan, which would already be the biggest in the NBA today. With those measurables, Bamba might have the biggest upside of all the top recruits in his class.

Wendell Carter Jr
6-9, PF, Atlanta (GA) Pace, Duke
This future Duke Blue Devil is a threat in the paint and from distance. He led his high school team to a 26-8 record and the Class AAA state title while averaging 22.7 points, 15.5 rebounds and 5.8 blocks per game this season. Carter will follow in the footsteps of Jabari Parker, Jahlil Okafor and Jayson Tatum as the latest five-star forward to suit up for Coach K.

Trevon Duval 
6-3, PG, Bradenton (FL) IMG, Duke
Regarded as the No. 1 point guard in the country, Duval’s athleticism and explosiveness made him one of the toughest matchups in all of high school ball. He averaged 16.2 points and 7.7 assists for the IMG Academy Ascenders, who finished this season with a 26-2 record. Although he was born in Queens, Duval’s lived in Wilmington, DE since middle school, so he’s constantly looking to put his often slept-on home state on the map.

Michael Porter Jr
6-10, SF, Seattle (WA) Nathan Hale, Missouri
MPJ led Seattle’s Nathan Hale—coached by former NBA All-Star Brandon Roy—on a historic run this past season, claiming the state title and going undefeated with a 29-0 overall record, ultimately finishing ranked as the No. 1 team in the nation. Porter Jr averaged 36.4 points and 13.5 rebounds for the Raiders. The former Washington commit will now be the main attraction in the SEC when he suits up for the Missouri Tigers this fall.

—

Portraits by Justin Borucki. 

Video by Erikson Corniel.

The post Class of 2017 SLAM HS All-Americans 1st-Team appeared first on SLAM.

“Coach Smart may not have been aware of it, but I put him through a weeklong job interview last summer when he coached me on Team USA in Valdivia, Chile,” said Bamba. “We instantly formed a bond. Now, the tables have turned, and I’m the one interviewing with him, hoping to show I can play a major role in his team’s success next season. His attention to detail is truly unbelievable — I can’t tell you how many times he picked up on something I mentioned in passing and brought it back full circle several months later. I’ve seen firsthand how much he genuinely cares about me and my family and how he’s going to challenge me to be in a state of continuous improvement.”

The post Texas Lands Top-5 Recruit Mohamed Bamba appeared first on SLAM.

It all started as a joke. Westtown requires a major community service project as a condition to graduation. While they allow us to “give back” anywhere in the world (and even sponsor the trip), proposals have to be detailed and well-thought-out or they get denied and your only option is to volunteer locally.

So my good friend Anthony Ochefu and I said, “Let’s say we’re going to Jamaica or Cancun so we have an extra week to relax after this long season.”

I write a proposal and basically tell the project advisor, “Yeah, we’re thinking of going to China.”

I guess I should’ve done less research on my plan for China, because 3 weeks after I submitted the proposal, I got approval and it was on its way to becoming a reality. While Anthony’s mom was understandably concerned about him going halfway around the world, I was able to convince my family that this could actually be a great cultural exchange opportunity for me, especially in a country where over 300 million people play basketball.

Just before I went off to China, I attended the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference for a second year in a row. This year, I brought my sister so that she too could learn from all of the expert panels that have topics ranging from “Life of a College Student-Athlete” to “Sports Science and Player Tracking Data” and even “Silver asks Silver” (one of my favorites because I got to hear Adam Silver’s vision first-hand). I’ve always been interested in the experts who use numbers to back up a lot of their sports observations and there’s no shortage of it at this conference.

The conference ended on a Saturday afternoon and hours later I was sitting on a plane going to Beijing — alone – officially starting the first leg of my spring break.

I landed late on Sunday night, and showed up to my first non-profit, Love & Hope, the following morning. Love & Hope devotes itself to the education of migrant children from rural areas who are often left behind when their parents move to urban areas to seek jobs and a better life. The kids in that program were unbelievably happy and motivated, despite their difficult circumstances.

Love & Hope teaches many trade skills such as sewing, dental lab technology, computers and instrument training, but the living conditions lack many resources. In addition to working with the students, I also got my hands dirty and shoveled coal, yes coal, into nearly 200 different 75-pound bags so that they could deliver their primary heating source throughout the entire community.

I spent the next several days touring local schools, including Western Academy of Beijing, Canadian International School, and a few others. I did some Q&A with the broader student body at an assembly and was able to run some after-school and weekend basketball clinics with kids of all ages. I spoke to them about my life experiences and how to balance academics and athletics. It was a great opportunity and I was fortunate to have some caring hosts at each of the schools who were able to show me around and teach me more about their way of life.

The last nonprofit I worked with was called Roundabout – it is sorta like Goodwill or Salvation Army here in the U.S., where people donate second-hand goods to those in need. I sorted a ton of books and other home goods and was able to learn a bit about how their retail model works.

I put in a lot of work in China, but was also able to get out on my own and experience some of the main attractions. Of course, I had to see The Great Wall – it’s one of the Seven Wonders of the World! It was one of the best tourist attractions I’ve ever been to in my life but I wasn’t expecting to hike an entire section of it. It was tiresome but the views were spectacular. You can see some of them on my Instagram @therealmobamba_

I was also able to sample some of the local food. The Great Wall is about an hour and a half from Beijing, and afterward we ate at a small village in Huairou County. The chicken/rice/noodles combination was some of the best I’ve ever had.

In total I spent 10 days in China, and one of the best outcomes was me just continuing to grow as an adult—being by myself on a different continent helps you grow up quickly and I was able to do this all while experiencing a cultural exchange that I’ll never forget.

—

Previous HS Diaries from Mo Bamba: 

Mo talk speaks on his HS career coming to an end and taking Environmental Social Justice class

Mo talks about taking the ACT twice and cutting down his college list to four schools

The post HS Diary No. 8: Mohamed Bamba appeared first on SLAM.

From self lobs to jumping over their peers, the top Class of 2017 prospects put their creativity and athleticism on full display. In the end, though, it was Sexton, a 6-3 explosive point guard out of Mableton, GA, who came away with the trophy.

Check out the video above for the final round of the dunk contest and see below for rounds one and two.

The post WATCH: Collin Sexton Wins 2017 McDonald’s All-American Dunk Contest appeared first on SLAM.

Well, my high school playing career has officially come to an end.

It is bittersweet because on one hand, I’m ready to graduate, move on to the next level, play at the highest collegiate level, and enjoy my time in college, but on the other hand I want to hold on to all the high school memories and cherish these last moments.

This season went by in a blink. I remember Fall practice and getting ready for the season like it was yesterday, and now it’s all over – crazy.

Recently, I was very fortunate to be named one of the five finalists for the Naismith National High School Player of the Year award. There are several highly deserving candidates and it’s honestly unbelievable to even be mentioned alongside them, regardless of who wins. If you look at the history of guys who have won that award, and look at the great careers they went on to have, it says a lot. It illustrates all the hard work that is put in both individually and as a team, much of which goes unaccounted for.

This semester I’m taking a number of interesting courses, one of which is Liberation Theology. I’ve loved it so far. I am also in a class called Environmental Social Justice, which does a really good job of illustrating current world problems and how we can go about being change leaders rather than passively just letting things happen the way they always have. We’ve covered a wide range of topics – anything from global warming to systemic racism. At first, a topic like global warming seemed pretty distant to me. That may sound silly with all the awareness surrounding it these days, but coming from Harlem, I honestly grew up more concerned with social issues like poverty, gang violence, and school dropout rates. In reality, the two topics are more correlated than I ever imagined. For instance, poorer countries have significantly more exposure to pollution than developed countries.

On the recruiting front, I recently finished taking all of my college visits. In March, I’ll be huddling with my family about it and weighing all the pros and cons.

With March Madness upon us, two big men who have really been impressive to me this season are Lauri Markkanen at Arizona and Justin Patton at Creighton. I’m also pretty close with Harry Giles and Jayson Tatum at Duke and some of the freshmen at Kentucky. We’ve all taken several trips together for various basketball tournaments so it’ll be especially fun to watch them on the biggest stage – the road to the Final Four. I’ve been asking them questions about how their coaches are and how they view the overall experience, so I’ve probably been a bit annoying to them this season, but hey, there’s no substitute for first-hand research!

The post HS Diary No. 7: Mohamed Bamba appeared first on SLAM.

See below for complete list.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

The post Naismith HS Boys’ All-American Teams Announced appeared first on SLAM.

Well, the long travel season is now officially in the books. During our trips to Florida, Delaware and Massachusetts, we went undefeated at every single national showcases, and showed we’re right up there with the nation’s best. It was great to get out there and compete against guys who were just as good, if not better than we were if we didn’t bring our A-game.

I’d give our team an A- grade so far, since there’s always room for growth but every single person on this team has done their job and elevated us to that next level. It’s been awesome to watch. Obviously I’m a part of it, but sometimes I take a step back and see the overall progress of the team and I’m like, wow, these guys have made some really great strides.

Being selected to play in the McDonald’s All-American Game was an unbelievable honor. The first time I heard of the game was when my older brother, Sidiki Johnson, was nominated to play. Throughout the years, I watched the Jamfest, the skills competition, and of course the game. I’m blessed to now be a part of it.

On the school front, we recently started a new semester and one of the classes I’m really looking forward to is Liberation Theology.

I also achieved one of my biggest life accomplishments back in December –forget about McDonald’s All-American or playing on ESPN – I scored a 30 on my ACT (94th percentile). I studied my butt off And I take pride in this because sometimes I would skip practice or class just to study for the ACT. I honestly don’t think the score really does any justice to us HS students because it doesn’t look at us holistically but I know it’s at least one important measure of aptitude.

Lastly, I decided to cut my college list to four: Michigan, Duke, Texas and Kentucky. The process was very thoughtful, and included a ton of in-depth discussions with my family. It’s been great to see the unique characteristics that each program potentially offers. Look forward to checking back in with you all after I’ve made a decision.

The post HS Diary No. 6: Mohamed Bamba appeared first on SLAM.

The post WATCH: 2017 Spalding Hoophall Classic Documentary appeared first on SLAM.

See below for the complete 2017 list:

Girl’s Game rosters:

The post 2017 McDonald’s All-American Game Rosters Revealed appeared first on SLAM.

About that photo from last summer with A Boogie Wit The Hoodie…Last February, one of my good friends who played with my AAU team introduced me to some random rapper he said I should listen to. He said it was his cousin who was trying to do his rap thing, so out of respect I gave it a listen with an open mind.

So I’m listening to it and I’m like, “Yo! This dude is legit!” The song was “Game Winnerz,” and it featured A Boogie. My teammate’s cousin was Don Q from Highbridge the Label and he was just going at it, bars after bars. I was like, “Yup, I gotta do some more research on these fellas.”

My teammate was telling me they’re going to make it big. Before I heard the song, I thought to myself “Yeah, right, I’ve heard this story before, but after listening, I was a believer.” And now, less than a year later, they’re the hottest thing out of New York right now.

Boogie and I have since been staying in touch every now and then. Obviously he’s always on the road now so he’s very busy, but he took time to come to my SLAM shoot last summer. His music has such a broad, powerful arsenal – he can go from a love song to a pump-you-up song in a heartbeat.

I’ve always enjoyed different kinds of music, and occasionally I take some heat for my eclectic taste. Recently, I was in the gym with my teammate Anthony Ochefu and I’m letting all my music play on shuffle. Started with a pretty standard workout pump-up lineup – Future, A Boogie, 21 Savage –then all of the sudden 112’s “Cupid” comes on. I sprinted to change the track but it was too late. It was embarrassing. People call it soft, but hey, I’m just a fan of good music – I stand by it!

Lastly, a quick update on the season – we’ve started off strong and the team is really starting to come together in advance of some major games against top competition on a national level here in Florida (City of Palms tournament), Delaware (Slam Dunk to the Beach) and Massachusetts (Hoophall Classic). This stretch will definitely be a significant test for us but I’m looking forward to rising to the occasion.

The post HS Diary No. 5: Mohamed Bamba appeared first on SLAM.

We’re in the midst of intense practices, gearing up for the season. I’m working hard to get ready while continuing to think about my future.

In October, I visited the University of Texas, which was awesome. My whole family got together and it was a solid visit. It was great to experience the warm weather of Austin in an otherwise cold October up north. I have three official visits left and hopefully if the timing is right, I’ll be able to get those done when I don’t have school or basketball commitments here.

Another thing that I got off my chest this fall was the ACT. I put a strong effort into studying and felt very prepared. It’s still a long test though! Putting my pencil down the final time and knowing I finished strong was one of the most satisfying moments I’ve had in a long time.

On the basketball front, Westtown has some talent this season. There are some irreplaceable guys from last year but this season we have a lot more size, which will test my leadership skills as a mentor to anyone who rotates in at the 4 or the 5.

There are also some teammates who are new to the school, who need guidance to navigate things on and off the court. More than anything, I want to be remembered for my leadership.

This season we’re traveling a lot for our national schedule with games in Delaware (Slam Dunk to the Beach), a couple of games in Florida (City of Palms), and a couple in Maryland. Then we’re also going to the Hoophall Classic in Springfield (MA)—I’m especially excited for that one. These will be against schools that are all top-ranked nationally, so there’s going to be a lot of buzz leading up to the games.

My main goal for this season is to find three new things to teach and three new things to learn every day. That’s just me wanting to learn more about the game, which I truly love. I don’t really have goals as far as stats or numbers. Those will take care of themselves if I do what I need to as a team leader. See you guys this winter!

The post HS Diary No. 4: Mohamed Bamba appeared first on SLAM.

Bamba (#11 in brown uniform), a 6-11 center out of Harlem, NY, and currently a senior at Westtown School in West Chester, PA, filled up the stat sheet, finishing with 9 points, 14 rebounds, 7 assists and 5 blocks. His Westtown teammate, Reddish (#22 in brown uniform) —a 6-7 junior wing— finished with 17 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 blocks.

Westtown is regarded as one of the top HS programs in the nation, who aside from Bamba and Reddish, also features top-40 prospect Brandon Randolph (#5 in brown uniform), a 6-6 senior shooting guard who has committed to Arizona.

We Came, They Saw, Kids Conquered…#OwnYourDestiny

Video Credit: @HoopMajor pic.twitter.com/oUT8HTpDHn

— ProScholarsAthletics (@PSACardinals) December 6, 2016

Diallo, a 6-6 guard who we featured in SLAM 204 and who is eligible to bypass college and enter the NBA Draft, posted 11 points, 8 rebound and 6 assists in a blowout win over The Phelps School.

The post Top Prospects Show Out At The PSA Cardinals Prep Showcase appeared first on SLAM.

A couple of five-star recruits have shown that academics are beginning to play a bigger role in their college decisions than ever before. A couple of top-10 kids have considered Harvard along with the traditional high-major programs.

In terms of recruiting, Alabama, Duke, Kentucky and UCLA have all succesfully landed a good chunk of the top-50 list.

All in all, there’s a lot to be excited about with this class. We’ll update this list once again in the spring after the season. For now, here’s our current SLAM Fresh 50 for the Class of 2017:

—

Photo by Layne Murdoch

The post SLAM Fresh 50 – Class of 2017 HS Rankings appeared first on SLAM.

School has been great so far. This year more than any other year, I was eager to get back.

My favorite class right now is Designing & Engineering. When I was younger, I used to always think about engineering, but it kind of faded as my plate became increasingly full with basketball and all the other life obligations that go along with being a high schooler. But this class has triggered some memories and the learning experience has really been fun. My two group members, Brandon Randolph and Cole Berger, and me, we’re working to invent a prototype that improves a player’s jumpshot. We put a circular sensor around the rim and that tracks misses and have it use the data we collected to hit more shots.

I can’t go too much deeper into that right now – we might be patenting something here!

We’re still in the process of figuring out the program and the coding, but I think it’s something that will be awesome.

I’ve also been updating a binder I put together over the summer with files on each school in my recruitment. Some might see me as being nerdy about it but this is the best way to go about it. In theory, this is one of the biggest decisions I’m going to ever make. If you saw how big this binder was, you’d be like, ‘Who are you?!’ I’ve named it THE BLUEPRINT.

The categories in the excel spreadsheets under each school measure success in various majors, total university endowment, how many Fortune 500 CEOs each school has, total enrollment, living alumni worldwide, percentage of alumni in management positions – things that will be important to me for my business career that will hopefully extend far beyond the 94×50’ dimensions of the basketball court.

On the basketball side, some of the categories I’ve looked at are how many first round picks each school has had over the past five years, how many were one-and-done, the number of NBA owners and managers that are alums, etc. A big part of the binder has information about compliance and I’ve added articles and case studies to it along the way. Every week there’s been something to add.

The post HS Diary No. 3: Mohamed Bamba appeared first on SLAM.

“I’ll kill Drake,” the Bronx MC retorts.

The Highbridge, Bronx native can brag ‘cause he’s confident.

Just the type of confidence you’d expect from a 20-year-old who dropped one of the hottest mixtapes of the year, and, a few months later, opened up for the No. 1 hip-hop artist in the world (no offense to Kendrick) at Madison Square Garden.

“The first time we met, [Drake] was going right on stage,” A Boogie tells SLAM over the phone. “After that, we was in the club. We was just vibing to the music, and then Drake was just telling me, ‘Thanks a lot.’ He was like, ‘Yo I ain’t gonna lie, you’re one of my favorite artists right now to listen to.’ That was one of the best moments of my life so far.”

A Boogie, whose real name is Artist Dubose, grew up listening to MCs including Beanie Sigel, Cassidy and 50 Cent. One of A Boogie’s biggest moments to date — apart from the MSG show — was an hour-long conversation with Fiddy, during which the Get Rich or Die Tryin’ rapper dropped knowledge darts about the game.

“Fifty was just telling me how it was for him coming up, and how watching us come up right now reminds him of himself back in the day,” A Boogie says. “He was just telling us and showing us what not to do and everything.”

A Boogie’s music connects with hoopers, too. He’s close friends with Mohamed Bamba (pictured above), the 6-11, 210-pound center from Harlem, who, in addition to being SLAM’s current high school diarist, is widely regarded as the best player from New York in the class of 2017.

Bamba met Boogie through BX native Terrance “Munch” Williams, who coaches the AAU team PSA Cardinals. Bamba played with the Cardinals in the 2016 Nike EYBL circuit.

“When I met [Bamba], we talked on the phone first. He was a fan of my music and my mixtape and everything,” A Boogie says. “I been knew about him, though. People on my block talk about him a lot, ‘cuz he’s one of the best players from the up-north area.”

NBA players have also shown love. A Boogie went to John Wall’s birthday party at Wall’s crib in early September after the Wizards’ guard sent him an invite via Instagram DM. Two other Eastern Conference PGs have reached out, as well: fellow BX native Kemba Walker told A Boogie he wants to “come to the club and chill” with him, and Kyrie Irving hit him up, too.

Now, the baby-faced, Bape hoodie-rocking rapper is ready to take his music to the next level. He’s prepping the release of a new EP called The Bigger Artist, which is slated to drop sooner than you think.

Until then, A Boogie is keeping tabs on the NBA season (“I’m a Knicks fan, but my favorite team is the Thunder”) and adding to his ever-growing sneaker collection (“I don’t know how many I have, it’s too many … but my favorites are the Taxi XIIs”).

As the trees surrounding High Bridge, NYC’s oldest bridge, shift their colors from green to autumn red-yellow-brown, another transformation is taking place. ‘Cause it’s no longer white tee and b-ball shorts weather — nah, this Hoodie SZN.

Related
SLAM 202: Mohamed Bamba’s High School Diary

—
Photo with Bamba via Chris Razoyk

Press photo via Highbridge the Label 

The post Hoodie Season appeared first on SLAM.

What’s up #SLAMfam!

I traveled a lot this summer.

In July, it started with Nike Peach Jam in South Carolina. It was my last event in the AAU circuit and probably one of my best ones as far as getting out there and playing well. It felt good being back since I missed the third and fourth EYBL sessions prior to Peach Jam—out with an ankle injury. We made it to the championship game and played the semis and finals on national television, being broadcasted on ESPN. But if I could go back and change anything, I would guard Trae Young and Michael Porter just a little bit harder!

When I saw that my AAU career had ended, I had mixed emotions. Some people feel sad and some are happy that it’s over. I felt ecstatic. I couldn’t be any happier. AAU is fun but we’re also playing a bunch of games in a window-span of a day basically and so it takes a toll on your body. AAU taught me to take care of my body and I learned that when it’s time to shut it down, you got to shut it down. Now I’m happy to move on and experience new things.

I literally flew back to New York the same night of the Peach Jam championship game. I tried to see my girl that night, who came over from Australia, but I couldn’t since I only had like a 4-hour window in New York before I left to Houston for USA U18 FIBA World Championship team training camp.

And keep in mind at training camp the practices were with Young and Porter, who we lost to in the Peach Jam championship game, so you know I was stink-eying them the whole time. We were in Houston for about a week of practice before we went over to Chile for the FIBA games. Our three coaches were Shaka Smart, Kevin Ollie and Mark Turgeon, who are three of my favorite college coaches, just relationship-wise.

Chile was a great experience. We were in a small city called Valdivia. I learned a lot about myself and from being around different people. I played in front of the wildest crowd I’m probably going to ever play in front of. After one of my games, the whole crowd began chanting my name. I don’t even know why. They were going crazy. The fans there were very engaging.

So funny side-story: after they were chanting my name, I kind of got gassed a little bit and so I gave away my sneakers to fans.

Inside the sneakers were my specialized soles, which I didn’t notice I left them until I got back to the hotel. I went through heaven and earth to get those back. I was able to get a hold of one of the kids through Instagram and so I was able to get that one back a couple of hours later since he was in the same small town. The kid DM’ed me and was like, ‘Hey, thanks, I’m a huge supporter of yours!’ And I was like, Thank you. However, do you have my sole?!

He came to the hotel, and I was putting together a bag with a bunch of gear to give to him in gratitude for bringing back my sole. When I opened the door, like 30 people rolled into my room. The kid brought his whole community back.

But the other shoe was with a grown man, who I literally saw fight a kid for it, which was pretty funny. So this guy happened to be on the bus with Max Lorca, who’s from Chile and plays with my AAU team. So Max sends me a Snapchat of the sneaker. I called and texted him a million times but he was asleep the whole time. When he finally woke up, the guy was off the bus already. So I think FIBA put something out on Twitter and I was able to get my sole back like two weeks later when they mailed it to New York.

I then came back straight to LA for Nike Skills Academy. I talked with Rasheed Wallace a whole lot at the camp and he gave me powerful insights on just the game because he’s been through it all.

And then I finally came back home after traveling for like 3 weeks. It was very tiring, however it was something I knew I’m going to have to deal with repeatedly throughout my career.

To finish off the summer, I went to the Bahamas with the Nike EYBL Select Team in August. But before we went to the Bahamas, Nike actually got us a visit to the White House. No, we didn’t meet Obama, but just from a historical standpoint, it was still a great experience. We didn’t spend too much time there because we had to catch our flight but we saw enough—we went to the basketball courts, the front lawn, and I think one of the treasury rooms.

Overall, summer was fun!

—

Related:
The World Is His: Introducing 2016 SLAM Diarist Mohamed Bamba

The post SLAM 202: Mohamed Bamba’s High School Diary appeared first on SLAM.

While the court is known for its summer pro-league, the Kingdome Classic, which saw NYC legends like Walter Berry, Ed Pinckney, Rafer Alston and Ron Artest all pass through and partake in the action over the decades, for Mo and Ibrahim, it’s just simply the playground located across the street from their apartment on the other side of Malcolm X Boulevard—and where Midnight Madness has been given a new meaning.

About three years ago, Bamba, who hoops with PSA Cardinals in the Nike EYBL summer circuit, along with his brother, began partaking in summer pick-up runs at midnight at the hallowed court along with local hoopers, taking advantage of the lights that illuminate the floor at dusk.

“You can’t call fouls,” says Bamba of the action, which he says ran to as late as 3 a.m. on some nights. “It’s hard-nosed basketball. It’s a good workout. There are men out there. Like, men. Fights break out. But I love it and embrace it.”

Last summer, though, the cops came and shut it all down. The crowds gathering on and around the cement bleachers were growing exponentially, and the police didn’t want to risk any more incidents.

Yet, it’s in these situations when it becomes evident that Bamba’s place in the community goes beyond hoops.

“Our demeanor toward cops is just completely different, especially after all the shootings that have been happening,” says the 6-11 center, who took it upon himself to speak with the police about reconsidering their decision. “I just respectfully went to an officer and was like, Excuse me sir, a bunch of my friends would like to hoop here for a bit. It’s all out of respect and love.”

A few days later, the playground was once again opened to hoop at night. In an area where the relationship between police officers and the community, particularly the youth, is fragile at best, Bamba’s outlook and maturity has developed differently than the average Harlem teenager.

It’s not his profile as a top-3 national prospect, but his experiences outside of his environment the past few years that have allowed for him to see progression and upward mobility in a different light than many of his neighborhood peers.

Bamba, whose family hails from Mali and whose older brother Sidiki Johnson hooped at Arizona, Providence and Wabash Valley, has been attending out-of-state boarding schools since the eighth grade. He spent eighth and ninth grade at Cardigan Mountain School in New Hampshire before transferring to the Westtown School in West Chester, Pennsylvania for his sophomore year. There, he helped lead the school to its first state title in any sport after averaging 18 points, 14 rebounds and six blocks per game last season as a junior.

“You went from seeing skyscrapers to cows,” says Bamba, the youngest of six siblings, of leaving in 8th grade. “It was a cultural shock. But I feel I adjusted pretty well quickly. When I left, my mom actually encouraged it. She didn’t want me to be around the hood. She knew I was smart enough to not feed into my environment.”

Blessed with a crazy 7-8 wingspan, impressive athleticism and agility for his size, as well as great hands and mobility in the paint, it’s his full potential—still years away—that has scouts and college coaches alike drooling.

“My hunger to make Harlem a better place for everybody is what inspires me,” says Bamba, who has said he’s looking to visit Harvard among the high-major programs vying for his services. “It’s what makes me want to run harder when I’m running the floor or jump higher when I’m blocking a shot. That’s always in the back of my mind. This place is a diamond in the rough and I’m going to show everybody that.”

—

Franklyn Calle is an Assistant Editor at SLAM. Follow him on Twitter @FrankieC7.

Portraits by Chris Razyok

Video by R.B. Umali / www.rbumali.com

The post The World is His appeared first on SLAM.

The Delaware Sports Commission has announced the national slate of high school teams that will participate in the Slam Dunk to the Beach basketball tournament, which will be held at Cape Henlopen High School from December 27-29, 2015. The field is headlined by several schools who finished the 2014-15 season ranked in the USA Today Top 50 rankings. Roman Catholic (Philadelphia, PA) finished as the 16th ranked team in the country, while Roselle Catholic (Roselle, NJ) and Ss. Neumann-Goretti (Philadelphia, PA) each cracked the USA Today Super 25 at 20th and 22nd, respectively. La Lumiere (La Porte, IN), Christ the King (Middle Village, NY) and St. Benedict’s Prep (Newark, NJ) also finished the year amongst the top 50 teams in the country.

 

Eighteen teams—representing seven states and the District of Columbia—have now been announced to compete in this year’s event, with a nineteenth and final team to be announced at a later date. This collection of elite teams will be three more than last season’s Slam Dunk to the Beach total. Slam Dunk is returning to the Delaware beaches after a successful 2014 relaunch of the iconic tournament that over the years has hosted some of the nation’s premier players, including LeBron James (2001), Kevin Durant (2003), Dwight Howard (2003) and Carmelo Anthony (2000), all now NBA superstars. Slam Dunk to the Beach contributed more than $1 million to the local economy and well over 10,000 visitors watched the exciting action unfold over three days in December 2014.

 

Other national programs scheduled to participate include Bishop McNamara (Forestville, MD), Bishop O’Connell (Arlington, VA), Friendship Collegiate (Washington, D.C.), Paul VI (Fairfax, VA), St. Raymond (Bronx, NY) and Westtown (Westtown, PA).

 

“Slam Dunk to the Beach is a well run event that garners respect nationally,” said St. Benedict’s Head Coach, Mark Taylor, who has led the Gray Bees to several USA Today Top Five finishes. “St. Benedict’s is honored to be included. Our roster has players from NJ, Philadelphia, Delaware and Baltimore, so this is an opportunity to not only compete against elite players and nationally recognized teams from all over the country, but to play in front of family, friends and home. I am sure our players will come to play and have a great experience.”

 

The Delaware teams were announced in March and include Appoquinimink (Middletown, DE), Cape Henlopen (Lewes, DE), Dover (Dover, DE), Mount Pleasant (Wilmington, DE), Sanford (Hockessin, DE) and Saint Elizabeth (Wilmington, DE).

 

The 2015 event will once again feature numerous ESPN top rated players from each graduating class. V.J. King (Paul VI/Fairfax, VA), James Banks (La Lumiere/La Porte, IN) and Tony Carr (Roman Catholic/Philadelphia, PA) are all listed on the ESPN100 rankings for high school seniors. Representing the ESPN60 list for the Class of 2017 will be Mohammed Bamba (Westtown/Westtown, PA), Brian Bowen (La Lumiere/La Porte, IN) and Quade Green (Ss. Neumann-Goretti/Philadelphia, PA). Nazreon Reid (Roselle Catholic/Roselle, NJ) and Cameron Reddish (Westtown/Westtown, PA) round out the list with their ranking in the exclusive ESPN25 for the sophomore class.

 

“We are very excited about the caliber of teams that will be participating in this year’s event. It truly is a who’s who of high school basketball in the United States,” said Slam Dunk to the Beach Chairman, Dr. Matthew Robinson. “Feedback from teams, college coaches and fans that were in attendance at last year’s event has been overwhelmingly positive. They really enjoyed their trip to the Delaware beaches while taking part in a first class basketball tournament.”

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EYBL East (coached by Derek Bobbitt)

Lamar Stevens, 6-6, SF The Haveford School (PA) 2016

Stevens was arguably the most physical player on his team Saturday afternoon, as his drives to the basketball were powerful, and he moved through traffic in the paint as though it were magic. Although his team was on the losing side, Stevens played hard until the very end, even showcasing his dunking skills with a powerful windmill on a fast break early in the fourth quarter. He was also a key part of his team’s 10-4 run early in the fourth, as he helped bring his team to within nine, after starting the quarter being down by 15. Although he is considered to be an undersized 4 man, Stevens helps to spread the floor with his midrange jump shooting ability, as well as very good passing skills. He will be graduating from The Haveford School in spring 2016, and although he has not committed to any schools yet, he has already received offers from Indiana University and Villanova.

Chris Lykes, 5-7, PG Gonzaga College High School (Washington, D.C.) 2017

Although he was the shortest player on the court on Saturday afternoon, he may have been the player with the most heart. He did not let any size disadvantage get in the way of him attacking the basket and trying to help his team to victory. Lykes used his speed and quickness to his advantage over his defenders to attack the rim and score, and was able to change his speed and direction at any time with no problem. His ball handling skills were superb, as he took great care of the ball throughout most of the game. He will not be graduating high school until 2017, but has already received offers from George Mason, George Washington, the University of Miami (FL) and Richmond.

Nick Richards, 6-11, C The Patrick School (NJ) 2017

Given the nickname “Big Nick”, Richards made his presence known in the paint and on the boards. His dominant play made it hard for the other team to get anything easy in the paint. He ran the floor extremely well, and made any defender look small with quick short turn shots and power drop steps through any type of contact. The only downside to having a guy like Richards on your team is his free throw shooting, which he has plenty of time to improve on. Richards has received offers from a few schools, including Creighton, Kansas, North Carolina State, Pittsburgh, Stanford, Syracuse and UCLA.

EYBL New York (coached by Terrance “Munch” Williams

Mohamed Bamba, 6-11, C Westtown School (PA) 2017

Bamba was by far the most dominant rebounder of the game on Saturday, using his 6-foot-11 frame and his 7-foot-8 wingspan to his advantage en route to helping his team to the 108-101 victory. Also, despite his tall stature, he moved gracefully across the court demonstrating great footwork both in transition and in the post. Bamba’s excellent big man play has earned him offers to Arizona, the University of Connecticut, Florida State, Indiana, University of Kentucky, Missouri, St. John’s and Syracuse.

Taurean Thompson, 6-9, C St. Anthony High School (NJ) 2016

Though he was not the most dominant big man on his team on Saturday afternoon, Thompson definitely made sure his presence was known. He seemed to send every one of his opponents’ shot attempts back to where they came from with his excellent shot blocking ability, and was right alongside his teammate Mohamed Bamba in cleaning up the boards. He has great athleticism and is able to play up and around the rim well.

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