Mohamed Bamba has signed with Texas.
The 6-foot-11 Harlem native from the Westtown (PA) School and the PSA Cardinals AAU program spurned Kentucky, Duke and Michigan to play for Shaka Smart and the Longhorns.
“I’ve decided to attend the University of Texas,” he wrote on the Players’ Tribune. “I will be heading there in early June to get to work.”
Bamba is the No. 3-ranked player in the Class of 2017 per ESPN.com and is the projected No. 4 pick in the 2018 NBA Draft per DraftExpress.com.
He is the fourth signee in program history ranked as one of the nation’s top two recruits, joining Avery Bradley (No. 1 by ESPN in 2009), Kevin Durant (No. 2 by Rivals in 2006) and Myles Turner (No. 2 by ESPN in 2014).
“I’m extremely excited that Mo has chosen Texas,” Smart said. “He’s as unique a person and player as I’ve been around. Mo’s combination of talent, intellect and ability to impact others will make him a catalyst in our program and on our campus from day one.”
He added: “Mo’s personality and dynamic skill-set fit extremely well with the other members of our incoming class as well as our returning players,” Smart added. “I’m very excited about our team composition and the way in which our guys will complement each other. There’s no question that Mo will make everyone around him better, both on and off the court.”
Bamba capped an illustrious scholastic career when he became the 19th player in UT program history to participate in the McDonald’s All-American Game (March 29) and the 15th player in school history to play in the Jordan Brand Classic (April 14) earlier this spring. He also played for Team USA in the 2017 Nike Hoop Summit (April 7). In addition, Bamba earned a spot on the 2017 Naismith Trophy High School All-America first team and was one of five finalists for the Naismith National High School Player of the Year.
Bamba averaged 12.8 points, 9.3 rebounds and 3.4 blocks per game in his senior season (2016-17) while leading Westtown School to a 32-2 mark and a second consecutive Pennsylvania Independent Schools Athletic Association state title. As a junior, he averaged 14.0 points, 11.0 rebounds and 6.0 blocks per game in pacing Westtown to the state championship. He also helped Westtown register a 26-6 record in his sophomore season in 2014-15.
