Adam Zagoria covers basketball at all levels. He is the author of two books and an award-winning journalist whose articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Sports Illustrated, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide.
St. John’s adds 7-footer Mohamed Keita from NBA Africa
By ADAM ZAGORIA
St. John’s coach Mike Anderson has landed a commitment from 7-foot-1, 210-pound Mohamed Keita of the NBA Africa Academy and the Winchendon (MA) School.
“I choose St John’s because I think it’s a right fit for my style of game and also I believe in the coaching staff,” he said.
“I am a very good defender and almost can finish around the rim. I’m fast with a good motor.”
St. John’s was his only high-major Division 1 offer, but East Tennessee State also offered and Iowa showed interest, Winchendon head coach Kevin Kehoe said.
“He’s this millennium’s perfect big man,” Kehoe said by phone of Keita, who averaged 6.3 points, 8.2 rebounds and 3.4 blocks per game this past season. “He’s 7 feet tall, he’s long, he runs, he blocks shots. His offensive game is evolving and in my opinion, by the time he’s a junior he may be first- or second-team all-league.”
He added: “If he waited 7 more days, he probably would’ve had 15 more high-major offers.”
Mohamed Keita, 7-footer from Guinea out of the NBA Academy Africa and Winchendon Prep, committed to St. John's, he told ESPN. Just had an impressive showing at the NBA's Basketball Africa League (BAL) this spring. Good long-term prospect. Highlights: https://t.co/JsAnQIlrkz
Kehoe said Keita “has only been playing basketball for four years. His upside is as high as anybody else.”
“I see him helping them in the future,” he added. “That’s a big boy league. I don’t know too many freshmen that should contribute [right away].”
He said the St. John’s staff watched him for two weekends with the NY Jayhawks in Kansas City and in Spartanburg, S.C.
“They followed him for two straight Adidas tournaments,” Kehoe said.
He joins point guard Kolby King and shooting guard AJ Storr in St. John’s 2022 class.
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Adam Zagoria is a Basketball Insider who covers basketball at all levels. A contributor to The New York Times and SportsNet New York (SNY), he is also the author of two books and is an award-winning journalist and filmmaker. His articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide. He also won an Emmy award for his work on the SNY mini-documentary on Syracuse guard Tyus Battle.
A veteran Ultimate Frisbee player, he has competed in numerous National and World Championships and, perhaps more importantly, his teams won the Westchester Summer League (WSL) championships in 2011 and 2013.
He lives in Manhattan with his wife and children.
