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.
Pitt legend Bobby Martin working with class of 2024 7-footer Kesean Shillingford, ‘this is just the beginning’
By CHARLIE PARENT
Former Pittsburgh star center Bobby Martin, who put up 1,282 points for the Panthers between 1987 and 1991, is now working with class of 2024 big man Kesean Shillingford.
Shillingford is a 7-footer out of The Newman School (MA.) and The House That We Built AAU. He previously played for Christ the King (NY.) before transferring to Newman for his prep year.
He has received early interest from Iona, Ohio, UMass, UMBC, Radford, Fairfield, Bucknell, and Stonehill, among several others.
“He’s just emerging,” The House That We Built coach AlfredChan said in a phone interview. “This is just the beginning for Kesean. He’s going to rise and he’s going to rise quickly and we expect him to take that well.”
2024 Kesean Shillingford with an EFFICIENT 22P for @HouseWeBuilt617!
The 6’11” big one of the top prospects here at @TheHoopGroup Spring Jamfest. Great hands and good touch over both shoulders, attacks the glass and alters shots. Continues to improve in big ways! pic.twitter.com/VjAoEq7rHX
Since joining The House That We Built, Shillingford has been working with Martin and both parties have seen significant improvement.
“When you see a kid like Kesean with his talent level and his upside,” Martin said. “It’s a no brainer for any school that likes to play with bigs to be extremely interested in him.”
“He’s only tapped his potential,” Martin continued. “I think that what he did during the last tournament has shown that he can play with the smalls. He’ll continue to get stronger, become more confident in himself and the things he can do.”
Martin looks to implement some of his own style into Shillingford’s game as well, through versatile finishing and becoming more of an athlete.
“I want him to be able to use both hands around the basket and I want him to be more of athlete,” Martin said. “Everything else will take care of itself.”
— New England Recruiting Report NERRHoops (@NERRHoops) May 1, 2023
Shillingford is looking to show coaches that he has become a completely different player after working with Martin and The House That We Built.
“[I want] to be a completely different player than what they saw in the first two live periods so far,” Shillingford said. “I want to work really hard over the summer so I can be a completely new player by the time they see me in the fall.”
“I’m trying to bring the best version of myself everyday,” he continued. “I’m trying to bring rebounding, rim protection, post presence, and just a great attitude to the game. I want to be an energy bringer not take from a program that’s willing to take a chance.”
Shillingford will begin to take more visits as his interests and offers presumably increase over the summer.
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