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.
By ADAM ZAGORIAYohan Traore, the 6-foot-11 Class of 2022 big man from Dream City Christian (CA) and the Dream Vision AAU squad, committed to LSU on Sunday.
Traore also held offers from UCLA, Louisville, USC, Arkansas, Texas, Kansas, Houston and Creighton, among others.
A native of France who has been in the U.S. a couple of years, Traore is ranked the No. 5 center in the Class of 2022, per 247Spors.com.
“His skillset is pro level when you talk about handling the ball and the way he shoots it at 6’11,” said Dream City Christian coach Kyle Weaver. “Not many guys in his respective class or prior classes have his skillset with size. He handles the ball really well for being almost a 7-footer. LSU is getting a great kid, a player that loves to be coached and a great teammate! LSU is getting a winner!”
“There are not five big men in the country that bring the combination of size, athleticism, and skill like Traore does,” wrote ZAGSBLOG recruiting analyst Tobias Bass after seeing him in May.
“The 6-foot-10 center is the most polished big in his class from the standpoint of he can score on all levels efficiently and has an array of moves in his bag. Once he catches the ball free-throw line extended it’s practically a guaranteed bucket. Traore has a pro skillset, from is his fluid athletic ability to his nimble feet that allow him to score in any way possible.”
Traore joins small forwards Julian Phillips and Devin Ree in LSU’s 2022 class. They also have a pledge from five-star guard Marvel Allen in 2023.
“He has a very high ceiling,” coach Vonzell Thomas of Dream Vision said. “He can defend, stretch the floor with his shooting ability. He drives it aggressively while under control and is strong enough to power through and finish with contact. I truly feel he will not be in college after one season.”
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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.
