Top International 7-Footer Sayon Keita Commits to UNC

Sayon Keita, thought-about one of many world’s prime highschool put up prospects, has dedicated to North Carolina, sources confirmed on Tuesday. The 7-footer is a part of the highschool class of 2027 however is predicted to reclassify into the 2026 class to play this coming season, bringing elite size, rim-running, and shot-blocking for Michael Malone’s Tar Heels. Jonathan Givony of Draft Express was first to report the information.

The 18-year-old is a local of Bamako, Mali and moved to Spain to start his basketball profession 4 years in the past, in the end becoming a member of the FC Barcelona program. He made his skilled debut final season in Spain’s prime professional league – Liga ACB – and has performed spot reserve minutes this season at that degree for FC Barcelona’s first group.

For this system’s youth group – Barca U22 – Keita is averaging 8.8 factors, 4.4 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in league play.

Keita entered the radar for faculty coaches — and NBA scouts — after two camp performances final summer time. At the NBPA Top 100 Camp final June, taking part in in opposition to prime US excessive schoolers, Keita earned Defensive MVP honors for averaging 3.2 blocks per sport, to go along with 13.0 factors and 5.4 rebounds. The following month on the NBA Academy Games, in opposition to worldwide prospects, Keita averaged 13.2 factors, 10.5 rebounds and 4.0 blocks.

After making waves on the aforementioned two summer time occasions, he took a full tour of blueblood colleges final summer time, seeing six colleges in six days, together with a visit to Chapel Hill on Aug. 1. The different stops in addition to UNC had been Kansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Duke and UConn.

“Seven-footer with 7-5 wingspan from Bamako, Mali. Talented, mobile, fluid,” a global scout shared with Inside Carolina. “Needs to add to his frame and polish up some technique, but upside is through the roof. Among the top 2008-born international prospects. He has been in Spain with Barcelona for a few years now. Made his ACB debut last season the day after his 17th birthday. He was impressive at last year’s NBPA Top 100 Camp. He has a lot to work with and is by all accounts a great kid with the right approach.”

Since taking the reins in North Carolina earlier this month, Malone and his employees have been targeted on a roster overhaul. They have addressed the beginning perimeter with Utah switch Terrence Brown, NC State switch Matt Able, and Virginia Tech switch Neoklis Avdalas. The frontcourt has the lone returning starter in Jarin Stevenson and incoming highschool recruit Maximo Adams, however these are hybrid forwards, which means the low put up has been the final key place to fill within the beginning lineup. Keita’s dedication instantly makes him the main candidate for that spot.