- Details
- Category: Current Issue
Mouhamed Dioubate has had himself a good summer. Bouncing back from an up-and-down half-season with Putnam Science Academy’s prep team, the 6-7 rebounding wing has opened a lot of eyes on the AAU circuit by outplaying a number of Top 50 and four and-five-star recruits. But don’t expect him to make a big deal of it.
“I don’t look at top players,” said Dioubate, who picked up offers from St. John’s, VCU, and St. Peter’s, among others. “I don’t look at them any different than a regular player. And I don’t discriminate against lesser players either. You’ve got to play hard and raise your level all the time, and I feel like I’ve done a good job of that this summer. I really don’t care who I play.
“My confidence level is extremely high. Not to sound cocky but I feel like I’m better than all the guys I play against. I believe you have to think that way, otherwise you’re already beaten. Everything has been going good. I’m just working out every day and trying to get better.” Dioubate joined the Mustangs in January from John Bowne High School in Queens, the same school that connected PSA with the Diarra brothers. He expected to play right away. That didn’t happen, and it didn’t happen much for the remainder of the season. He played limited minutes, and averaged a shade less than four points and three rebounds per game.
“I had to realize there were guys there who had so many practices in the first semester and only played two games, and it made me realize how hard they had been working,” he said. “Now that I’m going back, I expect a lot better from myself to earn the chance to play more.”
Mustangs coach Tom Espinosa isn’t surprised by the summer Dioubate had. “Playing with us for a couple months prepared him,” Espinosa said. “Mo showed us some flashes that he can be pretty good, and he’s killed it this summer, he’s played great. He’s so big and athletic. He’s just a monster on the glass. We’re anticipating that he plays a significant role this year. He should come in as a new man. It takes a lot of guys about one semester to adjust. Now he’s been through it and should be ready to go and be a new player.”
By Stephen Nalbandian
Sports Information Director
Putnam Science Academy
.