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Miles Rose saw a PSA student pointing a phone camera in his direction in the final seconds of a recent game, and quickly held up a 1 and a 5 on his two hands.
“He’s 15 years old!” Rose shouted. “Fifteen!”
Rose was referring to boys Prep basketball teammate Ben Ahmed, the precocious big man who has turned in performances of late that make the Mustangs’ coaching staff dream of what is to come. Ahmed – 6-foot, 9-inch, about 200 pounds, and yes, just 15 years of age – was not expected to be this much of a factor this season, at least not this soon. But his strength, particularly as a rebounder, and shot-blocking ability have been hard to ignore, and he has played his way into the starting lineup.
In his first start last week against South Kent, an 86-73 PSA win, Ahmed spent a lot of time matched up with University of Michigan-bound bruiser Papa Kante. Ahmed scored 11 points and pulled down 20 rebounds (he joins Josh Gray and Barry Evans as the only players in at least the last four seasons to get 20 or more in a game).
“This was his coming out party,” coach Tom Espinosa said afterward. “He’s had some good games, but this was it. Now everyone is going to know who he is. He was phenomenal.”
One play in particular typified his performance. It was in the first half, and Ahmed had the ball under the basket but was surrounded by Cardinals. He had it stripped, blocked, knocked from his hands multiple times, but he stayed with it, kept fighting and eventually scored.
“The coaches told me before the game that it was my turn and I just needed to go out and do my thing,” said the15-year-old Ahmed, who spent a lot of time banging around with University of Michigan-bound Papa Kante. “Once I made the layup, I was very confident in myself.”
Ahmed, averaging 7.2 points and 7.9 rebounds for the 11-2 Mustangs, is a native Nigerian. He was actually scouted by a Nigerian coach who lives in the U.S. and after watching Ahmed torch his team, told him he had a bright future ahead.
“He eventually helped me talk with coach Dana (PSA assistant coach Dana Valentine),” Ahmed said, “and then it all happened from there. I’m happy to be here. I’m really enjoying it. The competition is always good, so I am always getting better.”
PSA is getting better too. The win over South Kent was much-needed, something that is a bit odd this early in the season for the three-time national champion. But the Mustangs were dealing with some inner turmoil and challenges after suffering a loss on Dec. 3, so this win was one they hoped could propel them.
Darryl Simmons had 25 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and five steals for PSA, which went from 10 points up to seven down to back up three at the half. The Mustangs controlled the pace of play much more in the second half when it held South Kent to just 24 points.
Blake Barkley finished with 16 points and six rebounds, Will Lovings-Watts had 13 points and played great defense, Mouhamed Dioubate added nine points and eight boards, and Miles Rose chipped in nine big points and good defense as well.
PSA built on the win with another good one in a great environment Sunday by knocking off Mount Zion 99-78 at the NY Hoops Festival in Queens, N.Y.
Dioubate, a Queens native, was named the game’s MVP after going for 26 points and 11 rebounds. Ahmed added 12 points, five rebounds, and three blocks, while Erhunmwunse Oswin, playing in his first game with the Mustangs, had 12 points, eight rebounds, and five blocks. Simmons finished with 16 points and six assists.
Stephen Nalbandian
Sports Information Director
Putnam Science Academy
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