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Not a bad weekend for PSA’s Amdy Ndiaye.
On Friday afternoon, he put his palpable nervousness aside and instead put on a white hat with the royal blue P of the University of Pittsburgh, announcing his college commitment for next year in the process.
Later that night, he scored six points and blocked three shots in his debut with the Prep basketball, helping the Mustangs open their season with a 99-74 win over Busche Academy (N.H.). Then Sunday afternoon, Ndiaye – a 6-foot, 9-inch wing from Senegal — had 13 points, seven rebounds, and two more blocks in a 109-94 win over Our Savior Lutheran of Bronx, N.Y.
All in all, he got things off on the right foot, starting with his commitment to the ACC school coached by former Duke star Jeff Capel.
“I’m an ACC player,” he said with a smile. “I feel like I can play at that level, and Pittsburgh is a place I feel comfortable to call home. With coach Capel, I feel like I can reach the sky.
“I was nervous because I was being recruited by some great schools and great programs. But the relationships I’ve built with the people (at Pitt), the coaches, the players…I feel like that’s important, to go somewhere that you know they want you. Even the professors, they wanted me to come. That family culture really pushed me to Pittsburgh.”
Friday night, it was a matter of shaking off the nerves that eventually pushed PSA to the win. PSA struggled on the defensive end and led just 42-41 at halftime. Dame Givner, playing in his first game with the Mustangs, said he was nervous, “like I had never played basketball before.
“We came out a little cotton-mouthed. I told (teammate Que Duncan) that I couldn’t feel the ball, my hands were sweaty.
“We just had to see the ball go through the hoop, get a little bit of confidence going. Once we did that, we see the result.”
Givner had a double-double in his PSA debut, posting 10 points and 10 rebounds, while adding six assists as well. He was one of seven players in double figures as the two-time defending national champions got things figured out.
Ben Ahmed finished with a game-high 21 points, Justin Johnson made four 3s on his way to 14 points, and Boubacar Diatta had 12 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and three steals. Mekhi Conner had with 12 points and four steals, Cris McElveen added 11 points and Duncan chipped in 10 for PSA.
PSA bounced back with a cleaner performance Sunday afternoon, knocking off OSL behind 18 more points from Givner, who also added eight rebounds, five assists, two steals, and a blocked shot. Ahmed had 18 points as well, Johnson finished with 15, while Ndiaye did his thing and Duncan posted 13 points, four assists, three steals, and a pair of blocks.
PSA plays at home Thursday night at 6:30, then heads to the Boston area for matchups Saturday and Sunday with Brewster Academy and The Newman School, respectively, as part of the NEBL Tipoff.
Stephen Nalbandian
Sports Information Director
Putnam Science Academy
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