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UConn Offer

Mamadou Diarra, who has a scholarship offer from UConn, in action during the Mustangs recent trip to the National Prep School Championships. Courtesy photo.

 

 

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By Ron P. Coderre

Despite the looming threat of the dissolution of the highly successful Putnam Science Academy basketball program, the Mustangs continue to make headlines.

In the latest release from the Maple Street campus, basketball coach and athletic director Tom Espinosa announced that another one of his players has received an offer from a major NCAA Division I university.  

Mamadou Diarra, the 6-foot, 8-inch and 215-pound Mustang big man, has received an offer to attend UConn and play for Coach Kevin Ollie for the 2016-2017 season.  Diarra, who is scheduled to graduate in May, also has other offers from the University of Minnesota, Kansas State University and Temple University on the table.

According to Espinosa, Diarra has another year of eligibility remaining on the prep school level.  This fact along with UConn’s offer, which is one year away, has given Diarra something to think about regarding his immediate basketball future.

Does he stay for another season at Putnam Science Academy or play at another prep school?  Or does he accept a college offer to play next season?

Stunning Announcement 

Creating Confusion

Muddying up the waters is the announcement March 27 by the hierarchy of the Wellspring Foundation that Putnam Science Academy would be closing the academic portion of its program following graduation this year.  The Foundation administration announced that the school is in poor financial condition and would be merging with its sister school, Pioneer Academy in Wayne, N.J.

The announcement, which took faculty, support staff and students by total surprise, was not popularly received.  A number of the faculty and staff strongly expressed their sentiments about keeping the school open.  Their words appeared to fall on deaf ears.  It seems the decision has been made and is irreversible.

According to the Wellspring administration, the plan is to utilize the next two years to do needed renovations and updates to the school that will make it more attractive to families and students.  They also plan on doing fund-raising to close the financial gap.  This year Putnam Science Academy had an enrollment of 115 all male students primarily from Turkey and its surrounding countries and American students primarily of Turkish descent.  The school had one student from Putnam.  In its early years the school enjoyed a student population as high as 190.  It has been steadily declining since then.

This year was also a high water mark academically in that the school endured a rigorous prep school certification process, which granted them official status for the first time in its history.

Espinosa has put forth a proposal that the Wellspring Foundation is currently weighing.  The proposal would keep the school going as a basketball school.  In the proposal Espinosa would produce two teams (approximately 20 basketball players) with all of the players already NCAA academically qualified.  The program would serve postgraduate students only, giving them another year of basketball competition, better preparing them for the next step on the college level.  A decision on the proposal is expected in the near future, although the administration is not known for making quick decisions.

What About Diarra?

Back to Diarra, the young man from Queens transferred to Putnam Science Academy in the midst of the 2013-2014 season.  His future is bright though very confused by all that’s transpired around him.  During his two years on the Putnam campus, he’s been fortunate to play in two National Prep School Championships.  Last season, he was part of a team that boasted a 25-8 record.  He was an inside force for coach Espinosa, averaging nine points and nine rebounds per contest.

“Mamadou has progressed a long way since arriving at our school.  His basketball skills have improved immensely and he’s grown physically.  He’s worked very hard to get himself into great basketball shape.  Most importantly he’s become one of our leaders,” said Espinosa.  “I’m very happy that he’s received these offers.”

According to Espinosa, UConn could very well be the frontrunner in the race to secure Diarra’s services.  The fact that his family lives in Queens, which is within easy driving distance to UConn could be an influencing factor.

Founded in 2001, Putnam Science Academy has enjoyed a comfortable relationship with the Putnam community.   The varsity basketball program was initiated in 2006-2007.  Since that time the program has witnessed meteoric success.  In nine years of varsity competition, Espinosa and his Mustangs have posted an impressive 171-58 record, a lofty winning percentage of 74.7.

Four members of this year’s team have accepted Division I scholarships.  The Robinson twins, Andrew and Aaron are headed to Quinnipiac University, point guard Kealen Ives will attend Rider and Vincent Eze will play at Manhattan.  The school’s most prominent basketball graduate is Scoochie Smith who is currently the starting point guard for the University of Dayton Flyers, who has enjoyed great success in the NCAA Tournament the past two years.  Other former players who are currently in Division I programs include Shaun Lawton, Dalique Mingo, Chaise Daniels, Danny Upchurch, Jordan Butler and Anthony Durham.