PUTNAM — After a 37-4 year last season for the Putnam Science Academy boy’s basketball team expectations were sky high on the Maple Street campus heading into the 2016-17 season that returned multiple key contributors headlined by top 10 national prospect Hamidou Diallo. Even though it was a roster that had key returnees it was also a roster in flux due to the graduation of key contributors Mamadou Diarra (UConn), Saul Phiri (LaSalle) and Tyree Marshall (Rider). 

The task was tall for head oach Tom Espinosa and his staff as they hit the recruiting road. With a need to replace forward Mamadou Diarra the focus was immediately on the front court. The staff secured commitments from Isaac Kante, Malik Ondigo, Alexis Yetna and Akok Akok. 

There was also a need to add complementary pieces around the three returning guards Jaheam Cornwall, Eric Ayala and Diallo. They were able to add local star KeAndre Fair as well as an increased role for returnee Brandon Hurst.

As the season started up practices were hard as coach Espinosa was preparing his team for the tough schedule that he had put together for his team featuring two trips to Baltimore, a trip to Florida to play in the City of Palms tournament and local national events. 

The season started off with the team going 4-0 before Thanksgiving break featuring wins over nationally ranked Massanutten Military Academy (VA) and Sunrise Christian Academy (KS) at the National Prep showcase in New Haven. With many college coaches watching the games looking for the next star, NBA scouts were there as well for Hamidou Diallo. Isaac Kante and Jaheam Cornwall also had a strong start to the season for the Mustangs.

After returning from Thanksgiving break the grind of the season was about to commence for PSA. The Mustangs headed to Baltimore to play in the Shirts and Skins Classic. The Mustangs went 1-1 in the Classic beating a well rounded Mt. Zion (Md.) team, but suffered a setback against Coastal Academy (NJ). On the way back to Connecticut they made a pit stop at the PSA Cardinals showcase event in Pennsylvania where the defeated the Phelps School to finish the weekend 2-1.

The next weekend the Mustangs headed back down to Baltimore for another showcase event featuring some of the most highly ranked players. The Mustangs went 2-0 with wins over Westtown (PA) and Gray Collegiate (NC). While on the trip the team took a trip to see the University of Maryland as guard Eric Ayala is highly sought after by the Terps. The team was given a tour of the basketball facility and sat front row behind the bench as the Terps beat Oklahoma St.

Both these trips lead up to the biggest trip of them all as the team headed to the City of Palms tournament in Fort Myers, Fla. It was the Mustangs first appearance in the tournament and first time the tournament featured at team from Connecticut. In the first round of the tournament the Mustangs snuck by a tough St. Anthony’s (Texas) squad that features top 2019 prospect Charles Bassey. In the championship game it was a rematch between Westtown (Penn.). In a highly competitive and close game throughout Westtown edged PSA to claim the championship. The Mustangs finished the trip off on a positive note as they traveled to IMG Academy and secured a win before heading home for winter break where the recruitment of top prospect Hamidou Diallo was heating up.

Diallo who at this point in the season had cut his list of potential destinations down to Kentucky, UConn, Arizona, Indiana, Kansas and Syracuse. Now at the midpoint of the year Diallo was considering leaving prep school to enroll for the spring semester at college. Over winter break Diallo took official visits to UConn and Kentucky. He ultimately decided to enroll early and committed to Kentucky where he is currently. He does not play in games right now as the Wildcats are in the NCAA tournament, but he practices and travels with the team. 

This move by Diallo changed the landscape of the prep school basketball and the Putnam Science team. When Diallo departed he was the team’s leading scorer and rebounder leaving a massive void.

While Diallo was off to Kentucky, the rest of the Putnam Science team returned and added Kentrevious Jones, a Xavier commit from Georgia to the team. The team was then forced to change their identify from a more high-flying fast break system starring Diallo to a half court offensively driven team. 

It was a change that wasn’t easy according to Espinosa, “It was definitely a huge change for our team when you lose someone as talented as Hamidou.Everyone just had to step up and play a bigger role and I’m proud of how we responded.”

After a loss to Cushing Academy in the team’s first game without Diallo the Mustangs responded extraordinary well as they went 16-3 after Diallo left in the regular season with marquee wins over Vermont Academy, Notre Dame Prep, Commonwealth Academy and Mt. Zion.

Leading the Mustangs into postseason play was Eric Ayala, a senior point guard who is considering Syracuse, Maryland and many other schools at this point. Along with Ayala his backcourt mate of Jaheam Cornwall played an even larger role with the departure of Diallo. Due to the sudden hole Diallo left Espinosa leaned on his depth of big men even more as Isaac Kante, Malik Ondigo and Alexis Yetna all played well down the stretch heading into postseason.

The Mustangs were the regular season champions of the Power 5 conference with a 5-1 record and won the conference tournament as well defeating third-seed Notre Dame Prep and  Espinosa was extremely excited for the National tournament up next.

“Down the stretch of the season we really started to hit our stride and find our identify,” said Espinosa. “We played extremely tough defensively and offensively everyone has really grown into their individual role.”

With a strong close to the season the Mustangs were awarded a first round bye in the National Prep Championship played at Albertus Magnus. PSA played Cushing Academy in the second round after Cushing was able to knock off Fork Union (Vir.) in the first round. The Mustangs who were previously knocked off by Cushing were ready to exact revenge and earned a hard-fought victory to advance to the final 4 and a date with undefeated Brewster Academy.

Brewster Academy who was one of the Mustangs three losses without Diallo as they lost 90-79 a few weeks earlier at Brewster. In a back and forth battle the Mustangs used a 15-4 late first half run to earn a four point lead going into halftime. The second half was a battle as the lead went back and forth, but Brewster was able to seal the game with a couple of free throws and the Mustangs were unable to get a last second shot off. 

A heartbreaking way to end the season but Espinosa was proud of the team saying, “This team faced a ton of adversity throughout the season from Diallo leaving, to adding new players and role guys having bigger roles. I couldn’t be prouder of each guy, all these guys have outstanding futures ahead of them on and off the basketball court.”

Now Espinosa and staff will look to reload again. After back to back final four appearances they will be looking to take the next step as a program and bring their first national championship back to Putnam.

 

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