Benford on Mbao
Assistant Tony Benford was the point man on the recruitment of MU's newest big man, 7-foot-2 Youssoupha Mbao.
As it turns out, he had a relationship with Mbao's coach at Stoneridge Prep, Babacar Sy, for quite some time prior to learning of Mbao. Once he and other members of MU's staff saw Mbao play, and Sy knew Mbao would be handled well by Benford and the rest of the Golden Eagles' staff, the fit became apparent.
There are some issues to iron out between now and the start of next season, but Benford said MU is confident it can be done and with a minimum of difficulty.
As far as his physical presence, I was able to get an up-close look at Mbao and he's every bit of 7-2. He's thin at 215 pounds, but definitely not spindly, as he's definitely got some muscle on him. A few months of work with strength and conditioning coach Todd Smith, as well as a lot more eating, and he'll probably be able to put on 15 more pounds of good weight by the start of the season.
He's also got enormously long arms from what I could tell. I wasn't able to get an official wingspan on him, but I will try to find that out.
Mbao apparently doesn't have much of an offensive game at this point, but he'll get plenty of tutoring once he returns to campus in the summer. MU won't need a bunch of points from him anyway -- his presence in the paint as a shot blocker and rebounder will be more than enough initially.
The early scouting reports are that he could make a real impact early on, and that he runs the floor well. Another incoming player, guard Darius Johnson-Odom, also got rave reviews from some of the returning players I spoke with on Monday.
Anyway, here's the transcript of the interview I did with Benford prior to the banquet. Also, because he was still on his official visit, I was unable to speak to Mbao. I'll try to track him down in the next day or two for a blog interview, so make sure to check back.
How did the MU staff learn about Mbao initially?
"I’ve known his coach, Babacar Sy, for probably 10-15 years. He’s always had players, he’s always tried to make a difference in the country of Senegal. He goes over and brings kids over all the time to the States for AAU tournaments and what-not. We saw ‘Yous’ last year. He wasn’t as big as he is now. I knew he was coming over to play at Stoneridge last summer, then we followed him, tracked him all fall. Really, our whole staff had a chance to go out and watch him play, and we just kept track of him. Really, the relationship we have with Babacar, the relationship that we’ve had with some other people in the program, it all worked out in the end for us to get him."
How long has he been in the United States?
"A year. He was in Spain and the Canary Islands. They have a basketball academy, and he played in Spain for those years he wasn’t here, then play in the summers with Babacar. Babacar’s the one who put him in Spain, and then he brought him over here to play with him this year. It’s amazing what those kids can do. They can leave their country at 14 and a half and go play basketball, and then come over here to the United States – I don’t think my son could do that. He’s fluent in four different languages. He’s a very smart kid. We’re fortunate to have him."
How much legwork was involved with getting everything in order with him, as far as transcripts and all the other paperwork that goes along with admitting an international player?
"We’re still working on everything, but he’s going to be fine. He’s got some stuff we’ve got to deal with through the NCAA Clearinghouse. You’ve got to keep going through all that stuff, amateurism status and all that, but he should be fine. Babacar knows our system here, so he knows what the kids have to do to be eligible to participate here. He understands that process. Stoneridge has had kids coming through that program for the past 10 years, 12 years, so they understand what the kids have to have to be eligible. These kids work extra-hard. You tell him he’s got to study for two hours, he’s going to study for four or five. You tell him he’s got to be in the gym for two hours, he’s going to be in there for four or five."
Mbao apparently played on a professional team overseas. That doesn't mean he was paid, but if he did play alongside players who were paid, that might lead to him having to sit some games. Where do you guys stand with that?
"That’s something we’re working through with our compliance people, with the NCAA on amateurism status. What happens is a lot of kids get moved up without knowing they’re playing on a team where some of the players are getting paid, and that’s a rule that the NCAA just put in recently. In his case it’s not going to be a whole year or anything like that. Maybe a couple of games. We’ll prepare for that, go through the proper channels, but we foresee him playing next year."
What does he bring to the table as a player?
"His defense and rebounding are probably further along than his offensive skills. He patterns himself after Kevin Garnett. He’s got that length. But he can really pass the ball, he understands how to play, he’s a team player. Sometimes he’s a little too unselfish. He’ll catch it in the post and then throw it out to an open teammate when he can score the basketball. Our team is changing a little bit from the three-guard offense, and he and Chris Otule will add size that we didn’t have and can match up with other bigger people in this league. The offense we run is really going to be predicated on getting the basketball inside, and so he’ll be perfect for that."
How big will his ability to block shots be for you guys next season?
"We’ve never had that. I played against Hakeem Olajuwon in college. I saw (Hasheem) Thabeet when he came over, and he’s just as far along as Thabeet was when he came to the States. He’s just got to get bigger and stronger, and that’s going to come. He understands he can change shots. He’s got great instincts for blocking shots, and is really a great helper on the defensive end. He understands the defensive end probably moreso than the offensive end. It’s going to open a lot of things up for us. We’re fortunate to get him this late in the ballgame."
He was reportedly also being recruited by Kentucky, USC and Virginia Tech. What do you think helped sway Mbao toward MU?
"Babacar’s real particular about where he sends his kids. You’ve got to have a relationship with him. And then obviously the success Ousmane Barro had here. Buzz knowing ‘Ooze’, and Ooze having a lot of respect for Buzz really helped us too."
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