James Siakam now in 2010 Class and MU target

[Tugg Speedman]

http://marquette.scout.com/2/962541.html

James Siakam is a 6-6 PF from Brehm Prep School in Carbondale, Ill. According to Roy Schmidt of Illinois Prep Bullseye Basketball Report he has now become a 2010 recruit and a target of Marquette's.

[NYWarrior]

yup, disclosed last month....more details here

http://ilprepbullseye.com/page4.html

[thanooj]

Is he on the same team as the kid we offered to for 2011?

[radome]

"Siakam is an outstanding athlete and an absolute warrior around the basket.  He excels in the open court, is a tremendous finisher and a strong rebounder.

Want a school that not too many have talked about that has to be taken seriously?  How about Marquette University?  Siakam attended Marquette's elite camp last summer and there is no question that head coach Buzz Williams loves athletic forwards who are mentally tough and give their all.  Siakam clearly fits that description.  Not only that, but it very much appears as though the Golden Eagles are ready to move forward in their pursuit of Siakam as a 2010 recruit.  In fact, assistant coach Tony Benford plans on coming in to see Siakam this weekend."

IMHO you have really scooped this.  Very Buzz-like since he is under the radar too.

[Tugg Speedman]

Also

And finally, while it may sound crazy to outsiders, don't count out Harvard as a realistic college destination for Siakam.  Once again, that is because academics are of foremost importance to Siakam when it comes to choosing a school.  Add to that the fact that Crimson head coach Tommy Amaker has rejuvenated interest in Harvard basketball and clearly has the program on the upswing, and we believe that the Ivy League is not out of the realm of possibility for Siakam.

Didn't we lose a potential recruit to Harvard a year or two ago?

[NYWarrior]

Didn't we lose a potential recruit to Harvard a year or two ago?

Max Kenyi

[MerrittsMustache]

Also

And finally, while it may sound crazy to outsiders, don't count out Harvard as a realistic college destination for Siakam.  Once again, that is because academics are of foremost importance to Siakam when it comes to choosing a school.  Add to that the fact that Crimson head coach Tommy Amaker has rejuvenated interest in Harvard basketball and clearly has the program on the upswing, and we believe that the Ivy League is not out of the realm of possibility for Siakam.

Didn't we lose a potential recruit to Harvard a year or two ago?

Yes, I believe it was Frank Ben Eza (or something similar) but I think he changed his mind and ended up going to Davidson.

[bma725]

Max Kenyi

It was Frank Ben-Eze, not Kenyi.  We got out of the Kenyi recruitment before he got close to making a decision.

[bma725]

Yes, I believe it was Frank Ben Eza (or something similar) but I think he changed his mind and ended up going to Davidson.

It wasn't so much him changing his mind as him not meeting the qualifying academic standards for Harvard forcing him to look elsewhere.

[MerrittsMustache]

It wasn't so much him changing his mind as him not meeting the qualifying academic standards for Harvard forcing him to look elsewhere.

Yep, he changed his mind when they told him he couldn't go to school there. Same thing 

Thanks for the clarification.

[StillWarriors]

At risk of pointing out the obvious, another 6'6" guy?????? Unless we're losing more than one guy currently on the team, I don't get it.  Like all of this, I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

[Markusquette]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2zswo77R_U

[Golden Avalanche]

In that video, the kid seems to dunk with some violence. An element we have missed last few seasons.

[GOMU1104]

Overall length is just as, if not more important than height.

[damuts222]

 If he reclassified that means he's 17 now and probably is still growing, possibly another 2 inches or so..

[kmwtrucks]

I love this guy as a prospect and after Dieng he is my next favorite recruit.  He can play PF in the Big East.  he is only 6-6 but he looks quick off the floor and must have long arms.  The reason I like Dieng better is he can also play center.

[mr.MUskie]

James "Bamba" Siakam

Bamba!

[Jay Bee]

If he reclassified that means he's 17 now and probably is still growing, possibly another 2 inches or so..

Turns 18 in 5 weeks.

[GOMU1104]

Turns 18 in 5 weeks.

Makes him older than Vander. He wont turn 18 until sometime in the fall, I believe.

[mr.MUskie]

How do you reclassify?  How does he go from being a 2011 propect to a 2010?

[Dawson Rental]

Is he on the same team as the kid we offered to for 2011?

Brehm Prep has two prospects in the 2011 class.  

Andre Henley 6'6" 220 SF  92 scout rating, and        

Bruce Barron 6'2" 200 PG   91 scout rating.  I wasn't aware that MU had offered either, but I wouldn't necessarily know.

[Dawson Rental]

How do you reclassify?  How does he go from being a 2011 propect to a 2010?

You do better than you anticipated in school and you graduate.  Or in this kid's case, since he's being recruited by Harvard, you originally decide that to get a scholarship to a school you want, you probably need to play an extra year in the prep ranks, and then you discover that you don't have to because Vandy and other good school are willing to take you now.

[Blackhat]

Looks good around the hoop and with his back to the basket.

At least on his good plays, i.e. highlight reel. 

[mr.MUskie]

Siakam, who competes on the travel team circuit with the Illinois Titans, is the brother of former Western Kentucky star Boris Siakam.

Siakam, a 6'7" forward, is a dazzling combination of size, strength, athleticism and versatility. Siakam has the ability to dominate games on both ends of the basketball court. He is a strong finisher inside who also excels with his rebounding and shot-blocking skills. Although he currently does most of his damage inside, Siakam may well ultimately develop into a big wing as his skills continue to develop.

A native of the Cameroon, Siakam starred this summer on the travel team circuit with Aaron Lee's Illinois Titans program. Siakam was outstanding this past July at the Chicago Summer Classic, and was equally impressive this past weekend at the P.E.P. Fall Classic.

This coming season, Siakam is set to anchor the frontcourt for a Brehm Prep squad that will also feature 6'9" Class of 2012 sensation Emmanuel Ochi, Earl Ruffin from the Class of 2009, and 6'2" Class of 2011 point guard Bruce Barron.

[bma725]

How do you reclassify?  How does he go from being a 2011 propect to a 2010?

Simple really.  He's from Cameroon, and when he came here a few years ago there were some questions about how he would adapt to the American school system and what grade he should be placed in, so they put him in 2011 even though his age would dictate being a 2010 prospect.  As it turns out, he's much further ahead than anticipated academically, and he's been able to get to a level where he won't need an extra year to graduate so he can reclassify to 2010.