re: UA Basketball Recruiting

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Historically the National Prep Showcase has served as a platform for potential preps to professional prospects to play in front of NBA scouts and executives, providing an opportunity to either raise or lower their stock for the NBA Draft.


Last year Jalen Lecque was evaluated closely by NBA scouts at the event. The year prior it was Anfernee Simons, who was ultimately drafted in the first round, and in 2017 Hamidou Diallo considered the route, but ultimately landed at Kentucky after a tough showing at the Showcase.

This year the big name at the event that is potentially eligible for the NBA Draft was Karim Mane, a 6-foot-5 combination guard out of Vanier College in Canada. With 24 teams and a handful of high ranking officials evaluating him, Mane turned in two wide ranging performances.

The first night, Mane struggled, finishing with 12 points on just 1-for-8 shooting and missing all four of his three-point attempts. On night two, he bounced back, scoring 28 points on 9-for-18 shooting and 3-for-7 from three.

Although he just had four assists in his two games, Mane looks like he’s progressed as a ball handler and playmaker off the dribble. In the second game especially, Mane made good decisions with the ball and showed his vision, passing ability and reads in pick and roll situations.

“I think I’m a playmaker, I facilitate for everybody, I create for myself and my teammates, just make it easier for everybody around me and myself too,” Mane said about his game. “First I see myself as a playmaker and after that I see myself as a two-way player, I take pride in defense.”

The potential as a multi-positional defender is certainly there. Mane has good positional size, long arms, athleticism, lateral quickness and toughness.

The amount of NBA teams in attendance is a clear sign of the magnitude of Karim Mane’s impending decision between going to college or jumping into the 2020 NBA Draft. But it’s a decision that Mane is putting off until the spring.

“As of right now I’m just focused on college and this year,” Mane said. “It’s a great opportunity but I’m just focused on this year and when it comes to think about it, I’ll think about it.”

“It’s something I will think about and weigh my options in the spring,” he added.
While it’s clear the NBA path is a serious option, it’s not a given that Mane will go that route. Mane, 19, told 247Sports there are seven schools recruiting him the hardest -- Marquette, DePaul, California, Memphis, Georgetown, Maryland, Michigan State and Alabama. Maryland’s Mark Turgeon and Alabama’s Nate Oats were both there to watch him on Sunday.

“There’s like seven schools involved prioritizing me, they know what I want and they’re recruiting me to fill the spot,” Mane said.

The only official visit Mane has taken to date was to Maryland in late May. His next trip is scheduled for Marquette the weekend of Jan. 3.

While a big name in recruiting and basketball circles now, Mane is considered somewhat of a late bloomer, emerging during this past AAU season playing for Canada Elite on the Under Armour circuit.

Mane then built on his budding reputation playing for Canada at the FIBA u19 World Cup, averaging 11.8 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.1 assists in seven games. Mane is currently ranked No. 25 overall and as the No. 5 combo guard in the 247Sports Top247.

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TJ Starks is in the portal now. Kid is a fantastic player

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We only have one senior, so essentially there’s one scholarship,” Oats said. “We all know in today’s game, there’s going to be more than that. We’re not done recruiting in 2020.

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There is also the real chance Kira Lewis opts to go pro if he takes a step forward and limits TOs

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Arkansas now sits with a top-10 class nationally and with the third best class in the SEC, behind only Kentucky and Tennessee. Robinson a sturdy point of attack lead guard addition. All four Hawgs commits call the state home

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