’22 Cherif Kanoute proves as a valuable unsigned senior
On Wednesday I made the trip down to Mt. Zion Prep for the fourth session of GAC play where I got to see Olympus Prep in action. Among some of their intriguing prospects was 2022 wing Cherif Kanoute. It didn’t take long for the 6-foot-4 native of Mali to catch my eye with his active play at both ends of the floor.
Kanoute got to work right away with athletic finishes around and over the rim. His 6-foot-4 frame comes with good size, plus length, strength and athleticism. He moved very well without the ball and is a guy on the offensive end that doesn’t need to dribble the ball out of the air to make things happen. It seemed like he had good instincts as a cutter playing off his teammate’s penetration and got himself free a number of times with quick baseline cuts. He was consistent in transition where he filled the lanes wide and sprinted to put himself in position for layups, embracing any contact that came his way in the air.
Defensively he is extremely valuable as his strength and athleticism come into play once again. It makes for a versatile defender who can guard the 2-through-4 positions even at the college level. He brings intensity and competitiveness as well as good communication on or off the ball.
I caught up with Kanoute after his 18-points performance in his team’s win over the Phelps School.
“COVID-19 really made for a lot of confusion and I’ve just been trying my best to get some interest back here at Olympus. The transfer portal also makes it tough because the spots are really slim at the next level, but I’m just going to keep grinding.”
“I just try to be the best version of myself every game. This is a new team for me this year, so I got a feel for what my role would be and I just try to contribute as that to the best of my ability.”
How would Kanoute describe his game?
“I’m a high energy player and a team player. I’ll fill any role that any teams needs me to play. If I have to grab 20 rebounds, that’s what I’ll do. If I have to get assists, that’s what I’ll do. If I have to score, that’s what I’ll do. At the end of the day, I’m just trying to get the win.”
Last season, Kanoute was heavily involved with Columbia, but because of COVID-19 and the transfer portal it made for limited spots available for high school freshmen. Kanoute is very focused on going to a high academic university.
“My main goal is Ivy League. I put a lot of pride in my performance off the floor as well. Ever since I was in Mali, it’s been a dream of mine to get into Harvard, so we’ll see if my dream comes true.”
If Kanoute doesn’t fit the bill for any Ivy League programs at this time, he could be a great find for a Patriot League program. He comes with a college-ready body, a relentless motor and an unselfish mindset when it comes to winning.