MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Three-star power forward Sagaba Konaté has committed to West Virginia, bringing some size to the Mountaineers’ 2016 recruiting class.
The raw but agile 6-foot-8 native of Mali also holds offers from Pitt, Purdue, Wichita State, Dayton and Rutgers. He has been playing basketball only since 2011, but began drawing heavy interest after his junior season at Hermitage (Pa.) Kennedy Catholic, according to Keenan Cummings, who reported the commitment WVSports.com.
Konaté is one of 14 siblings, four of whom played college basketball. His older brother Bakary Konaté is a 6-11 sophomore projected to be Minnesota’s starting center this season.
Konaté led Kennedy Catholic to the PIAA Class A Final Four last season.
West Virginia’s other 2016 commitments are combo guard Chase Harler of Wheeling Central and point guard Brandon Knapper from Southern Charleston, both rated by Rivals as three-star prospects.
The Mountaineers also are pursuing Polish big man Maciej Bender, a 6-10 forward/center attending high school in Grundy, Va., and 6-9 forward Nick Rakocevic of Westchester (Ill.) St. Joseph’s.