When the news dropped that Arizona State transfer Massamba Diop was committing to Gonzaga over St. John's, it felt like a massive whiff for head coach Rick Pitino and his staff. However, could that lead to some rough news for Michael Malone and North Carolina?
That could end up being the case when it comes to Mouhamed 'Momo' Faye. The standout center suits up for Paris Basketball in France's first division and he was previously on commit watch for the Heels. However, 247Sports' David Sisk recently confirmed on a podcast that North Carolina is on the outside looking in, and that St. John's is on the list of schools working diligently to land him over the Heels.
Best remaining options at center for St. John's after missing out on Massamba Diop
“Been told that officially, North Carolina is not out of it for him, but you’re looking at competitors offering twice as much basically to what North Carolina has for him,” Sisk said of Faye on the Heel Report Podcast.
St. John's remains in the hunt to land touted overseas center Mouhamed Faye
Sisk added that some schools are prepared to offer nearly double what Carolina was ready to put on the table. He strongly hinted that St. John's could do so too, as Pitino hasn't quite struck gold in the portal yet the way that maybe he was hoping for.
Because of that, the budget may be a bit bigger for him to have Faye ready to move to New York and suit up for him. That's all in the air, however, as it has been reported that BYU and others are likely in the mix as well. Because of that, it seems like it could take a little while before a final decision is made.
From our chair, though, it could make sense as to why Pitino would be so interested in Faye, who checks in at 6-10, 225 pounds. Faye's experience playing in Europe is also a major benefit, as he's used to battling in the low block with some heavy hitters.
His 7-5 wingspan is something that simply can't be taught too. So, yes, losing Diop stung quite a bit and it was a decision that not many St. John's fans were ready for. However, Pitino has shifted his focus to other targets and Faye is clearly on the list. The latest update from Sisk too should give St. John's supporters hope that maybe, just maybe Pitino will be able to get him to sign sooner rather than later.
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