Class of 2023 PF Ibrahim Souare (Guinea / AZ) TRANSFERRING TO SYRACUSE (4/6/25)

[Niastri]

I'm sure he didn't touch the ball much but 0.5 turnovers per game at 17 mpg for a Center is not exactly what i would call a turnover machine.

Right, that was overstating things.

 

[djcon57]

Was there a list of schools interested in Souare? Curious who we beat out.

 

[baggerbob]

The UConn women played more physical defense last night than SU did all last year

That Uconn team was the best defensive team I think Geno has had. Even on Stewie's teams there usually were 1 or 2 players who were sub par. Yesterday 1-8 were able to switch and be effective.

 

[Zelda Zonk]

So how do you pronounce this name? Is it like SOIREE?

One of the articles said it’s pronounced SWAR-ay.

 

[baggerbob]

OK, but if we don't have a legit starting center next year and it's obvious by the end of November, what are we supposed to do? Souare looks like complete project/practice squad filler - which is OK, as we need bodies for practice (but god forbid he has to start due to injury.)

I hope Kyle pans out but to say he is the starter and will be effective at this point in time is a BIG stretch. He'd be going into his first year starting at center on a P4 team this fall.

I am glad we got a good PG finally.

We should be able to walk and chew gum, however.

We need another viable big.

You didn't have a great center in 2003, but you had a true point guard in Billy and a combo guard in Gerry.
Then you had 2 guard forwards in Duany and Pace.
Then 2 very good forwards in Melo and Hak.

 

[kingtidge]

Was there a list of schools interested in Souare? Curious who we beat out.

Entered portal on 4/3.

I have not seen any SM posts indicating which programs had been in contact but we got his commitment relatively quickly.

You didn't have a great center in 2003, but you had a true point guard in Billy and a combo guard in Gerry.
Then you had 2 guard forwards in Duany and Pace.
Then 2 very good forwards in Melo and Hak.

Just very good??

Melo should have been the Naismith 2003 POY (but that was a time when a freshman could never win it.)

 

[rrlbees]

Have at it.

 

[EnviroSciGuy]

One of the articles said it’s pronounced SWAR-ay.

 

[djcon57]

Have at it.

View attachment 251008

Yes, all mid majors and low majors are included in that average

 

[cusefan88]

You just can't defend pick and roll if you have a slow plodding center. Lampkin had his strengths but Cuse obviously didn't have the team to cover his weak points.

This roster looks very athletic and Souare is listed with a 7-2in wingspan. He adds 10-15lbs he'll hold up fine.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

Super helpful.

Also, sup.

 

[CardiacCuse]

What aren't you following?

You don't need 7 footers to field a solid interior -- you can win with 6-9 sized guys if they can play.

Nobody said "going small at center" is a strategic plan, or that we're actively trying to "copy" anyone. But this is where we are, due to how the dominoes toppled.

You're the one who introduced the topic of not wanting to emulate Houston, because to you it is "ugly basketball." I would rather win, and worry less about aesthetics, but that's just me. I just pointed out that Houston is an example of teams not needing a bunch of 6-11+ guys to play effective basketball.

we just see things totally differently.

i disagree about the potential of 6'9 guys...unless they weight like 260 or something...like a otis hill...and syr has not picked up any player like that thus far.

i watched the tape of souare and nothing about him says center to me...i think he is closer to small forward than center, personally.

i like him as a pickup...but not as a center.

and i think this narrative of "how the dominoes toppled" is just not the way i want to look at it. i think they targeted these guys and thats what they chose...not like it "just happened" ...

i never said I dont want to emulate houston! i meant that even if red tried, he couldnt. and even if he was trying that and was able to pull that off...this roster wouldnt be it, either.

everything houston does is built around their defense..which is clearly CLEARLY not what red's orange is doing.

houston plays a certain style that enable them to get away with not having taller bigs...syracuse cant and doesnt play that style and i dont think they can get away with it.

its not about me not wanting to win ugly...its that i think this isnt a winning strategy for building a roster. using forwards to create a center platoon is just not something i personally think will work. but i do hope i i am wrong. and i am also surprised to apparently be in the minority on that opinion...to me its obvious...but again i hope i am wrong.

 

[CardiacCuse]

OK, but if we don't have a legit starting center next year and it's obvious by the end of November, what are we supposed to do? Souare looks like complete project/practice squad filler - which is OK, as we need bodies for practice (but god forbid he has to start due to injury.)

I hope Kyle pans out but to say he is the starter and will be effective at this point in time is a BIG stretch. He'd be going into his first year starting at center on a P4 team this fall.

I am glad we got a good PG finally.

We should be able to walk and chew gum, however.

We need another viable big.

thank you...i agree.

im surprised that we seem to be in the minority on this too...seems obvious.

 

[RF2044]

we just see things totally differently.

i disagree about the potential of 6'9 guys...unless they weight like 260 or something...like a otis hill...and syr has not picked up any player like that thus far.

i watched the tape of souare and nothing about him says center to me...i think he is closer to small forward than center, personally.

i like him as a pickup...but not as a center.

and i think this narrative of "how the dominoes toppled" is just not the way i want to look at it. i think they targeted these guys and thats what they chose...not like it "just happened" ...

i never said I dont want to emulate houston! i meant that even if red tried, he couldnt. and even if he was trying that and was able to pull that off...this roster wouldnt be it, either.

everything houston does is built around their defense..which is clearly CLEARLY not what red's orange is doing.

houston plays a certain style that enable them to get away with not having taller bigs...syracuse cant and doesnt play that style and i dont think they can get away with it.

its not about me not wanting to win ugly...its that i think this isnt a winning strategy for building a roster. using forwards to create a center platoon is just not something i personally think will work. but i do hope i i am wrong. and i am also surprised to apparently be in the minority on that opinion...to me its obvious...but again i hope i am wrong.

Well, we went after Stephens. He is close to 7-feet tall. He allegedly committed here, but then the next day UNLV offered a bigger bag, and he reneged.

So it doesn't matter how you "want" to look at it -- those ARE the way the dominoes toppled. Had Stephens stuck with us, we'd have that taller center to go along with Kyle. But he didn't, so this is what we have. It did "happen."

Perhaps they'll go out and find another center transfer [although there are slim pickings at this point, so it is doubtful that they'll be able to land a starting caliber player], or maybe they won't.

But regardless, I'm a fan of you as a poster -- besides this quibble, I don't want to argue with you, CardiacCuse! All good.

 

[CuseIn282xx]

we just see things totally differently.

i disagree about the potential of 6'9 guys...unless they weight like 260 or something...like a otis hill...and syr has not picked up any player like that thus far.

i watched the tape of souare and nothing about him says center to me...i think he is closer to small forward than center, personally.

i like him as a pickup...but not as a center.

and i think this narrative of "how the dominoes toppled" is just not the way i want to look at it. i think they targeted these guys and thats what they chose...not like it "just happened" ...

i never said I dont want to emulate houston! i meant that even if red tried, he couldnt. and even if he was trying that and was able to pull that off...this roster wouldnt be it, either.

everything houston does is built around their defense..which is clearly CLEARLY not what red's orange is doing.

houston plays a certain style that enable them to get away with not having taller bigs...syracuse cant and doesnt play that style and i dont think they can get away with it.

its not about me not wanting to win ugly...its that i think this isnt a winning strategy for building a roster. using forwards to create a center platoon is just not something i personally think will work. but i do hope i i am wrong. and i am also surprised to apparently be in the minority on that opinion...to me its obvious...but again i hope i am wrong.

While height is a factor, playing good defense is more about intensity, attitude, endurance, and communication.

 

[bnoro]

Well said. In Kingz pics he just looks angry. Bell just looks confused. Put the two of them on the court together and we know who’s winning the matchup on both ends of the court.

Is this a serious post?

 

[CardiacCuse]

Well, we went after Stephens. He is close to 7-feet tall. He allegedly committed here, but then the next day UNLV offered a bigger bag, and he reneged.

So it doesn't matter how you "want" to look at it -- those ARE the way the dominoes toppled. Had Stephens stuck with us, we'd have that taller center to go along with Kyle. But he didn't, so this is what we have. It did "happen."

Perhaps they'll go out and find another center transfer [although there are slim pickings at this point, so it is doubtful that they'll be able to land a starting caliber player], or maybe they won't.

But regardless, I'm a fan of you as a poster -- besides this quibble, I don't want to argue with you, CardiacCuse! All good.

yeah for sure all good...for me too

something about portal season and this continued suckitude of the team brings out the intensity...i just want the team to get back to winning...and leaving holes in the roster...threatens that.

wasnt up to date on the stephens situation

the thing that gets me is the reporting from SU reporters close to the program saying that they are DONE with the center spot and happy with what they have now...these 2 centers are it, apparently.

i really hope they go international with some of the roster spots remaining...i remember jesse edwards was an afterthought ...lowly recruited...big impact

there may not be many good domestic options left...but there must be some international out there...the world is too big for there not to be.

 

[RedtheGOB]

thank you...i agree.

im surprised that we seem to be in the minority on this too...seems obvious.

I get where you're coming from but I think you need to venture over to the on3 list of available centers. Then try to filter by the one's that can actually move their feet. The one's that are actually mobile are all around 6'9.

Autry does not want to risk his career watching another big man try to get back on defense and getting burnt over and over at the rim.

I think it's also worth looking across the ACC. How many elite bigs are we going to face in ACC play. I mean 7 footers that can run the floor, shoot, and play defense. Not many that I see, but maybe I'm wrong? Maybe the non-con or Vegas tourney or at some point we run into a true big we can't handle because of their size but that shouldn't happen often.

 

[Zelda Zonk]

Have at it.

View attachment 251008

Most of these are wrong. Just sayin'.

 

[SanDiegoCuse]

From the Georgia Tech Rivals writer.

 

[Cusefan69]

From the Georgia Tech Rivals writer.

Dude has some size. Solid bigger player whose game can get better. He is not some skinny looking dude.

 

[kcsu]

Yeah, I think Kyle deffo looks like player - if he can stay healthy.

Stephen looked decent as well but it sounds like UNLV simply topped off the bag beyond where we wanted to go...

Souare looks like a practice squad player.

I dont think so. I think that he can give us a solid 6 to 8 minutes a half

 

[Orangezoo]

Dude has some size. Solid bigger player whose game can get better. He is not some skinny looking dude.

Yeah he goes 6-9 225 anlread and has the frame to add more weight for sure. Probably could run 240-250 and be a much bigger body to deal with

 

[Niastri]

we just see things totally differently.

i disagree about the potential of 6'9 guys...unless they weight like 260 or something...like a otis hill...and syr has not picked up any player like that thus far.

i watched the tape of souare and nothing about him says center to me...i think he is closer to small forward than center, personally.

i like him as a pickup...but not as a center.

and i think this narrative of "how the dominoes toppled" is just not the way i want to look at it. i think they targeted these guys and thats what they chose...not like it "just happened" ...

i never said I dont want to emulate houston! i meant that even if red tried, he couldnt. and even if he was trying that and was able to pull that off...this roster wouldnt be it, either.

everything houston does is built around their defense..which is clearly CLEARLY not what red's orange is doing.

houston plays a certain style that enable them to get away with not having taller bigs...syracuse cant and doesnt play that style and i dont think they can get away with it.

its not about me not wanting to win ugly...its that i think this isnt a winning strategy for building a roster. using forwards to create a center platoon is just not something i personally think will work. but i do hope i i am wrong. and i am also surprised to apparently be in the minority on that opinion...to me its obvious...but again i hope i am wrong.

Souare from the first video is very skinny. I watched the GT condensed game against Clemson, and he put on a lot of weight. I had to look at the roster to figure out who he was, he’s had a complete body transformation. The nutrition and S&C program got him a lot of additional mass. It looked like he lost some of his raw athleticism in exchange for that weight, though. Maybe he put in 40lbs in two years, and he’ll have some work to do getting his bounce and quickness back.

I’m 100% certain I would choose a different school than Syracuse if my primary goal was gaining muscle… Maybe we’ll do ok getting him quick and bouncy again? Considering our recent track record of guys gaining strength and explosiveness, as well as recovering from injury, I’d think we should fire everybody and start from scratch in that department.

Any way, Souare isn’t tiny, he has center size.

 

[Orangezoo]

Souare from the first video is very skinny. I watched the GT condensed game against Clemson, and he put on a lot of weight. I had to look at the roster to figure out who he was, he’s had a complete body transformation. The nutrition and S&C program got him a lot of additional mass. It looked like he lost some of his raw athleticism in exchange for that weight, though. Maybe he put in 40lbs in two years, and he’ll have some work to do getting his bounce and quickness back.

I’m 100% certain I would choose a different school than Syracuse if my primary goal was gaining muscle… Maybe we’ll do ok getting him quick and bouncy again? Considering our recent track record of guys gaining strength and explosiveness, as well as recovering from injury, I’d think we should fire everybody and start from scratch in that department.

Any way, Souare isn’t tiny, he has center size.

Not to mention it seems he’s playing the 5 in many of these clips when he is out there even often when he and Ndongo were out there together. He looks bigger than 6-9 with how long he is as well.