4. Sagaba Konate – West Virginia/From Mali (6-8 260, 20-years-old)
Sagaba is another player that is a bit shorter than desired at his position (PF/C). However, thanks to his weight (260 pounds, heavier than most players in the NBA), he can still bang. A team needing hustle and rim protection (18 blocks in 3 games against Baylor) could do much worse. He averaged 10.8 points (51% FG), 7.6 rebounds and 3.3 blocks in 25.4 minutes this season. That’s 10.8 rebounds and 4.7 blocks per 36 minutes and he held up those numbers against ranked teams. Against then #10 Kansas, he made 7 of 10 attempts for 16 points, 10 rebounds and 5 blocks. Konate had nine different games with at least 10 rebounds and at least 5 blocks. A decent comparison for Konate would be Tristan Thompson of the Cleveland Cavaliers. Add in about 20 pounds and make Thompson into a lot better rim protector and you get Sagaba. Ask any Mountaineers fan. He’s that special. If he’s not blocking shots, he’s at least altering them, which is sometimes just as good. Any spectator that got the privilege of seeing what he did to Kansas will tell you he is good enough to be a factor in the pros.