Patrick Ewing loves his big men…and they certainly love him back.
Ewing just reeled in his third center in the 2019 recruiting class as 4-star recruit Qudus Wahab committed to the Hoyas at 4 P.M. today. Wahab chose Georgetown over Pittsburgh, Syracuse and UConn. All four teams appeared to be in contention until late Tuesday night as rumblings emerged that asserted Wahab was down to Pitt and Georgetown.
Make no mistake, this is a big win for Ewing. The Hoyas will be tasked with replacing star Jessie Govan, Kaleb Johnson, and Trey Mourning next season (all long players who play solid minutes this year). NC State transfer Omer Yurtseven will most likely slide into Govan’s starting spot next season, but Wahab will add more length and athleticism off the bench.
The 6-foot-10, 230lbs center from Ashburn, Virginia is a physical presence under the basket, especially on defense. Wahab is especially adept at utilizing his long wingspan to contest shots underneath the basket as he has averaged 2.62 blocks per game for WE R1 (Wahab’s AAU team). Wahab has started every game he has played for WE R1 (8 for 8) this season while averaging 8.38 points per game on 48.3% shooting while only playing 20.6 minutes per game. More importantly, Wahab hauls in 9 rebounds per game and 2.75 offensive rebounds per game.
As seen from the stats above, Wahab relies heavily on his athleticism, physicality, and hustle to be effective. His hefty offensive rebound accumulation is especially impressive as it not only shows that he is proactive on the glass, but that he also utilizes his energy as a foundation to be successful.
Wahab’s offensive game is a work in progress. He has a nice touch around the rim and is beginning to extend his range beyond the paint. He is still primarily limited to working hard underneath the basket but has shown some signs of developing a more enhanced post game with a mid-range shot. Wahab was certainly attracted by Ewing’s success at helping develop offensively adept big men (see Marcus Derrickson and Jessie Govan).
Landing Wahab was Ewing’s immediate concern on the recruiting trail. Now that he has accomplished that, he has two more scholarships to hand out. Ewing should now turn his attention away from big men and towards dynamic wing players such as Terrence Shannon and Damion Baugh. ESPN ranks Shannon (6-foot-6, 190lbs) as the #90 recruit in the nation and he would offer nice depth on the wing behind Jamorko Pickett. Baugh is a 6-foot-4 guard from Tennessee who would help round out a solid crop of guards for next year. And then, of course, there’s Cole Anthony…
For now, welcome Qudus Wahab. Make us proud over the next four years. Hoya Saxa, folks.
