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NCAA Basketball: 20 breakout candidates for 2016-17

By Carmine Carcieri

Mar 19, 2016; Des Moines, IA, USA; Connecticut Huskies guard Jalen Adams (2) brings the ball up court against Kansas Jayhawks forward Jamari Traylor (31) in the first half during the second round of the 2016 NCAA Tournament at Wells Fargo Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 19, 2016; Des Moines, IA, USA; Connecticut Huskies guard Jalen Adams (2) brings the ball up court against Kansas Jayhawks forward Jamari Traylor (31) in the first half during the second round of the 2016 NCAA Tournament at Wells Fargo Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 5, 2016; Queens, NY, USA; Providence Friars forward Ben Bentil (0) and St. John’s Red Storm forward Kassoum Yakwe (14) reach for a loose ball during the second half at Madison Square Garden. The Friars won 90-76. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 5, 2016; Queens, NY, USA; Providence Friars forward Ben Bentil (0) and St. John’s Red Storm forward Kassoum Yakwe (14) reach for a loose ball during the second half at Madison Square Garden. The Friars won 90-76. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports /

14. Kassoum Yakwe (St. John’s)

With his high school, Our Savior American, and athletic records under review by the NCAA, forward Kassoum Yakwe sat out the first five games of the season for the St. John’s Red Storm last year.

But as soon as he touched the floor for the Johnnies, Yakwe’s impact was undeniable.

In his first game of his college career, the former four-star recruit scored nine points in 18 minutes against Fordham. Three games later, Yakwe added 15 points and provided valuable rim protection in St. John’s upset win over Syracuse.

Over the final 10 games of the season, Yakwe averaged 9.2 points per game, including a 16 point, 15 rebound game versus Seton Hall and an 11 point, 11 rebound game in a win over DePaul. Overall, Yakwe put up 7.1 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.5 blocks in 23.4 minutes per game in his freshman campaign.

The 6’7″ sophomore forward from Mali is ready for an even bigger role in 2016-17. Yakwe’s length, athleticism, improving strength and instincts defensively will help him combine with Yankuba Sima to form an imposing front court tandem that will keep opponents out of the lane and away from the basket. He can switch onto opposing offensive players on the perimeter and continues to work on his timing when it comes to blocking shots at the rim.

But Yakwe’s work ethic is going to have the strongest impact on the offensive end. He is a very shaky shooter from the mid-range and beyond, struggles at the free throw line (52 percent) and is very robotic in the post.

However, Yakwe’s excellent motor, relentless ability to grab rebounds on both ends of the floor and mobility, fits perfectly within Chris Mullin’s pace-and-space scheme. If he developed more strength and a better shooting form in the off-season, this could be a monster season for the St. John’s big man.

The Johnnies are not expected to make or compete for an NCAA Tournament berth in 2016-17, but they have an undersized power forward that gives them an awfully bright future.

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