NCAA Basketball Recruiting: Kentucky, Maryland showing interest in Karim Mane
Karim Mane is perhaps the hottest NCAA Basketball prospect in Canada and several major programs including Kentucky is taking notice.
Kentucky became the latest NCAA Basketball program to reach out to 2020 Canadian prospect Karim Mane, according to Adam Zagoria of ZAGSBLOG. Kentucky coach John Calipari has sent his assistants to Greece to watch Mane play for Canada’s U19 in the FIBA World Cup.
“Kentucky has reached out, their assistants are there,” Shane James, the co-director of Under Armour Canada Elite told Zakaria by phone from Toronto on Wednesday. “They want Coach Cal [John Calipari] to see him play probably later on in July. There’s quite a bit of schools out there.”
The 6-5 combo guard has displayed a well-rounded game in helping Canada (2-1) reach the quarterfinals of the World Cup. He opened the tournament with a 23-point and five-rebound performance against Australia and then registered a double-double in the final game of the group phase versus Latavia. Overall, Mane is averaging 13.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 4.0 assists despite shooting 38.8% from the field and 33.3% from beyond the arc (8 of 24) through four games.
Mane is ranked as a three-star prospect and ranked 122nd nationally by 247Sports Composite but he is slated as a four-star recruit and No. 30 in the country by 247Sports regular site. The Montreal native is extremely athletic and possesses a solid feel for the game. He is also strong and long, with a 7-0 wingspan, and can really shoot the ball with range. However, the 19-year-old is at his best when attacking the basket.
Kentucky is not the only major program pursuing the Vanier College product as Maryland, Kansas, Texas, Illinois, Xavier, Providence, Oregon, Wake Forest, Seton Hall, and Arizona State are also involved. Maryland, Texas, Xavier, and Kansas are currently making him a priority. He took an official visit to Maryland on June 1 and plans on taking some more this fall.
Maryland doesn’t currently have a scholarship available for 2020 with 6-0 point guard Marcus Dockery (Washington, DC), who committed to the Terrapins on Sept. 20, 2018. However, point guard is a position of need for the Terps so it is not a surprise they are looking for an upgrade. Xavier could add some backcourt depth but the Musketeers already have commitments from a pair of 2020 class members Dwon Odom, who is a consensus top-60 prospect, and C.J. Wilcher, who is a consensus three-plus star recruit. Kentucky and Texas both have plenty of room to add talented players.