NCAA Basketball: Where will 2020 big man Moussa Cisse end up?

Top 2020 prospect Moussa Cisse is down to six teams and plans on making his college decision this upcoming week.

Highly touted 2021 recruit Moussa Cisse recently made the much-anticipated decision that he is going to reclassify to 2020 and said that he would make a decision this upcoming week. Cisse added that he is considering Memphis, Kentucky, LSU, Florida State, Georgetown, and Georgia.  That means that Alabama, Illinois, Tennessee, and USC did not make the final cut. Florida State received the only visit from the 6-10, 220-pounder though he also has taken unofficial visits to Memphis as well as Kentucky.

“In terms of my college decision, I’m looking for a good explanation of how I am going to be used,” Cisse told ESPN. “I’m not worried about starting or minutes. If I work hard, that will take care of itself. I’ve been watching a lot of film. The situation with COVID made my college recruiting a little more difficult, but I’ve adjusted to the situation and will make the best decision for my future.”

The Guinea native had a sensational first season at Lausanne High School (Memphis, TN) after transferring from Christ The King in Queens (NY) during the summer. Cisse was named the MVP of the DII-A state championship after just missing a triple-double with a 15-point, 10-rebound, and nine-block performance in the Lynx 54-44 victory over FACS in the title game.  He was also named the Tennesee Maxpreps POY as he averaged 21.3 points, 14 rebounds, and an astounding  8.6 blocks a game.

Cisse is very athletic and long though a bit on the slender side. Cisse is a shot-blocking machine who runs the floor exceptionally well as well as an excellent finisher around the rim. While he is an outstanding rebounder, he still needs to work on his offensive repertoire.

The consensus five-star recruit is rated as the ninth-best prospect in 2020 by 247Sports Composite and 11th by 247 Sports. He is also ranked 13th by Rivals and 23rd by ESPN.

Cisse is a potential one and done player.

So, where will Moussa Cisse end up?

LSU: The presumptive leaders for Cisse’s services. The Tigers may have to do a little roster purging if he does end up in Baton Rouge. Emmitt Williams is expected to stay in the NBA Draft while Trendon Watford still could return. Even if Watford doesn’t return, LSU would be right at the scholarship limit though three-star center Josh Gray has yet to sign an LOI, meaning that the Tigers do technically have a scholarship available per verbal commits. So, if Cisse does choose the Bayou Bengals, Gray would either likely open up his recruitment or come in as a walking. Gray chose LSU over Auburn, LSU, Providence, Seton Hall, and West Virginia in April. It is also possible that someone else could leave the program.

LSU could use more talent in the frontcourt, mainly if Watford does not return. The Tigers do have returning starter Darius Day and USC transfer Shareef O’Neil, but Gray and Bradley Ezewiro are more developmental players at this point.

Memphis: The Tigers definitely could use to add a talented big man this year with their one scholarship available. Reserve forward Lance Thomas and backup center Malcolm Dandridge are the only returnees from a year ago. Thomas did make 13 starts while Dandridge was in the starting lineup on four occasions. Memphis will also have Florida transfer Isaiah Stokes and junior college transfer Ahmad Rand available this upcoming season. Evansville transfer DeAndre Williams is seeking a waiver.

Kentucky: The Wildcats will once again be loaded. While the UK recently added Wake Forest center Olivier Saar, he will have to sit out this coming out. Meaning that the undersized Keion Brooks, along with incoming freshman Lance Ware and Isaiah Jackson is the only frontcourt scholarship players that will be available. Kentucky has two remaining scholarships and is also a finalist for 6-10 four-star center Frank Anselem.

Florida State: With Devin Vassell and Patrick Williams staying in the NBA Draft, the Seminoles currently have one scholarship available. Cisse would likely be paired with fellow incoming freshman Scottie Barnes in the starting lineup. However, FSU does have some nice returning frontcourt role players including 7-1 sophomore Balsa Koprivica along with juniors RaiQuan Gray and Malik Osborne. So, I’m not sure he would get as playing time here than other places.

Georgetown: Patrick Ewing has once again done a nice job recruiting though a commitment from Cisse would make this year’s class his highest recruiting class ever. As it stands now, the Hoyas 2020 class ranks 39th in the country and fourth in the Big East, which is the second-highest under Ewing. Sophomore centers Qudus Wahab and Timothy Ighoefe, particularly Wahab, got increased playing time with the Hoyas departures as well as injuries to Omer Yurtseven. 6-11 redshirt freshman Malcolm Wilson also returns, and the Hoyas also will have the services of grad transfer Chudier Bile. Four-star forward Jamari Sibley could also play the 4.

Cisse would likely situate in the starting lineup in the four spot.

Georgia: Tom Crean has done a fabulous job restructuring the Bulldogs’ roster as Georgia lost four of its top five scorers from this past season. While it would appear that the Bulldogs would have to do a little roster juggling, if Cisse chose them, UGA definitely could use an additional big man. Six-foot-8 forward Mike Peake, junior college transfer Jonathan Nudd and incoming freshman Joshua Taylor are currently the only frontcourt players that are eligible to play this year as Virginia Tech transfer P.J. Horne must sit out the upcoming campaign. Georgia also has a verbal pledge from Kilgore College power forward Tyron McMillan.

Prediction: It does appear that this is truly a two-horse race between Memphis and LSU. And while all signs point to the Tigers at this point, I wouldn’t be surprised if he ends at Memphis or possibly Kentucky. So, I will put LSU followed closely by Memphis and Kentucky. Florida State would be fourth with Georgetown (fifth) and Georgia (sixth).