Mady Sissoko
Roster

Player Profile – Mady Sissoko

A 6’9” 230 lb Center with a 7’4” wingspan, Sissoko may offer the most exciting combination of power, length, and athleticism of any big man Tom Izzo has ever recruited.

Photo Courtesy of the State News

2019-20 Season Stats

G/GSMPGFG/FGAPPGAPG/TOVRPG2FG%3FG%FT%SPG/BPG/Total
13UNK4.9/6.512.20.9/1.26.774.7%
(62/83)
100%
(2/2)
65.9%
(29/44)
0.9/2.4
12 STL/31 BLK
*Stats from maxpreps.com

*Mady Sissoko fractured his right (dominant) hand in an unfortunate ATV accident which was sanctioned by the University during his official BYU visit in July 2019. He missed the first half of the 2019-20 season with Wasatch Academy while recovering from the fracture. Sissoko was thought to be a BYU lean prior to the accident.

Player Overview 

A 6’9” 230 lb Center with a 7’4” wingspan, Sissoko may offer the most exciting combination of motor, power, length, and athleticism of any big man Tom Izzo has ever recruited. Only having played four years of organized basketball, Sissoko finds himself ranked in the top 40 (36th on 247’s national composite) based on the raw physical gifts that will place him in the top 1% of college ready bodies the moment he steps on the floor.

Boasting a broad frame, strong lower half, and extremely powerful two footed leaping ability, coupled with a nonstop motor, Izzo couldn’t have dreamt up more of a “program” prototypical big man. Diving deep into the film, Sissoko also has surprisingly sound footwork in the post given his relative lack of experience, which must be credited to his coaching while playing at Wasatch Academy. 

Potential Year One Impact 

A lot of Sissoko’s year one impact weighs on Xavier Tillman, Sr.’s draft decision. If Tillman returns, Sissoko’s minutes will be limited because Tillman will demand 32 plus minutes a night, and Sissoko will be fighting potentially three other guys (two upperclassmen) for around eight backup center minutes a night. With Hauser’s eligibility, the power forward spot is basically devoid of minutes, particularly as Izzo will already have to find a balance between ensuring Hall gets on the court and playing both Hauser and Hall at their natural position (PF). 

For the sake of argument let’s assume Tillman stays in the draft. 40 minutes would immediately open up at the center spot, with four players vying for the vacant minutes. By default and based on Izzo’s level of trust, Kithier will play at least 10-15 of those minutes throughout the season; and if no one emerges in the limited offseason it may be even greater to start the season.

It’s a make or break year for Bingham and while he showed increased defensive promise in the 2019-20 season, he failed to provide consistent offensive upside to justify more than 11 minutes a night. Marble showed a knack for providing physicality around the rim on both sides of the ball, but it’s hard to gauge his possible impact when he only played 5.5 MPG last year. There are multiple options at the five, but no one who you could confidently say will play at least 20 MPG to start the season. 

Insert Sissoko. The moment he steps on campus he will possess the best physical frame of any of the big men on the roster. While Marble has the strength, he does not possess anywhere near the length or athleticism; Bingham has the length, but as of now, not the physicality; and as discussed, Kithier is defaulted a role because of his IQ, reliability, and trustworthiness, but is physically, the least gifted of all the big men.

MSU’s last three traditional big men (Xavier Tillman, Nick Ward, Derrick Nix) all came into the program overweight and out of shape, but with soft hands and great touch around the rim. Sissoko is a polar opposite prospect. He will enter the program as maybe the most physically imposing big man Izzo has ever recruited, and has the raw ability to become a dynamic rim protector.

While defensively there will be a learning curve on how to guard the perimeter actions appropriately and effectively position himself on the back line of the defense, Izzo is likely to live with early mistakes because of how hard Sissoko plays. 

Offensively, allowing Watts to operate with Sissoko (a power rim/lob finisher) will create pressure in the middle of opposing defenses, opening up the wings for three-point opportunities and easing the transition for Watts in a completely brand new point guard role. If Tillman remains in the draft expect Sissoko to be earning 15-20 mpg by mid season, and hopefully having come far enough along to earn a rotational start at some point in the season.

MSU’s ceiling next year is in large part dependent on the emergence of 1-2 consistent center options to plug the hole defensively and provide some offensive reliability that outside of Tillman was not really there last year. Sissoko has as much potential as any big on the roster this season, and if given the opportunity he will play his way into more significant minutes as the season progresses.

References

[MP]-MaxPreps

Player Profile – Mady Sissoko

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