After sitting out last high school season, due to AIA Transfer Rules, athletic 6-foot-8 rising junior forward Foune Doucoure is now ready to pick up where he left off a year ago in his progress and development at St. Mary's High School, after transferring high school programs. Arizona's 2022 Class is absolutely loaded, and Doucoure is another major reason for the depth in the class.
Foune Doucoure started his high school career at Liberty High School, after first coming to the United States to play for a local and former prep program in the state. After spending a season at Liberty High School, where he became one of the state's top young and up-coming prospects, he has now landed at St. Mary's, where he sat out last season due to transfer rules. Now cleared to play, depending on when the AIA's 2020-2021 high school basketball season commences, he is prepared to make another big splash in the state.
Doucoure averaged strong overall numbers for previous Head Coach Mark Wood as freshman starter, and, after sitting out his entire sophomore season, he now returns as a junior - primed and ready to dominate the state's high school ranks. There simply are no other prospects in the state's AIA Division that possess the body, size, length and athleticism of a Doucoure. At 6-8 in height and possessing a very live, athletic body, this young man will line up alongside 6-foot-10 rising junior post Jeremiah "Bear" Cherry and 6-foot-6 rising junior forward Garrison Phelps - giving the surging Knight's program one of the best front-lines in America.
Foune Doucoure will be a major reason for the Knight's fast national resurgence, as he is a prospect that we normally do not see in the state. A very strong and athletic finisher that plays with an excellent motor and physical aggression. He has a long, rangy frame that allows him to make plays around the basket and paint, and he is quicker and more explosive at his size than most post opposition his size. A strong rebounder that rebounds outside of his area and starts and finishes the break with a high motor - running the floor hard and competing to make plays on the other end. Also a very good shot-blocker with excellent length and timing, that keeps balls in his play that lead to fast-breaks for his team.
He is still a little raw offensively, but he has really improved in his ability to score away from the basket. He has a soft touch out to 18-feet, which keeps defenses respectable of his skill-set, which allows him to work in the mid-range and around and at the basket, where he is most effective. He is developing quickly though, and with two more years of high school basketball still in his future, it is almost scary to think just how dominant he can become by the time he enters a college basketball program. Shares a resemblance to former NBA #1 overall draft pick Anthony Bennett as a player.
Doucoure is a native of Mali, Africa, and speaks several different languages. In his extreme travels, he has developed himself on and off the court, and is a unique talent, as a person and as a player. He is also a good student and carries close to a 3.0 CUM GPA.
I look forward to watching him compete again next high school season, and also am excited to see him match-up with the nation's top players/prospects over time.
Arizona Hoop Review Scouting Report: Foune Doucoure is a major reason for the Knight's fast national resurgence, as he is a prospect that we normally do not see in the state. A very strong and athletic finisher that plays with an excellent motor and physical aggression. He has a long, rangy frame that allows him to make plays around the basket and paint, and he is quicker and more explosive at his size than most post opposition his size. A strong rebounder that rebounds outside of his area and starts and finishes the break with a high motor - running the floor hard and competing to make plays on the other end. Also a very good shotblocker with excellent length and timing, that keeps balls in his play that lead to fast-breaks for his team. He is still a little raw offensively, but he has really improved in his ability to score away from the basket. He has a soft touch out to 18-feet, which keeps defenses respectable of his skillset, which allows him to work in the mid-range and around and at the basket, where he is most effective. He is developing quickly though, and with two more years of high school basketball still in his future, it is almost scary to think just how dominant he can become by the time he enters a college basketball program. Shares a resemblance to former NBA #1 overall draft pick Anthony Bennett as a player. A native of Mali, Africa, and speaks several different languages. In his extreme travels, he has developed himself on and off the court, and is a unique talent, as a person and as a player. He is also a good student and carries close to a 3.0 CUM GPA.
