2022 C Blaise Keita - LOI

[PointGuard]

#Nebrasketball has reportedly landed JUCO freshman Blaise Keita from Mali.

Keita is a 6'10" 230# traditional post player with 3 years of eligibility left.

 

Keita currently is playing for Coffeyville Community College and is averaging 12pts and 8 reb through 8 games.  Another familiar name on the Coffeyville roster is Nebraska offer Markeith Browning.  Prior to college, Keita attended prep powerhouse Sunrise Academy in Kansas where he was a teammate of current Creighton player Shereef Mitchell.  Keita also played for the Mali U17 national team.  

 

Blaise Keita is the first known commit for Nebraska's class of 2022

[Navin R. Johnson]

 

[millerhusker]

Cofeyville won their first round game and advances to the Sweet 16 in Hutch (game is tonight). Keita had 7 points and 9 rebounds (19 minutes) in a blowout.

[busticket]

It will be really nice to have a guy that is strong on the boards when Blaise gets here.  

[Nebrasketballer]

2022 Husker commit Blaise Keita making big strides in JUCO

 

“He gives us a really good inside presence,” Hirkelman said. “A guy that we can throw the ball to, and there’s a good percentage that it’s going to go in. We’ve got some guys that can shoot it, and so when those guys are knocking down the shots, it’s hard to play him one-on-one in the post…”

 

“The other thing that does really well is rebound. He guards well; he moves his feet well for a big guy. He’s going to keep getting better; he’s going to get stronger this next year, he’s going to continue working on his offensive game. I’m happy as heck, and he’s going to keep getting better and better.”

 

https://nebraska.n.rivals.com/news/2022-husker-commit-blaise-keita-making-big-strides-in-juco

 

Edited April 20, 2021 by Nebrasketballer

[Nebrasketballer]

 

[Navin R. Johnson]

 

[Dead Dog Alley]

The Panda Tangent said on today's Omaha World Herald Pick Six podcast that Derrick Walker is planning on playing here two more years.  So that would project them to have Keita, Andre, Walker, and Oleg inside.

 

Just what everyone expected when Fred came in with his five out open post offense, promising to play without a traditional big man all the time - to be four deep at center.

[Red Don]

No. 10 Coffeyville (Kan.) C.C. defeated No. 6 Chipola (Fla.) College: 66 - 63.

 

Quote

Keita more than held his own vs. high-major size

• More often than not, 2022 Nebraska commit Blaise Keita is the biggest player on the floor, and usually by a fairly large margin.
• (But,) When the 6-foot-10, 235-pound Keita took center court for the opening tip, he was standing across from 7-3, 248, Chipola center Naheem McLeod.
• For Keita, it was an excellent opportunity to get a taste of what life will eventually be like going up against that type of size on most nights in the Big Ten Conference.
• He handled the challenge by posting a double-double with 11 points (on 5-of-6 shooting) and 11 rebounds, along with three steals, a block, and an assist in 30 minutes of action.

 

[millerhusker]

Coffeyville just won the national championship. Keita dominated the championship game.

27 points (13/16 FG)

9 rebounds 

4 blocks 

 

Signing day can’t get here soon enough. 

[hskr4life]

We may be good next year... but in 2 years, look out!

[Nebrasketballer]

 

[Red Don]

HOLY MOLY!!!!    
 

[Silverbacked1]

Now we gotts to keep the big boys away for about what 6 months so he signs with us.

 

I think a couple of us need to go live with him and not let him talk to anybody not connected to Nebraska!

[Norm Peterson]

10 hours ago, millerhusker said:

Coffeyville just won the national championship. Keita dominated the championship game.

27 points (13/16 FG)

9 rebounds 

4 blocks 

 

Signing day can’t get here soon enough. 

 

Holy smokes!

 

He's very efficient, no?

[Norm Peterson]

Here's his twitter account if anyone wants to pass on some personal congratulatory words to him. That performance in the title game deserves some praise, for sure.

 

https://twitter.com/Blaisekeita15/with_replies

[Norm Peterson]

 

[Norm Peterson]

11 hours ago, Nebrasketballer said:

 

 

Both Keisei and Keita were named to the All-Tournament team.

[Nebrasketballer]

 

[Vinny]

[MandRHusker]

Blaise is now a 4 Star on Rivals.

[Keenan9595]

The only thing I worry about now is after such a good showing and ratings jump can we keep him committed till he signs?  I have a feeling other teams will come calling now and I really hope his decision doesn’t sway.

[Nebrasketballer]

 

[Nebrasketballer]

Keita has the potential to be such an incredible player for Nebraska. He will continue to blow up and get more attention from top programs around the country. I am going to be nervous about this one until he signs. I really hope he signs in the fall.

[throwback]

It's certainly possible he could change his mind, but he did commit to Fred & Co without ever meeting them in person. He clearly trusts them. Being that team that identified his talent early on & believed in him immediately should certainly help too.

 

Once he has a chance to visit Lincoln hopefully this summer/early fall & see the facilities, plus get a chance to meet the other players & coaches in person, that hopefully will help to solidify his choice. In this case, it's probably a benefit that he wasn't able to take an official clear back last fall, because now it'll be much fresher in his mind on signing day after he does get to visit this summer or fall.

 

I'm pretty sure his coach said some schools have been asking about him regularly since he committed to NU, so the extra attention shouldn't be new for him either. (The  quality of schools providing the attention may change, though.)

 

None of that guarantees he still signs with us, but I'd rather have the verbal at this point and be in the lead than trying to play catch-up like everyone else is doing.