Coach Hewitt gets 1st Recruit for 2005/2006 - Alade Aminu

Photo from Insiders.com

Well, Coach Hewitt is getting into the "early signings" game. We just learned that Junior Alade Aminu has committed to GT. A tall, young, smart, growing power forward with strong defensive skills and developing on the offensive end. Seems to be a multi-year player so he should really get a chance to develop in Hewitt's system. Seems like a great pick-up. Here are some facts (thanks to RamblinRed, JuniorNT at the Hive):

Pronounced "All-a-day A-mee-new"
6'9" - 6'10" - and growing, 215 lb
Wingspan of a 7-footer
Only 16 years old
Plays on the same AAU team as Louis Williams / Mike Mercer
Is the state triple-jump champion in GA, so he can jump
Goes to high school at Stephenson (where Reggie Ball played)
Averaged 18 ppg, 13 rpg, 4 bpg, 4 steals/game as a junior
Has only played 3 years of organized ball
Rivals ranks him 102, 29th best power forward
Prepstars / Insiders have him in top 150. Will probably rise in rankings during summer
Hoopscoop has him as 10th best player in GA
Recruited by Cincy, KY and UConn
Good student, 3.0 GPA, both parents are teachers
Interested in architecture. (aka architorture)
Can shoot out to 15 feet; offensive game raw
Very solid defensively, good shotblocker
Will need a little time to fill in his frame

Rivals Profile here.
Insiders Profile.

State triple jump champ in Georgia. Long and just starting to tap into his vast potential. Will reject shots and rebound and offense is coming around.

Article from Rivals.

On Georgia Tech: "They’re an engineering school, and I want to become an architect. I like their style of play. I like how they get out and transition and get after it on the defensive end. Georgia Tech is just a good all around program."

He runs well, has good hands, has good touch from 15 feet in, and has a bouncy athleticism. As he gets stronger and develops a better feel for the game, he could be an impact player on the high major level.

"I’m working hard on my small forward skills this summer,” Aminu said. “I’m working on my ball handling and am continuing to work on extending my range. I’m also hitting the weights hard to get stronger but not lose any of my quickness."

His AAU team home page.

The 2004 GA High School Association Track and Field Championships were finished May 13. Aminu finished 4th in the triple jump with a jump of 45-11.5. Link here.

Here's a link to his high school hoops team. They actually have him listed at 6'9", 175 lb. If so, gaining weight is an understatement.

This from coasttocoastbasketball.com -

6’9” center Alade Aminu has a wing-span which similar to that of a 7 footer and he is beginning to learn how to use it. It’s a good thing, because with no help in the post Aminu has seen and will continue to see many opponents flying through the lane.

From Rivals on his commit to GT:

May 28, 2004
Aminu Staying Close to Home
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Justin Young
RivalsHoops.com

The coaching staff at Georgia Tech has used their trip to the National Championship game to their advantage by recruiting more on a national level than they usually have. But late Thursday night, they didn’t have to travel very far to land one of the top players in the southeast.

Alade Aminu, a 6-foot-9, 215-pound forward from Stephenson (Ga.) High School decided to stay close to home and play for the Yellow Jackets, according to sources close to the ACC program.

Aminu, who is ranked as the No. 102 player on the Rivals150, is the first commitment for Georgia Tech in the class of 2005. He is the first major in-state recruit for the program since B.J. Elder and Isma‘il Muhammad.

He was recently offered a scholarship and decided to end the recruiting process before the busy summer months. Aminu and his parents made an official visit last weekend to the Atlanta school.

He was unavailable for comment due to travel with his Georgia Stars AAU program. The team will be playing in New Orleans for the Nike Memorial Day Classic. Norman Parker, the head coach of the Stars, said the Jackets landed a well-rounded player.

“Coach Hewitt that they not only liked him as a player but as a player,” Parker said. “Alade is a great kid. He’s just scratching the surface as far as basketball goes. It think it is a good fit for him going to GT.”

With Aminu, the Yellow Jackets add a player with strong upside and improved post skills. He has been playing basketball for just two years but the rising senior has made big strides in his game. He averaged 18 points, 14 rebounds, four blocks and four steals as a junior at Stephenson High School. He admitted in the past that he needs to add strength and more time in the paint in order to become an effective four man in the ACC.