From Mali to Spain, Kansas to Minnesota, Gophers big-man Konate has high ceiling
MINNEAPOLIS -- Not even the snow and freezing temperatures could deter Bakary Konate from committing to the University of Minnesota.
Growing up in Mali, a country in West Africa almost twice the size of Texas, Konate never saw snow as a young kid. He then went to Spain to play high school basketball and first saw snow during a few of his trips through Europe for tournaments.
Bakary visited Minnesota in mid-February, when there was "snow everywhere and it was very cold," he recalls. That didn't deter the 6-foot-11, 225-pound center from choosing the Gophers over a few other schools.
"First of all, when I came to visit, I was very surprised (by) the people of Minnesota in general. They were very friendly," Konate said at the Gophers' media day last month. "As a player, I came (to) visit there. They showed interest to be part of the team and come to school."
Konate's path to Minnesota is perhaps the most unique of any on this year's Gophers roster. Despite his height, he didn't start playing basketball until he was 13 years old. After going to watch his older sister -- he's one of 14 siblings -- play a basketball game, Konate started to gain interest in the sport. His father encouraged him to try it since he was tall. Once Konate did, the big soccer fan started to become a basketball fan, too.
He moved to Spain at age 14 when he was given a scholarship to play basketball and attend school at IES La Vega de San Jose. After graduating there, Konate moved to the United States to attend Sunrise Christian Academy, a prep school in Wichita, Kan., for a year. He didn't play basketball there, meaning he had a one-year layoff before arriving on campus in Minneapolis.
Konate is still raw and needs to add muscle to his lanky frame. But his new Gophers teammates and his new head coach have been impressed by what they've seen from Konate since his arrival.
"I'm very surprised at how far along he is. I did not think he'd be this far ahead," said second-year Gophers coach Richard Pitino. "He is ready to contribute right away. A good problem to have, I guess, for me is where do you put him? That means you've got some depth, which is nice. I think he is very, very good offensively when it comes to his moves. Now he's going to make mistakes like all freshmen do, but I think that he's got a big-time, big-time ceiling."
During his time in Spain, Konate was a presence in the paint. He averaged nine rebounds and one block per game as a four-year starter, on top of 7.5 points per contest. Now Konate provides the Gophers some depth in the post as he'll play behind centers Mo Walker and Elliott Eliason.
Those two Minnesota big men have already seen the younger Konate make major strides since joining the team.
"He's been working so hard. You can't take that away from the guy," said Eliason, a redshirt senior who started 35 games at center last year. "Off the court, I think he's one of the nicest guys I've ever met. He's just a nice guy. Every freshman has to learn the system and has things to learn. He's going to be a really exciting player. He's got to gain a little weight, obviously. But he'll be a really exciting player. I'm looking forward to it."
Konate picked Minnesota over several other schools, including Creighton, Texas A&M and Tulane. Louisville head coach Rick Pitino -- Richard's father -- also had some interest at one point, too.
In fact, when Bakary first met Richard Pitino, he didn't realize he was coaching at Minnesota.
"I was surprised, because I didn't know he was the head coach here. I know coach Ben (Johnson), he was a couple times in Kansas at Wichita Sunrise," Konate said. "I didn't know Coach P was the head coach here. I thought he was working with his dad, because both (were) interested."
The younger Pitino is glad he landed Konate, whose first college game could very well be against Rick Pitino's Louisville squad in Minnesota's season opener on Nov. 14. Though Konate still has plenty to learn, the Gophers hope he can be a contributor immediately as a freshman.
"He's just a work-hard kind of guy, raw talent. He has a nice midrange jumper. He really works hard and gets after the glass," Walker said of Konate. "He's catching on pretty quickly. He's a fast learner."
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