Stock of Terps target Baru keeps rising
Much has changed for Adjehi Baru since his move from the Ivory Coast to Richmond, Va., a year and a half ago.
The 6-foot-9 power forward has lived a basketball-focused existence in the U.S., drawing praise for his play at the high school level, on the AAU circuit, and last week at the National Basketball Players Association Top 100 Camp in Charlottesville, Va.
“The camp is alright,” Baru said last week. “I’ve practiced a lot. It’s always good to play against top players.”
Baru, who plays for the Under Armour-sponsored Team Loaded on the AAU circuit, more than held his own against the best. Rivals.com named Baru one of nine "eye-catchers" at the camp.
Currently listed as a power forward, Baru has some tools to play the position but center is most likely his short-term future. He's a high-energy insider who runs the floor, blocks shot, rebounds and competes at a very high level. His post moves and footwork lack refinement at this point which causes his production to be uneven offensively, but he's got good hands, soft touch on jump hooks and even made a few medium-range jumpers.
Dave Telep, Scout.com’s national recruiting director, said Baru’s play this summer has likely earned him a Top 50 ranking for the class of 2011. A relative newcomer to the summer hoops circuit, Baru hasn’t been seen by that many college coaches yet. Once they get a look, Telep said, Baru should move into “everybody’s first tier of big guys.”
“Baru is a sponge. He worked out as much as anybody at camp,” Telep said. “The thing about Baru, which really gives him a chance, is that he does play exceptionally hard, and he does have basketball IQ. He’s one of the better big-man passers at the camp, and his motor runs all the time. He’s in the place right now where he wants to keep learning. It’s pretty exciting to see that.”
Maryland was the first high-major program to get involved with Baru, but recruiting is the furthest thing from his mind at the moment.
“There are a couple schools [I like],” Baru said. “I [don’t] focus right now on schools yet because I’ve got time to think about what school I want to go to. I have got time to try and get ready to see what schools I would really be interested in. So I don’t know. There are a lot of schools looking at me.”
