After his decision to reclassify from 2021 to 2020, 5-star center Moussa Cisse became one of the most important recruiting targets of the 2020 offseason. In early June, it looked as though LSU was the favorite for the 6-foot-10 Cisse. However, several other programs — including Florida State and Memphis, which was making a strong push — remained in the mix, too.
In recent days, though, Memphis and Penny Hardaway have come on strong. Lead experts from 247 Sports have Cisse pegged as a Memphis lean.
247 Sports ranks Cisse as the No. 11 overall prospect (No. 2 C) in the 2020 class. Cisse was expected to make a college decision in late May/early June; however, Cisse elected to postpone his selection. That seems to be a big deal for nearby Memphis.
If Moussa Cisse does make the last-minute switch to Memphis that crystal ball anticipates, that roster is loaded… especially if waivers come for Nolley & Williams.
Lomax/Nolley/Jeffries/Williams/Cisse with Quinones, Ellis, Baugh, and any other big is a really talented 9.
— Kevin Sweeney (@CBB_Central) July 5, 2020
After spending most of his childhood in Guinea, Cisse moved to the United State in Dec. 2015. During the summer of 2019, Cisse moved to Memphis to attend and play for Lausanne Collegiate School. During the 2019-20 season, Cisse averaged 18.4 points, 15.3 rebounds and 9.2 blocks per game while winning a state title.
A former soccer player, Cisse is ready to make an immediate impact on the defensive end, thanks in part to his 7-foot-4 wingspan. Cisse led the Nike EYBL last season in blocks, while finishing second in rebounds. (He would fit nicely into some of Leonard Hamilton’s defensive concepts at FSU.)
Florida State has a small but strong incoming 2020 recruiting class; Scottie Barnes, a 5-star point forward, headlines the group. Sweet-shooting Sardaar Calhoun, one of the top JUCO prospects in the country, will arrive in Tallahassee, too. The third member of that class — 3-star center Quincy Ballard — adds more size and shot blocking to the program.
Cisse projects as a one-and-done player; for the 2020-21 season, Florida State has solid depth in its frontcourt. RaiQuan Gray and Malik Osborne are two solid veteran big men; sophomore center Balsa Koprivica is an efficient paint finisher who showed some defensive versatility in FSU’s switch-heavy defense this season.
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