College coaches are scouring the scenes for potential big men that they can develop in the coming years. What happens is that the higher level programs take risks and reach for seniors late in the year that are better off going to the mid-major level. One guy that may not be so much of a risk within the 2016 recruiting cycle and broke out over the weekend in Providence is 6-foot-10 center Cheickna Dembele.

A native of Mali who has been within the United States borders for the past five months, Dembele has packed on over 20 pounds to his long but intriguing frame. While he is capable of adding on even more weight in the coming months and years, Dembele already does a solid job of competing within the interior and near the bulkier bodies at the rim.

Where the Scotland Performance Institute big man really impresses is with his back to the basket. He definitely is mobile enough in producing in the open floor as he exchanges ends of the floor with a purpose, yet his production in the low post is impressive. The SPI star can convert over his left shoulder with a go-to righty hook and has solid counter moves whenever the defense covers his first move on the attack.

Throw in the fact that Dembele can turn and face his man off the catch and nail the mid-range jump shot, makes nearly 80-percent of his foul shots at the charity stripe, and can rebound the ball in and out of his area while acting as a solid secondary line defender, and the upside and value with the senior is immense.

On Saturday, the hard-nosed and energy giving center picked up his first high-major offer, this one coming from Iowa State. The Cyclones joined St. Joe’s in full pursuit of him while Missouri and LaSalle have followed suit this week in dishing out an offer of their own to him. On Wednesday evening, Charlotte head coach Mark Price was in the gym, along with NC State for the polished center, where both followed up with offers at the conclusion of his outing. 

Pitt head coach Jamie Dixon has been in for Dembele three separate times in recent weeks, per his head coach Jareem Dowling, and others that are now showing interest include the likes of Penn State, Providence, Iowa, NC State, Maryland, Alabama, and East Carolina.

One of the best big men available within the 2016 class and a guy that can produce on both sides of the playing floor, expect for Demebele’s recruitment to go national as more and more programs become accustomed to the Mali native.