At the beginning of each new year, Phenom Hoops works to assemble a series of articles centered around unsigned senior prospects. Last season, hundreds of players from North Carolina went on to play at the Division I, II, III or NAIA levels, and that number looks likely to continue increasing with the current senior class. Typically, we take a closer look at guys who are overlooked or under-recruited in some capacity, and today’s edition will highlight Ahmed Jawo of Caldwell Academy.
We’ve watched Jawo closely over the last calendar year, recently stating, “As previously stated, there is real value in knowing one’s identity as a player—and few prospects in the state know themselves better than Jawo. There’s been a lot of attention directed towards similar prospects, so it’s actually quite surprising that the 6-foot-9 big man hasn’t received more offers. Although Jawo has shown steady progression as an offensive player, his strengths still clearly lie within his rim-protection and rebounding ability. He’s a phenomenal two-way rebounder whose length and motor allow him to compete for every single board. Jawo does possess a great nose for the ball, but it’s difficult to overlook his effort on second and third jumps. He understands how to block shots or secure rebounds, locate a guard, and then run the floor properly in transition. Given his low-maintenance, yet impactful presence, more schools should be pursuing Jawo.â€
Given the overall desire (and need) for big men, there are a ton of programs who should be in pursuit of Jawo. He’s a tough, mobile post prospect with long arms, an unselfish approach, and excellent activity around the basket. Jawo is a capable finisher and scorer on second-chance opportunities, but truly doesn’t require touches to impact the game. He’s a terrific interior defender who displays a nice understanding of how to consistently play hard and alter shots from within the paint. Jawo is quietly one of the best rebounding big men in the state, effortlessly putting up several impressive double-double performances throughout the season. Furthermore, he understands his role and his general identity as a player. Aside from the occasional pass or jumper, Jawo is phenomenal at playing to his strengths on both ends of the floor. There are a ton of schools who should be vying for his services at the next level.