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 the Carolinas 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 and underrated, and today’s edition will highlight Bessanty Saragba of Trinity Collegiate.
We’ve seen Saragba countless times, including earlier this week against Piedmont Classical, where we stated, “After watching his development since entering the Carolinas, it’s clear that Saragba has progressed over the recent months. He’s always been a long, fluid, mobile interior prospect, but his feel, toughness, and overall body control have all drastically improved. Saragba was extremely impressive as a low-maintenance post prospect, primarily only looking to secure rebounds, alter shots, and capitalize as needed on offense. He dominated the glass with relative ease, ran the floor hard in transition, and consistently put himself in scoring positions. Saragba appeared capable of finding offensive chances when posting-up, diving in screen actions, battling for second-chance points, and through dump-off passes. It would be very difficult to point out any negatives from this showing. Saragba should be coveted by various scholarship-level programs.”
As glowing as that excerpt is, Saragba’s growth (even since October) has been clearly visible. He’s really transitioned into an effective interior prospect with the ability to produce within a low-maintenance role on both ends of the floor. His simple, straightforward, never-forcing-anything approach makes him as valuable as anyone on the roster. Saragba quietly secures rebounds, blocks shots, and capitalizes on offensive chances as needed. He doesn’t require a ton of touches in order to make a lasting impression. Saragba plays hard, runs the floor in transition, and simply thrives within his role at all times. His length, mobility, and nice athleticism makes him an issue for most interior opponents. Saragba’s increased aggression can also be correlated with his boost in production over the recent months. Expect him to be coveted by various next-level coaches going forward.