Recruiting Report: Umar Jalloh (2017)

<p>Many players often talk about playing with a proverbial chip on their shoulder. Others simply demonstrate that sentiment with the way they play.</p><p><strong>Umar Jalloh</strong>, a 6-foot-6 junior wing at Lincoln, falls into the latter category. After arriving in Colorado from New York in January, Jalloh could only play with the Lincoln JV team last season. Now, he is ready and eager to put himself on the map in the state while putting his considerable talent on display.</p> <p>“I have to make a name for myself out here,” he said.</p> <p>Jalloh, an athletic, rangy, strong wing, stole the show at the Elite 96 camp at Lincoln on Saturday. He can handle the ball – in the open court, on the perimeter and in the post – with guard-like efficiency. He is great at attacking the rim and finishes with authority, punishing the rim with powerful dunks on at least four occasions at Elite 96. His elevation – nearly eye level to the rim – is unique among many of his peers in the state.</p> <p>Colorado Hawks coaches saw all of those skills on display during a strong summer for Jalloh with the 16U squad on the Adidas Gauntlet, as well as the length that allows him to guard every position on the court.</p> <p>“I’m capable of whatever you want me to do,” he said. “You want me to rebound, I’ll rebound. You want me to score, I’ll score. You want me to distribute, I’ll do that. I’ll do anything you want me to do.”</p> <p>The task they gave the promising Jalloh, the younger brother of Hawks 17U standout Alpha Diallo, was to continue improving his jump shot, reminding him that strengthening that aspect of his offensive arsenal would only make the rest of his unique tools even more dangerous.</p> <p>It appears Jalloh has received the message. On Saturday, his most impressive feat on a strong overall day was his ability to nail his 3-point jumper. He must have hit close to 60 percent of a high volume of shots from that range – in transition, off the dribble, even off screen action. And, lo and behold, it did open up his game. When a defender closed out hard on Jalloh, he often needed one dribble and his long frame would be at the basket.</p> <p>"Then guys have to respect him as an all-around player," Lincoln coach Dre Calloway said. "They can&#39;t just take away him driving. Now they have to play him and get up on him. As he continues to get better, he&#39;ll be a capable shooter to where he can knock down open shots and know down a few more shots that will open up driving lanes and things he does well. He&#39;s really athletic and explodes to the rim, so him being a better shooter helps him a ton."</p> <p>Calloway has been impressed with the work Jalloh has put in to improving the jump shot. The junior said he has been shooting as many as 300 jump shots per day in addition to the time he is putting into the weight room and practices.</p> <p>The scary thing about Jalloh is he seems to only be getting better. Under the continued tutelage of the Hawks and that of former Lincoln standout Dre Calloway, now the school’s head coach, Jalloh seems to be well on his way to rapid growth in his game that could help Lincoln turn heads this season.</p> <p>Jalloh has already received interest from South Dakota, he said, and there’s little doubt more attention will be on the way once Jalloh is able to put those considerable talents on display under the bright lights of a high school season now only five weeks away.</p> <p>“I’m pretty excited for the season,” he said. “A lot of people think we’ll be the underdog, so it’s a good chance to prove them wrong.”</p>