Recruiting Report: Malik Lamin (2019)
Six-foot-9 DeLaSalle center Malik Lamin is one of the better big man prospects in Minnesota’s 2019 class.
Malik spent his underclassmen years playing on the Islander junior varsity squad and he’s competed with the Howard Pulley Panthers. This year Malik played with the 31-13 Pulley 16u team and had a solid experience.
“The AAU season went pretty well, wish we could have made it to Peach Jam though,” Lamin said.
“The biggest thing I’ll take away from this past spring and summer is “play your game and play smart”. Everyone is skilled in some kind of way but the person who play the smartest does better.”
Malik is now a junior and should be a solid part in the Islanders rotation now that their biggest player Goanar Mar has graduated. Lamin is working hard to get ready for the season.
“I’m trying to improve on everything,” Maik stated. “I feel you can’t stop working until you are better tan Kobe. I’ve been working my strength, dribbling, and post moves while also still learning more about the game.”
DeLaSalla has won six straight state titles but Coach David Thorson has moved on to the college level. The talent is there and New Coach Travis Bledsoe has experience from coaching Centennial plus he is an Islander alum. But change is there so things will be somewhat different.
“We have extreme talent this year with all the changes during the off-season we have to stick together more now than ever to complete our goal which means winning seven in a row state championships. This spring we will be doing a lot of weight lifting and open gyms.”
Schools are starting to call Malik knowing he is one of the state’s better centers in the junior class.
“I’ve heard from Denver, Air Force, Miami of Ohio, Drake, Creighton, Northern Iowa, and more,” Lamin said.
Kobe Bryant is obviously a player that Lamin has watched closely.
“I pick apart everyone’s game high school up to NBA,” Malik said. “From Kobe moves to Karl Anthony Towns. I like Kobe his the greatest but I also like Jordan, KD, and star players from every teams.”