Prospect Spotlight: Harouna Sissoko

Without question, the best unsigned senior in Iowa's 2019 class in athletic 6-foot-7 forward Harouna Sissoko.

The first-year Grand View Christian prospect came to Iowa via Atlanta, and is spending his one and only season in the Hawkeye State impressing coaches and fans, and dominating opponents.

A versatile threat, Sissoko shoots it well and can handle it a bit, he says he's most comfortable at the three spot. But with his size and athletic ability, he's able to play as a bigger forward, or even at the five spot.

“I play everywhere except the one, and don't really play the two, but the three through five I can play. I like to play the three a lot,” said Sissoko. “If guys my size try to guard me, I can take them off the dribble and get by them.”

His shooting is what's been most striking so far this season. Through 11 games, he's connecting on 47.2 of his 3-point tries (17-36), that in addition to wrecking rims on a regular basis, like he was doing at our Top 250 Expo last fall.

Sissoko had been playing at Lincoln Academy in Atlanta prior to coming to Iowa. He says he knew people in Iowa, and is now living with a host family here.

His recruitment has been a bit of an enigma. Tulsa and Middle Tennessee State had offered Sissoko prior to coming to Iowa, and Coppin State was added to that list last spring. He says Grand Canyon University became the most recent program to offer. Sissoko also said Valparaiso has been keeping a close eye on him, and has watched him practice.

But he's in no hurry to make a college choice, “I don't know when I'm going to commit,” he said. “But I'm going to wait a little bit.”

It's improving his skill-set that's his biggest concern right now, and helping the Thunder win a third-straight state title. The ultimate goal, though: he wants to one day play professionally.

“Right now, I'm not really focusing on recruitment stuff, because either way, I'm going to go somewhere. My main focus right now is to get better, so that anywhere I go and I can play right away,” said Sissoko.  

“My main goal is to get better and play one or two years of college, and then go pro if I have that chance.”