Sylla was incredibly impressive this week and impressed against some excellent front courts. He is a force when fighting for position on the block offensively—he has a big body and knows how to park himself in the right areas of the floor—and he has great post moves and touch once he gets the ball. A post touch for him is really solid offense because most defenders will either allow a decent shot or foul him, and he hits a high percentage of his free throws. Sylla could enter a new stratosphere if he gets in even better shape and is able to beat bigs up and down the floor for rim runs, but he’s going to be a really interesting piece for UMASS next season regardless.

Sylla, the #1 Center and 17th ranked prospect overall, is coming off a strong summer in which he showcased his ability to take over games as a low post scorer. The lefty is physically imposing on the block and does a great job of tracking balls down on the offensive glass. His motor is always up on the offensive end of the floor and he has counters to all of his scoring moves. Defensively, he takes up a lot of space in the paint and is an elite defensive rebounder with his combination of size, power, and agility. A big time prospect, he’s a surefire Division I recruit that will garner more wide-ranging interest this season.

A 6’11” big for Bridgton Academy, Sylla dominates in the paint with his combination of size, strength, and toughness. The lefty is a throwback of sorts – he knows who he is and what he does well and doesn’t try to be anyone but himself. He sets backbreaking screens, carves out space early in the paint, and shows impressive footwork when making scoring moves. He plays with a good motor that allows him to make an impact on the offensive glass and roll hard to the rim out of ball screens. Defensively, he makes it hard to establish deep post position for opponents, cleans up on the glass in traffic, and walls up without fouling. His presence in the paint alone can deter opposing guards from trying to get downhill off the bounce. He’s skilled offensively, tough on both ends, and plays with a mean edge defensively. He has some impressive offers to his name and will be a mid-to-high major priority this year.

Sylla is a 6-foot-10 traditional, low post big man. The southpaw is big and strong and carves out space on the block with ease, and he’s a good operator once the ball is entered to him there; he has a nice spin move and can finish quite well with both hands. I was also impressed with his free-throw form – which is consistent and pretty – making me think he could potentially develop his three-point shot in college. The senior is currently unsigned, but I would imagine plenty of scholarship schools will be interested in him.

Lefty big enjoyed a breakout weekend in a new setting with Bridgton highlighted by a 24p 20r performance. Liked the blend of skills he showed throughout the two games his team played: laced two C+S 3s from above the break, drove from outside the arc to the rim with a nice step through pivot finish for the bucket, blocked shots, served as a roll threat and lob target, and played with a good motor on both ends of the floor. Has the size and frame to develop into a MM+ modern big that can impact the game while generating most of his offense within the flow of the game or off of offensive rebounds.

Cheickna Sylla Cheickna Sylla 6'10" | C Bridgton Academy | 2026 State New E burst onto the scene this weekend and put himself on radars in a big way. Standing at 6 foot 10 with a built frame, he dominated the interior by working his way inside and making layups with a soft touch. His in-and-out post move was simple but effective, terrorizing thinner defenders throughout his minutes. He was also competing hard on the boards and using every bit of his length to grab rebounds through traffic. Lastly, he showed off his three-point stroke and it looked pretty smooth off the catch. The big man from Mali looks to be very productive for Bridgton this upcoming season and should be able to keep the momentum he gained from the National Prep Showcase.