3/20/26: Uneven start. Through the game’s first 16 minutes Aliyu scored 7 points with 7 rebounds. He took a three-pointer for no real reason. He nearly dribbled into a charge. The talent is tremendous, but Aliyu does not always make the mature basketball move. Surprisingly adept as a dribbler. Might mature into a wing. He moves his legs quite well for his height. “Idris had 15 rebounds and 14 points,” said Whitehaven Head Coach Willie Kemp. “It is really hard to say,” said Aliyu. “This is my last year. A whole bunch of seniors. This moment. I can’t ever forget it in my life. It is something that we can’t ever get it back. I am thankful for this school. This environment. I am thankful for my coaches.” Aliyu is a deep guy. He really sees things in a big picture.

3/9/26: Idris is a Top 3 Uncommitted player in Tennessee for a reason. What a tremendous night he had. Idris commanded the paint defensively, but that is merely his baseline contribution. Aliyu runs the floor quite well already at 6-foot-9 and will enter college a dominating force as a passer, at the minimum. His court vision from both the elbow and the low block sparkled. He made a block-to-block pass to teammate Gavin Fitzpatrick Gavin Fitzpatrick 6'7" | PF/SF Whitehaven | 2026 State TN that was special. He can put one to two dribbles on the floor comfortably in the halfcourt. Do not ask him to break a press with his dribble, but he can certainly catch an outlet and hand off to a surging guard without mistake. Naturally strong as well as “weight-room strong.” Idris’ third quarter was poor. He was wrongfully whistled for a ‘3-second lane violation’. Ref blew it. Don’t blame Idris, but it was a turnover. Earlier he passed out of a double softly and it was intercepted.