With Linden utilizing the early preseason fall action to assess how it will replace a significant portion of last season’s perimeter production, Mouhamed Cisse Mouhamed Cisse PG Linden | 2027 State NJ offered several encouraging developments of being able to step into a larger role as a shot maker. Cisse for long has possessed a lot of the necessary skill and craftiness to be a dynamic shot maker but a more refined and disciplined approach was needed to unlock that potential into a more translatable role. However this early shooting display offered plenty of reason for optimism— navigating different screening actions in designed sets to find openings on the move out on the perimeter, showing the ability to punish aggressive closeouts by knocking down mid range pull ups when defenders ran him off the line, and even demonstrating an added dimension in attacking the rim when opportunities arose and taking advantage of driving lanes.

Linden suffered a nailbiting loss to St. Benedict’s at the Hoop Group Fall HS Showcase but the game came down to the wire in large part due to Cisse and his dynamic exploits in the backcourt. Stepping into a key role as a more prominent ballhandler and scorer with the graduation of the Tigers’ starting backcourt, Cisse put on a shotmaking clinic with his pullup shooting ability, highlighted by a one-legged 3 off a pump fake that sent the crowd into a frenzy. He also showed slick finishing ability using either hand to punctuate knifing drives, with deceptive strength allowing defenders to bounce off of him on his way to the cup. It was as explosive a performance as we’ve seen in recent weeks and showed Cisse could be deserving of a notable bump in the next rankings update.

Cisse went up five spots in the update and will look to put his game on display this season. He uses his handle to get to his spot on the floor and finishes well around the rim. Cisse has a good touch in the mid-range and can knock down open jumpers from behind the arc. He can also play off the ball and works hard on the defensive end. Cisse is a tough guard prospect whose ability to score inside and out is something that will help his stock over the course of the season.

Filling the void of a lot of the perimeter shot making this Linden program lost to graduation from a season ago, Mouhamed Cisse Mouhamed Cisse PG Linden | 2027 State NJ offered an inspiring glimpse of possibly being able to step into that role when the season comes around. Cisse’s always possessed the potential to be a dangerous shot maker, particularly with his soft outside touch and the arc he often shoots it with on his jumper and to early on, he found a nice rhythm from three point range and impressed with the efficient clip he shot the three ball with— hunting his shot and stepping into in rhythm catch and shoot perimeter looks and even knocking down mid range pull ups when the defense closed out on him and ran him off the line.

A bright spot in Linden’s rotation, Mouhamed Cisse Mouhamed Cisse PG Linden | 2027 State NJ supplied a legitimate spark plug off the bench— providing a steady scoring punch in the minutes he was given. Effective scoring the basketball in the flow of the offense, Cisse flashed the different ways he’s capable of putting the ball in the basket— knocking down an open catch and shoot three off a drive and kick, hitting a smooth mid range pull up attacking a closeout all while also being in the right spot defensively to get a quick steal and layup on the other end.