Cheick Diakate made great advances this year at Bridgton Academy and his recruiting interest level really picked up, especially in late winter. Virginia Tech had been on him for a while and had been the presumed leader since last fall. They decided late to offer him and the player that he might most remind followers of the program is Mbindo Dongo.
Dongo arrived from junior college as a 6-9, 235-pounder or so and Diakate is very close to that same stature. Like 'Do, Cheick is a very physical player who plays the game with passion and intensity. He is a very coachable player and wants greatly to elevate the status of his game and will be a very earnest worker in the program.