2022 four-star Yohan Traore discusses recruitment, visits, pro options
Not many prospects have boosted their stock this summer quite like Yohan Traore. The 6-11 French big man moved to the States in August of last year and this summer he separated himself as one of the best players in the country. So far he’s been to Texas and TCU, but wants to see plenty of more schools (and weigh his options going pro) before making a decision.
Traore’s Thoughts on the Texas Longhorns
Traore’s first visit, although it was an unofficial, was to Texas.
“Man, it was great,” he said. “The facilities, the program, the coaches… everybody was nice. I got to talk to the conditioning trainer and he was like ‘we’re going to get you to the next level.’ I talked to the players too, they said it was a great program. I really enjoyed the visit. You see Kevin Durant culture everywhere. He’s my favorite player.”
Texas has had recent success getting big men to the NBA. Most recently, Jaxon Hayes, Mo Bamba, Jarrett Allen, Myles Turner and the list goes on.
Traore’s Thoughts on the TCU Horned Frogs
Traore’s second visit was to Fort Worth to visit TCU.
“They got a great program. Great coaches. I saw a practice and I saw their intensity. Everything was really good. They made me feel comfortable.”
It’s important to note that Traore’s uncle lives in the state of Texas.
Traore’s Thoughts on the Pro Route
The professional route is certainly an option for Traore.
“The professional option is very interesting because you’re going to learn a lot… how to be disciplined, play the right way and you get to play against pros. So you’re going to get a lot of experience. It can be a good thing. But it can also be a bad thing. Because you can get lost. Sometimes people go pro just to get money, but that’s not good. If you go pro, you have to be ready. It’s not going to be easy. But it’s definitely one of my options.”
Traore mentioned that he won’t make a decision, college or pro, until next year. The NBL, Overtime Elite, and the G-League have all inquired about the talented big man.
Yohan Traore says he currently doesn’t have an visits scheduled but would like to see: Tennessee, UNLV, Texas Tech, UCLA, and USC.
Gonzaga has also inquired about Traore, and is calling him every day, according to Traore. An offer could be in the works soon.
Most recruiting sites have Traore within the 60-80 range, but expect to see a major increase in the updated rankings.