Adou Thiero with his family after finishing his Quaker Valley High School career with 1,624 points — third most in school history. (Quaker Valley Basketball Photo)
Pennsylvania guard Adou Thiero not only is on coach John Calipari’s recruiting radar but the senior guard is also suddenly getting a lot of attention from other schools as well (Maryland offered Sunday, Pittsburgh offered Monday),
Wildcats Select AAU founder/director Tom Droney knows plenty about Thiero along with the Kentucky basketball program because he also coached Oscar Tshiebe when he was a high school player in Pennsylvania.
Thiero’s father coached Droney “a good bit” in high school after they came to the United States from Mali.
“I have known Adou since he was real young and know his parents. He’s always in the gym,” Droney said. “His dad runs a local basketball program (Prospects). Adou didn’t play at a high-level AAU last year. He was injured and did not get a chance to get evaluated.
“He was also about 6-1 or 6-2 and now he’s at least 6-5 with a 7-foot wingspan and that growth spurt took his play to another level. I think he’s still growing and could be 6-7 or 6-8.
“He has taken big steps in his game and has great size to play either guard spot. He has been a point guard his whole life and he didn’t lose any of his ability to handle the ball or make plays off the bounce because of his growth spurt like some players do.”
Droney refers to him now as a “jumbo” point guard who is at his best with the ball in his hands.
“He’s very unselfish. He uses his big body really well. His dribble is tight and efficient and Adou has a very deceptive change of direction,” Droney said. “With his size and ability to handle the ball, he can get to where he wants to go on the floor most of the time.
“He has a right- and left-handed floater. He has a mid-range game. He can finish at the rim with both hands with some creativity. He can shoot the 3. That’s one area where he can continue to improve, but he makes shots.”
Droney believes he could play point guard, shooting guard, or small forward in college with the way today’s game is played.
“He also brings a lot of defensive versatility. He is a great weak-side shot-blocker,” Droney said.
Droney knows Thiero’s recruitment will “pick up” even more after getting a Kentucky offer on Saturday. He also knows his father has done a “great job” handling his recruitment.
“It will come down to what he and father think is best,” Droney said. “His dad has kept all the noise away from him and kept him focused on the game and the development aspect of it.
