Yaya Keita

Class:
Freshman
Hometown:
St. Louis, Mo.
High School:
De Smet Jesuit

Keita is a 6-foot-9 center ranked in Rivals’ Top 150 nationally at No. 145. He’s been tabbed the No. 24-ranked center in the nation, choosing Mizzou over Iowa, Iowa State and West Virginia, among others.

Keita plays for Kent Williams at De Smet, who served as an assistant coach and hit the recruiting trail under Martin at both Tennessee and Missouri State. Keita shot 51.2 percent from the field as a junior, averaging 8.0 points and 9.2 rebounds. The 225-pound center is a force defensively, cleaning up the glass and altering shots in the paint. Keita notably snagged 26 rebounds in a single game as a sophomore.

Keita moved to the United States from Mali before high school, growing up a soccer player before switching to hoops, and his game has blossomed every year since.