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THE STORYLINE
Talib Zanna is described as a raw and strong athlete who combines skill and athleticism to create matchup problems with the opposition. He possesses a good mid-range jumper, unique and rare post-up skills and is capable of playing with his back to the basket as well as blocking shots on the defensive end. He loves to attack off the dribble from the outside and is an aggressive rebounder. He has done a terrific job of maturing his game from primarily being a defensive player and rebounder to developing a flowing offensive game where he can handle the ball on the break, pull-up and shoot jumpers. He looks to be a cross between an interior and wing player. Able to score with either hand, he plays in the mold of Tim Duncan. HIGH SCHOOL A 2009 graduate of Bishop McNamara High School in Forestville, Md. where he played three seasons for Head Coach Marty Keithline...Helped guide Bishop McNamara to a 21-12 record and No. 3 ranking in the state...Named First Team All-MET by the Washington Post and earned Independent private school all-league honors...Averaged 14.6 points and 11.8 rebounds as a senior...Reached double figure scoring in 22 of 27 games, scored over 20 points five times and finished with 10 double-doubles on the year...Named to the All-Tournament Team at the Bojangles Shootout...Scored a season-high 27 points and grabbed 12 rebounds vs. St. Mary's Ryken...Scored 21 points, including four thunderous dunks along with 15 rebounds vs. fellow Pitt signee Lamar Patterson's St. Benedict's Prep team...Finished with 26 points and 11 rebounds vs. White Station...Scored 21 points and grabbed 15 rebounds vs. Carroll...Grabbed a season-high 16 rebounds two times on the year vs. Good Council and St. Mary's Ryken...Earned Most Valuable Player honors in the Capital Area Classic Regional All-Star Game after totaling 21 points and 14 rebounds...Bishop McNamara entered the 2008-09 season ranked No. 30 nationally by ESPN Rise Magazine...Named First Team All-Prince George's County by the Montgomery Gazette and Second Team All-Washington Catholic Athletic Conference...Averaged 15.0 points, 13.5 rebounds, 3.4 blocks, 1.5 assists and 1.4 steals per game as a junior...Led the WCAC in blocked shots with 3.4 per game...Selected Most Valuable Player of the High School Hoops Showcase...Named to the Benedictine Classic All-Tournament Team...Guided McNamara to a 17-12 record as a junior...Recorded triple double with 15 points, 16 rebounds and 12 blocks vs. Coolidge at the Gonzaga D.C. Classic...Season-highs included 26 points vs. Georgetown Prep and 22 rebounds vs. Miami Killian...Scored 14 points, pulled down 20 rebounds and blocked four shots in a 61-56 win over Good Counsel...Two-year starter...Played for the District All-Star team in the I-95 Elite Challenge following his junior season...Averaged 10.0 points and 11.0 rebounds per game as a sophomore before being sidelined in December 2006 with a broken ankle...His team finished 18-10 during his sophomore year...Named an honorable mention All-WCAC selection and Prince George's County team member as a sophomore...Recorded season-highs of 17 points and 18 rebounds vs. Paul VI...Scored 25 points vs. DeMatha in a 56-52 loss in The Rock Summer League Championship...Ranked the nation's No. 53 recruit nationally by Bob Gibbons Report...Rated the No. 63 player nationally by Scout.com...Ranked by ESPN-U as the nation's 10th best center prospect...Played AAU basketball with the D.C. Blue Devils and Triple Threat AAU teams...Competed with the Blue Devils for coach Keith Stevens...Competed at the Super Showcase...Competed in the Top-100 Africans With Borders NBA Camp in South Africa and was named the Most Valuable Player in the All-Star Game. PERSONAL Born Talib Zanna on October 1, 1990...Son of Zanna Awami and Maimuna Zanna...Has three brothers (Nura, Awalu, Ibrahim) and two sisters (Habiba, Maryam)...His father, a successful businessman, passed away not long after he committed to Pitt...Nigerian native who moved to the United States in 2006...Fluent in four different languages and could speak English before arriving in the United States...Began playing basketball in Nigeria when he was 10 years old...Early on, he had a goal of traveling to the United States to play basketball...His workout regimen in Nigeria included running mountains to increase his speed, vertical leap and fitness...Discovered by American high school coaches at a big man camp in Lagos...Devout Muslim...Early in his childhood he played soccer but following a growth spurt he switched to basketball...Visited Pitt on the weekend of Sept. 19 with fellow signees Lamar Patterson and Dante Taylor...Added 30 pounds in his three years in the United States...Has not traveled back to Nigeria since arriving in the United States...Chose Pitt for its coaching staff, playing time and educational opportunities...Selected Pitt over Villanova, Virginia, Oklahoma, Georgetown, Clemson, Virginia Tech, Colorado, Providence, West Virginia, Connecticut, Oklahoma and Boston College..Enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences with an interest in international business. |
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