West African Big Man Turning Heads in America

Ivan McDowell, Southeast/Mid-South Editor

May 30, 2008 - DC Blue Devils forward/center Mouphtaou Yarou may not be a household name on the high school hoops scene yet; that is until last weekend’s Nike Memorial Day Classic in Nashville.

The 6-foot-9, 240-pound Yarou (a rising senior) has only been playing basketball for a few years and while he has a long ways to go to be a complete player, he clearly is more advanced than most African big men at the same stage.

Mouphtaou Yarou, hailing from Benin, West Africa, attends Massanutten Military Academy and is proving a force in the youth basketball scene.

“Mouph”, as he’s called by his teammates and Blue Devils Head Coach Vaughn Jones, has the build and physicality to damage in the paint with sheer strength and determination, however if opposing bigs play off of him, thinking he can only operate down low, they’d be making a big mistake.

Yarou has a consistent, lethal jumper out to 17-feet to which he uses to lull his unsuspecting defender to sleep like a cobra before he strikes. Once you come out to guard his deadly J, he’ll put the ball on the floor and bull his way into the paint.

“Mouph is improving everyday, commented Jones. He has the opportunity to be a very, very special player.”

Very soft-spoken and humble in nature, Yarou is able to turn that into quiet aggression on the court, not doing a bunch of unnecessary yappin’ during the game; he would much rather let his game do his talking. Just ask 6-foot-10 Alabama center and UAB signee DeMarcus Cousins; who Mouph dropped 22 points and 12 rebounds on. Cousins certainly got his, but considering that Yarou has only been in the U.S. for four months, he certainly made a statement.

“I have so much to work on; from my footwork, to my shot, and my quickness,” opined Mouphtaou. He later furthered, “I definitely have to improve my post defense and the ability to alter and block shots.”

All of which Yarou displayed last weekend, yet the young man is clearly not satisfied with his performance. In order for him to be truly “special”, as Jones stated, he must be more consistent in his aggression, while continuing to use his size and strength to move his game inward. With a feathery touch from outside, he would excel in high-low situations on the collegiate level, whether as the high or low. Pick your poison.

Without a doubt Mouph is a high major target in the class of 2009, many schools are just getting wind of this Michael Dunigan look-alike.

New Mexico State, Florida State, Georgetown, and Pittsburgh are the early inquirers about Yarou’s services. After being seen at a few more summer events, you can bet more of the heavyweights will jump in with offers in hand.