Matt Doherty’s team has three players who hail from Senegal, so the Mustangs
recent trip to Senegal and South Africa was two-fold:
To allow his current players to get a chance to see their family and friends
back home and also to recruit the area for the future.
Remember, Doherty also has the help of Amadou Fall, who lives in the Dallas area and works for the Dallas Mavericks.
``He’s the pied piper in Senegal,” Doherty said. “He’s very influential on the whole
continent.”
Doherty was able to practice 10 days prior to the trip, which spanned from late
May until early June and included five days in Senegal and five in South Africa
``It was incredible,” Doherty said. “To see where our players, Bamba Fall, Papa
Dia and Mouhammad Faye, grew up and meet their families. It was very
educational and also a great team bonding experience.”
Doherty spoke about the poverty in Dakar. ``It blows you away,” he said. “Kids with no shoes
on their feet, people in the street because of over-population. Villages don’t
have electricity. But what struck me is that they are still very happy and
spiritual.”
Dia hadn’t been home in nearly five years.
Doherty took the team to see Nelson Mandela’s home and also the Civil Rights
Museum.
They also played three games and put on numerous clinics.
``Our team got better,” Doherty said. “And we marketed our program and
continued to develop a relationship with the community over there.”
Doherty was unable to bring any of his freshman and that’s one of the primary
reasons (along with cost) why many coaches opt to wait until Labor Day, when
they are allowed by the NCAA to bring their freshman on the trip.
The offensive development of Fall, the 7-foot-1 senior center, impressed
Doherty.
``His game has gone to another level,” Doherty said. “His confidence is high
and he’s using a right-handed jump hook all of the sudden. We haven’t had a
go-to guy that people have had to double.”
Doherty also said that sophomore swingman Alex Malone is more aggressive and point
guard Mike Walker made quality decisions.
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Jeff Goodman is a senior college basketball writer for FOXSports.com - This is the only place you'll find continuous daily updates from the world of college basketball, so check back as often as you'd like.
