The Sudanese big man, who apparently played with a detached ACL in his right knee for the last six months, committed to Cincinnati over the weekend.
Now the question is whether he’ll make it academically.
If the 7-foot-2 Riek, who we still maintain was the top player at the LeBron James Skills Academy more than a year ago, receives a qualifying score on the ACT on Aug. 13, he’ll be able to play for Mick Cronin at some point this season.
But it won’t be in November.
"He went in to have his knee scoped on June 17, the doctors looked at the MRI and said they needed to postpone because he had a partial tear of his ACL,” Riek’s advisor, Fatah Muraisi, told FOXSports.com.
Riek, who originally declared for the NBA Draft before withdrawing, had surgery on Aug. 19 and will likely be out of action until the New Year.
The keys for Riek committing to Cincinnati were the Arabic program and the school also having English as a second language.
CROSS MOVING KENT BACK OFF BALL
Look for new Toledo coach Gene Cross to return star Tyrone Kent to his natural position off the ball.
"His job is to score and defend,” Cross said. “We need him to put the ball in the hole.”
A year ago, there was virtually no choice but to play Kent at point guard. The 6-foot-5 wing still managed to score 16.9 points, grab 3.8 rebounds and dish out 3.0 assists per game. However, Cross has added a pair of floor leaders since taking the job – Towson Catholic’s Larry Bastfield and another northeast point guard – Boys & Girls’ Clayton Sterling.
Cross said he’d like to mesh the styles of two of the head coaches he’s worked for recently in Notre Dame’s Mike Brey and Virginia’s Dave Leitao.
"Obviously, I’d like to get great offensive players,” Cross said. “But I also want us to be a tough defensive team, where we can get out on you, guard the paint and rebound the ball and make it hard for a team to score.”
JOYNER STILL A QUESTION MARK FOR GAUCHOS
UC Santa Barbara has one of the best interior players in the Big West in Chris Devine. The Gauchos also boast one of the top shooters in James Powell.
The question is whether they return one of the steadiest floor leaders.
Junior point guard Justin Joyner’s status for the season remains unclear due to wrist surgery after the season ended. There’s a chance he could redshirt this year.
The Gauchos still have a capable backup with junior Paul Roemer, but opposing coaches maintain that Joyner may be the difference between competing for the league crown or finishing in the middle of the league.
CROSSING WITH GUARDS
UT Arlington’s Scott Cross could have endured a few sleepless nights after losing three starters from last season’s 21-12 club.
However, Cross adds one of the most talented guards in the league in Boston College transfer Marquez Haynes.
"He’s worked his butt off his redshirt year,” Cross said. “He’s gone from a little above average shooter in high school to a really good 3-point shooter right now.”
"He has the ability to be the best guard we’ve ever had,” added Cross. “Whether it happens or not is up to him, but he’s quick, athletic, can shoot the ball and has the leadership. He has the whole package.”
Haynes shouldn’t have to do it by himself, either. An all-league candidate, Rog’er Guignard (12.9 ppg), returns in the backcourt along with another guard, Brandon Long (12.3 ppg). The Mavericks also have senior forward Anthony Vereen (13.8 ppg) back and Cross is hoping that long sophomore shot-blocker Trey Parker is ready to assume more playing time up front.
"For my first two years here it was just the opposite,” Cross said. “We had great bigs and just adequate guards. This is the first year we’ve got really, really good guards.”
RANDOM NOTES: Will Harris, according to sources, is expected to transfer out of Virginia. … Arkansas got a re-commitment from Miller School (Va.) big man Marshawn Powell, according to Scout.com’s Evan Daniels. Powell had de-committed in July, but saw the campus this past weekend at John Pelphrey’s Elite Camp and is back on board. … Michigan got its guy, point guard Darius Morris, who committed over the weekend to John Beilein's program. ... Teeng Akol, who had a mutual parting of ways with South Florida, is visiting Nebraska today and then will head to Oklahoma State this weekend. He is also considering Missouri. … Dave Telep reports that talented senior big man Ryan Kelley of Raleigh Ravenscroft has narrowed his list to six: Duke, Georgetown, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Vanderbilt and Wake Forest.
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.
