Mohammed Wague's ascension as a rim protection threat and upside-heavy Division-1 prospect has been rapid.
His journey from Mali, Africa to hectic-paced New York City to barren and pin drop quiet Scotland, Pa., has been just as quick, with lessons and languages learned in crash course fashion.
Just four years ago, Wague would rarely ever touch a basketball or even entertain the idea of playing.
Instead, the rangy kid was immersed in hyper-competitive games of soccer in his homeland of Mali, Africa.
It wasn't until he uprooted himself to New York City just a year later, that he discovered the game near his cousin's apartment in the Bronx.
"As a sophomore, I went to The International Community High School, but they didn't have a really good basketball team," recalls Wague, who has emerged into a veritable fly swatter and is currently flushed into a prominent interior role at national prep power Scotland Campus (PA) this season.
"We only practiced two or three times a week. We weren't in any league in ICHS. There were some courts near my neighborhood. With me being competitive, I decided to give it a try. Soon enough, I really liked it. I was on the court at all times. I got the opportunity to play for Team Born Ready and really develop my game. I like blocking shots and using my wingspan on defense. I like to attack the rim and finish with my left or my right on offense."
Wague first learned how to speak fluid and eventually fluent English at aforementioned International Community High School, located along Third Ave. of the hard-edged South Bronx.
He stocked up on English classes his first two semesters there, reading relentlessly.
He was able to translate from his two other languages, bambara and French, to English through arduous work and patience.
Despite the daunting transition and changing of languages in a hurry, Wague maintained a 3.0 GPA throughout his time at FDA.
Heading into his junior season at FDA, Wague's passion for basketball and simultaneous evolution as a gym rat blossomed.
He played for the traditionally tough Gauchos in the Under Armour Rise and developed a feel for knocking down shots from outside the key.
He soon made that short-range jumper a key piece in his growing arsenal.
And while at FDA in Manhattan, where he immediately learned the intricacies of the true big man role under reputable New York City head coach Pat Magan, his game came together.
"Coach Magan taught me important things like post moves, how to shoot with the proper form, the pick-and-roll game, and how to pass the ball. We had a good overall team. My point guard was like 6-foot-3. We only had one person in the starting lineup under 6-foot-5. We were getting a lot of points off our defense. We were long so we got a lot of steals and tips that resulted in transition baskets. We wound up going 25-4."
This memorable and long junior season, Magan schooled Wague on his wealth of potential and how to fully utilize the gifts which scratched the surface.
The seasoned coach enabled Wague to become cognizant of the two way multi-positional threat he poses.
Wague averaged 12 points, 10 rebounds, and a city-best five blocks in the PSAL "A" Division.
With his game developing smoothly, Magan implored Wague to utililze a wing's skill-set. That meant hitting short-range jumpers, putting the ball on the deck frequently and creating plays and attacking.
Defensively, he used his 7-foot-1 wingspan to block, change, manipulate and alter the trajectory of shots.
Now at Scotland Campus Sports, Wague finds himself flanked by a barrage of highly-touted prospects, many of whom he will surely see at the Division-I level.
He's been assimilating well so far, flashing upside with his above the rim game and ability to score ambidextrously and finish through amplified contact.
"My AAU coach, he told me about this program and he told me coach Chris Chaney really knows what he's doing on the prep scene and this would be the best opportunity for me," Wague said.
"I took a visit and Chaney showed me a lot about what they had done in previous seasons. I had a workout with Sullivan Brown and he helped me with my jumper and my dribbling and my post moves. Coach Chaney showed me pictures of himself with (NBA star) Hassan Whiteside and a big packet of guys he's helped to Division-I careers, NBA careers, and international professional careers."
How does Wague, who bid adieu to soccer for basketball just three years ago, describe the hothouse prep basketball environment?
"It was really hard at the beginning, but I got used to it, step by step," said Wague.
"I never worked out that much in the same day before coming here. With the schedule and the back to backs and sometimes playing two games in a day, it is necessary. I think it's more competitive. It gets you more ready to play at a higher level. Right now, I want to win a national championship. That's the goal."
In the process, Wague has been reunited with a familiar face.
Wague has a fight on his hands in practice everyday with Brooklyn native Abou Ousman, a bullish 6-foot-9 and 220 pound behemoth with an advanced skill set in the trenches.
"I played against Abou in New York in some tournaments and playing against him and practicing against him helps me get more ready," Wague explained.
"I try to simulate his post moves because he's pretty advanced there and he's got some good ones. It is great to be competitive with him everyday in practice because he's a bigger guy and he's had big time experience being that he was at Putnam Science before this."
UMass and St. Bonaventure have both offered Wague since he elected to forgo his senior year at FDA and attend Scotland Campus instead.
The Knights, ranked no.1 nationally the last two seasons, went 36-2 en route to a first-ever berth in the prep national championship game.
They piled up resume wins over the aforementioned Putnam Science in Connecticut (which was also no.1 nationally at certain junctures of the season), Mount Zion Academy (MD), IMG Academy (FL), and other prep heavy hitters.
"When I came to visit campus last year, I was talking to Karim (Coulibaly) and Frenchy (Clarence Nadolny)," recalled Wague.
"They basically said it was a hard grind here, but this is the place to be to get you where you want to go. I was talking to Karim in Mali language, bambara. I spoke with Clarence in French. They both made it clear I should come here."
Nadolny, a high level scorer with sneaky athleticism and tremendous finishing capabilities and a dependable outside shot, is now at Texas Tech.
Coulibaly, a matchup nightmare with his ability to play and guard multiple positions at 6-foot-9 and 220 pounds, is currently at Pittsburgh.
Fordham, Niagara, St. Francis, UNC Asheville, Rider, Marist, UMBC, and Alabama A & M have all offered Wague.
"The school where I feel will best suit me as a player and will get me better both on the court and as a person, that is where I want to go ultimately," Wague said.
"It is still a long ways away and this season, I have to do my best to gain myself the best possible opportunity. Right now it is about team goals first."