An impressive spring has bolstered Sidwell Friends (Washington, D.C.) wing Saddiq Bey’s stock in the eyes of major college coaches. The 6’6” rising senior also earned an invite to the 2017 NBPA Top 100 Camp in Charlottesville.
Through six games at the Top 100, Bey is averaging 4.2 points and 3.2 rebounds on a Warriors team that also includes Notre Dame-bound point guard Prentiss Hubb. Those numbers pale in comparison to the success he has experienced on DC Premiere this spring. Through 12 games, he is averaging 13.6 points and 5.1 rebounds per contest, helping DC Premiere (which also includes Hubb) to a 10-2 record heading into the Under Armour Association Finals July 12-15.
While the individual numbers aren’t there this week in Charlottesville, Bey has had a “great” experience learning from former NBA players. On Friday, his team won two games after dropping all four contests the first two days of Top 100 competition.
“I’m just trying to be available and do as much as I can when needed,” said Bey, whose best performance so far this week was a 9-point, 5-rebound outing in a 3-point loss to the 76ers. “Try and help the team get a win.”
Florida, Georgetown, Miami, Northwestern, Notre Dame and Virginia Tech are among the schools that have offered Bey. UVA is one of the schools expressing interest. He says he “has heard a lot” from Virginia assistant Jason Williford and has spoken with head coach Tony Bennett. There is no offer on the table at this point as Virginia’s coaches are in the early stages of this recruitment, with Bey noting that the Cavaliers have been eyeing him for about a month.
“[Bennett] was saying the way I played, the way he saw me, I’m doing fine. He said to keep doing what I’m doing, to keep getting better, and keep working. I should come on campus and visit and he’ll see me in July,” Bey said.
Is UVA a school Bey is interested in should Bennett extend an offer?
“I’m open to everything right now,” Bey said, adding that UVA is a “great school.”
Bey has a Notre Dame official visit scheduled for the weekend of September 9-11. He wants to visit Florida as well. After July, expect him to start zeroing in his recruitment and scheduling more visits. By then, we probably will know whether Virginia will officially enter this race or not.
On the court this offseason, Bey says he is “trying to be more of a leader. Trying to be as aggressive as possible. Trying to use my versatility. I’m trying to show coaches I’m a two-way player and multiple position player.”
