Sporting dimension 17 sneakers and standing 7-foot-3, Cherif Millogo is beneath the basket holding up his arms and touching the rim with out leaving the bottom. The remainder of the “tiny” folks within the St. Francis Excessive gymnasium are gawking in awe at his 7-9 wingspan.
That features 6-8 head coach Todd Wolfson, who has twice received the basketball teaching lottery by having his second 7-footer present up out of nowhere. The primary was 7-0 Belgium alternate pupil Gilles Dierickx when he was teaching at Chaminade in 2017.
This time, Wolfson acquired a cellphone name from an administrator at St. Francis in August.
“There’s a 7-3 child wanting to return to St. Francis,” the administrator mentioned.
“I believed he was mendacity,” Wolfson mentioned.
Millogo didn’t play final season whereas attending the Cambridge Arts, Expertise and Science Academy in Boston after tearing a knee ligament. He’s from the tiny West Africa nation Burkina Faso. He was a soccer participant till he had a development spurt, participated in a basketball camp and was noticed enjoying in Togo, a rustic bordering Ghana. He ended up shifting to Florida two years in the past. He mentioned he discovered find out how to shoot a basketball watching YouTube movies of Kevin Durant.
St. Francis coach Todd Wolfson, who’s 6-foot-8, is not the tallest particular person within the gymnasium. Cherif Millogo is 7-3 and a local of Burkina Faso.
(Eric Sondheimer / Los Angeles Occasions)
He speaks French, English and two tribal languages. He has a 7-foot older brother and his father is 6-8. He turned 18 on Sept. 27, which suggests he has two years of highschool eligibility left. His guardian is former UCLA and NBA participant Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, who got here right here from Cameroon.
Millogo was immediately embraced round St. Francis due to his participating, pleasant persona. Throughout a follow, whereas listening in a circle round Wolfson, he had his arms round a teammate as in the event that they have been lifelong associates.
“He’s made me a greater particular person,” Wolfson mentioned. “His values are superb.”
Millogo mentioned his dad and mom taught him to be respectful and pleasant.
“For me, it’s pure,” he mentioned.
Sophomore guard Luke Paulus mentioned gamers have been as stunned as Wolfson to study Millogo’s arrival.
“No approach,” he mentioned when he heard in regards to the rumors. “First day of faculty, I noticed him. ‘Wow, that’s a giant human being.’ He’s a enjoyable man.”
Millogo, who’s Muslim, mentioned attending a Catholic faculty is nice. “I’m studying about new religions,” he mentioned.
He can also showcase his soccer abilities if requested by juggling a ball together with his toes.
Millogo joins an already talent-filled Mission League with the No. 1 class of 2026 prospect, Tyran Stokes of Sherman Oaks Notre Dame, and prime 5 2026 prospect, Brandon McCoy of Sierra Canyon.
Cherif Millogo towers over his new St. Francis Excessive teammates.
(Eric Sondheimer / Los Angeles Occasions)
Millogo was requested if he was conscious of Stokes and McCoy.
“From social media,” he mentioned.
See what having an Instagram account can do to advertise a highschool basketball program? He mentioned he noticed a social media publish of St. Francis’ college students cheering at a recreation.
To say there could possibly be a lot of alley-oop passes this season for St. Francis is likely to be an understatement. Wolfson, who has used a matchup zone protection at occasions throughout his teaching days, is teasing the way it may make a return with Millogo within the center. And he’s already planning for some new out-of-bounds performs attempting to make the most of Millogo’s peak.
Millogo seems like a stable free-throw shooter and shot-blocker. Then there’s dunking with ease. He had 9 dunks final weekend in a fall league recreation through which he scored 32 factors. The earlier recreation, he had 24 factors, together with 5 dunks. He ought to be eligible instantly subsequent month when the season formally begins primarily based on the very fact he didn’t play final season, however St. Francis has but to submit his switch paperwork.
One factor is for certain: The St. Francis pupil part and plenty of different followers are going to be entertained watching Millogo ship dunk after dunk.
