Meet 6-foot-11 sophomore Somto Cyril a.k.a Baby Shaq
Picture this. A 6-foot-11 basketball player weighing in at 250 pounds, while boasting a 7-foot-6 wingspan, and a size 16 shoe.
I just described Somto Cyril, a sophomore at Hamilton Heights Christian Academy in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Just by his description, you can see why he’s been called “Baby Shaq”. In fact, he’s already shattering backboards.
Originally from Nigeria, Cyril arrived in the United States just over a year ago, in January of 2021. Despite being 6,000 miles away, Cyril says it isn’t too different and he’s enjoying his time here.
“It’s pretty cool. It’s almost the same as Nigeria, the difference is just the food. I think we (Nigeria) have the best food in the world. Once you try it, you’re going to love it.”
It didn’t take long for offers to roll in
Within just a few months of arriving in the U.S., Cyril made a name for himself playing with EAB Tennessee on the Adidas 3SSB circuit. This past summer, Cyril received offers from Memphis, Florida, Oklahoma State, Ole Miss, and Tennessee. The success continued as Somto began his sophomore year, scoring offers from Kansas and Georgetown.
In October, Cyril took a trio of visits in the SEC, including Tennessee, Alabama, and Kentucky. He discussed each of his trips.
Tennessee: “Tennessee is the closest school to me, only like an hour and a half away. Someone from my high school, Uros Plavis, plays there. So I go down there to support him. I’ve been able to meet Coach (Rick) Barnes and the rest of the coaching staff. It was a good experience. I think it’s a really good place.”
In fact, Cyril says he’s been to Tennessee multiple times, for both football and basketball games.
Alabama: ” It was fun. We watched the football game and watched a basketball practice. It was really cool.”
Kentucky in the mix
It’s no secret that most basketball players grow up watching the Kentucky Wildcats. Cyril did the same, just halfway around the world.
“Growing up in Nigeria playing basketball, I would always watch Kentucky on TV,” Cyril said. “If someone told me I’d be right here today being on their recruiting list, I wouldn’t believe you. It feels good.”
In late October, Cyril made the trip to Lexington and he was able to meet someone he’d only seen on a screen.
“It feels really good to meet someone like Coach Cal and his coaching staff,” said Cyril. “Not many people have the opportunity to do that. They spoke to me about my game and things I need to do to be a better player and person, not just in basketball.”
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Cyril visited UK with one of Kentucky’s top targets in the 2023 class, Mookie Cook.
“I was down there with Mookie Cook. We got to shoot around together. He’s a cool guy.”
While on his visit, Cyril was able to watch Kentucky’s star big man Oscar Tshiebwe.
“I watched him when I was visiting and he put people to shame,” Cyril said. “I stood next to him and he’s like 6-9, 6-8. He’s not really that tall but when I see him play I’m like ‘oh my gosh.’ He’s doing a really good job to get those stats, like 20 and 20, that’s crazy. He’s a really good player.”
The Monday following the weekend visit, head coach John Calipari and assistant Orlando Antigua made the trip to Chattanooga to see Cyril practice at Hamilton Heights.
Credit: hollywoodvisions/Instagram
Just a few days later, Louisville’s Mike Peagues was in to see him.
Cyril’s game is still coming together
While Cyril’s physical tools are apparent, he currently makes the majority of his impact on the glass and defensively.
“When I first started playing, I didn’t know how to put the ball in the basket,” Cyril explained. “My coach told me ‘even if you can’t score, you can still stop the other team from scoring’, so that’s the mindset I have. I block shots and get rebounds for my teammates. I don’t have to score, I just want to win the game.”
With all the scholarship offers and early success Cyril has found on the court, it’s no surprise the biggest shift he’s experienced since arriving in the U.S. is his newfound sense of confidence.
“My confidence has grown a lot, like how it’s on a whole different level. When I first started playing, I was scared, but now I don’t even care who I play against, even if it’s LeBron James.”
Cyril says he looks up to LeBron and admires his IQ and leadership. He takes things from other current and former NBA players as well, such as Russell Westbrook’s energy, Hakeem Olajuwon’s footwork, and Shaq’s dominating presence.
What’s next for Cyril?
The Nigerian big man is an absolute menace on the defensive end, threatening anyone who attempts to take a shot at the rim, however, the next step is for Cyril to develop an offensive game.
Cyril says he’s looking forward to this summer and says he’s been working on his mid-range game.
“Right now I feel like this upcoming AAU season is going to be really good for me. I’ve been working on my jump shot and it’s been looking really good.”