Jordan Burks' OTE coach on Kentucky target Somto Cyril: "Never seen anything like him"

Nick Weaver, who coached Kentucky men’s basketball freshman Jordan Burks at Overtime Elite’s Hillcrest Prep, has seen first-hand what a highly-ranked center looks like at the high school level. Weaver coached Deandre Ayton during the latter’s final two high school seasons before Ayton went off to Arizona as a five-star recruit and then became the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft. But not even Ayton — a 7-foot, 250-pound big man — was as physically imposing and as dominant as another prospect Weaver has been able to watch in person.

That prospect is class of 2024 center Somto Cyril, who is hearing plenty from the Kentucky Wildcats and is expected by many to eventually join the program this summer as a reclass candidate. Ayton was/is an incredibly skilled big man, but even he can’t compete with the pure size and physicality that Cyril brings to the hardwood.

“I’m gonna tell you right now, in all my years of doing high school basketball — I’ve coached a lot of pros. Hell, I had Deandre Ayton, and he was a grown man. A man amongst boys, right?” Weaver said on Sunday Morning Sports Talk. “Somto, I have never seen anything like him. I have never seen anybody in high school basketball or OTE that we played in, never seen anybody dominate a game like him physically. He was the most physical presence I have ever seen at the high school level.

“He was hard to guard, impossible, physical, tough. Heck, we were chirping with him after one of the games in the hallway. He’s a competitor, this guy. I’ve never seen anything like it. You’ve just got to watch with your own eyes. He is just physically gifted but he moves so well, he can score, he’s got great touch. If the Wildcats get him, look out. That’s a grown man right there.“

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Cyril isn’t as tall or skilled as Ayton, but he certainly possesses more brute strength and power than the five-year NBA starter. Cyril is tailor-made to dominate at the college level. He has the ability to punish opposing bigs in ways that few can. He attacks the rim as if it owes him money and rebounds like he’s in an empty gym. His high motor helps brings that extra edge.

“I’m gonna tell you right now. Somto, grown man. Never seen anything like it,” Weaver added.

During the 2022-23 season at OTE, Cyril suited up for the Cold Hearts, which is the same team that current Kentucky freshman Robert Dillingham (who has been recruiting Cyril to UK) played for. Cyril was a monster in the post opposite of Dillingham, averaging 8.1 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 3.4 blocks in just 20.3 minutes per outing. His range is limited to several feet inside the arc, but with a 66.2 percent field goal percentage, he’s nearly impossible to slow down when his feet touch the paint.

“If you remember, Ayton had a little finesse to him. He liked to shoot the midrange, put it on the floor a little bit, where Somto, he’ll just punish you in the paint. I mean he will physically punish you.” Weaver said. “We were running three, four guys at him. He was getting us in foul trouble every game. Hell, he bent one of our rims in our gym. He’s just physically gifted and he plays hard. I’ve never seen a big that big move like he does and play as hard as he does.”

Kentucky is the clear leader at this stage for Cyril, who officially visited UK earlier this month. He is expected to jump classes to ’23 and join his college program of choice this summer whenever he makes his decision. No announcement date has been set, but Cyril is certainly trending towards the ‘Cats at this stage. If he does ultimately land in Lexington as John Calipari’s eighth incoming freshman, his role as a bruiser in the paint will be well-defined.