KSR Film Room: Somto Cyril

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ksr-film-room-somto-cyril — UK Athletics

The song and dance between the Kentucky Wildcats and Somto Cyril is over. He won’t be coming to Lexington this season, but the 6’10”, 250-pound center is officially a ‘Cat. Cyril was a candidate to reclassify and provide needed frontcourt depth in 2023-2024 before ultimately becoming the first member of Coach Calipari’s 2024 recruiting class. Given the nickname “Baby Shaq” for his massive size, Cyril looks like a guy ready for the college game. However, refining his back to the basket game at Overtime Elite for another year could be very useful. Landing this four-star big man is a great way to build momentum into the July live periods.

Like many young big men, there is some rawness to Cyril’s game. He isn’t very comfortable scoring outside of the paint and can be a step slow in terms of recognition on both ends of the floor. However, his size and strength make up for some deficiencies as he will be college ready from a physicality standpoint on day one. Ranked as the #38 prospect in the class of 2024, Cyril averaged 8.1 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 3.4 blocks per game. He was named Overtime Elite Defensive Player of the Year for his efforts. A 7’5″ wingspan will help keep his floor high as a freshman while also unlocking a very high ceiling as he develops in Lexington.

Cyril is already 18 years old and obviously has the necessary physical tools. He will be 19 before he ever suits up for the Kentucky Wildcats. Frontcourt depth would have been nice this season, but in hindsight, an extra year of development could be a blessing. The big man is already physically ready for college, but a year of skill development could send him shooting up the national rankings. Let’s step into the KSR Film Room and take a closer look at Somto Cyril.

Physical Post Presence

You likely won’t see Kentucky throw the ball to Somto Cyril in the post very much next season. However, he does flash some intriguing tools and upside as an interior presence. The size is real, he can play through contact, and he has some explosiveness when getting up to finish at the rim. Also, Cyril is patient in the post and looks to have been taught real moves with his back to the basket. Even if he doesn’t score in the post much, he will be good in the dunker’s spot and as a lob threat.

This is a good example of the strength and power that Somto Cyril possesses in the post. His defender is fouling him on the entry but Cyril doesn’t get knocked off of his spot at all. Then, with one dribble, he gets to the midline and plays off of two feet to finish with a dunk. This is a real post move that you could see him make at the next level. Strength, size, and athleticism are a good foundation for post play.

We watched Ugonna Onyenso lose control of the ball with physical post play last season. His lack of physicality knocks him off of the block and makes it hard for him to make real moves. However, that is not going to happen with Cyril inside. The big man gets his catch, scans the defense, and gets to the midline to finish. Most impressively, this move comes against five-star center Flory Bidunga. Cyril is raw, but he is patient in the post and makes strong moves.

Here is another clip of Somto Cyril scoring on Flory Bidunga in the post. Again, he likely won’t be a go-to, low post scorer as a freshman at Kentucky. However, he does showcase some overall feel for the game that gives hope that he can be a scorer in the future. Cyril takes a physical dribble into Bidunga’s chest, makes an athletic drop step to the baseline, and finishes at the rim. Being able to score over both shoulders is a pretty rare skill for young big men.

Rim Protection

Somto Cyril showcases some upside on the offensive end, but his defensive prowess will be what translates right away. The 6’10” big man was Overtime Elite’s Defensive Player of the Year and averaged 3.4 blocks per game. He plays hard, has a 7’5″ wing span, and can cover ground in a hurry for his size. Cyril will raise Kentucky’s ceiling defensively from day one.

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There simply aren’t a lot of 6’10”, 250-pound centers that can move like Somto Cyril. Despite some miscommunication at the point of the ballscreen, Cyril is able to cover ground from the top of the key to the rim to erase this layup. The defender guarding the ball looks to ice the ballscreen while Cyril is set up to corral him on the other side of the screen. However, the great thing about elite rim protection is making up for mistakes. That is what “Baby Shaq” is able to do in this clip.

We’ve talked about it with current Wildcats Aaron Bradshaw and Ugonna Onyenso, but what turns a good shot blocker into a potentially elite shot blocker is the ability to be the second jumper. It takes a good deal of size and explosiveness, but Cyril has those traits in spades. The ball handler attacks down the lane line as the 6’10” rim protector helps across the lane to swat this attempt away. Cyril doesn’t jump until the ball has left the offensive player’s hand. He makes it look easy, but this is a great defensive play by the future Wildcat.

Rebounding Ability – Crashing the Glass

Kentucky will never have anyone like Oscar Tshiebwe when it comes to his rebounding ability. In fact, we might not see that in college basketball as a whole anytime soon. However, from a pure motor and physicality standpoint, Somto Cyril flashes some real potential on the glass. He crashes hard, can fight his way through contact, and is explosive for his size. It is hard to handle a 6’10”, 250-pound athlete with a 7’5″ wingspan when he wants to go get the basketball. His ability to play above the rim offensively and protect it defensively will translate from day one.

When evaluating rebounders at the college level there are two types of players. First, you have “hit and get” guys. Those are your big, athletic prospects who can make contact with their man and then release to go get the basketball. Then, you have your “hit and stick” guys. Those are your small, less explosive players who take the responsibility of simply trying to keep their man from getting an offensive rebound. It is on someone else to go actually corral it. However, with Somto Cyril, he essentially turns everyone into a “hit and stick” guy. It is a full-time job trying to keep his big, athletic body off of the boards.

There is a physicality and “quick-twitch” aspect to Somto Cyril’s game that Kentucky simply doesn’t have at the five-spot this season. Ugonna Onyenso can replicate the length and some of the bounciness, but he just physically isn’t nearly as ready to compete. That is why it would have been nice to get him to reclassify. However, another year of development at Overtime Elite will make him that much more ready in 2024-2025. Cyril will have a chance to be an absolute beast on the offensive glass as a Wildcat. He is dunking this putback home before his defender even knows what happened. Play above the rim, rebound, and block shots. This 6’10” big man will do all of that from day one in Lexington.