Rick Pitino is working hard on landing yet another 7-foot foreign big man.
The latest prospect to fit the mold is Anas Osama Mahmoud, a 7-1 native of Egypt who is currently a member of the class of 2014 playing for West Oaks Academy in Orlando. A family member says that while Osama Mahmoud has taken unofficial visits to seven schools (including Louisville and Kentucky), his current U of L visit is his first official. He will be in town through Friday.
Though he's only a teenager, Osama Mahmoud has been recognized as one of the most promising Egyptian hoops prospects for years. He began playing for a club at age 12, and has been a member of Egyptian national team since 2009. Last summer, he helped the national team qualify for the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup by finishing second at the 2013 AfroBasket tournament.
For more on Osama Mahmoud's backstory, check out this recent feature piece from the Orlando Sentinel.
Has a college team ever played three 7-footers at the same time before? I'm not opposed.