New to the Zoo: Karim Coulibaly commits to Pitt

Pitt was rumored to be getting a visit from 6’9" power forward Karim Coulibaly this weekend, but it turned out that would not be the case due to a schedule conflict. However, Pitt head coach Jeff Capel and his staff got positive news regarding the talented big on Friday, as Andrew Slater of The Athletic reported he had committed to the program just after noon ET.

Coulibaly is considered a four-star recruit, according to ESPN, and he holds three-star ratings from 247Sports and Rivals. He chose Pitt over St. Joseph’s and Tulane after receiving at least offers from 13 schools, including Boston College, Cincinnati, Georgia Tech, Providence, Rutgers and St. John’s.

The commitment represents a major step in the right direction for Pitt’s 2019 recruiting class, as the frontcourt was an area of dire need. Currently, the team is relying on the contributions of Terrell Brown and Kene Chukwuka, and while Brown has performed well on occasion, Chukwuka’s efforts have fallen short more often than not.

Coulibaly is currently enrolled at Scotland Performance Institute in Scotland, Pennsylvania, and Zach Smart, the school's director of sports media services, recently broke down what Coulibaly brings to the table.

"Karim is a high-motored, 6'9", face-up four man with a rare ability to guard all five positions on the floor,” Smart told Mike Vukovcan of Pittsburgh Sports Now. “With him being left-handed, he’s able to really pose matchup threats for forwards with his unique one-on-one game. He’s also extremely versatile, with an ability to hit three-pointers and 18- to 20-foot jumpers consistently."

The power forward, who hails from Mali, is Pitt's second pickup of the 2019 recruiting cycle, as the team previously landed 6'6" small forward Gerald Drumgoole on Monday. Capel and his staff will look to build on that momentum over the weekend, as they will be hosting coveted recruits Ibrahima Diallo, Julian Champagnie and Justin Champagnie for visits.