Souf Mensah Signs to Compete at Rutgers
Jun 05 | Men's Basketball
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Men's basketball coach Steve Pikiell announced today that incoming junior point guard Souf Mensah has signed to attend Rutgers University and compete for the Scarlet Knights. Mensah was two-year starter at Marshalltown (Iowa) Community College, and averaged 10.0 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.0 assists-per-game as a sophomore in 2016-17.
"We are very excited to have Souf join the Rutgers family," said Pikiell. "We are adding another high-character individual who instantly improves our overall speed and athleticism. Souf is a guy who makes everyone around him better from the lead guard position and he is someone who plays extremely hard for every single possession, on both sides of the floor. In addition to his terrific talent on the court, Souf is a tremendous leader and we are excited to add his veteran presence to our locker room. We want our culture to be built around hard work here at Rutgers and Souf will absolutely work as hard as he can every single day to make our program better."
Mensah is the fourth member of the 2017 signing class and will be the fifth international player on the Rutgers roster. Last season, he scored in double-digits 15 times, and shot 45.1 percent (96-of-213) to help Marshalltown to a 17-12 record. As a freshman, Mensah averaged 9.1 points-per-game and connected on 47.6 percent of his shots, while registering double-figures in 12 contests.
"Rutgers was the best decision for me," said Mensah. "I love Coach Pikiell's vision. Rutgers was a school that I always looked toward. It's in the Big Ten Conference and has so much to offer. When the opportunity to attend Rutgers was presented, it was a dream come true."
Mensah attended the Canarias Basketball Academy in Spain before his arrival in the States. At CBA, his roommate was current Rutgers rising sophomore Issa Thiam. Mensah, who speaks four languages, grew up playing soccer and rugby in his native France.
Under Pikiell, whose 9-1 start marked the best head-coaching debut in Rutgers men's basketball history, the Scarlet Knights more than doubled their overall win total and tripled their conference victory total last season. Rutgers achieved a plus-117 rank improvement in RPI, as well as major NCAA ranking improvements in rebound margin (+299), scoring defense (+272), three point FG defense (+247), offensive rebounds (+244), rebounds (+232), field goal percentage defense (+226) and blocks (+114). The Scarlet Knights ranked among the top 100 in 10 NCAA statistical categories, including among the top 50 in seven, after ranking among the top 150 in just two statistical categories in 2015-16.
"It's a great opportunity to play for a coach who played the same position as me," said Mensah. "He expects big things for himself and for his players. The choice wasn't hard to make."
BIOGRAPHY:
Souf Mensah
Guard
6-2, 210 / Junior
Nantes, France / Marshalltown (Iowa) Community College
Junior college point guard expected to provide maturity and athleticism … Physical playmaker who shares the ball and brings energy to the floor … Will be the fifth international player on the Rutgers roster, joining Shaquille Doorson (Netherlands), Eugene Omoruyi (Canada), Candido Sa (Portugal) and Issa Thiam (Senegal) … Becomes the fourth member of the 2017 signing class, joining incoming freshmen Geo Baker and Myles Johnson and rising sophomore Peter Kiss.
2016-17: Competed in 24 games (20 starts) as a sophomore, averaging 10.0 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.0 assists-per-game under head coach Brynjar Brynjarsson at Marshalltown (Iowa) Community College … Scored in double-digits 15 times, including 19 points versus Quakerdale Prep on 7-of-12 shooting and 19 points against Highland CC … Shot 45.1 percent (96-of-213) to help the Tigers to a 17-12 overall record.
2015-16: Appeared in 29 games (22 starts) as a freshman for MCC … Averaged 9.1 points, while connecting on 47.6 percent of his shots ... Posted double-figures in 12 contests ... Had a career-high 21 points in a 99-96 win over Highland ... Was named to the NJCAA Academic All-Region XI Second-Team.
Scholastic: Attended the Canarias Basketball Academy in Spain under director Rob Orellana … Was a member of the team that won the Hoops Group Spring Jam Fest in April of 2015 during a United States tour … School also produced current Rutgers players Shaquille Doorson and Issa Thiam, with whom Mensah was a roommate.
Personal: Given name is Soufiane (soof-yahn), but goes by Souf … Son of Touria Kamali ... Grew up playing soccer and rugby … Speaks French, Spanish, Arabic and English … Was a liberal arts major at Marshalltown … Roommate at MCC was Mohamed Thiam, the brother of Issa Thiam.
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