Smith Bolsters Frontcourt with Keita from Wasatch Academy

SALT LAKE CITY – Utah head men's basketball coach Craig Smith strengthened his frontcourt for the upcoming season with the signing of Keba Keita from Wasatch Academy on Thursday.
 
"Keba is a warrior," Smith said of the newest member of the Runnin' Ute family. "He plays the game with tremendous ferocity and is extremely athletic. He plays with force on both ends of the court and is an elite defensive player that brings us versatility in our frontcourt. We are pumped!"
 
Keita, a near consensus four-star recruit among the major outlets and an ESPN Top-100 Recruit (#84), joins Wilguens Exacte Jr. as the latest to sign with the Runnin' Utes for the upcoming 2022-23 season.
 
The 6-8 center has been a force on both ends of the floor for the Wasatch Academy Tigers in 2021-22, nearly averaging a double-double in NIBC action with 11.6 points per game and 9.5 rebounds per game. In addition to leading the league on the glass, Keita also led the NIBC in field-goal percentage shooting a .667 clip.
 
For his efforts, Keita was named NIBC Defensive Player of the Year to go with all-defensive team honors after tallying 20 blocks (2.0bpg) on the season in addition to third-team all-conference accolades.
 
Prior to his time in Mt. Pleasant, Keita played at American Heritage for the Patriots.
 
For the latest news and information on the Runnin' Utes men's basketball program, fans can stay connected online at www.UtahUtes.com and on social media by following @UtahMBB on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
 
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