By Bill Koch
The Cincinnati Enquirer

The University of Cincinnati might have unearthed a gem when it signed Central African Republic native Asrangue Souleymane to a letter of intent Wednesday.

"They got a steal," said Chris Chaney, the head coach at Laurinburg Institute in North Carolina, where Souleymane played last year.

Souleymane, a 6-foot-9, 210-pound power forward, averaged 10 points, 9.5 rebounds and four blocked shots last season for a Laurinburg team that went 40-2, won the prep school national championship and had 12 Division I players on its roster.

"He's a warrior-type player," Chaney said. "He's very, very athletic. He's a great kid, runs the floor well, and he's a very good off-the-ball defender. He has a good shooting touch, but he has to work on his low-post game a little bit."

Neither UC coach Bob Huggins nor assistant coach Andy Kennedy, UC's recruiting coordinator, returned phone calls Thursday.

The signing of Souleymane completes UC's recruiting class for next season. He joins junior-college point guard Nick Williams, junior-college center Robert Whaley, Purcell Marian product Mike Pilgrim and Florida transfer James White.

"That should give them a top-10 national recruiting class, maybe top-12 to be conservative," said recruiting analyst Bob Gibbons.

Gibbons said Souleymane is a slender player whom he lists at 195 pounds. He was the third offensive option on his prep school team behind Boubacar Coly, who signed with Xavier, and Regia Koundja, who signed with Louisiana State.

"He's athletic and has a good upside," Gibbons said. "He's just not very skilled right now."

In a year or two, Gibbons said, Souleymane could blossom into a capable player.

"Like most kids from Africa, it appeared he hasn't been playing basketball that long," Gibbons said. "He's not a guy that's going to step right in and be an immediate impact player. If he works with Huggins, he'll develop. They need to get him on a weight program."

Chaney said LSU, Providence, Marquette and Seton Hall also recruited Souleymane.

E-mail bkoch@enquirer.com

UC's roster

Probable starting five for 2003-04

Player	Yr.	Ht.	PPG
F-Jason Maxiell	Jr.	6-7	11.9
F-James White	Jr.	6-6	NA
C-Robert Whaley	Jr.	6-10	NA
G-Field Williams	Sr.	6-3	11.6
G-Nick Williams	Jr.	6-3	NA

Reserves

Player	Yr.	Ht.	PPG
G-Tony Bobbitt	Sr.	6-4	8.0
G-Chadd Moore	So.	6-2	2.6
G-Armein Kirkland	So.	6-8	3.4
F-Eric Hicks	So.	6-6	2.5
F-Mike Pilgrim	Fr.	6-7	NA
C-Kareem Johnson	Sr.	6-7	2.4
C-A. Souleymane	Fr.	6-9	NA
C-Rod Flowers	Sr.	6-8	3.1