DePaul men’s basketball head coach Chris Holtmann is further enhancing the team’s roster by securing commitments from incoming freshman forward Sekou Konneh from St. Thomas More High School and graduate senior center David Skogman from Davidson University.

Konneh, a 6-foot-8 forward from St. Thomas More High School in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is ranked as the fifth-best recruit in the state. He also holds the top spot among power forwards in Wisconsin.

“Sekou is a young and gifted prospect with high upside,” Holtmann said in a statement. “He needs to continue to get stronger and improve his skills because he is a tremendous kid who is really hungry to grow. We are really excited about what Sekou can grow into here.”

Concluding his high school career at St. Thomas More, he played a pivotal role in leading the team to its first state boy’s basketball championship since joining the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association. He finished the season with five consecutive double-doubles, culminating in a standout performance during the title game, where he recorded 20 points and 14 rebounds.

Skogman is the first center added to Holtmann’s team for next season, after spending the last four seasons at Buffalo (2020-2022) and Davidson (2022-2024). He announced his verbal commitment to DePaul via X Wednesday afternoon.

“David is an elite shooting big man who has really grown every year he’s been in college,” Holtmann said in a statement. “He is older and has great maturity with a desire to win and finish his career well. We think he fits very well into our system and the roster we have put together. David loves the idea of representing DePaul and finishing his career here.”

The 6-foot-10 center appeared and started in 17 games last season for Davidson, averaging 13.3 points and 4.9 rebounds per game while shooting 55.6% from the field. 

Skogman is versatile enough to move to the perimeter, as he shot 47.1% from beyond the arc on an average of four attempts per game.

The Waukesha-Wisconsin native has one season left of eligibility and chose to commit to DePaul over Wisconsin.

The program will also be adding Lavall Jordan, the former head coach of Butler and Milwaukee, onto the coaching staff, alongside Brandon Bailey, who previously served as an assistant coach under Holtmann at Ohio State.

Jordan is set to join Holtmann’s coaching staff, where he’ll serve as the program’s general manager in addition to his duties as an assistant coach.

“Lavall is a talented coach who has had success as an assistant and head coach,” Holtmann said in a statement. “He will assist us greatly and play an instrumental role in the NIL space and roster construction. Lavall has great experience in developing guards for the NBA and his skill teaching is outstanding which will play an important role as we develop our team.”

Jordan is well-acquainted with the Big East, having previously served as Butler’s head coach from 2017-2022. During his time with the Bulldogs, he led the team to an 83-74 overall record and to the second round of the 2018 NCAA Tournament.

Jordan also replaced Holtmann at Butler in 2017 after Holtmann took the Ohio State head coaching job.

Brandon Bailey is set to join Holtmann’s coaching staff as an assistant coach. He will make the move from Ohio State, where he served on Holtmann’s staff last season. 

In 2019, Bailey joined Brad Stevens’ staff as an assistant coach for the Boston Celtics, a position he held for two seasons before working with Team USA as an assistant coach in 2021-22. He will be returning to Lincoln Park after graduating from DePaul in 2009.

“Brandon (Bailey) had 13 years of NBA experience before I hired him last year, and his experience teaching defense at that level proved valuable,” Holtmann said in a statement. “He is detailed and thorough in his teaching. Brandon is also a DePaul grad, and his love for this university is an added plus. We are excited to welcome Brandon, his wife Julie and their entire family.”

Bailey began his basketball career as a manager under Doug Bruno with the DePaul women’s basketball team before transitioning to roles as a graduate assistant and director of operations within the men’s basketball program from 2009 to 2011.

Holtmann’s offseason continues to be busy as he manages the recruitment process and puts the finishing touches on his staff. The team has successfully recruited eight players from the transfer portal and has received commitments from Konneh and three-star forward Chris Riddle of Kenwood Academy.

This leaves the program with three scholarships yet to be filled for the 2024 recruiting class.

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