West Virginia University men’s basketball coach Ross Hodge announced on May 1 the signing of Amadou Seini to a grant-in-aid, bringing him to the Mountaineers for the 2026-27 season.
The addition of Seini is notable as he is a 7-foot-1, 230-pound freshman center from Cameroon who most recently played at Bella Vista Prep in Scottsdale, Arizona. His recruitment signals an effort by West Virginia to strengthen its roster with players who have demonstrated strong rebounding and defensive skills.
“We are happy to have Amadou Seini join our Mountaineer basketball program,” Hodge said. “His ability to move at his size is impressive and gives him a super-high ceiling. He is one of the best rebounders in the country and continues to improve at a rapid rate.”
Seini contributed significantly during Bella Vista’s run at the Chipotle Nationals, recording 12 points, eight rebounds, and two blocks in the finals against Montverde Academy. In the semifinal victory over Dynamic Prep from Texas, he achieved a double-double with 15 points and 18 rebounds.
On the international stage at the Under-19 World Cup representing Cameroon, Seini averaged 15.4 rebounds per game across seven games—setting an all-time FIBA U19 World Cup rebounding record. He registered two games with more than 24 rebounds each (against Australia and China), becoming only the fourth player in tournament history with multiple such performances. Against Israel, he grabbed 21 rebounds and became the first player since Australia’s Andrew Bogut to achieve three games of at least 20 rebounds in one tournament. He also averaged nearly ten points per game while shooting over fifty percent from the field along with contributing blocks and steals.
Before joining Bella Vista Prep, Seini played for Varese Academy in Italy.
