It's the calm before the storm for Hamady N'diaye, a 6-foot-10, 225-pound center from Stoneridge Prep in Simi Valley, Calif. The four-star prospect is one of the few remaining uncommitted players in the Rivals150 going into the season.

Now that the dust has settled on his cross-country move from Florida Prep to Stoneridge in SoCal, college coaches will finally get an opportunity to see the big man in action. He was the defensive anchor inside the paint for Stoneridge last week at the NEAA NIT in Atlanta. While there, he showed why high-major coaches why high-major coaches will be looking longer and harder at him this season.

A strong defensive presence, N'diaye is further along in his skill set as a shot-blocker and shot-changer than a guy who will score inside the paint on anything other than a thundering dunk. In a word, N'diaye is raw but raw enough where a high-major school would be willing to take the time to work with him. There are few center prospects left on the board that can match his physical traits, too.

N'diaye, the No. 55 ranked player in the class of 2006, plays with a ton of emotion and often times gets a little too overzealous when trying to block shots and finds himself in early foul trouble. With more than a half dozen of other international players on the Stoneridge roster, N'diaye has been the vocal leader amongst the world-traveled team.

"I'm the big man so I have to see the whole court and I try to get the whole team to see the same way," N'diaye said. "Basketball is a team sport. It is my job to teach everybody to play like a family.

His natural leadership abilities and coachability are just a pair of the reasons why the high-majors are in the race for his signature. N'diaye and his head coach Babacar Sy maintain that the recruiting process is still at open status. Baylor, George Washington, Georgia, Miami, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, Southern Cal and Wake Forest are all in the picture.

Still having not taking any trips, N'diaye firmly maintains there is no leader in his recruitment.

"I'm going to sign late to the right school but I'm focused on my school work," N'diaye said. "All of (the schools) are the same for me."

Little does he know his list will probably double over the next couple of months.

"I hope so," he said with a grin.

College coaches can see him in action on Dec. 2-3 at the CSG International Prep Showcase in Winslow, N.J. While there, Stoneridge takes on Hargrave Military and Philly Lutheran.