Badru Moves North
On Friday, The Newman School/Team New England HGSL 6’6” wing Khalil Badru announced his commitment to New Hampshire, staying in New England to compete in the America East conference at the Division I level.
The Connecticut-native has been on our radar for some time, as he was already turning heads during his 2020-21 campaign while competing for Cranston West High School, charting a 20-point/11-rebound double-double in a win over St. Raphael, also dishing 4 assists.
He continued his success into the summer of 2021 during the grassroots season with Team New England on the Zero Gravity XL circuit, earning Player of the Game honors after dropping 16 in a 1-point victory at the Northeast Hoop Festival.
This wouldn’t be the last time he earned the honor that summer, as our scouts continued noting his performance. His defensive prowess really stood out, as he would regularly block shots and deflect passes, leading to turnovers and opportunities in transition.
Badru took his talents to Springfield Commonwealth Academy for the 2021-22 academic year, competing in the Power 5-AAA league. He continued his dominance, tallying 18 points and 12 rebounds in a win against Lee Academy, as well as 16 points and 11 rebounds in a victory over Redemption Christian.
He continued to develop throughout a successful 2022 grassroots season with Team New England. Measuring a 30” vertical at the Blueprint Combine in New Jersey, he was already a proven athlete.
Badru then moved to Boston to join rising powerhouse Newman in the elite NEPSAC Class-AAA and NEBL conferences. He earned his first Division I offer from Central CT State during the regular season.
During the 2023 grassroots season with Team New England, he proved that he was still rapidly improving, dropping 24 in a win at the Spring Jam Fest. He also scored 22 with 8 boards at the Southern Jam Fest.
He caught our scouts’ attention once again at the Zero Gravity Finals, demonstrating an increased ability to finish at the rim, as well as his improved handles and slashing skills. He charted another double-double at the Atlantic City Jam Fest later that summer, also dropping 18 in a win soon after. He ultimately helped lead TNE to a 2023 HGSL 17U Championship title.
He earned the offer from New Hampshire in the fall of 2023 during the Open Gym season with Newman. He continued his success into the regular season, despite playing alongside multiple high-major prospects.
While they fell in the National Prep Championship tournament to Western Reserve (who went on to win it all), Badru stepped up big-time in the contest, tallying the game’s only double-double with a team-high 18 points on 8/12 from the floor, also grabbing a game-high 13 rebounds.
It will be exciting to track his progress at the Division I level with the Wildcats of UNH throughout the next stage of his career.
Khalil Badru