Somto Cyril has size and strength. But there’s more to the future Kentucky Wildcat.

Somto Cyril is big.

Making that observation produces the kind of knowing reaction that comes with an obvious statement.

A slight chuckle. A smile. Maybe even a glance toward Cyril’s 6-foot-10, 241-pound figure.

Corey Frazier is used to it by now.

A pro-skills trainer with the Atlanta-based Overtime Elite basketball league, Frazier has worked with Cyril since the 18-year-old joined OTE last September.

“He’s imposing (with his) size, but Somto’s hungry,” said Frazier, who played college basketball as a guard at Saint Louis, including against the University of Kentucky in the 1998 NCAA Tournament.

“He wants to be better. He wants to get better. So there’s no taking shortcuts for him.”

The time since Cyril’s arrival at OTE has featured plenty of milestone moments.

First was Cyril’s stellar debut season: He was named OTE’s Defensive Player of the Year and checks in as a four-star recruit who is ranked by the 247Sports Composite as the No. 47 overall player in the 2024 class.

Then came a decision in his college recruitment: Cyril will be heading to UK, and remains the Wildcats’ only commitment in the 2024 class.

A final landmark moment arrived Wednesday night at the University of Dayton Arena in Dayton, Ohio, as Cyril suited up for Team Overtime in The Basketball Tournament (TBT), a summer basketball competition known for its winner-takes-all prize and distinct method of ending games.

While Team Overtime — with Frazier as its head coach — lost in the first round of the event, Cyril made history as the first amateur to play in TBT. He had four points, two rebounds, two blocks and four fouls in 16 minutes.

All of these moments have served as teaching tools for Cyril, who was born in Nigeria and moved to the United States in 2021.

“I’m fortunate to have coaches around me (that) help me develop my offensive mindset, make plays and let the team run plays through me and stuff like that,” Cyril said. “So I feel like at the end of the day, when I’m ready to go to college, I will be the best version of myself.”

Plenty of room for improvement — particularly on offense — exists for Cyril in the months to come before he arrives in Lexington.

But those around him at OTE, as well as Cyril himself, are confident in his ability to adequately develop before taking on the bright lights and big stage of UK men’s basketball.

“I just know from my experience being with (Somto) what (Kentucky is) getting and they’re getting a guy who is a heck of a defensive player and a heck of a rebounder,” added Damien Wilkins, the general manager and head of basketball at Overtime Elite.

“Once he starts developing his offensive game, (and he) starts getting skilled offensively, he’s going to be an absolute monster.”

The Basketball Tournament experience part of Cyril’s development

If there’s one thing that Wilkins — a 10-year NBA veteran and a McDonald’s All-American in 1999 — wants members of Team Overtime to take from the TBT experience, it’s the finer details of how to play basketball.

This applies to not only Cyril, but other young players on Team Overtime like forwards Malik Bowman and Jalen Lewis, and center Jahzare Jackson, all of whom are Overtime Elite players in the 2024 NBA Draft class.

But for Cyril specifically, the chance to be around the likes of Wilkins — who at 43 years old played 10 minutes in Wednesday’s game for Team Overtime — in a different basketball setting should only enhance Cyril’s understanding of the game.

Wilkins quickly rattled off several components of basketball in which he hopes Cyril continues to improve.

“Learn to be a better big, a defensive anchor, learning angles in terms of blocking out and rebounding and getting the outlet passes quickly to the guard, learning screening angles and things of that nature,” Wilkins said.

Another asset that The Basketball Tournament experience will have for Cyril?

Going up against non-Overtime Elite competition.

Team Overtime lost Wednesday night to Carmen’s Crew, a team mainly comprised of former Ohio State players including the likes of Trevor Thompson, Andre Wesson, Kaleb Wesson and Kyle Young.

Cyril may already be bigger, stronger and more athletic than most of his peers, but there’s plenty to be gained from going up against grown adults who were stellar college players in the recent past.

“No older guy wants to be shown up, or embarrassed, by a younger guy,” Frazier said. “So I’m hoping that they can take away the level of professionalism that these guys, who, they’re experienced in talking on the court and understanding how valuable the big guy still is.”

Cyril to remain in 2024 recruiting class

If nothing else is to be learned from Cyril’s brief time playing in The Basketball Tournament, at least there’s now clarity with regard to his college future.

During a Wednesday afternoon media session in Dayton, the Herald-Leader asked Cyril if he still plans to arrive in Lexington and join the UK program in 2024, despite plenty of chatter about a potential reclassification to the 2023 recruiting group.

Cyril confirmed his intention to arrive at Kentucky as a 2024 recruit.

So, at this point, all public comments have indicated Cyril will be a 2024 arrival for the Wildcats.

What does Cyril plan to do in the months between now and then?

“I just want to get better overall,” Cyril said. “I’ve gotten so much better since I’ve been at Overtime Elite, and I feel like one extra year could help me. ... I want to be at (UK) and help them any way I could, to win championships, just win games overall. So I feel like the more time I spend at OTE can help me be a better player.”

A second season at Overtime Elite will come with high expectations for Cyril.

Last season, Cyril posted per-game averages of 8.1 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.4 blocks during the OTE regular season, while cementing himself as one of the most physically imposing college basketball prospects in the nation.

Following the departures of players like Amen and Ausar Thompson (NBA Draft), Rob Dillingham (Kentucky) and Kanaan Carlyle (Stanford), Cyril also figures to be one of the top-billed players at OTE next season.

“Man, his ceiling is so high and there’s so many things. ... His athleticism shows, his defense shows,” Frazier said. “But now we get to take our time and help him get ready for Kentucky next year.”

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