Big Unknown: Bishop Kelley Center Sidelined By OSSAA

The Bishop Kelley Comets will host a regional when the state playoffs tip off next week, but their success this season has come with their best player off the court and on the bench.

The Comets might have one of the best players in the state, but you'll never see him in a game.

"I have never seen anybody that size in my life," said Bishop Kelley head coach Danny Limes.

Mo Ahmed is a 7-foot 2-inch junior from Sudan. At Bishop Kelley, he's known as just "Mo."

"When I got a scholarship for America, I am a basketball player, and I am a student, too," Ahmed said. "I think I've got opportunity in America. It's a really good chance to do whatever I want."

The Oklahoma Secondary Schools Activities Association ruled him ineligible to play in games, even though Bishop Kelley says it has not been accused of any wrongdoing. While he can't play in games, he can still practice with the Comets.

"As far as raw talent, he's as good as anybody I've ever coached, and anybody I've ever seen," Limes added. "I've never coached anybody that size, so now you throw that into the mix, and it's a different dimension."

Not being eligible to compete hasn't hurt Mo when it comes to college recruiting. He already has several scholarship offers from Division 1 schools.

"I really like basketball, and I'm working to play in college," he said. "Basketball could help my future, so I'm working on that."

Limes added, "He's going to get a great high school education here, he's going to get a good college education wherever he goes. Education is very important to him, so it means everything."

Mo's mark will be left on Bishop Kelley long after he's gone. One of the baskets in Kelley's gym needed emergency repairs after a hard slam dunk.

"All of a sudden, my oldest son came in and he said, 'Dad, Mo broke the goal. He dunked it and he broke the goal,'" Limes explained. "So I came out here and the goal on the east side was literally hanging from the ceiling because he dunked it so hard it broke off the beam. We haven't had anyone dunk it like that in 21 years that I've been here."

For now, the Comets can only wonder what other history Mo might have made.

Bishop Kelley appealed the OSSAA's decision back in December. The appeal was denied.