NC State Forward Mohamed Diarra will not be returning to NC State for his final season of eligibility. Rather, he will give 100% of his focus to pursuing his professional career.
Diarra is declaring for the NBA Draft, and will explore that possibility as far as it goes, but the likelihood of him playing professionally in his home country of France are high.
Diarra was a significant player for NC State all season long, averaging 6.3 points and 7.8 rebounds (team high), but his impact in March was tremendous, recording 10+ rebounds in 7 of the Wolfpack’s 10 postseason games, and five of those performances were double-doubles.
Wolfpack fans will always remember the grit and mental toughness that Diarra put on display in the NCAA Tournament, playing game-after-game while fasting for Ramadan.
The Wolfpack’s frontcourt just got a little bit thinner. In the past two weeks, NC State has lost Diarra and Ernest Ross. Ben Middlebrooks is returning, and Brandon Huntley-Hatfield transferred in from Louisville. Dontrez Styles transferred in from Georgetown, and while he is more of a Small Forward, in certain lineups, he could play the Small 4 position. With all that being said, I fully expect NC State to try to find another post player in the Transfer Portal with Diarra’s exodus now official.
With Diarra not returning in 2024, NC State now has 2 scholarships available for next season.
TJMurray When it comes to really meaning something, we don’t beat those teams. Check out the debacle in the ACC tournament against a team we previously had beaten. Check out the sweet sixteen game against a team we previously had beaten. That’s what I am referring to, not the hit and miss win during the regular season.
I’m in my sixties, patience is not one of my virtues.
Can’t compete with who now? We were 3-5 against the teams on that list. Gottfried has beaten either UNC or Duke at least once EVERY YEAR. And did you hear how loud it was in the Dean Dome when State rolled in this year? It was deafening, and you sure as heck didn’t hear any “Not your rival” chants we’ve been accustomed to lately, especially not after State held the Holes to their lowest point total in that building EVER. 5-star players or no 5-star players, bottom line is we ARE competing already. Be patient, we’re heading in the right… Read more »
UVA has no 5 stars
We still can’t compete Duke, Louisville, North Carolina, or Virginia without players. Forget the assistant coaches, get us some five star players.