NC State picked up their 5th transfer today. Mohamed Diarra (6’10″/215) committed to run with the Wolfpack today while in Raleigh on an Official Visit.
Diarra originally spent his first two seasons at Garden City Community College, averaging 17.8 points and 12.6 rebounds per game in his second season. He landed at Missouri last year, after being rated as the #1 JUCO prospect in the 2022 class according to JucoRecruiting.com.
In his only season at Missouri, Diarra averaged 11.7 minutes per game in 25 games played (6 starts), averaging 3.3 points and 3.2 rebounds. Because of the extra year due to Covid, Diarra has 2 years of eligibility remaining.
With news breaking today that Dusan Mahorcic entered the Transfer Portal, the Wolfpack found his replacement. NC State’s frontcourt in 2023-24 currently will be made up of D.J. Burns, Ben Middlebrooks, Mohamed Diarra and Ernest Ross.
Check out these highlights of Diarra.
There is a lot to like in Diarra’s game. He is athletic, can hit a jump shot, put the ball on the floor, can play defense on the perimeter, block shots, and is an aggressive rebounder.
Backingthepack has a good “4000 words” explanation of KK’s offense. Good reading for those that just see ‘one on one’ and don’t understand what is being run, the challenges of operating without an athletic offensive big man, or why assists were so low this year.
It is still pick and roll and the guard drives and shoot or pulls up for a three. That exactly why KK can’t keep small or power forwards from moving on each year. Take a look at CUSA where players stay together. FAU in the final NCAA four and UAB and North Texas battling for the NIT championship.
How many starting forwards have transferred from KK’s NCSU teams? Are you saying its a long list? How many have done a lot better after transferring?
Starting or the potential to start, Steere, Clark, Gantt, Dowuona, Farrar, Hicks, Taylor, Bates, and Kapita.
Ebe is really a center in KK’s system, as clearly was Bates. Kapita was a Gott player. The short list of others demonstrate my point, prior to this year no real significant forward losses from a KK team. And both Gantt and Clark seemed to stay injured way too much, which hurt us 2 years in a row.
That’s because he can’t recruit forwards because he can’t coach them up. Therefore, we will always be a potential bubble team and a one and done with KK.
If by transferring they have not improved their situation, KK needs to highlight this more and change the style from a guard focused team to a team focused team.
BTW, both San Diego State and FAU had three transfers out and two transfers in last year. 2 of Miami’s key players (Omier and Pack) are players that transferred in this season, plus Jordan Miller who transferred in the year prior.
We have had tons of players transfer out and in. I was referring to a position that we dearly need to be filled with stability not volatility.
I really hate that you guys felt the need to repeat this. It’s just some kid trash talking to get his face out on social media, and reposting just encourages him. Can’t you think of anything else to talk about? Sure, there’s some truth there, but the style he’s criticizing beat Miami, UNC, and Louisville – who beat Clemson. BTW, that’s the same Louisville that won only two conference games, the other one against the second worst team in the ACC (GT). Plus, worst of all, Clemson lost to (Q4 , KP#237) Morehead State in the first round of the… Read more »
Yeah, but he’s not wrong though.
Lots of AAU type of ball on display, which is a stark comparison to a UVA (whom I know KK has beat too). But more discipline and less “AAU Ball” would probably be good for this team.
Not saying they need a complete overhaul…
Which team made the NCAAT again? Who beat a current final four team? Who had the discipline to not let yourself get beat by Quad 4 teams? First round NIT loss at home, while we battled a top tier Creighton team and had our chances late. I get they are butthurt so that’s all well and good. And yes, NC State does allow more chaos and one on one battles on offense. But offense wasn’t our problem against Clemson, our defensive matchups were really bad and they took great advantage of our lack of athleticism and quickness at the 5… Read more »
When you get beat by 30 it’s more than a heavy 5 spot. It’s obvious if we were not hitting 3 at a high rate, we could not contend with anyone. This is KK style which sucks. How long are we going to put up with it is the real question?