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.
Seven years in and we are what we are. I’m sure of the much, some major contributors won’t stand for a Keatts extension.
KK states the reason for the loss was that the defense didn’t travel. What kind of helter skelter defense was he playing last night. We partially pressed the entire game allowing the ball to go whereever they wanted. Last night was the time for dropping back and protecting the paint not helter skelter pressing continuously. Sorry the reason NCSU lost the game is because of head coaching or the lack of head coaching skills at this level. Yeah, and I know that I’m preaching to the choir.
18 minutes of O’Connell, 0 pts, 1 reb, 2 assists. WOW what a stat sheet. He should never play again. Lost his man about every time and could not stop him when he found him. KK wastes another scholarship.
I’ve seen more people at a women’s game than at the Florida State game tonight. However, when you have to play a team like NCSU, I would stay home and watch it on TV as well. Good bye KK. Has not been nice knowing you. You just wasted 7 years of my life with you at the helm.