Mouhamed Dioubate (10) helped Alabama beat UK three times last season. (Vicky Graff Photo)
To compete in today’s Southeastern Conference basketball race, a team has to not only be physical but have several strong front court players to use against opponents.
Kentucky lacked some of that last season but added a foundation piece for next season when Mouhamed Dioubate announced he was transferring from Alabama to Kentucky. He had been contacted by Louisville, Michigan, Mississippi State, Oklahoma, Vanderbilt, North Carolina, North Carolina State, Oklahoma State, Providence, Villanova and others.
The 6-7, 215-pound Dioubate averaged 7.2 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 16 minutes per game while shooting 61.7 percent from the field, 46.2 percent from 3 and 60.9 percent at the foul line last season. He scored in double figures 13 times, including four times combined in the SEC and NCAA Tournaments.
Dioubate was a physical force in three wins over Kentucky last season. He had eight points, eight rebounds, three assists and a steal in Rupp Arena in a 102-97 win over UK. He had four points, five rebounds and a block in the Tide’s win at Tuscaloosa when he was a major reason Otega Oweh failed to score in double figures for the first time last season for UK. In Alabama’s win over UK in the SEC Tournament, he showcased his talent for UK coach Mark Pope and others by going for 13 points, eight rebounds, two blocks and a steal.
He also had 10 points and 16 rebounds in an overtime win over Houston, the same team that lost in the national title game to Florida. He put up 22 points and 10 rebounds against Vanderbilt. Against No. 1 Auburn, he had eight points and seven boards.
Dioubate played in 70 games the last two seasons for Alabama and obviously was looking for a bigger role. Alabama certainly did not want to lose Dioubate because of his ability to change a game on both ends but what he provides seems like a perfect fit for Pope’s system. He’s obviously used to a fast-paced playing style and despite taking only limited 3-point shots, he has that kind of shooting range.
The New York City native was a four-star high school prospect out of Putnam Science Academy in Connecticut. He originally committed to Alabama over Maryland, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest. Former UK players Hamidou Dialo and Ugonna Onyenso also attended Putnam Science Academy.
Dioubate helped Putnam Science Academy win back-to-back national prep basketball championships as a junior and senior. Dioubate finished as the all-time leading rebounder at Putnam and was just the fourth player in program history with 1,000 career points. He was a four-star prospect coming out of high school and ranked 104th in his recruiting class by 247Sports.
8 Responses
We got two bigs yesterday, pieces is coming together.
Dioubate isn’t a big. 6’7" is a wing. He can’t guard a center. Garrison and Quaintence are our only bigs. It’s been reported that Pope is only looking to add another shooter. To me that’s a mistake. What if Quaintence isn’t ready until mid season? What if one or both get hurt? After another shooter is added, Pope still has two Scholarships. Why not add two bigs? Wasn’t that a gripe about Cal? Not using all the Scholarships.
I agree. I would either go after a big with great defense because we have plenty of shooters or a point guard because behind Lowe we have just Lewis if one gets hurt we are also doomed at the point position. Remember the SEC is a very rough confrence. I think Dioubate is a excellent guy for how rough the conference is. Nate Oats always raved about how hard this kid works. The jump Oweh took from his sophomore year to his junior year I expect the same from him. He’s also a very good 3 point shooter who will shoot much more this year. He’s coming here to start at the 3 and he will from day 1.
I left out Moreno, but he is about to have Big Boy Ball Shock. Playing High School basketball in Ky is a far cry from the SEC.
That’s what they said about Reed Shepherd. I think you might be shocked about how well Moreno will adjust to college basketball.
Dioubate was a good get; we need his energy and physicality. Ouaintance will be a good get in another year, but then he will go pro. If he is able to play at all this year, I doubt that it will be at 100% and risk getting hurt again. I wish it could be so, but it just doesn’t add up. Rah, rah, rah!
Barry you worry too much. RAh RAH, can’t live in fear!!
He has to play and play great this year if he wants to be a top 5 pick in the draft. He should be fully healed by late November so if he does miss games he won’t miss to many.