By SAM LANCE
Class of 2026 prospect Aliou Dioum hasn’t been in the United States long, but he’s been sure to make his mark and is drawing interest from college programs across the country.
Dioum, the 6-foot-10 big man originally from Senegal, came to the United States in 2023 to play for Accelerated Prep (CO). From there, he starred with the Gateway Knights Basketball Club on the UAA circuit, which led to his transfer to powerhouse EYBL Scholastic program Bella Vista Prep (AZ).
The center has been at Bella Vista the past two years, and he just wrapped up his junior year in April, where Dioum helped his squad win EYBL scholastic and reach the quarterfinals of Chipotle Nationals. This summer, Dioum has produced in a bench role for Arizona Unity on the EYBL circuit, averaging 4.6 points and 3.7 rebounds.
“Right now, I’m just trying to keep it simple: dominate the glass, rim run, block shots and take whatever the game gives me,” Dioum told ZAGSBLOG. “Shot blocking and offensive rebounding. Dunks. Everything.”
Dioum excels at using his length to alter shots at the rim and sky for rebounds. He’s working on developing more of his perimeter game, including his handle. Dioum was especially productive at EYBL Session 3 in Kansas City, tallying nine offensive rebounds and four blocks in four games. The center said he’s improved a ton since moving to the U.S.
“I really like it man,” Dioum said. “We’re sticking to the process, trying to get better, and I know I still have a lot to learn.”
First aau pre season game was fun!! pic.twitter.com/DjgBpQnzqT
— Aliou Dioum (@AliouDioum05) April 17, 2025
On the recruitment front, Dioum holds offers from the likes of Arizona State, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Loyola Chicago, Missouri, Syracuse and UCSB. He’s also receiving interest from programs like Colorado, Kansas and Mississippi State.
Dioum hasn’t taken any visits yet and will wait until after the AAU season to take any. He said he’s eyeing trips to Georgia Tech and Missouri. Dioum plans on narrowing down his recruitment to a top five schools around the time he plans visits.
Here’s Dioum’s breakdown of some of the schools involved:
Georgia Tech: “Georgia Tech and Georgia were the first two to offer me. Georgia Tech, that would be a really good fit for me, how coach [Damon] Stoudamire plays the bigs that’s my size. Also, my best friend Mouhamed Sylla goes there, and then Baye Ndongo is my really close friend too back home. Coach [Karl] Hobbs has been recruiting me since day one, and he’s a really good guy. He really knows the game too.”
Kansas: “I’m not going to lie, I really love Kansas because coach [Norm] Roberts, the first time he talked to me last year at the Top 100 Camp, he said ‘Yo Aliou, you might be the first Senegalese player to play at Kansas.’ And I said I’m glad to hold that because the best African big men play for Kansas. Joel Embiid. He said that would be a good fit for me, and I’m really excited for that.”
Missouri: “Missouri is a really good team. They play in the best conference, I think, the SEC. That’s tough man. You have to be ready.”
Syracuse: “Syracuse is a good program. That’s one of my favorite schools because one of my favorite players of all-time, my top-five, Carmelo Anthony, went to Syracuse. So that would be a good program for me too.”
Dioum is ranked the No. 134 overall prospect in the 2026 class by 247Sports. He practices Islam and prays five times a day, oftentimes before games. Dioum also enjoys playing soccer outside of basketball.
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