MORGANTOWN, West Virginia — This one is going to blow up quick.
Arizona State freshman center Massamba Diop has entered the transfer portal, and you’re talking about one of the most intriguing big men available. At 7-foot-1, 230 pounds, the Senegal native instantly becomes one of the most sought-after players in the country. Guys with that kind of size and upside don’t hit the portal very often, and when they do, everybody gets involved.
Arizona State's Massamba Diop has been a huge stock riser after leaving Gran Canaria in Spain to pursue college this season.
The 7-1 freshman big from Senegal is averaging 13.9 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 1.1 APG, 2.2 BPG on 57/40/72 splits
Extremely fluid, lengthy and versatile on both… pic.twitter.com/Tn61QuUUPp
— Arman Jovic (@PDTScouting) March 5, 2026
Diop is still developing, but the tools jump out immediately. Length, rim protection, physical presence… he’s the kind of player who can impact a game without needing the ball in his hands. And with his size alone, he’s going to draw attention from just about every major program out there.
Now here’s where West Virginia comes into play.
Yusuf Ali.
WVU’s assistant coach was at Arizona State last year, so there’s already a connection there with Diop. And if you’ve been paying attention at all, Ali has built a reputation as one of the top recruiters of international players in college basketball. That matters in a situation like this.
He’s not just another coach making a call. There’s familiarity, there’s trust, and there’s a track record of landing players in this space.
That doesn’t guarantee anything, but it gives WVU a real shot.
And make no mistake, this is going to be a battle. Diop is going to have options everywhere. Big programs, big offers, and a lot of attention coming his way.
But with Ali involved, don’t be surprised if West Virginia is right in the middle of it.
This is the type of recruitment that can say a lot about where a program stands.
And right now, WVU looks like it belongs in these conversations.
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