Prospect Overview
Wiry big man who is still developing as a scorer but was a difference maker at times on both ends at Michigan thanks to his length and activity level.
About Moussa Diabate
Moussa Diabate is a long, active big man who showed intriguing defensive versatility in his lone season at Michigan but is still finding his identity on the offensive end. Born in France but residing in the United States since 2015, the Paris native emerged as a prospect averaging 11.1 points and 10.3 rebounds per game at the 2018 FIBA U16 European Championship. Bouncing around high schools, the wiry big man finished his prep career at IMG Academy (FL) regarded as one of the consensus top-20 prospects in the high school class of 2021 and earned McDonald’s All-American honors.
Committing to play for head coach Juwan Howard at Michigan, the 20-year-old finished his freshman year averaging 9 points and 6 rebounds over 24.8 minutes per game to claim a spot on the All-Big Ten freshman team.
• Measured standing 6-foot-10.25 in shoes with a lean 217-pound frame and a 7-foot-2.5 wingspan at the 2022 NBA Draft Combine, Diabate has filled out steadily in recent years and is very mobile for his size.
• Getting touches and seeing more action at the center spot some nights than others, Diabate’s role varied, but he was productive in spurts when his activity level earned him scoring opportunities inside. An agile, fairly bouncy finisher, he thrived as a cutter and rim runner, but also got some touches in the post and on the perimeter. Still early in his development as a jump shooter and decision-maker, he had some quiet nights against teams that clogged the lane against the Wolverines.
• Showing good lateral speed to switch on the perimeter and some quickness rotating for blocks, Diabate made many positive contributions defensively throughout his freshman year, but faced an uphill battle at times against the traditional centers of the Big Ten and still has room to improve his consistency as an off ball defender.
Advanced Stats
• Playing a role that had him seeing dramatically more touches some night than others more as the result of how opposing teams defended the Wolverines than how hard he was competing, Diabate was productive in spurts when the game opened up for him. Playing a lot of power forward, his perimeter skill level was a major work in progress, but he produced consistently when he found opportunities to score with his mobility, length, and energy.
• With nearly a third of his possessions coming in the post, Diabate scored 0.84 points per post up possession [52nd percentile] showing some touch on his hook going middle and face up game from the right block.
• Doing much of his scoring around the basket cutting to the rim, crashing the glass, and filling lanes in transition, Diabate scored 1.34 points per shot around the rim [84th percentile]. A good leaper with a head of steam and a capable lob threat when given room to load up, the easy looks he earned off the ball drove his efficiency.
• Attempting one perimeter shot per game, Diabate scored 0.61 points per jump shot [12th percentile]. He remains very early in his development as a shooter and ball handler away from the rim. How much he can grow as a threat away from the rim and as a decision-maker figure to be important to his fit at the next level.
Defensive Analysis
• With the tools to be a factor contesting shots around the rim and defending pick and rolls in a variety of ways, Diabate made an impact at times with his length and agility last season. Allowing 0.74 points per isolation possession [54th percentile], he held his own against mismatches, often faring better on the perimeter than against more physical centers on the block.
• Gaining 20 pounds over the last two years, Diabate’s body is heading in the right direction which should help him hold his ground inside and be more of a factor on the defensive glass over time, but he also has considerable room to improve his comfort level making rotations on the perimeter and become a more consistent presence protecting the rim.
— Profile by Synergy Sports
