There are certain basketball players who look the part almost immediately. They move smoothly and have impressive physical traits, and they also show a real ability to control what they do with the basketball.
Arizona State's 7-foot-1 freshman Massamba Diop is a prime example of this.
Diop was listed as just a three-star recruit by 247Sports. He's from Senegal but spent the past few years playing on reserve teams in Spain.
Two games into his college career, though, Diop looks like he has as much upside as any player in the country.
Seriously. No one outside of Tempe knew about this guy a month ago. Now? It wouldn't be a shock to see him be a first-round NBA Draft pick.
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In Diop's college debut against Southern Utah, he scored 14 points with five rebounds, two assists, three blocks and a steal.
In his second game, against Utah Tech, Diop had 18 points, six rebounds, an assist, two steals and two made 3-pointers.
Through two games, he's 15-for-20 from the floor.
Just watch him play:
#ASU C Massamba Diop has shown some incredible flashes through his first 2 collegiate games.
— Mohamed (@mcfNBA) November 9, 2025
Hard to imagine someone at 7’1 with the level of fluidity, ball skills + offensive upside Diop has. A name to think about for 2026 draft consideration.
18 PTS | 6 REB | 2 STL | 7-12 FG pic.twitter.com/On7Wuaru6U
NBA evaluators will want to see what Diop does against better competition.
Fittingly, coming right up is a ranked Gonzaga team.
If Diop looks this good against the Zags, too, the hype train will really pick up in a hurry.
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