NCAA Basketball: Analyzing the top 8 teams for 2023 forward Assane Diop

Arizona State Sun Devils

The frontcourt for the Sun Devils mainly consists of Nevada transfer center Warren Washington and Enoch Boakye, a former top-30 prospect and someone who has slowly been developing but he’s more of a center than a power forward. With Alonzo Gaffney as the likely starting four-man, this is an option where Diop can go and get immediate playing time.

The concern here is that head coach Bobby Hurley has struggled in the past couple of years and is definitely on the hot seat. If Arizona State doesn’t make the NCAA Tournament, he very well could be gone, leading Diop to look elsewhere.

Arkansas Razorbacks

The Razorbacks have brought in four frontcourt transfers this offseason, with three of them (Jalen Graham, Makhi Mitchell, Makhel Mitchell) entering their senior seasons. With the extra covid year, they all could come back for another year if they so choose but that likely won’t happen.

They’re also an option for Baye Fall and they could be the home for both cousins. The thing here is that head coach Eric Musselman is going to land multiple frontcourt transfers and the program is at the point where the rotational players are either elite transfers or five-star caliber prospects. For a developmental player like Diop, it could be a risk to play there and expect minutes in year 1 or 2.