Big 12 Basketball: Each team’s best acquisition out of 2023 transfer portal

Ibrahima Diallo – 7’0 Center – UCF Knights

Ibrahima Diallo is an emerging frontcourt name to get to know out of the transfer portal for another newcomer to the Big 12 with the UCF Knights. He emerged as quite the 5-man in the San Jose State Spartans rotation in the Mountain West Conference over the past two seasons.

Diallo has developed into quite the two-way presence as he enters the graduate transfer market ready to really show off what he can do. He was an anchor defensively in the paint this past season for the Spartans. He put up 6.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg and 1.7 bpg while shooting 58.7 percent from the field across 35 appearances, all starts in his final season in a San Jose State uniform.

He’s shown flashes of his ability to establish himself in the paint and make things happen on the boards on both ends of the floor. He averaged 2.2 offensive rebounds per contest and brings with him quite the pedigree on defense. He registered a defensive rating of 95.7 and led the MWC in blocks (58) and finished eighth in rebounds (210) when on the hardwood this past season.

Diallo snagged a career-high 15 rebounds (7 offensive) against Boise State back on Feb. 25 in a 74-68 victory. While he won’t be relied upon entirely to score the ball offensively, he’s certainly a big man that will be relied upon to hold things down in the painted area.

He makes his return to the high-major ranks after spending 2019-21 as a member of the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Big Ten. He appeared in 13 games for the Buckeyes and played a total of 50 minutes before entering the transfer portal and eventually cracking the starting rotation in the MWC with San Jose State.

Head coach Johnny Dawkins will look to get most out of Diallo on the interior as the Knights make the transition from the AAC to the Big 12. Guards Jaylin Sellers and Shemarri Allen should also make an impact in the backcourt as well.