Ousmane Dieng Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Possible Lottery Pick Ousmane Dieng Entering Draft

April 15th, 2022 at 3:30pm CST by Luke Adams

French forward Ousmane Dieng is entering the 2022 NBA draft, he told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Jonathan Givony.

[RELATED: 2022 NBA Draft Early Entrants List]

Dieng is viewed by ESPN as the No. 12 prospect in this year’s class, according to the report from Wojnarowski and Givony, though he currently shows up at No. 18 on ESPN’s actual top-100 list. Either way, he’s considered a potential lottery pick after a promising season with the New Zealand Breakers.

The first European star to take advantage of the National Basketball League’s Next Stars program for young prospects, Dieng faced older, more seasoned competition in 2021/22 and acquitted himself well, according to Givony.

“Playing in a tough league with really good players was really good for me,” Dieng told ESPN. “I learned a lot. The transition was significant, going up against much better players than I saw in France. The game is faster. Everyone is more physical.”

Dieng, who got better as the NBL season progressed, is considered a very strong passer and defender, with the versatility to guard multiple positions, says Givony. The 18-year-old told ESPN that Scottie Barnes and fellow Frenchman Nicolas Batum are among the players he has studied and whose games he believes he can emulate.

Top 2022 French Prospect To Take NBL Route

June 1st, 2021 at 7:09pm CST by Dana Gauruder

French swingman Ousmane Dieng, who is considered one of the top prospects for the 2022 draft, will play for the New Zealand Breakers next season as part of the NBL’s Next Stars program, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports.

It’s the same route that Hornets guard LaMelo Ball took before being drafted in the lottery last season. Magic rookie R.J. Hampton, the 24th pick in last year’s draft, also used the Next Stars program as a springboard as well as Australian guard Josh Giddey, a potential 2021 lottery pick. Dieng is the first European prospect to make the jump to the Breakers.

The 6’9” Dieng is ranked No. 14 by ESPN draft analyst Jonathan Givony for the 2022 draft. Givony views the 18-year-old as a superior passer who has shown versatility as a shot-maker and defender, Wojnarowski adds.

Dieng, who played for Parisian Academy INSEP in France’s third division, was heavily recruited by American college programs as well the NBA’s G League Ignite team. French, Australian, Lithuanian and Spanish teams — including Barcelona — were also bidding for Dieng’s services, Lithuanian journalist Donatas Urbonas tweets.