Ilimane Diop
 Diop for Baskonia in 2017 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 5 – Herbalife Gran Canaria | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Center | |||||||||||||||||||
| League | Liga ACB EuroCup | |||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 4 April 1995 Dakar, Senegal | |||||||||||||||||||
| Nationality | Senegalese / Spanish | |||||||||||||||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 230 lb (104 kg) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Career information | ||||||||||||||||||||
| NBA draft | 2017 / Undrafted | |||||||||||||||||||
| Playing career | 2011–present | |||||||||||||||||||
| Career history | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2011–2021 | Baskonia | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2011–2012 | →Álava | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2012–2013 | →Araberri | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2021–present | Gran Canaria | |||||||||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Medals
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Ilimane Diop Gaye (born 4 April 1995) is a professional basketball player for Gran Canaria of the Spanish Liga ACB. Although he was born in Senegal, Diop officially represents Spain when being on international duty since he was a baby when his family settled in Spain.[1] Previously, he has led their junior teams to multiple bronze medals.[2]
Professional career[]
A product of Spanish powerhouse Saski Baskonia, Diop was sent out on loan to minor league team to gain playing time and experience. He made his debut for Baskonia in the Spanish top-flight Liga ACB in the course of the 2013-14 campaign.
An early entry candidate for the 2016 NBA draft, he later withdrew his name.[3]
On July 10, 2021, he has signed with Gran Canaria of the Spanish Liga ACB.[4]
International career[]
After achieving a bronze medal with the under-16 team and the under-18 team, on 11 July 2016, Diop made his debut with the national team in a friendly game played in Burgos against Angola. He scored four points and grabbed three rebounds to collaborate in the win by 85–61.[5]
Player profile[]
Standing 6'11" with a wingspan of 7'11" feet, Diop is regarded as one of the most potent players in the Liga ACB and possibly a future NBA draft selection. Length has been an inevitable problem for his opponents, who have struggled against the pick-and-roll and rebounds.[6] He is also noted for his raw talent that could grow into a "great basketball body." Balance, footwork, and strength have remained intangibles for the center.[7]
Personal life[]
His brother Mamadou is also a basketball player who previously played in the same Spanish basketball squad as he did.
References[]
- ^ "Ilimane Diop Player Profile". Eurobasket.com. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
- ^ "Ilimane Diop Player Profile". RealGM.com. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
- ^ Release, Official. "Thirty-three international early-entry candidates withdraw from Draft". NBA.com. Archived from the original on 19 March 2019. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
- ^ "Herbalife Gran Canaria ink Ilimane Diop". Sportando. 10 July 2021. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
- ^ "Ilimane Diop debuta con la selección española senior" (in Spanish). ACB.com. 12 July 2016. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
- ^ Hein, David. "Spain youngster Diop taking step in Euroleague". FIBA.com. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
- ^ Mills, Danny. "Eurohopes Basketball Prospect Ilimane Diop". EuroHopes.com. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
External links[]
- Ilimane Diop at acb.com (in Spanish)
- Ilimane Diop at eurobasket.com
- Ilimane Diop at euroleague.net
- Ilimane Diop at FIBA
- Ilimane Diop on Twitter
- 1995 births
- Living people
- Araberri BC players
- Basketball players from Dakar
- CB Gran Canaria players
- Centers (basketball)
- Liga ACB players
- Naturalised citizens of Spain
- Saski Baskonia players
- Senegalese emigrants to Spain
- Spanish men's basketball players
- Spanish people of Senegalese descent
- Spanish sportspeople of African descent
- European sportspeople of Senegalese descent